FIRST YEAR HANDBOOK
2015 GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY LAW SOCIETY // GULS // EDUCATION www.guls.org
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Kindly Sponsored By:
2015 GULS First Year Handbook Authors: James Dorman | First Year Representative Editors: Caitlin Usher | Vice President Education Georgia Cupples | President Contributing Authors: Thomas Canniffe Hannah Maxwell Sammy Toogood Fergus McLaughlin Mike Bidwell Leeonee Thompson Joshua Bayly Griffith University Law Society | www.guls.org | 2015
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
President’s Welcome A Message from the First Year Rep Traps for Young Players First Year Experience Meet GULS Keeping Up with GULS A Few Things to Consider GULS Mentoring Junior Legal Competitions Getting Involved in Sport Law and a Social Life Important Dates Getting Lost Around Campus?
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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME Georgia Cupples
Welcome to your first year in Law School and a big congratulations on getting in! I remember my first year so well; I actually knew nothing about the law (no joke). So don’t stress if it seems hard or foreign, you’ll get through. The other thing I found fairly difficult, was adjusting to ‘uni’ life. Some of you will have just come from High School and others have come from work or another degree. Either way, it’s still not super easy adjusting to a law degree. That’s why we are here! I’m Georgia and I am the 2015 President of the Griffith University Law Society (GULS). Through the year we will host mentoring programs, retreats and court visits, seminars, legal competitions, sports, shows and social events. GULS is here to support you through your degree and make your experience in law fun. We have an office in Room -1.12 of the Griffith Law Building where there will always be someone from 11am-2pm and I promise there will always be a full supply of coffee. So come in for a chat and a coffee/tea anytime! If you ever have any questions or concerns about your time at university, you can email me at president@guls.org (honestly, you cannot annoy me enough). This publication that I hope you are planning on continuing to read, is our First Year Handbook. I am so excited to share this with you, as it is our first publication for 2015! This handbook will give you tips and tricks on getting through, some information on our events and an introduction to the people on our committee. I’m also so excited that in week three we will be hosting a Summer Boat Party! Make sure you come along; it’ll be such a great start to the year and a good chance to make friends. Happy reading and I will see you all around,
Georgia.
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A MESSAGE FROM YOUR FIRST YEAR REP James Dorman James’ Recommendations: 1. Time management is essential. Buy a 2015 diary and start marking dates. 2. Pre-prepare food. I cannot stress how important this is, you will save some serious coin. 3. Try to attend some of the GULS social events as all law students need to party once in a while. Plus you get to make heaps of new friends. 4. Explore campus as much as possible. As a new student it’s essential to check out all the facilities the Nathan campus has to offer. You’ll be surprised by how many places you discover while roaming the campus.
My name is James and I will be your First Year Representative for 2015, which means that you will likely be seeing me around quite a bit this year. I organise all first year events such as the first year seminar, held in week 5, which will provide all the “know how” for your first year of law. Later in the year there will also be the first year courthouse visit, which will take you inside of an actual trial and the first year retreat where we will visit a law firm for the day. I’m always eager for a good chat so feel free to approach me if you ever want to talk about study, uni life, music, films, comic books, video games, pets, politics, The Beatles, food, literally anything. In my first week as a uni student I was a nervous wreck who would constantly question and doubt my abilities in law. Reading a case for the first time almost felt like reading a different language. Don’t worry though! This is how nearly all first years felt (even your lecturers). I started Law School with no hope of being a lawyer, now I’ve got my heart set on it. So if you ever feel as though you need some perspective, I’m the guy to speak to. Try and talk to as many of your peers as possible. At first it will be hard but eventually you’ll find yourself in the middle of study groups with loads of new friends. I’m sure you will all have a phenomenal first year experience like I did.
