16 minute read
Surviving University Administration
Essential Terms
These terms will be used regularly in the next few sections, and also throughout your time at university, so it is good to get familiar with them early!
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Sessions
A session is synonymous with a semester. The academic year consists of three sessions:
‣ Session 1 First half of the year. February - June
‣ Session 2 Second half of the year. August - November
‣ Session 3 An additional semester that runs during the summer break for students to complete more units and accelerate their course. December - February
Courses
A course is another word for a bachelor degree. A Bachelor of Laws is one of your courses. If you study two degrees, then that is two courses.
Units
A unit is a subject studied within your course. Units work similarly to a subject in high school but they only last for one session.
Example: LAWS1000 ‣ The letters signify the unit’s subject area. Here it is a Law unit. ‣ The first didger signifies the unit’s level. Here it is a 1000 level unit.
eStudent
Your eStudent account is different to iLearn. It is an administrative portal that allows you to do essential yet exciting tasks such as enrol into units, choose classes and pay your fees. You sign in with your Student ID number but your eStudent password is different to your OneID password (which is used for iLearn and accessing the University WiFi). The tabs have different functions as follows:
‣ ‘My Details’ • Check and update your personal details
‣ ‘My Enrolment’ • Enrol into units - maximum of 4 units per semester unless you receive a waiver from the university to study 5 units.
‣ ‘My Classes’ • Create your timetable by registering in classes for your units each semester
‣ ‘My Results and Graduation’ • View your mark and grade for each unit • Request a copy of your Unofficial Transcript which employers will often request from you
‣ ‘My Finances’ • View and pay your fees
Paying for university
Law degrees are a lengthy investment and are on the expensive side of university degrees. The good news is that the Australian government pays for a portion of your fees if you have a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP). All domestic undergraduate students are classified as CSP students. The remaining amount that you have to pay is your student contribution.
The second piece of good news is that you can defer this payment through the Government’s HECS-HELP loan initiative rather than paying the fees upfront. You will only be required to pay back the loan later in the future when your annual income exceeds a certain threshold, currently $45,881.
Make sure you are up to date with your finances by completing the steps below before the census date. This is on the 18 March, 2021 for Session 1 and on 19 August, 2021 for Session 2. This date is the last day you can withdraw from a unit without incurring financial liability or academic penalty. Before this date, you can withdraw from any of your enrolled units without penalty but if you do so afterwards, you will have to pay the unit fees and receive an academic penalty.
Applying for HECS
HECS is available to all CSP students and assists with the cost of your units of study. There is also SA-HELP available which allows you to defer the cost of the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). To apply, you must have a Tax File Number (TFN) and provide the university with it. Log onto eStudent and click on the ‘My Offer’ tab > Submit Commonwealth Assistance Form > HECS-HELP eCAF > SA-HELP. Submitting a SA-HELP form is optional.
If you do not pay your fees upfront before the Census date, your student debt will automatically be deferred as a HECS loan.
Paying Upfront
If you wish to pay your fees upfront, head to eStudent > (My Finances) > (Financial Transactions). If you intend to do this and do not defer to HECS, make sure you pay before the payment due date, which is 19 February, 2021 for Session 1 and 23 July, 2021 for Session 2. If you pay fees after this date, you will incur a $200 late payment fee.
Enrolling in units
Domestic students have a choice of studying either full-time or part-time. International students holding student visas must study full-time. Full-time involves studying 3 or 4 units per session and parttime involves studying 1 or 2 units per session.
If your non-law degree requires you to choose a major, you must select this in eStudent before enrolling: ‣ Major a compulsory sequence of study within one of your degrees. E.g. Accounting in a Bachelor of Commerce or Italian Studies in a Bachelor of Arts ‣ Minor a sequence of units within a major, but with a smaller volume of credit points
Another requirement for your courses is the specified number of credit points. For each degree, you must study enough units to meet this amount - for your Bachelor of Laws that is 320 credit points. Undergraduate units are worth 10 credit points each.
Handbook
The Handbook is an important resource that contains information on all the units available for study which will be essential as you plan what to study in your course.
The ‘Course Structure’ section shows the ‘Core Zone’ units you must complete. Within this are The ‘Flexible Zone’ units are additional undergraduate elective units you can choose to study.
The Handbook provides information on unit availability which is important to check because some units are only available once a year, for example only in Session 1. Other units will allow you a choice and are available for study in Session 1, 2 or 3. Most units allow you to choose where you study them; either on-campus, externally or online. The Handbook also lists the prerequisite requirements of units. Some units will require that you have completed specific units before enrolling into them. For example, LAWS1300 - Criminal Justice requires you to have completed LAWS1000 first.
Unit Guide
This resource contains important unit specific information such as: ‣ The schedule of topics ‣ Assessment tasks ‣ Textbooks needed for weekly readings ‣ The unit convener’s contact details
eStudent
As mentioned previously, you will enrol into your units through eStudent, under the ‘My Enrolment’ tab. You can then plan your lecture and tutorial times under the ‘My Classes’ tab which displays your weekly timetable.
