2023 First Year Guide

20 23

FIRST YEAR GUIDe

A study guide for undergraduate and postgraduate law students commencing their degree in 2023

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land on which we meet and gather, and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. The Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples have one of the oldest continuing cultures in human history, and we acknowledge that they have shared their knowledge and teachings on this land for many millennia before us.

We’d also like to thank everyone who has been involved in this publication, including Associate Professor Wayne Morgan and LSS President Neha Kalele, for their invaluable input and assistance.

Disclaimer:

Whilst all care has been taken to provide you with the latest and correct information, we acknowledge that this is only a guidebook and is only indicative of one of the many ways to approach your law degree. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian National University. The information provided in this handbook is subject to change without notice. Please follow the latest information provided by ANU.

The publication is distributed free of charge. The author(s), editor(s) and relevant people are not responsible for any errors or omissions that may have occurred in the production of this publication.

Vice-president (Education): Alex Bako

Publications Director: Nikki Wade

Education Directors: Ethan Tudehope, E Wen Wong and Brianna Knowles

Information ACADEMIC

SEMESTER 1 2023

HOW TO PREPARE FOR LAW SCHOOL

Perhaps the most useful advice we can give you about preparing for law school is to not be afraid to ask for help! The College of Law Student Education and Support team is always happy to answer any questions you might have about your degree. You can contact them by:

Emailing enquiries.law@anu.edu.au

Scheduling a meeting with a student advisor on this webpage: https://law.anu.edu.au/college-student-and-education-support

1. Double Check the Course Structure

At this stage, you’ve likely checked out the structure for your degree and enrolled in your courses. If you are still confused or unsure in any way, follow these easy steps to find your recommended plan:

Go to https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/ Find your degree (i.e. LLB and PPE, LLB and Arts)

program

Year 1 for LLB (Hons) Students:

Year 1 for Juris Doctor Students:

Full-timestudentsundertake 3compulsorycoursesintheir firstsemester.Anadditional LawElectivewillneedtobe takeninalateryear,during anintensivesessionor semester,tocompletethe degreein3years

HOW TO PREPARE FOR LAW SCHOOL

2. Check Out the Class Summary

Keeping track of all of the information for each of your subjects can be difficult, but don’t stress! Start law school the right way by getting on top of your coursework and checking out the Class Summary page for each of your subjects. There you will find:

Your lecturer’s name and contact details

Assessment due dates

Prescribed textbooks

Other interesting course info!

Usually, your course convenor will post a link to this course guide on the Wattle course page. However, if a link is not provided, follow these easy steps to get a copy:

Go to the ANU Programs and Courses webpage: https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/catalogue

Search and select the course you are taking (e.g LAWS1203)

Look through the ‘Overview’ and ‘Study’ tabs

Click on the ‘Class’ tab

Select ‘View’ the Class Summary for the current semester

3. Find Your Textbooks

TIP: Download and save the course guide for future easy reference

You’ve arrived at ANU ready to study law but there’s just one problem- you have no textbooks or study materials. Not to worry, you can find out which textbooks are required for your courses by checking out your Class Summary (see above) and the Program Course List (https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/course-search).

There are several ways to access your textbooks. Some options are to:

Buy your textbooks at Harry Hartog in Kambri

Order your textbooks online

TIP: these run out quickly so hurry!

TIP: Booktopia and Zookal are good places to start

Buy your textbooks second hand from an older student

TIP: join the ANU Law

Textbook Exchange page on Facebook

Borrow your textbooks at the library for a limited time

HOW TO PREPARE FOR LAW SCHOOL

4. Check your ANU Email Regularly

Your ANU email address is the number one way that your course convenors and College of Law administrators will try to contact you, so make sure you check it regularly! To login to your email address, follow these simple steps:

Login to ANU’s Interactive Student Information System (ISIS) at

https://isis.anu.edu.au

Click on ‘Email’ under the ‘Useful Links’ section on the left hand side of your homepage

5. Access the Wattle Page

To prepare for studying law at ANU, it is also important to check out the Wattle page for each of your courses. Wattle is the Learning Management System (LMS) for all ANU students, which provides key information including course updates, weekly readings, lecture recordings and assessment details. You can access Wattle by clicking on this link: https://wattlecourses.anu.edu.au/my/

Wattle your Week 1

HOW TO PREPARE FOR LAW SCHOOL

6. Login To MyTimetable

MyTimetable allows you to view your class schedule (including dates, times and locations) and enrol in tutorials for the Semester. To view your Personal Timetable, follow these steps:

Login to the MyTimetable Student Module (https://mytimetable.anu.edu.au/)

Click ‘Timetable’ in the Menu Bar

Select ‘All Weeks’ in the dropdown box in the top-right corner

To enrol in tutorials for Semester 1, follow these steps:

Login to MyTimetable

In the Enrolments window, click on any course with ‘SELECT’ or ‘ADJUST’ SELECT means that your are not currently allocated to any tutorial ADJUST means that you are allocated to a tutorial, but can change it

Click ‘Select’ next to the tutorial you want to attend

Click ‘Close’ to acknowledge the successful allocation message

TIP: Make sure you note when tutorial sign-ups open in your diary. This is important, because many tutorials become full within the first minuteofopening!

