Macquarie University Law Society acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Macquarie University Land, the Wattamattagal clan of the Darug Nation, whose culture and customers have nurtured, and continue to nurture, since the Dreamtime. We pay our respect to Elders past and present.
The best way to reach the MULS Common Room and our office in 6 First Walk is via the entrance outside 4 Western Road:
CONTACT: 6 First Walk, Level 3, Macquarie University, NSW, 2109
Website: www.muls.org
Email: enquiries@muls.org
Instagram: @muls_macquarie
Twitter: @muls_macquarie
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ macquarie-university-law-society/
MULS Facebook Page
The Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ MacquarieUniversityLawSociety/ will keep you up-todate with the latest MULS news and events. ‘Liking’ this page allows you to be notified of events across all MULS departments.
Facebook Cohort
Joining your respective Facebook cohort will allow you to interact with other students, as well as receive information that is relevant to your year group.
LLB students — join MULS Law Student Group (LLB Commencement Year 2023) https://www.facebook. com/groups/905205450620222. This link is available on the MULS Facebook page, under the tab ‘Groups’.
You should check your student email regularly, as you will receive important emails from Macquarie staff on university updates, legal job opportunities, PACE and internship opportunities, external competitions, exchange information and more. You will also be sent updates from iLearn.
O-Week
Semester 1, Week 1 Semester 2, Week 3
Junior Client Interview
Negotiations
Semester 1, Week 3 Semester 2, Week 3
Semester 1, Week 3 Semester 2, Week 3
Semester 1, Week 4 Semester 2 TBC
Semester 1
Diversity and Pride Moot Alternative Careers Guide
2: TBC
Criminal Law Moot Wellbeing Guide
AGLC4 Workshops
Semester 1
First Workshop - Tuesday 14th March 11am (ONLINE)
Start of Semester Drinks II
2, October 30
10 August 2023 (Thursday, Week 3)
Start of Semester Drinks I
6 April 2023 (Thursday, Week 7)
Intervarsity Gala Day
3 September 2023 (Sunday, Week 6)
Law Cruise Championship Moot
Clerkship Presentations
5 May 2023 (Friday, Week 9)
ADR Championship
Clerkship Buddy Program World Mental Health Week
Clerkship Fair and Interview Roulette Law Ball
Paper Presentation
Clerkship Guide and Resume and Cover Letter
LexisNexis Research Workshops
Release of Hoodie and Crewnecks
Environmental Law Speaker Night
Alternative Careers Fair
Alternative Pathways with your Law Degree Panel
Law Revue
Juris Doctor and Postgraduate Careers Panel (Online)
Fun Charity Fundraiser Event
2, Week 8
53
First-Year Convenor Advice
56
Tips on Note-Taking
Take Care of Yourself
Legal Profesion Basics
59 69 70
Macquarie 101
Welcome to Law School! My name is Mikaela and I am in my Fourth Year of Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) and Bachelor of Laws. I am the MULS Director of Publications for 2023 and am responsible for coordinating, editing, writing and supervising the operations of Publications released this year such as The Brief (Law Student Magazine) and the Guides (including the one that you are reading now!).
Firstly, I just want to tell you all that I am so proud of all you getting into Law School. You all have worked so hard to get where you are, and that is an achievement in itself. You all deserve to be here! Don’t be afraid to say hi to any of us from the MULS Team if you end up crossing paths with us. I know for me, I am more than happy to stop for a chat!
Whether you want to look at the different initiatives that each portfolio has, the events running through the year, need some tips or tricks for academics, need some words of advice and motivation from students, academics and graduates if you feel low, or other university administration matters, I hope this guide assists you in your transition to University life. Remember, Law School is challenging but also an exciting time in your life to not only grow academically but to also grow personally! In University, you are given the opportunity to explore the extracurriculars that suit your interest, make professional connections through events and establish friendships and support systems, and it is up to you to take advantage of those opportunities.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this Guide, without your assistance, this Guide would not have been possible. From the contributors from students and academics who have helped in writing sections, to the MULS Team who have taken the time to give tips to consider, to the designer of this Guide, Julien Ortiz, who has tirelessly worked on this. Her creative direction in executing the style of Guide is nothing short of extraordinary.
