WIRADJURI woman Taylah Gray received national attention when she had her first Supreme Court victory, which was against NSW Police and to hold a Black Lives Matter rally in Newcastle.
Less than a year later, she was among the University of Newcastle's 74 eligible fifth year law graduates admitted at a Wednesday ceremony to the Supreme Court as fully fledged lawyers.
The remaining 46 eligible graduates will attend ceremonies elsewhere.
"I'm feeling good, I'm feeling hopeful," said Ms Gray, 24. "I'm overwhelmed with everything."
Ms Gray is working at UON's Wollotuka Institute and Newcastle Law School and will also start a PhD into native title, sovereignty, the land rights movement and ways to grow the First Nations economy.
"The law is used as a vehicle for freedom and to seek justice," she said.
"I want to change policy, I want to change legislation, I want Indigenous people to not be the most incarcerated people, not just in Australia but in the world.
"I want First Nations people to be economically independent, we're the poorest and the sickest people here in Australia and I think I can use [law] to help change that."
Ms Gray said she was determined to use the platform she had been given since her Supreme Court win to advocate for others.
"I want to be the person who helps get a treaty in Australia, that's my biggest priority," she said.
"A treaty is a promise between two people to take the best possible care of each other.
"I don't think non Indigenous people have a good reputation with their treatment of First Nations people.
"I think this will start to bring us together."
She said she also wanted to be a criminal defence lawyer, help her community in Dubbo and become more involved in the land rights movement.
Normally, one Supreme Court judge presides over UON's admission ceremony, but this year there were four special guests: Chief Justice of NSW the Honourable Tom Bathurst AC, who holds the highest role in the Supreme Court; President of the NSW Court of Appeal the Honourable Justice Andrew Bell; Chief Judge at Common Law the Honourable Justice Clifton Hoeben AM RFD and Chief Judge in Equity the Honourable Justice Julie Ward.
Dean of Newcastle Law School Professor Tania Sourdin said hosting the guests was "extraordinary".
"Newcastle is the only place outside of Sydney where they have an admission ceremony, so it's quite unique and quite unusual," she said.
"It's incredible that this group of judges came to Newcastle.
"There is a focus on the regions, but we are also a very well known law school and incredibly highly regarded. I think [the graduates] really all recognised how special it was and they were so excited."
