Legal practitioners across Queensland have today been absolutely rocked by the revelation that 5th Year Arts/Law student and likely valedictorian Jared Pascoe has declined to continue his legal education.

In a prepared release, Pascoe stated that he “just couldn’t stand the idea of a guilty man walking free at [his] hand.”

Sources say the 23 year old HWL Ebsworth clerk became disillusioned with the profession following a conversation with his girlfriend’s cousin at a family catch up in late August. Amelia McFadden, the cousin in question, allegedly shuddered when told of Mr Pascoe’s career choice, before stating that “Oh geez, that’s cool and I get we need lawyers, but gee I don’t reckon I could ever defend a man I knew was guilty.”

Apparently, it was something Mr Pascoe had never even considered before.

Despite clerking in a property law capacity and having no ambitions to enter criminal defence, the mere thought of letting a grubby criminal off the hook was too much for Pascoe.

“Gee whiz it bloody makes your skin crawl doesn’t it? Not for me I guess. Anyway back to Arts I suppose.”

From all of us here at The Obiter, good luck Mr Pascoe.