Upon planning what I wanted the First Year Guide to look like at the end of last year, I wanted to ensure that this guide is a resource that you can refer to throughout the year.MIKAELA MARIANO DIRECTOR'S WELCOME JOSHUA BRERETON
Congratulations on your successful admission to Macquarie Law School. We trust that you find value in your legal education, learning about the wide-ranging and fascinating areas of law with practical application to our personal and professional lives. We are confident that our well-equipped faculties of law, collaborative and friendly social environments, and eye-catching campus will create an enjoyable and worthwhile student experience.
work/life balance and social life. These habits should be prioritised in your first year, especially given the potentially unsettling transition from high school to law school in terms of assessments, marking guidelines, and differing standards and expectations.
We wish you all the best for your future law studies, and are hopeful that you will have a fulfilling and rewarding university experience that can be informed by this First Year Guide. In this Guide, you can learn from academic advice, understand the roles of various MULS Portfolios and how you can best get involved in our initiatives and take advantage of numerous social and professional events!
My name is Josh, penultimate student of a double degree in Law and Commerce. As a law student who has worked two jobs coupled with full-time university commitments, I understand the importance of establishing good study habits that don’t compromise a healthy BRENDAN
MULS is a dedicated student group and representative body for all Macquarie Law School students providing meaningful professional and social initiatives throughout the academic calendar. Whether you are interested in social justice, writing articles about current societal and legal conversations, expanding your social networks, or articulating submissions in a moot court before a bench of judges and opposing counsel, MULS has opportunities for all student interests.
After seven years of primary and six years of secondary education and countless hours dedicated to your learning, congratulations and welcome to Macquarie University, the Macquarie Law School, and the Macquarie University Law Society (MULS). It is an incredible privilege to begin this new chapter of tertiary education within an environment brimming with opportunity, like-minded peers, and supportive academics and tutors.
My name is Brendan Piech, and I am in my fifth year studying for a Bachelor of Laws. In 2023, I have the privilege of serving the Macquarie Law School community as the President of the Macquarie University Law Society.
The MULS First-Year Guide provides essential information to ground your feet and commence your studies at Macquarie. You will find valuable details regarding enrolment, the law units you will complete this year, MULS and the 2023 Executive Council.
Like many of you will have, I had certain expectations of what studying at university would entail. I saw myself sitting in inspiring lecture theatres, having large social networks, and involvement in exciting extracurricular endeavours. It took me several years to realise that unless I took ownership in dictating my experience at Macquarie, my expectations would not materialise. I look back favourably two-and-a-half years ago to when I put my name down for the MULS Junior Client Interview and Novice Moot Competition. Six months later, I joined the MULS Executive Council. I wish nothing less than for each of you to experience the enrichment of what this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity can have in store for you.
“ The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.”
— steve jobs
Be bold, seek out opportunities, pave your pathway and dictate what your experience at Macquarie University will entail. I wish all of you the very best, and on behalf of the 2023 MULS Executive Council, welcome to law school.
The Macquarie University Law Society (MULS) is run by Macquarie law students for Macquarie law students. It is the largest student-run society at Macquarie University and has existed as a representative body for all Macquarie law students for over 40 years. It exists also to assist students in their personal and professional development while at law school.
Becoming a MULS Member is one of the best things that you can do during your time at Macquarie Law. For only $5, you will receive:
• Discount at Cult Eatery (various locations at Macquarie University campus)
• Discounts on majority of MULS event tickets
• Priority entry into competitions
• Discounts on MULS Merchandise, including the MULS Hoodies.
• Our fortnightly newsletter, From the Bench
MULS is run by an executive of 38 people, as per our Constitution
Elections are held each year, providing all law students with the opportunity to nominate themselves for a position and elect the MULS Board.
The Executive consists of two groups :
The Board, which comprises of:
• The President,
• The Secretary,
• The Treasurer and;
• Eight Portfolio Directors
The Executive Council, which comprises of:
• The above Board, and
• 27 Executive Officers
Secretary
Executive Officer (Administration)
Treasurer
Director (Education) Director (Publications) Director (Marketing) Director (Career Engagement)
Executive Officer (Campus Experience)
Executive Officer (Editor)
Executive Officer ('The Brief' Editor-In-Chief)
Director (Social Justice)
Executive Officer (Advocacy)
Executive Officer (Publicity) x 2
Executive Officer (IT)
Executive Officer (Corporate Careers) x2
Executive Officer (Public Interest Careers)
Executive Officer (Sponsorship)
Director (Events) Director (Competitions) Director (JD and Postgraduate)
Executive Officer (Socials) x2
Executive Officer (Foundations) x2
Executive Officer (Community Outreach) Executive Officer (Sport) Executive Officer (Advocacy) x2
Executive Officer (Professional Skills) x2
Executive Officer (Externals) x2
Executive Officer (Advocacy)
Executive Officer (Careers)
Executive Officer (Engagement)
The Board is responsible for making primary decisions regarding MULS, with each Director working closely with their respective team of Executive Officers in their portfolio.