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TRAPS FOR YOUNG PLAYERS A word from our sponsors, HopgoodGanim You’ve done the hard yards at high school and are now studying law. Turn up to uni a few days a week, maybe work part-time, go out with friends, bit of stress around exams then 3 long months of summer holidays each year, before looking for a graduate job in your final year. Right? Not anymore. Regardless of Australia’s current economic outlook, the statistics for law graduates aren’t pretty. There are roughly 60,000 lawyers working in Australia1, but more than 12,000 law graduates hit the market every year – more than double the number of law graduates in 2001.2 The number of law schools in Australia has more than tripled since 1990, going from just 10 to 36. So what can you do to increase your chances of securing the role you want and what are some traps to avoid? 1. All LLBs/ BLaws are the same Not all law schools are considered equal and not even two degrees from the same law school will be considered equal. Work hard at achieving the best results you can achieve, even if this means you need to reduce your credit load so you can still comfortably fit in work, friends and other commitments. Give serious consideration to completing a double degree and what that second degree is. What additional qualification will help you to stand out from the crowd while also providing you with a valuable skill set? IT, Commerce or Science will help to set you apart. Psychology or Arts will not. 2. Focussing just on study It is essential to work, at least part-time, during university semesters. This demonstrates to potential employers that you have the ability to effectively manage your time and juggle competing priorities. It is also essential that you have a range of interests that you actively pursue outside of just study/ work to maintain a healthy balance in life. Some of these activities will also give you an opportunity to demonstrate your leadership, organisational skills or your ability to achieve something really great by working hard for it. 3. Looking for legal work in your final year of study Most mid and top tier law firms select the majority of their graduates from their vacation clerks and law clerks. Vacation clerk and law clerk opportunities tend to become available once you are in your second or third year of study. Smaller firms tend to take more law clerks and fewer vacation clerks. Don’t put your eggs all in one basket – try to get a range of experience from different legal employers if possible. 1 2
http://www.smh.com.au/national/newscustom/law-of-the-jungle-lawyers-now-an-endangered-species-20141011-114u91.html http://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/16023-law-graduate-unemployment-hits-record-high
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4. Discounting the importance of non-legal work Working at Woolworths, Gloria Jeans or McDonald’s provides fantastic customer service experience, time management, teamwork and problem solving. Make the most of these roles by taking pride in what you do, rather than treating it as ‘just a job’. 5. What happens at Vegas stays at Vegas Law firms employ you as a graduate, not because we want you as a graduate, but because we want you as a future lawyer. Becoming admitted is the only way you can become a lawyer. In preparing for your admission to the legal profession you will need to satisfy the Board that you are ‘currently of good fame and character’ and a ‘fit and proper person’. The onus is on you to disclose to the Board any matter that could influence its decision in relation to this. Failure to do so, if subsequently discovered, can have grave consequences, such as being refused admission or struck off the roll. Most law firms are fairly risk averse and don’t want to take a chance on someone who might not be able to practice as a lawyer. For example, speeding tickets, overpayments to you by Centrelink, drinking in a public place or ‘youthful high-jinks’ all need to be disclosed and can have more serious implications than you might first think. 6. All legal experience is good legal experience Not if it comes at the cost of your firm being conflicted off a matter because of your prior work experience. With so many law students completing vacation clerkships or other legal work, you will be exposed to real matters for real clients. Every now and then a law student will get the opportunity to work on a particular matter during one vacation clerkship and then a short time later be exposed to the same matter on the other side when they do a vacation clerkship at a different law firm. You need to be absolutely scrupulous and beyond reproach in these instances. Always let an employer know of what other vacation clerkships and so forth you have coming up, so they can take pre-emptive action to minimise the potential for conflict later on, as well as advising where you have just worked. 7. Plan B Always have a Plan B. Plan B might involve doing further specialised study that will make your skills unique. This doesn’t necessarily mean PLT. It might mean applying for roles outside of law. Start thinking about a Plan B now, not when you didn’t get the job offer you want. Do what you enjoy and you will perform well. Law is a marathon, not a sprint, so make sure you give yourself the best opportunity to work in a role you love by giving yourself the best foundation possible by avoiding these traps.