Academic Advisers
For advice with enrolling and your degree, the Faculty Student Centre is your first point of contact. Before seeking advice however, first make sure you’ve read the 2021 Handbook on information about your course.
For advice on your law degree, visit the Faculty of Arts Student Centre at 10 Hadenfeld Avenue, Level 2 or call 9850 1007. You can also make an online enquiry at AskMQ and note the subject line as “Faculty of Arts Academic Advice”. For your non-law degree, you may have to contact another Faculty Centre, such as the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
Studying at University
Internal Students
Each unit will generally have a lecture and a tutorial every week. For most units, attendance at tutorials is compulsory but lectures are optional as they are usually recorded and uploaded online.
Essential information about the administration of all units is found in the Unit Guide such as: ‣ General Information • Name of the unit convenor and contact details • Brief description of the unit ‣ Delivery and Resources • How lectures and tutorials or seminars are delivered and whether they are compulsory • Required unit materials ie textbooks ‣ Unit Schedule • The schedule of topics studied ‣ Assessment Tasks • Information on assessment tasks, their weighting and due dates
Any questions about units should be directed to the unit convenor via the provided email.
External Students
External students are typically required to attend one or two on-campus sessions for their units. These are usually held over the mid-semester break – the two-week period following the end of Week 6. This may vary depending on the subject and the unit convenor, and students should similarly check the Unit Guide and iLearn to confirm.
iLearn
iLearn is the centre of your university education at Macquarie. You will use it to access the learning resources for each of your units, such as lecture recordings, tutorial questions, weekly readings and assessment information. These will be posted by the unit convenor, lecturer or tutors. Staff may also use the Announcements section to notify students of important or urgent information. The Discussion Forum allows students to ask questions and publicly communicate with all students studying the unit that session.
Log in using your Macquarie Student ID Number (the 8-digit number on your Campus Card). Note that your iLearn password is different to your eStudent password.
Contacting Academic Staff
Teaching staff will usually indicate the best way to get in contact with the unit convenor, lecturer and tutors. Generally speaking, it is acceptable to contact staff members via the iLearn unit forums, emailing from your student email or visiting them during their specified consultation hours.
Depending on the staff member, consultation hour visits may require students to make an appointment. Others may employ a less formal, open-door policy, where students can drop by when necessary. Information on consultation hours are usually announced at the first lecture and tutorial, outlined in the Unit Guide and on iLearn.
What is studied in LAWS1000/LAWS8001? What is the best way to approach it? Foundations of Law LAWS1000 (George Tomossy) / LAWS8001 (Zara Bending)
George Tomossy
LAWS1000 provides an opportunity for students to acquire foundational skills and knowledge about the Australian legal system that will prepare them for further study in the law program. This includes statutory interpretation, analysing cases, legal problem solving and legal research. Students will also carry out a group project on a current area of law and policy reform.
Zara Bending
Foundations of Law provides just that. It takes you through the paces of the essential skills (statutory interpretations and case analysis) and base concepts in public law (e.g. democratic institutions, separation of powers, the rule of law, etc). We are an ungraded unit. Rather than being graded on a fail to high distinction scale, you either come out with a 'satisfactory' or 'unsatisfactory' completion of the unit. But don't worry, it's designed to not be a pressure cooker, you simply need to complete all tasks to a level of competency to pass and will get multiple attempts on some tasks. The unit culminates in a one-on-one viva voce with me (via Zoom) which is an effective way for us to gauge your overall performance with zero divided attention.
George Tomossy
Students need to be mindful of deadlines and keep on top of work in this unit. Workload is front-loaded, unlike other units in the program. It is also really important that students view this unit as an opportunity to learn. As an ungraded unit, there are no ‘stakes’ in terms of CWA (it doesn’t count towards your average). Students are able to take on board feedback on their two written assessments and re-submit. Much of the unit is formative in nature, geared to transition students into law studies, and not to assess them in a traditional sense.
It is a common mistake for students not to read their unit guide or assessment instructions carefully. This can lead to missing a deadline or misread requirements, which can land them in all kinds of grief.
Zara Bending
The biggest mistake is students assuming, based on prior uni experience, that ‘a unit doesn’t really start until Week 4.’ In Foundies we have assessments straight away and we ask that you expect a steep learning curve in the first half. It’s okay if you don’t get everything 100% immediately- we’re a foundations unit and some of this will flesh out further into your program). Take our table of assessment due dates, tape that up somewhere prominent, and cross them off your list as you go.
We also know that learning how to navigate readings is a big jump for everyone new to Law School, so we advise listening to your lectures and other online material BEFORE doing your readings (as a bit of an overview).
What is a common mistake you wish students knew to avoid?
One piece of advice for first year law students?
George Tomossy
Get help when you need it. Don’t hesitate. Students in their first year run into all kinds of life challenges that can impact their studies. We have a system in place that enables students to reach out and get extensions on their assignments through the special consideration process at ask.mq.edu.au We also have some excellent resources (and trained staff!) at Campus Wellbeing who can help in a wide range of situations. And, perhaps most importantly: make friends and don’t ignore the social aspects of your life! Enjoy your time at Uni!
One piece of advice for first year law students?