In the next few pages, you will be introduced to the portfolios, provided with information on many of the opportunities offered, and introduced to our talented and committed Executive Council for 2023.
After several years of online learning, MULS will utilise 2023 as an opportunity to explore new avenues of providing enriching opportunities to appropriately respond to current trends in Macquarie cohort demographics. MULS, as a robust law student representative body with a committed Executive Council, will implement foundational change for future years to continue developing to ensure the direction of MULS sustains a holistically well-rounded student focus approach.
My name is Brendan Piech, and I am in my fifth year studying for a Bachelor of Laws and the 2023 MULS President. 2023 marks the third year of MULS Executive Council involvement, holding office as Secretary in 2022 and Executive Officer (Competitions Advocacy) in 2021. Whilst I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Macquarie University and in MULS, I look forward to graduating and pursuing a career in criminal law.
Underneath my oversight is all portfolios and undertakings of MULS and associated bodies. I am accountable to all stakeholders, Society members, and the Macquarie Law School, alongside upholding an internal and external facing representative role for the Society. The direction of MULS activities and management of affairs fall within my portfolio.
TAMIKA MANSELL
administration@muls.org
I encourage you all to get involved and not to overthink things! Find your passion and make your mark because it's never too early to have a go….
Hi! I’m Tamika Mansell and I am in my third year of Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Media and Communications. As the MULS Secretary for 2023, I will be looking after the administrative behind-the-scenes work that helps keep MULS running and able to deliver a range of events, competitions, publications, student support and more. I always have time for students and I encourage you all to reach out if you have any questions about MULS; I’m always up for a chat!
Keep an eye on our MULS socials pages for news about what’s coming up and don’t forget to look out for The Brief — a must read for all law students! I encourage you all to get involved and not to overthink things! Find your passion and make your mark because it's never too early to have a go….write that article, sign up for that subcommittee, enter that competition, go to that party and make those connections because that’s how law school becomes fun and your peers become your friends. Have a great year everyone!
I recommend seeking out a mentor, whether that is a senior law student, recent graduate, or otherwise. University is a different ball game from high school, with new challenges and opportunities to maximise. Guidance from one who has walked a similar pathway before you is invaluable in gaining insight and direction to incorporate into your approach to undertaking studies at Macquarie University.
First-Year Law Camp! A prominent difference between High School and University is that social opportunities become a pursuit of your own accord, and I recommend, at minimum, seeking involvement in the social aspects of the Society. First-Year Law Camp provides an excellent opportunity to meet your peers and develop lasting relationships.
PETER TURNER
BRENDAN PIECH president@muls.org administrationofficer@muls.org
Hi everyone! My name is Peter Turner and I am in my second year studying a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Social Justice. As the Administration Executive Officer, I assist the Secretary with completing administrative tasks to ensure that MULS runs smoothly.
One of the best tips I have for students is to get involved in as much as you can during your time at Macquarie University. Through MULS and many other societies, many opportunities arise for you to get involved in extracurricular activities. For example, in my first year I attended the First Year Law Camp, many Ubar events, and I also did the Foundations of Law Moot which was a great experience! It is a great way to meet people and also give you a break from study as well!
All first years should definitely look forward to both the First Year Law camp and also the Foundations of Law Moot. The camp is a great way to meet new people and have so much fun! The camp for me was definitely one of my highlights of the year. It also gives you the opportunity to get to know the MULS executive and board members. Second, the Foundations Moot is a great way for you to kick start your mooting journey with MULS.
Guidance from one who has walked a similar pathway before you is invaluable in gaining insight and direction to incorporate into your approach to undertaking studies at Macquarie University.
competitions@muls.org
Hi everyone, my name is Simone Alexander and I am the Competitions Director for 2023! I am in my final year of a Bachelor of Law and Media. My role as director entails overseeing the smooth operation of all the internal and external competitions. These include the Junior Client Interview in the first semester and the Foundations of Law moot in the second semester, a must for any first-year student.
