Dan Daley

“I loved my time at Earle Page – I’m still friends with lots of people that I met there. Now many of us are parents and professionals." Dan Daley who was an EPC resident in the late 1990s.

Earle Page College alumnus Dan Daley is a man of many talents. He is a champion equestrian horse rider and has enjoyed successful careers in banking and high school teaching. Recently Dan decided to follow his passion and get his legal practising certificate. He originally started working with Jo Birtles from Birtles Law but has recently taken on a new role at Everingham Solomon’s in Tamworth.

Dan has terrific memories of his time at Earle Page College and is pleased to note he still maintains many friendships from this period of his life.

I first met Dan when he was working as a school teacher at Farrer Agricultural High School in Tamworth. It was clear the students were seriously lucky to have such an amazing teacher who brought law to life. I met him when he asked Paul Sattler (President of the EPC SCR) and I to deliver a seminar relating to our legal expertise. I remember this day vividly as during the break, a couple of students noted "we are trying to work out if you and Paul drive BMWs or Mercedes?" I think they were disappointed to hear we were just humble academics and instead drove a Ford and Mazda respectively!

Anyway – I digress – soon after this Dan decided to get his practising certificate so he could start working as a lawyer. He initially worked with Jo Birtles for one day a week whilst continuing his teaching career. This soon became a full time role. Very recently Dan has decided to pursue a new challenge by moving to Everingham Solomons in Tamworth where he is working in the litigation team.

Ironically, Dan already had a strong connection with Everingham Solomons. In 1998 he was the recipient of the inaugural Sir Adrian Solomons Memorial Law Bursary. His sister Laura won the same bursary the following year making it a ‘Daley Double!’

Dan has always lived on farms — he was born in Inverell and predominately grew up in Warialda before moving to Tamworth. He attended Warialda High School and then Oxley High School. When he finished school he won a scholarship to UNE. In the late 1990s he chose to study Commerce/Law whilst staying at Earle Page College. "I loved my time at Earle Page — I am still friends with lots of people that I met there. Now many of us are parents and professionals."

After completing his Commerce degree Dan started working for the National Australia Bank (NAB) in Queensland. He continued with his law degree as a part time distance (now online) student. He then turned his hand to teaching where he worked at Peel High School in Tamworth and then Farrer Agricultural High School. "I loved my teaching career. I taught legal studies, economics, history, geography and commerce. When I took my students on excursions to the court house I would get itchy feet. I decided it was time to get admitted and start my legal career."

In terms of what subjects Dan enjoyed most when completing his law degree, his response is somewhat unsurprising. As most students of his vintage would agree Dan loved Contract Law with Dr Peter Hemphill. "I remember Peter’s love of Lord Mansfield and hatred of Lord Denning. Sometimes, when I am reading a Lord Denning judgment I think Peter was a tad unfair to the former judge! Peter was a renaissance man, a brilliant academic and the life of the party. He weaved his knowledge and love of food, culture and Italy into his lectures."

Dan also has very fond memories of Bryan Pape and LAW480. He studied this capstone unit at around the same time Bryan launched his Constitutional Law case against the Commonwealth. "Bryan was an amazing man- he launched this case even though there was a risk he would be liable for the Commonwealth’s costs. You don’t often get an academic who challenges the government’s authority! When I did my LAW480 submissions, I referred to the Pape case. Bryan was one of the judges and the other judge on the bench was a Constitutional Law barrister. This was a life changing experience for me!"

Dan is loving working at Everingham Solomons. He notes one year of legal practice in a rural/regional area is worth five in the city context. "In the country, you get exposed to a wide variety of legal areas. At any given time you may need to research marriage in Nigeria before providing advice about alleged defamation. You also may have a farmer walk in who is seeking advice on her or his shooting entitlements. Even though I have exposure to all sorts of legal areas, over time I am starting to focus on the areas I enjoy the most. In my new role at Everingham Solomons I am undertaking a lot of litigation, criminal law and family law work."

In terms of advice for current #UNELaw students he notes "when I was a student I never realised how important networking is. It is important to talk to your lecturers and other members of the legal profession whilst you are studying."

Thank you Dan for sharing your story and congratulations on your new role at Everingham Solomons!

Written by Julia Warren- Senior Lecturer- UNE School of Law and Vice President and Engagement Officer of the EPC SCR