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FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE Joshua Bayly
I started Law School at Griffith having no idea what to expect. What I received however was more than I ever could have hoped for. From the exceptional friends that I’ve made, the knowledge I’ve gained and the experiences I’ve had, my first year studying at Griffith has been a year I’ll never forget. When I arrived on campus on my first day I felt completely overwhelmed, this was nothing like the high school I had grown up in. After finally locating the lecture theatre we were having our welcome lecture in, I filed inside nervously alongside 150 other students. Some were laughing with others (how had they already made friends?), some looked very serious and others like me, just sat quietly in their seats staring straight ahead at a blank whiteboard. My first Law School experience couldn’t have been more different from how the rest of my year was to be. Throughout the rest of first and second semester, I grew comfortable and made friends with the people around me, listened to lectures given by passionate lecturers about contracts, our constitution, and legal theories, played social sport for the Law School and attended as many competitions in as many law firms as I could. Getting involved in social activities is essential for success in first year and onwards, it allows you to build a great network of both new students such as yourselves and more experienced 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students that can be an absolute treasure trove of help. The best piece of advice that I can offer would be to not grow complacent with your studies and gain a thirst for knowledge of all things law. Without a doubt, studying law is one of the hardest, but most rewarding things I have ever done, and I hope you will all enjoy it as much as I have.
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MEET GULS The Griffith University Law Society (affectionately called GULS) is a student organisation dedicated to supporting the diverse needs of law students. As the largest club on campus, catering to hundreds of members the GULS committee acts as a key student body nurturing the development of all students, whether it is in academia, professional development, competitions, socials or just having a friendly ear. The GULS committee caters to these needs through developing a number of fantastic initiatives throughout the year such as social events, educational guides and programs, on campus law competitions and opportunities to compete nationally, sporting clubs and events, careers, and first year support. So get involved!
President : Georgia Cupples president@guls.org I'm Georgia and this year I'm the President of GULS! You'll see me around a fair bit and you've already heard from me above, so i'll keep it short. My role entails a bit of everything, it’s busy but fun. I'll be at almost every event I can possibly manage this year. Please do not hesitate to ask me anything, email me or have a chat/coffee. Enjoy your first year in law school and get involved. You'll never regret it!
Vice President (Finance): Sam Lawford vp.finance@guls.org Hi! I'm Sam and I take care of GULS finances and negotiate all of our sponsorship. My duties generally include emailing firms, making sure they receive their sponsorship deals and managing our money! It's a fairly busy job but, well worth it. I oversee all portfolios from a finance perspective so if you have any questions about anything you can shoot me an email or have a chat in person!
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Vice President (Education): Caity Usher vp.education@guls.org Hey everyone! I’m Caity and I’m thrilled to be the VP Education for 2015. It’s my job to keep you all updated with exciting news in relation to the legal profession and help you pave your way through your degree. I’m always up for a chat if anyone has any questions about careers, Griffith Law, GULS, travel, Game of Thrones and Suits. Just send me an email or find me on campus!
Mentoring Officer: Thomas Canniffe
Careers Officer: Angharad Rees
internal.edu@guls.org
careers@guls.org
Hey, I'm Tom! I'm this year's Mentoring Officer and it's my responsibility to organise the first year mentoring program. The program aims to ensure that your journey through the maze that is your first year in law school is smooth and that you can access support and guidance from your mentor. Get ready for a fantastic year!
Equity Officer: Lizzie Dowrie equity@guls.org Hi everyone, my name is Lizzie Dowrie and I'm the Equity Officer for 2015. That means I'm in charge of promoting social justice and equality in the law within the committee. I'm in my third year of a Bachelor of Laws and Government and International Relations, and I love travelling and reading.
Hey! My name is Angharad Rees. I am a third year student studying a Bachelor of Law/ Politics. As first years you may not think much of the events and publications that I am involved with will have much to do with you, BUT you are wrong! It's never too early to start thinking about where you’re heading and where you want to go! If ever you need any assistance feel free to ask! Have an amazing first year!
First Year Representative: James Dorman firstyearrep@guls.org Hey everybody! I’m James and as you already know I will be your first year representative this year. Starting uni can be daunting but trust me you will LOVE it. In Year 12 I was torn between choosing my passion for filmmaking or journalism. At first I didn’t believe I had what it takes to study law but thanks to the accessibility of Griffith Law I ended up loving it.
Education Officer: Ebony Franzmann
Education Officer: Caitlin Maher
education@guls.org
education@guls.org
Hey guys! My name is Ebony Franzmann and I am one of your two GULS Education Officers for 2015. If I have one piece of advice to give you as a first year law student, it is this: fake it until you make it. Good luck guys!
