Siobhan Sharkey graduated from the University of Auckland in New Zealand, with a conjoint degree in Law and Arts, majoring in Linguistics. She was one of 25 students of Pacific heritage celebrated by Auckland Law School during graduation week on 15 May.
Siobhan’s decision to study Law came about after she was invited by her mother, Judge Tania Sharkey, to a Pacific Island Lawyers’ Association conference, where she sat in on a panel discussing what you can do with a law degree.
“I had just returned to New Zealand after living abroad, with no idea what I wanted to study but just the knowledge that’s what I was going to do.”
“Long story short, I enjoyed what I heard... My decision to study Linguistics was because of my time overseas—I enjoyed experiencing other cultures and I wanted to keep learning about other languages and maintain the French language. Thankfully that’s worked out fairly well,” she said.
Currently completing her professional legal studies course with the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS) Siobhan is looking to be admitted to the bar in September.
“I’m currently interning at a Criminal Defence law firm and I am looking forward to what life looks like without assignments!”
Siobhan is the daughter of Judge Tania Sharkey, New Zealand’s first District Court Judge of Tongan descent who is also an alumna of Auckland Law School. Both her mother and grandmother, Kalolaine Fotu Sharkey, who she calls her “prayer warrior”, are central figures in her life.
“She never fails to wake up early in the morning and pray over me and my family, and I have no doubt in my mind that her prayers have played a huge part in getting me to where I am today.”
Siobhan hails from the village of Houma, Tongatapu in Tonga, and the town of Strabane in Northern Ireland where late maternal grandfather William Sharkey came from. She said that having been raised in the Catholic Church, her faith has also guided her through life’s challenges and triumphs.
