James Swarbrick became the fifth generation in a run of lawyers when he graduated from Waikato University last week.
But it wasn't until recently he decided to be on the legal-side of the law. After high school, he gained a communications degree from Wintec and then decided to become a police officer.
"Once I finished my degree, I decided I wanted to go into the police force. I was sitting on the waiting list for about 18 months and got sick of waiting so one summer I decided I might go back and study.
"I'll be the fifth generation on my father's side to become a lawyer."
In 2010, he went to the University of Waikato to study law. He graduated alongside about 600 fellow University of Waikato students at ceremonies at Claudelands Arena.