As a keen competitor myself, my goal for 2023 is to make competitions the highlight of your university experience. I am incredibly excited to present new opportunities for junior students to connect with more experienced competitors through events such as the competitions
As cliche as it sounds, your degree is what you make of it so whether it be socialising by joining MULS or sharpening your professional skills by competing, make the best out of your time at uni.
exhibition, where students will experience live demonstrations and have an opportunity to speak directly with past competitors. First years can also enjoy the tailored workshops that will run in the second semester that aim to build research and oral advocacy skills — so grab onto that competitive spirit and get keen for a year jam-packed with exciting opportunities!
As cliche as it sounds, your degree is what you make of it, so whether it be socialising by joining MULS or sharpening your professional skills by competing, make the best out of your time at uni. Get keen, get involved, and most importantly don’t forget to have fun!
foundationcomps@muls.org
Involve yourself in every opportunity possible and fully take hold of uni life.
Hello everyone! My name is Emma, I am in my second-year of a Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) and a Bachelor of Laws. I am the Executive Officer of Foundations Competitions. I am looking forward to meeting many of you through Mooting! Throughout my role I am responsible for organising the Foundation Moot and assisting others in their own moots.
My tip would be to involve yourself in every opportunity possible and fully take hold of Uni life. Whether that be competitions such as mooting or seeking academic assistance when you are struggling. It is also essential to develop an effective study technique — find what works best for you!
Every first year student should try to get involved with the Foundations of Law Moot. This moot allows first-year students who do not have experience with mooting to learn. I did Foundations last year and I absolutely loved it! hope to see many of you there. It is a great competition to network, meet new students, learn how to write written submissions and present your arguments orally.
novicecomp@muls.org
My quick study tip is to have a big planner to organise all your classes, events and deadlines.
Hi everyone! My name is Patricia Motahari and I am in my third year studying a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Psychology. I am the 2023 Executive Officer for Foundation Competitions. My responsibilities this year will be running both the Novice and International Humanitarian Law Moot competitions.
My quick study tip is to have a big planner to organise all your classes, events and deadlines. Having a big planner that I can see right in front of me every day has saved me from missing important dates and kept me organised.
The MULS event that you should look forward to is the Novice Moot. Anyone above their second year that has had no prior experience in mooting and wants to see what it's like can compete in this moot. It's a great way to get involved in the law society but also a very beneficial experience as you can ask our judges questions about mooting and their experiences. In turn, you get a small insight into what it's like to speak like a barrister or research like a solicitor.
compsadvocacy@muls.org
Hi everyone! I'm Samuel and I am currently in my third year of Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). I am one of the Executive Officers for Advocacy within the Competitions Portfolio for 2023.
One quick tip I would provide to all first years is that the best study spots here would have to be the Art Precinct (located at 25 Wally's Walk), Central Courtyard and the Computer Science Building.
All first years should look forward to the upcoming Competitions this year, especially the moots!
compsskills@muls.org
Having good interpersonal relationships goes a long way in finding things you might like, that is why I recommend joining societies that align with your interests.
Hello all! My name is Sujal Chadha and I am the Executive Officer for Professional Skills. I am currently in my third year of Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Psychology. Stepping into the Professional Skills Role means that I will be in charge of running the Client Interviews competitions participating in which would allow you to learn how to lawyer effectively by speaking with people and developing client relations. I will also be responsible for Paper Presentation competitions which would help in improving your research and presentation skills.
Having good interpersonal relationships goes a long way in finding things you might like, that is why I recommend joining societies that align with your interests and interacting with people in those societies as well as going to events hosted by either MULS or other societies to network with other people.
I think—if I can be biased—Client interview and Negotiation competitions are a good pathway to enter MULS and develop skills as a lawyer as well as network and meet with new people. Both of these competitions are essential for a lawyer and participating in these would allow you to build client rapport skills as well as learning how to navigate hostile or stressful situations.
Hi! My name is Caitlin and I am one of the Executive Officers for Competitions (Advocacy) 2023. I am in my third year of a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Spanish and Latin American Studies.
My quick tip for any law student is to explore the law databases available through the Subject and Research Guides at Macquarie Library! There are databases with legal commentary, cases, legislation, encyclopaedias and even dictionaries. These resources are particularly helpful to students interested in mooting and for those hefty research essays. Also, don’t be afraid to ask the law librarians how to use these databases correctly!
First years should look forward to the different competitions hosted by MULS throughout the year. Competitions are a fun way to become involved in university life, get competitive, meet new friends, and develop professional skills that are useful in any career. There are also many different types of competitions to choose from, so you can be sure that you will find one that interests you!
compsskills1@muls.org
Get involved as much as possible socially. Talk to people in your classes, set up study groups and build connections.
