[By Alumnus Alistair Bain]

Between 1991 and 1996 I did an Arts/Law Degree and then a 6 month Legal Practice Course at the University of Tasmania in Hobart. They were years of challenges, freedom, growth, lots of sport and insanely late nights. There was no formal Christian presence on campus that I knew of. But I’m not sure I would have welcomed their company in any event. I had a bit to do with the Navigators but only ever half-heartedly.

 My Christian growth happened slowly as I went twice weekly to St Johns Presbyterian, read books and met regularly with a wise man who owned a Christian book store.

 As soon as I graduated I moved back to my home city of Launceston.

 After doing my compulsory year as an Apprentice (which saw me doing all the jobs that my Master didn’t want to do such as making sure that the beer fridge was always full) I gradually developed my own practice, exclusively in the field of litigation and mainly as a criminal defence lawyer. I did that for 7 years before leaving the law and heading off to Bible College firstly in Sydney and then in Melbourne. I’m now an Assistant Minister at St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Launceston.

 My time as a lawyer was a richly satisfying. It was intellectually rigorous and stimulating. I was required to read and understand complicated legal issues and apply them to complicated life issues. And I had to give opinions to clients in a clear and straightforward way. This meant that if I wanted to be understood by my client (and believe me when I say that not all lawyers think this is necessary) then I was forced to be simple and clear.

 Most of the time I was dealing with clients who had no legal experience. So I had to jettison the jargon and speak in a fresh, straightforward way. This was especially important when I was addressing a jury and trying to persuade it to acquit my client.

 The work was never dull. The men and women and children who I acted for came from every demographic. And I learnt that life is rarely predictable and is often lonely.

 All of these experiences and challenges have helped shape the way that I approach my ministry. Every time I speak, whether it be to a large group or to a single person, I try to be simple and clear. I never assume that my audience is Biblically literate so I do my best to avoid jargon. And having seen some dreadful things in totally unexpected places I know that most of us (of not all of us) will have hidden hurt and deep shame and shattered dreams that will shunt God from the centre of our lives given half a chance. So I try to name these things, coax them to the surface and then shine the gospel on them in a way that is liberating and feeing.

 I am convinced that working as a lawyer is a good thing for a Christian to do. And I am very thankful to God for having given me that experience. But in 2004, when I asked myself how best I could serve the Church, I decided that, for me, persuading people as to the truth of the gospel was a better thing to do. And until I am convinced otherwise, that’s what I hope to keep doing.

By Allistair Bain http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/