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Oh hey there! I'm Caitlin and I make up 1/2 of your education officers this year. Our job largely involves publications such as the electives guide to make sure your degree is all smoooooth sailing. Hope to see ya round!
Vice President (Administration): Cori Fitzpatrick vp.administration@guls.org Hey guys I’m Cori; I’ll be your Vice President of Administration this year for GULS. As VP Admin my job is to keep you all informed about all the GULS good times. You can usually find me around the GULS office pretending to be doing uni work, I’m always up for procrastination so feel free to pop in and distract me any time you want. I’m a pretty informed gal so I should be able to help with any problems or questions you may have about GULS.
Publications Officer: Karsen Haseler
Publications Officer: Isaac Buckland
publications@guls.org Hi! My name is Karsen, I am in my fourth year of Law and International Business, and I am one half of the publications team of GULS for 2015! My responsibilities as publications officer are centralised around the GULS newsletter. This involves writing, editing, delegating and of course publishing.
publications@guls.org Hey, I’m Isaac and I form one half of this year’s FAB publications team!! I am in my second year of a Law/Politics degree, as well as a Spanish language diploma. Karsen and I will be providing you with some great and informative publications throughout the semester in the form of the GULS ‘Articles’. Come say hi if you see me around, I love a good chat and a bit of a gossip. ¡Hasta luego!
Marketing Officer: Rhys Kasper
Marketing Officer: Sun Li Sabag
marketing@guls.org
marketing@guls.org
Hi I'm Rhys and I'm one of the Marketing Officers for 2015. My job is to entice you to come to GULS events. This should be pretty easy seeing as they are all wicked fun. GULS hosts a plethora of events ranging from social nights, to competitions, to equity awareness and much more. You Only Law Once.
Hey. I'm Sun Li and I'm studying a Laws/Business double. I love music, reminiscing about Runescape, investing and business stuff. You can find me on Facebook, on campus or at GULS events. It's really the coolest thing when people randomly come and say hi, so come say hi!
IT Officer: Josiah Lee it@guls.org Hi, I’m Josiah and I will be your GULS IT officer for 2015. Congratulations on starting law school! I am working on building a whole new website for everyone to enjoy, and hopefully make it really easy to keep up with the latest news, tips and events for GULS. Law school can be tough so find time to have fun, relax and de-stress.
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Vice President (Activities): Nirupama Sivakumar vp.activities@guls.org Wassup first years! My name is Nirupama, otherwise known as Nim. I am currently a fourth year law/international business student! This is my second year in GULS now. I had the privilege of convening all the social events last year with Sam, and this year I am Vice President of the Activities portfolio. I cannot wait to meet some of you this year. It's going to be a GREAT year. I'm sure everyone will get in the spirit and have the best time at the social and sporting events. It's wayy too much fun to miss out - it's all about making new friends!
Socials Officer: Mike Bidwell
Socials Officer: Leeonee Thompson
socials@guls.org
socials@guls.org
I’m Mike and will be starting my 4th year of law and environmental science. I'm an international student from the U.S. and love meeting new people so definitely say hello sometime!
I'm Leeonee and will be starting my third year of law/politics and this year am one of your social officers. I'm a fun-loving, friendly gal who's happy to help you get through your first year.
Law Revue Convenor: Roxy Read
Sports Co-Ordinator: Fergus McLaughlin
lawrevue@guls.org
sports@guls.org
My best piece of law school advice is to join the Law Revue! I am on the look out for actors, writers, singers, musicians, dancers, choreographers, stage hands, production assistants. If you yearn to show the world your hidden talent of playing the spoons to the dulcet tones of Justin Bieber - I want to hear from you!
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G’day all I’m Fergus, you can call me Ferg, Fergalicious or whatever works for you! I come from a place you’ve never heard of west of the Great Dividing Range and this is my third year in the ‘big city’. I study a dual degree in Arts/Law, I love my uni life and I love my sport so I’m stoked to be in the role of Sports Co-ordinator for 2015.