Hello everyone! My name is Zac and I am currently in my third year of a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Psychology. I am one of the Executive Officers for Professional Skills for 2023.
One tip I would give to first years is to get involved as much as possible socially. Talk to people in your classes, set up study groups and build connections. You'll most likely be around these people for the rest of your degree, so it helps to know a wide range of people.
In my opinion, the Law Ball is a great event to look forward to. It's a great opportunity to meet other people and have fun with all your friends. It is usually held once a year but this is the best time to socialise, dance and chat with other law students outside of a classroom!
externalcomps@muls.org externalcomps1@muls.org
Get involved in everything uni has to offer and say yes to every opportunity.
Hi everyone! My name is Heidi and I am entering my third year of Bachelor of Laws with a Bachelor of Security Studies. This year I am lucky to be representing MULS as Executive Officer for External Advocacy, that means I'm in charge of overseeing the intervarsity and external competitions that you may wish to compete in!
One important tip I would give to students is to remember to take a break. Academic burnout was my biggest challenge during the first year and I was constantly tired and overwhelmed. Even if it's only a two minute walk around your room, it'll refresh your mind and is so important!
One event I would recommend for students is to participate in the Foundations of Law Moot, occurring during the second semester. This is a great introductory moot to make your first steps into the world of law competitions. The skills I developed from this moot have been instrumental not only in further competitions but during class discussions during tutorials and applying for legal internship roles.
Hi! My name is Caroline and I am the Executive Officer for External Professional Skills. I am currently in my fourth year studying a Bachelor of Laws and Commerce majoring in Cyber Security Governance. My role involves organising external professional skills and intervarsity competitions with other universities such as the MULS x SULS ADR Competition and Margaret Cunneen Witness Examination Competition.
One quick tip I would give to students is to get involved in everything uni has to offer and say yes to every opportunity. This could be joining different societies, events and competitions, etc. It is a great way to make new friends, memories and immerse yourself in uni life.
All first years should look forward to the MULS Competitions! This experience allows you to develop key skills for working in a professional legal environment, gain insight into practising areas, make new friends, and build your network.
The Foundations of Law Moot is an introductory moot competition exclusively for First Year students to provide an opportunity to get a taste of mooting. Competitors will be tested in applying their knowledge from the Foundations of Law Unit, such as statutory interpretation and legal reasoning. The competition involves aspects of written and oral advocacy and teams can be between 2-4 people.
The Junior Client Interview Competition is an opportunity to practise the interviewing skills introduced in Law, Lawyers and Society. The competition involves conducting a short interview based on an unknown scenario, requiring students to use active listening skills and identify key legal issues whilst upholding ethical and legal obligations. The competition requires no substantial legal knowledge and teams of two can enter.
After last year after great success, we are excited to continue in this tradition focusing on the 2023 theme of #EmbracingEquity. This initiative is centred on bringing together prominent female lawyers and leaders in their respective fields to share their journeys and challenges with MULS female and non-binary members. Throughout this event, we are focused on providing value to our female members by intertwining topical discussion on how to become the best advocate for yourself with practical workshops focusing on personal brand-building and interview skills.
KRISTY SPINELLI
careers@muls.org publicinterestcareers@muls.org
The law is an ever-changing and imperfect beast. Remember that not only when you submit essays, but when you watch/ read the news, when you go to work, or whenever you make a judgement on something.
Hi! I’m Kristy, the Director of Career Engagement, studying a Bachelor of Laws and Commerce. I am responsible for facilitating careers-related events, and sponsorship for the society. My goal for the portfolio this year is to reach a wider variety of students beyond penultimate and graduate level. I intend to do this by reshaping previous events to cater moreso to students from earlier stages of their LLB where possible.
You should all look forward to the Legal Careers Pathway Panel which will be hosted in Semester Two. I recognise that it’s difficult for students in their early years of their degree to have any idea what they want to do after graduating (and that’s completely fine, don’t feel pressured to have it all figured out). The idea of this event is to inform students about various avenues within the legal field that you may not have previously known, and it’s a good opportunity for new students to learn about the industry.
1. Remember that university is a learning experience, so keep an open mind because you will probably be surprised with what you do and don’t enjoy.
2. Run your own race. The time you spend stressing by comparing yourself to other students is time that could be spent doing literally anything else.
