Those are dramatically different careers. We can't tell you what you want to do. But technician seems like the clear path to me since you started in a technical direction. Lawyer is never going to get you back to that, but maybe that's something you enjoy.

GPA hasn't really been an issue in Australia for jobs. Most places just want your qualification once the job has been offered, particularly governmental jobs. Most universities here don't even include it on your academic transcript.

Edit: I failed a subject in my undergrad and it's never been raised as an issue. 21 and partying was the reason. I've worked on government agencies for well over a decadf. Failed subjects wouldn't be on your certificate either. Workplaces consider your university as the gate keeper of capacity. If they admitted you to the degree, you're qualified enough.

Can you sit the exam again? Doctors here, for example, fail exams all the time

I’d go technician role and try to retake the exam. As a technician myself (communications), it will help you gain an appreciation for the scope and detail of work needed to build and troubleshoot that many engineers don’t understand. Best of luck to you!

Do what you want to do and make it happen in any way that you can. There are plenty of opportunities out there and you can always create your own. Don’t ever feel pigeon holed, the world is as open as you make it.

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sorry to hear that! I think my strategy would be to identify where specifically in ‘space systems’ you want to work - to me space systems sounds quite broad, so what specific work are you interested in. From there maybe get an engineering job with analogous skills in industry to build up skill and experience.

I’m Canadian so I don’t know about Australian Aerospace, but I’m guessing they don’t only recruit fresh engineering graduates so there must be another way in.

Another benefit is that I find using the same skills across different contexts gives you diverse work experience and broadens your imagination a bit which I think on the whole makes for better engineers.

I don’t imagine any of these strategies as better or worse but if I was in your position this is another way to get to where you want to go.

All the best!

Take or retake some high point classes to raise your GpA and gain more knowledge. Then reapply when you are better prepared. In meantime go to work in the industry supporting the program gaining experience from ground up.

Slightly different path than yours but I worked my way through school as a very indifferent student. I knew I liked technical endeavors so I just kept taking "lab tech" and "production tech" jobs. The more I worked, the more I saw how important the learning was, and the more motivated I became to learn what college could teach me. The more I learned, the better my job opportunities became.

If being involved in space exploration in a technical way is where your interests lie - I would recommend getting into it at whatever level you can, and develop from there.

Worked for me.

NOTE: I am now an old retired guy so my experience may not transfer anymore.

Space law? Like negotiating contracts with vendors? If you’re into engineering I can imagine you being satisfied with practicing law. Perhaps IP, I guess - but the best IP lawyers have a good understanding of the subject matter they litigate

I don't have an answer to your question, but I'm so sorry for your loss. Have some faith in the universe. Keep going. You're way smarter than so many of us and still have the opportunity to get out there. So go get out there. You'll get it back, just keep trying. :)