Vice President (Competitions): Elly Phelan vp.competitions@guls.org Hey there I'm Elly and I'm your VP Comps this year. I'll be overseeing the beautiful Hannah and Sammy as they provide you with the most amazing competitions ever. Because you are all superstars, I'm sure I will see you in every single competition in semester 2 (you cannot be any worse than I was, srsly). Competitions will be one of the most rewarding things you can do at university, don't leave it too late! If you want to find out more, feel free to contact me, or attend a few of the open finals to see what you're in for. Looking forward to meeting you all.
Competitions Convenor: Hannah Maxwell
Competitions Convenor: Sammy Toogood
competitions@guls.org
competitions@guls.org
Hey all! I'm Hannah and I'm in my fourth year of a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Politics, minoring in Spanish. This year, my partner in crime, Sammy, and I are planning great things, terrible yes, but great, under the supervision of the brilliant Elly. We look forward to introducing you to the wonderful world of law competitions, particularly those which enable you to channel those famous lawyers that we all look up to. If you see any of us hanging around, feel free to say hello and we will try and save the shameless promotion until after we’ve discussed the weather.
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Hey guys, I’m Sammy and I will be one of your Competitions Convenor’s for 2015. My job and aim I guess is to get you involved in the competitive part of law school, enabling you to network and really show off those skills that I know you all have. I have had a lot of fun with these competitions and I know you will too, so if I can give you any advice it would be to embrace the inner law student and get involved in as much as you can and if you don’t like coffee now is a great time to start.
KEEPING UP WITH GULS Stay connected with all the latest events, career opportunities, competitions, seminars and more: 1. Stop by the GULS office- It can be found at –1.12 of the Law School Building (N61). The GULS office is open weekdays 11am– 2pm. Did I mention there’s free coffee?! 2. Like our main Facebook Page– Just search “Griffith University Law Society—GULS”. All our event photos and information are posted here 3. Join our group just for you– Search “2015 Griffith First Year Law Students ” on Facebook 4. Check out our website– www.guls.org 5. Email us– Our VP Admin, Cori will answer all your questions. Reach her at vp.admin@guls.org
L Card The LCard is an absolute MUST HAVE for all first year law students at Griffith! Most importantly it’s how you get membership to join the Griffith University Law Society! On top of that, it gives you access to heaps of social events and discounts! Deals include cheap food AND express entry into a whole heap of clubs! Not to mention it also gets you cheaper tickets to all GULS events AND it allows you to enter into all our Law Competitions and get a mentor! How to get an L Card Visit the L Card stall at the market days on campus or at our office in the Law building.
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A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER Surviving Law School 101 At certain points you may feel as though you are alone in this journey you are about to embark on, but every law graduate has needed help along the way. Consider these tips and tricks to help you get through your first year of law. 1. Just say “G’day”. The best piece of advice I can give to you all is to try and spark as many conversations with other students as possible. If there is a group assignment coming up, a number of other law students will already know you (and hopefully want to work with you). 2. Textbooks are expensive, but don’t fret! You always have the option to buy used textbooks directly from the Co-op book store. Additionally keep an eye out on Facebook for student textbook exchange groups. 3. YOLO (‘You Only Law Once’) week is a GULS run activities week designed to help law students with their mental health by having a tonne of fun. Last year this consisted of Volleyball comps, a trip to Bounce and a whole lot more. Studying law can be tough sometimes and it is completely natural to feel overwhelmed with stress, but just remember that the best cure for the law school blues is talking to your friendly neighbourhood GULS member who can give you fantastic guidance and perspective. 4. If you are feeling completely lost at some point while writing tutorial work, try listening to relevant classes on lecture capture while you study. Also comes in handy if you are ever grilled about particular cases or statute in a tutorial. 5. Never under any circumstance skip proof reading. Even if it is just weekly tutorial work you should never settle for a quick read. It might make the difference of citing Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co as Carvill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co (and you do not want to be “that guy/girl”). 6. Take notes on paper. Scientific research has shown that your brain has higher memory retention when writing rather than typing. In an exam it comes in handy as you might pick up on a particular word or phrase that you have already scribbled down. If you do write out your notes, make sure you keep everything nice and organised for later revision. 7. Don’t just limit yourselves to talking to other students, talk to the law school staff!. Whether it is your favourite lecturer, tutorial teacher, course convenor or other it can’t hurt to get to know the people who make Griffith law school so great. Of course for any queries about study, be sure to email your course convenor in a formal manner. 8. Seize any opportunity that will get you involved with sponsored law firm events such as junior competitions and the first year retreat. It’s beneficial to attend the finals and senior competitions even as a spectator as you will gain more insight into the legal world and the environment in different firms. Nothing is more motivating than envisioning yourself as a lawyer 9. Maintain a healthy lifestyle at Uni. With all of the work that you will be expected of you, it can be very easy to do things like skip breakfast or have coffee for lunch which is why it is so important to try and keep healthy when studying. There are lots of great places to eat on campus and there is even a gym too which is great for stimulating your mind. 10. Learn how to formally footnote using the Australian Guide to Legal Citation. Course Convenors will impose strict citation requirements so remember to double check!.