3. IMPORTANT! A lecturer once said that 'those with law degrees hold a privileged place in society, irrespective of whether they practice.' I didn’t realise how true this statement was until I got a bit older. The law is an ever-changing and imperfect beast. Remember that not only when you submit essays, but when you watch/read the news, when you go to work, or whenever you make a judgement on something. We are very lucky to be in a position to learn about the frameworks that govern our lives, and we shouldn’t forget this privilege (even when you’ll have to pull the inevitable caffeinefuelled all-nighter to complete your AGLC-4 referencing. Warning you about that now).
Essay over. Enjoy your first year of law school!
Hi, my name is Taniya and I am in my fourth year, studying a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). As the Public Interest Executive Officer, I am responsible for organising all public interest career seminars and events.
A quick tip I would give to students is to make the most of the opportunities that come your way! Make sure you also balance your study life and have some time to hang out with friends and take care of yourself!
All students should look forward to the Careers Fair! It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the variety of job opportunities available in the legal sector. It’s also an amazing way to create networks with people in the industry or with students who are interested in the same field.
Make the most of the opportunities that come your way!
sponsorship@muls.org
Hi everyone! My name is Isaac. I am in my Fourth Year of Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) and Bachelor of Laws and I am the Sponsorship Executive Officer for 2023. I am responsible for assisting MULS in developing relationships with different sponsors from across the legal sector while also researching alternate industries relevant to all law students.
One quick tip I would give to students is to find your go-to study space on campus as soon as possible. For me, the library is too crowded
with people from the public that it can be very difficult to find a desk to sit at on most days. Definitely take advantage of the different places to study around uni such as MUSE or Central Courtyard since they are usually only visited by other Macquarie students.
All First Year Students should definitely look forward to the Clerkship Fair as that is a wonderful opportunity to get an in-depth understanding of the industry early in your degree by hearing from lawyers and graduates of different areas of law. It also gives you a chance to meet new people and build your network.
corporatecareers@muls.org
Hello and welcome to your journey in law! My name is Connor Chandler and I am a second year Law and Commerce (Economics) student. This year, I serve as one of the Executive Officers for Corporate Careers.
Going to university for the first time can be quite daunting. To help, I recommend trying to get a great group of close friends as quickly as you can! You may be wondering, how do I do that? Well, here are some tips! Get involved as much as you can. Go to first year law camp, say hi to new people (not just the ones you are already friends with), invite new people to grab a drink with you and try things out of your comfort level (eg. Law Revue — a comedy show made by your fellow law students. It's funny, I promise!).
As mentioned before, I think Law Revue is a great event all first-years can look forward to. Come join the cast and have a blast with other law students. The best thing is that the cast do it for fun and it is nothing serious. Just a bunch of people having fun with most shows selling out! If its not your thing, come and watch still (you'll be sure to laugh)!
corporatecareers@muls.org
Ensure that in your first year you are actively pursuing different university opportunities, particularly those in the field of law.
Hi everyone, my name is Jordan and I am in my second year of a Bachelor of Arts (International Relations) and Bachelor of Laws degree.
As a Corporate Careers Executive Officer, I am tasked with assisting the Career Engagement Director in facilitating careerrelated events for law students, establishing and reinforcing strong connections between MULS and the Australian law firms that support us.
Ensure that in your first year you are actively pursuing different university opportunities, particularly those in the field of law. First year is all about figuring out where you want to take your career and how you would like to conduct your university experience and the best way to do that is to become exposed to different facets of law and university life.
MULS will be running a number of events this year, with each event focusing on different types of career options in the legal sector. Students will get an opportunity to learn from the experiences and expertise of legal professionals speaking at these events. This is great for first-year students who are unsure on what type of career they want to pursue.
Our 2023 events will include:
• Options in the Law Careers Fair
• Legal Careers Pathways Panel
• Options in Law Careers Fair
• Clerkship Presentations
The Clerkship Fair is a staple event of MULS and the Career Engagement Portfolio. It is an excellent opportunity to meet and connect with HR representatives from law firms in the lead-up to clerkship applications. Students are provided a direct insight into the application process and given opportunities to ask firm representatives questions.
FARRAH MIKHAIL
education@muls.org
Hi, my name is Farrah and I am excited to be serving as the Director of Education for MULS in 2023! I am in my fourth year studying Law and Commerce majoring in Economics, and involvement in MULS through events and competitions has been one of the most enriching experiences. This year, I envision introducing events and initiatives that will benefit your wellbeing and mental health to balance out the law school university experience, which can sometimes be intense! I am also looking forward to bringing you unique insights into the legal field through topical discussions with experienced professionals in our very own podcast, Justified!