1. 2. 3.

HOW TO STUDY LAW AT ANU

1. Attend Lectures

Lectures are where the majority of course content is taught. They are almost always recorded and uploaded to the Wattle course page via Echo360. However, it is important to try and attend the lectures in person because these recordings can fail. It is also a good opportunity to meet other law students in your first year of law!

TIP: most lecturers will post their lecture slides on Wattle. Be sure to use these!

2. Participate in Tutorials and Seminars

TIP: Don’t be shy! Your contribution to class discussion won’t look “show-offy”, it will usually help your classmates with their learning (and get you a good mark!).

Tutorials are small classes held with an individual tutor. They are designed to be interactive to aid your understanding and learning of course content. Seminars are similar to tutorials but are slightly larger in size. Foundations of Australian Law (LAWS1201) is taught in this way.

Attendance and participation in tutorials and seminars often make up approximately 10% of your marks for the course. By completing the weekly readings, preparing some questions and participating in class discussion you will guarantee yourself a good mark! Not only that, but participating in tutorials is also the best way to learn how to prepare for exams.

HOW TO STUDY LAW AT ANU

3. Finish Your Readings

Your lecturer will usually assign you readings for each week of class. These may include chapters of the textbook, legal cases or academic readings relevant to the course content. You can find your required readings on Wattle. Your convenor may choose to provide a complete Readings List or update the Wattle Page each week.

Readings must be completed before your lecture and tutorial that week. Even though they may seem tedious, finishing your readings will help you participate in tutorials, gain a deeper understanding of the course content and practice your legal comprehension skills. Everyone approaches readings differently, but you might find it useful to highlight important passages and/or write summarised notes.

4. Check Out Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)

The ANU College of Law has a ‘Peer Assisted Learning’ program for first-year law students. Later year law students run weekly study sessions during the semester on foundational legal skills that you will need throughout your degree. They also provide study resources, exam preparation tips and a space to ask any questions you might have.

Information about upcoming PAL sessions will generally be included in weekly email updates from the ANU College of Law. You can also self-enrol in the PAL program on Wattle, join the Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/anucolpal) or email them at pal.law@anu.edu.au.

ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Law assessment tasks can sometimes seem scary, because they are very different to what you were probably used to in high school. However, many resources are available to smooth the transition into your law degree.

Research Essays

All law subjects have a significant research assessment component. However, legal research essays are quite different to previous essays you may have written. Not to worry! Many different bodies such as the ANU College of Law, LSS and ANUSA College of Law Reps will put on essay writing workshops. In particular, ANU Academic Skills is a great resource to help you out. They provide:

Online resources containing advice ranging from referencing to writing assessments and adjusting to university. Check them out at https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills

Scheduled appointments with older students, who can read drafts of your assessment task and give helpful feedback.

Online and in-person drop-in sessions, for smaller tasks including analysing the question, developing an essay plan and referencing issues

TIP: Keep an eye out for their academic skills workshops being held in O-Week!

Problem Question Assessments

Many of your law courses will require you to complete take-home problem question assessments. You will be provided with a fictitious scenario and asked one or multiple questions, usually requiring you to consider which of the laws studied in class have been breached. If this doesn’t make a lot of sense, don’t worry! You will learn the basics of HIRAC and approaching law assignments in Laws 1201: Foundations of Australian Law, so it is super important to attend these classes to set yourself up for success.

ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Mid-Semester and Final Exams

Law courses will often have an exam in the mid-semester exam period and/or in the final exam period. The ANU Examinations Office will email you a personalised exam timetable with specific dates and times in the few weeks beforehand. Law exams are often problem questions, which you must complete under timed conditions. Due to COVID-19, many law exams have been online and open-book since 2020. However, this does not mean that you shouldn’t study! Writing a comprehensive and well-structured summary is vital to success.In addition, exams may return to in-person, invigilated assessment tasks in 2023.

To help you prepare for exams, the LSS will run pre-exam tutorials during the stu-vac period for most compulsory law courses. For these tutorials, an older student who received a Distinction or High Distinction in the course will go over how to prepare for the exam, a past paper response and other useful tips. Keep an eye on our Facebook page!