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GULS MENTORING PROGRAM Tom Canniffe The 2015 GULS Mentoring Program is designed to help first year students utilise the knowledge and experience of students in higher years of study. The program has the aim to ensure that the first year law experience is smooth, supportive and successful. Students who sign up are assigned a mentor to provide advice and support. This support can be vital in moments of mini-crises or just for a chat over coffee. Entering into law school, or any degree at university for that matter, can be extremely daunting – as it was for me. Whether you’re a student leaving school, a mature aged student or something in between, you’re not exempt from feeling lost or overwhelmed. I remember feeling incredibly alone and, ultimately, not nearly as smart as the strangers around me. At the time, I felt like I was the only one fully experiencing how overwhelmingly dissimilar everything that was expected of first year students was; navigating my way through textbooks, trying to delve in the unfamiliar territory of Blackboard or even accessing my readings online! Little did I realise that all of these strangers around me in lectures were largely feeling the same angst as me. GULS mentors offer up their experience of law school to help avoid stress like this throughout the first year of law school, as well as fill you in on tips and tricks, as well as advice from their misadventures, to make your everyday existence at law school a little less daunting. You can rely on their support as much or as little as you need, even if it’s only in the first few weeks. If you feel like this program is right for you, sign-up is still available online at http://goo.gl/K5nMM7 and will close at the end of week three on Friday, 20 March 2015. In week four, we will be hosting a “Meet Your Mentor Morning Tea”. If you have any queries or questions regarding the program, feel free to email me at internal.edu@guls.org.
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J UNIOR L EGAL A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER COMPETITIONS GULS Competitions Hannah Maxwell & Sammy Toogood
Junior Competitions are a fantastic way to strengthen legal skills. GULS Competitions give students an insight into their potential as lawyers, allowing them to explore implementing the attitudes and approaches of role models, such as Harvey Spectre, Elle Woods or Amal Clooney. The variety of competitions provides students with practical experience which will translate into their future careers. Each competition is sponsored by a law firm and the final is held at the offices of that firm. This provides invaluable networking opportunities, as well as giving the students the chance to strut into a law firm, dressed in business attire and fan the dream of winning explosive cases and owning expensive cars. Many people believe that it’s not what you know but who you know for your future career and competitions give first year students an easy way to communicate and connect with those in the years above. Law school can be hard, it can be challenging. Competitions are hard, they are challenging. They will stretch you to your limits. You will stay up all night and survive the next day on coffee and red bull. You will screw up at least one citation and forget whose judgement you are quoting. Competitions are also the perfect place for this to happen and the perfect place to find the guidance needed to ensure that these do not happen out in the real world.
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GETTING INVOLVED IN SPORT Fergus McLaughlin For our newbies, welcome to Griffith Law! For everyone else, welcome back! This is my third year at Griffith and my second year in Griffith Law and I’m stoked to be working with GULS as a sports co-ordinator. Coming into Law you may initially find the work load a tad overwhelming (we all did), but as you settle into the semester and you start to find yourself reading less and less, and you’re sitting there thinking, “damn Fergus has made me a cracking offer, of which I could accept with adequate consideration in the form of me paying GULS a well subsidised registration fee” two things will go through your mind: 1.
2.