Transitioning into university study and life is often challenging but rewarding. It's always a lot more fun if you go to social events, join clubs and generally put yourself out there and try new things. My other piece of advice is to try to get good at time management if you have not already. I struggled a lot in my first year but found that taking time each week to plan my time meant that I could pursue a lot more and be a lot less stressed.
An event you should not miss out on is the First Year Afternoon Tea — this is an amazing opportunity to meet other first years and have some fun!
If you have any questions about MULS or Law School, feel free to reach out. We will also have two first year representatives helping you transition into university.
campusexperience@muls.org
Hey everyone! My name is Anastasia and I am in my secondyear of Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce. I am the Campus Experience Executive Officer for 2023, meaning I'm your go to for anything to do with campus life and getting the most out of your law degree!
A quick tip I would give to students is to get involved as much as possible. At Uni, what you put in is what you get out. MULS gives so many wonderful opportunities to not only be social, but also to enhance your skills as a future lawyer through competitions and workshops.
One event all first years should look forward to is the First Year Afternoon Tea, as this is the perfect time to meet your cohort, especially since it is so early on in the year! It's a time to eat, drink, play games and make some friends before Law Camp. If you want to get involved from the comfort of your own room, then I suggest tuning in to our Justified Podcast on Spotify, which hosts all sorts of experts in the field☺
SEMESTER 1 - WEEK 1
This is a chance to meet fellow first year students, MULS executives and to find out about key events coming up for you as a first-year student.
These workshops introduce students to key research databases, teaching them key strategies to help begin their research.
STARTING FROM SEMESTER 1, TUESDAY 14 MARCH FROM 11AM
MULS will be running an AGLC4 Workshop, introducing you to the Australian legal referencing system. This is an excellent opportunity to get a kick start to your legal writing journey, as you will be using the AGLC4 throughout your entire degree.
Attend as many PAL sessions as possible throughout the semester, if and when they are offered, rather than procrastinating on your studies until the last minute.
Hi everyone and welcome to your first year of Law School!
My name is Alice and I am in my fourth year of a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Medical Science, majoring in Anatomy and Physiology. I am responsible for running the behind the scenes of the MULS social calendar to ensure all of our events are safe and inclusive so that all you have to worry about is having fun and forming new connections! Throughout the year, the Events portfolio offers both social and sporting events to provide a much-needed respite from your academic commitments, enabling you to keep a healthy study-life balance and perform at your best.
My objective for the Events Portfolio this year is to reduce the overall number of events so that we can concentrate our efforts on improving the quality and scale of each of the events that are run. Our social events frequently sell out within minutes, (if not seconds!). I look forward to taking this high level of demand into account when planning our events in 2023 to enhance member accessibility and minimise the number of individuals who miss out.
My quick tip for first-year students is to attend as many PAL sessions as possible throughout the semester, if and when they are offered, rather than procrastinating on their studies until the last minute. I previously was a chronic crammer, but I've discovered
(the hard way) that learning material gradually over the course of the semester is a better use of my time and produces better results with half the stress. These peer-assisted study sessions provide a safe environment outside of formal tutorials to consolidate course content with your peers free from judgement or pressure. PAL sessions are a great way to make friends, form study groups, and maintain accountability throughout your degree.
Unbiasedly... all events in the MULS calendar should not be missed, particularly the flagship event for you guys being First Year Law Camp which is run in the first semester of this year. You can anticipate an amazing weekend away with your incoming cohort as this event is specifically designed for your cohort and designed by individuals who were formerly in your position as first-year campers themselves. This is an excellent opportunity to venture outside of your comfort zone and form meaningful connections with your peers that will serve you beyond your legal education.
Other important social events to look out for this year are the Start of Semester Drinks, Law Cruise, Sports Gala Day, and Law Ball. We routinely promote these events on our social media profiles on Instagram and Facebook, so be sure to follow us there for additional information closer to the date.
I look forward to meeting each of you at our social events run throughout the year, particularly First Year Law Camp!
MADISON MCGRATH sports@muls.org
MULS is a great way for law students to meet new people and experience all of the opportunities that are available to students.
Hi! My name is Madison and I am a third year student studying a Bachelor of Security Studies with a Bachelor of Laws. This year I have the privilege of being Executive Officer (Sports), which involves the organisation of social sport for MULS members as well as the running of sports gala days throughout the year.
A quick tip that I would give to you guys is to get involved in as much as possible at uni! MULS is a great way for law students to meet new people and experience all of the opportunities that are available to students. Put yourself out there and try new things!