Academic Integrity

The ANU College of Law takes breaches of Academic Integrity very seriously. This means that you should be careful not to plagiarise other people’s work, collude on assessment tasks or cheat on exams. The penalties for violating the ANU’s Academic Integrity policies are very severeyou could receive a mark of zero for the course, have your misconduct noted on your academic transcript or even be expelled from university. Even seemingly minor violations of academic integrity can prevent you from being admitted as a lawyer in the future.

For more information on ANU’s Academic Integrity Policy, see https://policies.anu.edu.au/ppl/document/ANUP_

6477101

EXTRA RESOURCES

Find Legal Answers: Australian Legal System

An online resource that delves into the different branches of the Australia legal system, how laws are made and the philosophical principles which guide law-making. This will be a really helpful resource as you start your Foundations of Australian Law course!

https://legalanswers.sl.nsw.gov.au/hot-topics-australian-legal-system

The Unrequired Reading List

A curated list of books, speeches, film, philosophy and other creative works selected by the ANU College of Law to expand your appreciation of law and justice beyond the prescribed reading list:

https://law.anu.edu.au/about-us/unrequired-reading-list

Podcast Series

Several staff members at the ANU College of Law have created interesting new podcast series! In ‘Secondary Rules’ ANU associate professors Goss and Joshua Neoh discuss how their research interests in Australian Public Law and Legal Theory interact with each other and the state (https://secondaryrules.simplecast.com/).

‘Queering the Law’, hosted by College of Law professor Ntina Tzouvala investigates the dynamic intersection between the law and queerness in contemporary politics (https://on.soundcloud.com/FLARJ).

Check out both of these series, and others!

Events SOCIAL

SOCIAL EVENTS

You have an exciting year of social events ahead of you! Starting law school can be challenging and daunting, so we’ve put together a guide of this year’s social events to help settle you into law school and life at ANU. These events are a great opportunity to get involved in the law community, unwind and meet long lasting friends and peers. The best way to stay up to date with all these events is by joining the “ANU Law Students’ Society” Facebook page. Here is a brief timeline for the year ahead:

Disclaimer: These planned events for 2023 may be subject to change

15 February 2023

Wednesday (O-week)

21 February 2023

Tuesday (Week 1)

21 February 2023

Tuesday (Week 1)

22 February 2023

Wednesday (Week 1)

TBC

4 March 2023

Saturday (Week 2)

Law lawns

17-19 March 2023

25 May 2023

Thursday (Week 12)

15 May 2023

Monday (Week 9)

Friday-Sunday (Week 4) RUC Badger

First Year BBQ

First Year Law Camp

LLB End of Semester Drinks

Law Theatre

Law Theatre

LAWS1001 Panel

LSS Pub Crawl

LawSoc Lawn Bowls

JD Welcome Event Birrigai

SOCIAL EVENTS

With this timeline in mind here are some of the main things to keep your eye out for:

O-Week Events

Orientation Week (“O-Week”) runs from 13th-17th of February. During the week there will be events held both online and in person, so you can be involved whether you are on-campus, interstate or overseas. The events are run by different faculties and student societies on campus so make sure to stay up to date with what events are being held.

Additionally, ANU will host informative events such as Course Induction Sessions.

SOCIAL EVENTS

LAWS1001 Panel Event

To kick off the year, there will also be a LAWS1001 panel event, held in the Law Theatre from 5-6:30 pm on Tuesday the 21st of February. This event is specifically focussed on first year undergraduate law students and involves a panel discussion consisting of a COL faculty member, a 4th year student and an alumni. It covers the common themes that you need to know as a first year law student, such as: how to study law, balancing life at ANU, and career opportunities. The panel’s knowledge on these topics will be a fantastic headstart to law school and life at ANU.

First Year Law Camp

Following its great success in its debut year, the first year law camp will be held again this year in Semester 1. This threeday long vacation is a great way for students to unwind from the pressures of their studies and the busy start to life at ANU. It includes plenty of relaxing, drinking, boogieing, and networking, helping you bond over the difficult discipline of law and meet new people and make new friends.

The Law Ball

The annual law ball will be held around July or August this year. Following on from last year’s three course meal, unlimited drinks and incredible venue of the Canberra arboretum, this event only gets better and better each year. Like a fine wine, it will include all the perks of last year’s event and more, and is definitely worth keeping an eye out for towards the end of the year.

