Flashback Friday

An interview with Omar

My name is Omar Juweinat. I graduated from Cecil Hills High School in 2001.

Have I followed my dream since high school

I used to joke about being a lawyer until life played a cruel trick on me!  I still want to transition into my dream job as a landscaper when I grow up. 

What I'm doing now and how did I get there?

I work as a lawyer (Special Counsel) and have always specialised in criminal law. I did not get into law with a high HSC result, and took the road less travelled which involved a lot of hard yakka (I suspect that most of you millennials will need to google what that means). 

Some of my achievements in life so far?

From a professional perspective, I have an interesting job which takes me around the country defending people charged with the most serious offences on the criminal calendar. I have been fortunate to appear in some of the nation's most complex court cases which has its highs and lows but frankly my greatest achievement has to be marrying and having four beautiful children that I have been blessed with. Sadly, they all suffer from a horrible hearing impediment which is only triggered when I, or their mother, asks them to do something!

Special memories from school?

Firstly, having a full head of black hair.  Those were the days…...!

Secondly, shooting the breeze with a great group of friends who I still enjoy the love and support of after all these years.  More than 20 Christmases have flown by and our love for each other has not withered a bit.  In those days, despite my tardiness with my studies, for some strange reason for which science cannot explain,  I was at least punctual. I was always the first student through the school gates in the morning and the last one to leave school in the afternoon.

I developed a pretty close connection to the then Principal, John McGregor and his Deputy, Christine Petersen.  In no time, trips to the office were fairly regular and felt like being summoned to give evidence before the NSW Crime Commission.  I truly thank them both for their patience with me.

I have so many fantastic memories from my high school years that are endless with laughter and equally with sadness. The trials and tribulations that we all endured together have, in turn, shaped us all into becoming who we are today and what we stand for.

If there is anything that I can usefully tell you it would be that your high school years are much like a train platform. When one train leaves don’t wait for the next, find a new platform and claim it. Unless you do, you will end up as uncollected luggage going round that carousel. Cherish your days at school, before you know it, it will end but the memories won’t. 

Do I have an Instagram page?

I am not that cool and post nothing ......but it is @thejuryrat 

Omar Juweinat

Aquila Lawyers