Zara Bending
You’re only a ‘first year student’ once, so use this time to maximise your chances for a successful university performance. This means: a. immersing yourself in the law, b. taking advantage of the learning resources provided, and, c. finding out what University life has to offer. Seek out opportunities to place your understanding of the law in-context: watch Q&As, attend public lectures, participate in MULS events and competitions, listen to podcasts, etc.
Law, Lawyers and Society/ Applied Legal Ethics LAWS1100 (Amanda Head) / LAWS8006 (Lise Barry)
What is studied in LAWS1100/ LAWS8006?
What is the best way to approach the unit and what are common mistakes students make?
Amanda Head
In Laws1100 we focus on the role of the lawyer in Australian society. We focus on discrete problems in legal ethics such as confidentiality, access to justice, truth in the adversarial system, conflicts of interest and relationships between lawyers, clients and society. Students are introduced to general skills of ethical problem solving and to the importance of sound communication skills for the practise of law. They will develop legal research skills, such as the ability to search for relevant primary and secondary sources.
Lise Barry
LAWS8006 Applied Legal Ethics is the study of the law of professional responsibility. We examine lawyers’ duties to the court, to their clients, to their colleagues and to the community. In addition, students will have the chance to practice their writing and oral communication skills.
Amanda Head
The best way for students to study and approach the unit is to keep up to date with the materials. Students should do the readings before attending the tutorials or on campus session and keep up to date with the weekly lectures. A common mistake for students is not attending or listening to the lectures on a timely basis. It is important to set aside time each week for this.
Lise Barry
It’s a good idea to come to this unit with an open mind. For some, it’s the first time they have really had to think about what the role of the lawyer is in society and how their professional responsibilities might impact on their morals and vice versa. It’s also a unit with quite a practical element: role plays, client interviews, reviewing other students’ writing - you need to be open to making mistakes and receiving feedback.
One piece of advice for first year law students?
Amanda Head
If you find you are falling behind or don’t understand an aspect of the unit or an assessment task, speak with your tutor or the unit convenor as soon as possible. We are here to help.
Lise Barry
Don’t take on too many units in the first year if you are also trying to work. If you are working full time, you should only have a part time study load. Join MULS and get involved in mooting and social events from the beginning of your degree - you’ll learn a lot and the lifetime networks are invaluable. Get to know your lecturers and make good use of their student consultation times.
What is studied in LAWS1300? What is the best way to approach it? LAWS1300 Criminal Justice explores what makes a person guilty of a crime. We look at murder, manslaughter, assault, property offences, drug crimes and defences like selfdefence. The best way to approach it is the same as any unit: show up and put in. We move quickly so you need to be organised and stay on top of it.
A common mistake with criminal law is to think that because it’s interesting, it’s going to be easy. Our culture is fascinated by crime; it’s in our movies, our TV, our books, our podcasts, and its relatability does make it easier to both learn and teach. But it’s still complicated and difficult.
The key advice I always give first years is time management. University is very different to school or the workforce. For many weeks of the year there is not much on, and then you will have two or three assessments due at much the same time. Students who do well are the ones who are the most organised and can manage their time and stress well.
What is a common mistake you wish students knew to avoid?
One piece of advice for first year law students?
Contracts LAWS1200/ LAWS8030 (Ilija Vickovich)
What is studied in LAWS1200/ LAWS8030? Students will study the formation of contracts, so that they can recognise what kinds of actions and statements will bind people to contractual relationships. They will study the terms of contracts, gaining an appreciation for express and implied terms, and judicial interpretation of the meaning of contractual terms. We also address the various ways in which contracts may be discharged and made void. Finally, students consider the theories and the role of contract law in society and trace its historical development. The study of Contracts is fundamental to other core and elective Law units and one of the building blocks of your Law degree.
LAWS1200 and LAWS8030 focus on studying Contracts by developing the legal skill of hypothetical legal problem-solving. Students should build up this skill as they progress through the units as the main assignment and final exam in this unit usually both test this skill and require students to apply contract law principles.
The legal principles of contract law are mostly based on common law. It is important that students come to terms with analysing how courts employ common law reasoning to arrive at legal principles. In addition, a class participation mark requires students to attend tutorials regularly and work collaboratively to solve questions about principles and cases.
The main mistake students make is to devote less time to their readings than they should, because the subject is full of substantive content. Doing the readings is especially vital in the first few weeks, when the groundwork is laid. Without a solid grounding in basic principles, the later material will be hard to understand.
Another thing to watch for is reading the extracted judgments in the casebook. Reading key cases shows us how courts reason and formulate decisions. The more key cases you read, the more confident you will be. Finally, unless you turn up to tutorials, you are at risk of falling seriously behind. Most understanding happens in the classroom.
The key to success in Contracts is understanding legal principles through cases and knowing how those principles apply to recognisable problem fact scenarios. Doing well requires students to develop good legal problem solving skills, through tutorial discussions, and to prepare for themselves succinct summaries and notes about the law in advance of the assessments.
What is the best way to study for or approach this unit?
What are some mistakes you wish students in your unit knew not to make?
Top tip for students in Contracts