GET INVOLVED with ANU Law

GET INVOLVED WITH ANU LAW

Law Competitions

The ANU LSS runs four competitions throughout the year: Mooting, Negotiations, Witness Examination, and Client Interview. The Novice competitions, intended for those who have never competed before, take place in semester two. The competitions allow students to develop practical legal skills in a friendly and inclusive environment.

In the second semester of each year, the LSS launches a Competitions Guide which outlines each competition and provides helpful tips from previous competitors. To get involved or find out more, keep an eye out for this Competitions Guide or email the Vice-President of Competitions, Lachie Macfarlan, at lsscompetitions@anu.edu.au.

Law Reform and Social Justice

Law Reform and Social Justice (LRSJ) projects provide a practical outlet for students to use their research skills, engage with the community, and better understand how law operates in society. The projects aim to foster a commitment to social justice and law reform through volunteer activities. Examples of existing projects include GreenLaw (climate and environmental justice), the Indigenous Reconciliation Project, and the Human Rights Project.

Through LRSJ, you have the opportunity to interact with academic staff outside the classroom and work with later-year students. LRSJ also hosts events that allow you to learn more about law reform and social justice issues.

Find out more and keep up to date through the LRSJ Facebook page www.facebook.com/ANULRSJ/ or website https://lrsj.anu.edu.au/.

GET INVOLVED WITH ANU LAW

Law Revue

The ANU Law Revue is an annual student-run theatre comedy production. The show’s content ranges from current affairs to abstract legal theory, everyday student life to pop culture, and legal issues to funny puns.

Auditions are held in the early weeks of Semester 1 and are open to all ANU students (not just law students!). Whether you are a seasoned singer, musician or dancer, or an absolute novice, ANU Law Revue has a spot for you.

If you are interested in ge, check out the ANU Law Revue on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ANULawRevue/ or message their Facebook page www.facebook.com/ANULawRevue/.

International Law Society

The ANU International Law Society (ILS) provides students with opportunities to further their study and enjoyment of international law It is the only Australian affiliate of the International Law Students’ Association.

ILS initiatives include careers events, mentoring programs, and panel discussions on issues in international law. The ILS also participates in the International Humanitarian Law moot competition.

You can learn more about the ILS by visiting their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ANUI LS or emailing ils@anu.edu.au.

Mental Health First Aid Training

Mental Health First Aid Training is available to LSS Members, providing them with an internationally-recognised accreditation for three years. Across their career, members of the legal profession may encounter clients and colleagues impacted by mental health. This training equips students to deal with these challenges.

Information JD

JD INFORMATION

Planning ahead

Although there are many similarities between the Juris Doctor and the Bachelors of Law, there are a few important differences that first year JD students should be aware of when beginning their studies.

The most important thing to consider is the length of the JD in comparison to the undergraduate course. Due to the JD being 3 years instead of the usual 4-6, this means as a first year JD student it is best to start planning earlier rather than later. That way you can make the most of your 3 years and you don’t miss out on opportunities due to failing to do something in your first year.

Here are a few examples:

Applications for summer clerkships start in Year 2 and happen over the summer before you begin your final year. Clerkships give you a taste of what it is like to work in commercial law and often act as a pathway into graduate employment. So start thinking about what you will need in your application so it's not too late by the time you start your 2nd year. The LSS runs a Clerkship Information Evening each year in Semester 1 that you are welcome to attend even as a first year student so you can learn more about the opportunities available and how best to prepare.

You can participate in LSS novice competitions in your first year and senior LSS competitions in your second year, you do not have to wait! Participating in these in your 1st and 2nd year is a great way to develop practical legal skills.

Keep an eye on your inbox, the college of law sends out a Careers and Employability Newsletter regularly throughout the year, advertising upcoming legal job opportunities, clerkships, internships, clinics and information sessions relating to these.

JD INFORMATION

Courses

Although Juris Doctor students often have the same assessments, course requirements and tutorials with undergraduate law students, there are a few differences you should be aware of if you are pursuing a JD.

Some course conveners will not grade JD students on their tutorial attendance and participation. Due to this, assessments will sometimes have slightly higher weighting to make up the 10% of your grade that is not from the participation. For example, instead of an exam being worth 45% of your final grade, it will be worth 55%.

However, it is still beneficial to attend the tutorial! The best way to understand the course content and meet fellow JD students is by attending the tutorials. Participating in class is also a great way to prepare for exams. Keep an eye out for tutorials later in the afternoon if you are juggling work and study.

Another difference is the amount of and type of assessments you may find in JD courses compared to the undergraduate courses. JD students sometimes have fewer or more assignments; and the word count requirement is usually higher for JD students. With this in mind make sure you are looking at the right course guide when looking for information about your courses.