That’s certainly enough Contracts for one day, I need some friends, Fergus is really good at puns, I better go play GULS social sport. Email Fergus, I need to sign up for GULS social sport.
That’s where I come in! I’ll be around campus promoting sports from the beginning of the semester and would love for you all to get involved. The first semester we offer Netball, Touch and Soccer in a weekly social competition, and, towards the end of the semester we also hold our annual beach dodgeball competition where you can Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive and Dodge your way to glory. Second semester is when your inner lawyer will come out in competition against other Law schools from around Brisbane in the Law Cup, in which Griffith has been successful in claiming titles as netball champions in 2014 and touch in 2013. There are also plans in the works to capitalise on the competitive nature within our own law school, with thoughts of having an intra-varsity competition between Nathan and Gold Coast Griffith Law schools- something to get excited about. The best way to keep up to date and get involved in GULS Sport is to find us on Facebook just type in GULS Social Sport and request to join, easy! You’ll be hearing from me very soon, so get ready for a great year in social sport!
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LAW AND A SOCIAL LIFE Mike Bidwell & Leeonee Thompson
HEEYYY! So this year your Social Convenors are us, Mike and Leeonee! You wouldn’t have heard about our campaigns but we made some pretty big promises and we can happily say that we are already delivering on them with two great events already locked in! Our first event of the year will be a first for the law society.. we’ve planned a boat party! So basically you pay our bargain ticket price and get to go on a 3 hour cruise along the Brisbane river with 135 of the best people the law school has to offer a.k.a the ones who made good choices and bought a ticket. We can confirm that there will be subsidised drinks with canapés and an after party at The Victory Hotel, what better way to kick off your year then attending the first law party of the year! The next event is a GULS favourite, the pub crawl! Prepare yourself for a long night of bars, booze and bad costumes! Again our tickets will be at an easily affordable uni student price and good time will be guaranteed, especially because it’s on student night in the valley and the ticket price gives you access to the bar tabs we will have arranged. Pub crawls are a university must and one of the most fun events of the year, plus you get to learn your way around the valley from extremely qualified students. Law Ball is our third event this semester, this one is more formal than the others as it is a cocktail evening with drinks and canapés, including a substantial food item, followed by an after party. It’s a great chance to have a fancier night out and you’ll be able to show your cohort that you can look better than the bleary-eyed, comfortably attired person that shows up to their 8am class. You may be thinking you’ll be all partied out by second semester but save some dollars and energy because the best is yet to come! GULS is the only university club with exclusive access to the Ekka races, that’s right you can watch the races from an exclusive air-conditioned room with plenty of food and subsidised drinks available. And finally our last event of the year is our annual Gala Dinner. This event is a black tie, sit down dinner and drinks night at which we have a keynote speaker and announce our incoming 2016 GULS committee. It’s a must for anyone who wants to be on the committee but it’s just a great night all around and one of the last nights you’ll have before the dreaded exam period. Page 20 || GULS First Year Handbook
So now you have an overview of the amazing year we have lined up for you, we expect you to be as keen as a bean! However everyone is generally a little shy in their first year but don’t let that get in the way of you having a good time for the best deals you’ll see all year. All of our events are a great chance to meet new people and older students! We speak from experience and everyone at the event is going to be super friendly and not stressed so it’s the best time to approach anyone. Our events also are not just law school exclusive so make sure to invite all your friends even if they do not attend uni! Plus we’ll be there, as well as your mentors most likely, so grab a friend or that person next to you in your tutorial and make the best decision of your year and attend our events.
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IMPORTANT DATES Semester One
L-Card Launch Careers Week Boat Party Meet Your Mentor Morning Tea First Year Seminar Pub Crawl First Year Court Visit Equity Campaign Law Ball Dodgeball Competition Exam Seminars Open Competitions
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 7 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 13 Study Week Running throughout Semester 1
Semester Two L-Card Launch Mekka Race Day Mentoring Event First Year Retreat Equity Luncheon Law Revue YOLO Week Black Tie Dinner Exam Seminars Junior Competitions
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Week 1 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 12 Study Week Running throughout Semester 2
date!)
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Welcome to the GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY LAW SOCIETY