Furthermore, the standard in which you are judged by course convenors may be higher due to JD students already having an undergraduate degree. Don’t stress though, course convenors are always willing to go over skills if you need, especially if it's been a while since you have studied at university!

Social Events

The LSS runs a couple of JD events throughout the year, make sure to join the LSS FaceBook page so you’re notified of any upcoming events. One coming up is the JD Welcome Event- make sure you don't miss out!

Wellbeing HEALTH &

HEALTH & WELLBEING

LSS wellbeing

The ANU LSS is deeply committed to prioritising the wellbeing of all law students at the ANU. The toll that legal education and practice can take on the mental health of individuals is well-established. With this in mind, the Wellbeing Director- working closely together with the President as well as other portfolios- strives to ensure and promote both mental and physical health of law students through a variety of events, resources and initiatives throughout the year.

The LSS Mental Health Week is a particularly important week that highlights the works of the Wellbeing director, which include various workshops, guest talks, yoga, meditation sessions and much more. However, they are actively involved in promoting student health and wellbeing throughout the year, so if you ever have any questions, concerns or simply want to chat with someone, we highly encourage you to contact the LSS Wellbeing VP at lsswellbeing@anu.edu.au.

ANU Medical Services

The on-campus health services provider is the ANU Medical Centre. The ANU Medical Centre operates a state-of-the-art health and wellness clinic on levels 2 and 3 of Health and Wellbeing Centre (Building 156) in Kambri. Services are currently free for ANU students and staff. Students should bring their Medicare Care and Student ID or an international health care if relevant.

Website: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/contacts/medical-services

Phone: +61 2 6178 0400

ANU Counselling

The ANU offers a free, confidential and non-diagnostic counselling service to all current ANU students provided by the Counsellors in the Counselling Centre. No referral or Mental Health Treatment Plan from a General Practitioner is required to attend appointments. The ANU Counselling is currently operating remotely and is offering appointments via Zoom.

Website: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/health-safety-wellbeing/counselling/anucounselling

Phone: 02 6178 0455

HEALTH & WELLBEING

ANU Wellbeing and Support Line

The ANU Wellbeing and Support Line is a phone service for all current students who are experiencing situational stress, emotional difficulties and mental health concerns. The service can also be used to provide debriefing support and assistance for student leaders. The ANU Wellbeing and Support Line works with ANU Counselling but is operational 24 hours a day.

Telephone: 1300 050 327

SMS: 0488 884 170

ANU Thrive Wellbeing Consultations

ANU Thrive offers free wellbeing consultations every Tuesday and Wednesday. Consultations are held by a later-year student mentor, who can assist in finding appropriate support services and guiding you through your time at university. The team is trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid and is familiar with both ANU and external community support available to students. While this is not a counselling service, international students can access wellbeing consultations while off-shore and at no cost.

Bookings can be made online or by email at thrive@anu.edu.au

Website: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/contacts/anu-thrive

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThriveANU/

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Respectful Relationships Unit

The Respectful Relationships Unit provide information, support, case coordination and referral for those impacted by sexual assault or sexual harassment, including those supporting someone who has experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment.

You can also disclose an incidence of sexual misconduct using the ANU Sexual Misconduct Disclosure Form.

Email: respect@anu.edu.au

Website: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/contacts/respectful-relationships-at-anu

Access and Inclusion

Access and Inclusion (A&I) is aimed at supporting students within the ANU community whose participation in academic studies is impacted by physical and learning disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic medical conditions and short-term illnesses/conditions as well as carers, international under 18 students and elite athletes. They aim to raise awareness and understanding of disability issues amongst the broader ANU community and enable students with disability to participate fully in university life.

Access and Inclusion helps students to participate fully in their program of study, be academically successful and achieve their personal best through the development of an Education Access Plan. Students are required to register with A&I before services can be provided, this process will require verification of the disability or medical condition through the provision of appropriate documentation and discussion of student's needs. The office will then assess the nature and extent of the disability or medical condition and facilitate the provision of support. This may include the use of equipment, note taking support and reviews of exam and assessment.

Website: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/contacts/access-inclusion

Phone: +61 2 6125 5036

DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT

LSS

Neha Kalele (President) & Alex Bako (Vice-President Education)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ANULSS

Website: https://www.anulss.com/

Email: lsseducation@anu.edu.au and lss@anu.edu.au

ANUSA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ANUStudentsAssociation

Website: https://anusa.com.au/

Phone: (02) 6125 2444

ANUSA CoL reps

Suzie Ma & William Carey

Email: sa.col@anu.edu.au

College Student and Education Support Team

Phone: +61 2 6125 3483

Email: enquiries.law@anu.edu.au