Get involved in sport through MULS! Such an amazing way to meet new people in your cohort and across other year levels in a relaxed and fun environment! Look out for the Sports Gala Day in Semester One — a great way to get involved!
socials@muls.org
Become best friends with your calendar — due dates can come up very quickly so in the beginning of the semester put every key date into your preferred calendar to familiarise yourself with when your busy periods are.
Hi! My name is Olivia and I am in my third year of a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce. In 2023, I will serve as one of the Social Executives and am responsible for helping plan and executing different law society events.
A tip for university would be to become best friends with your calendar. It sounds basic but due dates can come up very quickly so in the beginning of the semester put every key date into your preferred calendar to familiarise yourself with when your busy periods are. This will help you manage your time and figure out when to begin preparing for assessments.
All first-years should be very excited for the First Year Law Camp. This is an exciting weekend to get to know your fellow first year law students as well as some MULS executives. We've got some exciting things planned and you'll make friends that'll last you through law school.
socials@muls.org
A tip I would give to students is to get involved in competitions!
Hi everyone! My name is Jasmine and I am one of the Socials Executive Officers for 2023. I am currently in my fourth year of Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting). I, along with the other Social Executive Officer, am responsible for organising the social events for the year, such as the upcoming First Year Law Camp and Start of Semester Drinks!
A tip I would give to students is to get involved in competitions! Mooting, for example, will improve your ability to research effectively and build confidence in public speaking. Regardless of if you decide to pursue law, these skills will assist in almost all career paths.
First-year students should definitely look forward to Law Cruise! This event has always been a major one on the MULS calendar. This event offers a great night of fun and lasting friendships!
Put down your textbooks and start your degree with a bang with a weekend of themed parties, outdoor activities, ridiculous challenges and all-around shenanigans. Meet your new best friends, kickstart your law school social life and experience a party you won’t forget.
SOS 1 - SEMESTER 1 WEEK 6 / SOS 2SEMESTER 2 TBC
Kick off the semester with a lit night of drinks, dance and DJs. Enjoy a stress-free evening with exclusive access to venues in the CBD!
Take a break from study and grab your sneakers for a day of friendly competition on the field! Teams are available for netball and touch footy.
Stop cruising through the semester and come cruise along Sydney Harbour to a live DJ, enjoying food and free-flowing drinks, followed by an afterparty!
Send off the year in a night of style with unparalleled harbour views at the most highly anticipated, sell-out MULS event!
marketing@muls.org
Make friends who can support you through your law school journey and can lift you up when you need that extra motivation. Remember that we are all going through a similar experience so don’t be afraid to reach out and make those connections.
Hey! My name is Elena, and I am the MULS Director of Marketing for 2023. I am in my third year at Macquarie studying a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce.
The Marketing Portfolio connects the MULS community through various social media platforms. We additionally run different initiatives which you should all be excited to see! Be sure to visit our O-Week stall to sign up and become a MULS member and receive a free merchandise bag!
Looking ahead to 2023, the Marketing Portfolio is exploring various ways to expand our social media presence and make a more engaging experience for our incoming students and members. Keep an eye out for our emerging new platform Tiktok for some relatable Macquarie law student content!
My quick tip for starting first year is to enjoy the moment and take advantage of all the opportunities university life brings. Planning your next steps and career path can be quite daunting, so take the time to get involved but also appreciate the university experience. Make friends who can support you through your law school journey and can lift you up when you need that extra motivation. Remember that we are all going through a similar experience so don’t be afraid to reach out and make those connections. A great way to meet more friends is through engaging in many of the opportunities and social events presented by MULS.
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and sign up to our fortnightly newsletter to hear all the latest updates regarding social events and all other important information. We will be posting information soon regarding dates to keep note of and links to access ticketing. First Year Law Camp is right around the corner and tickets will sell out fast so don’t miss out!
itofficer@muls.org
Study groups help to ensure you are on the same track as other classmates and is an important way to make useful connections in classes.
Hello First Years, Welcome to Law School! My name is Rheanna and I am an Executive Officer (IT) for Marketing. I am in my fourth year studying a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Social Policy and Political Economy). I will be in charge of maintaining and managing the society's website and technology.
A quick tip that I would have found useful in my first year is the importance of study groups, which helps to ensure you are on the same track as other classmates and is an important way to make useful connections in classes.
The one event that all first years should look forward to is the Law ball, it's a great night to be able to dress up and make lots of new friends!
EXECUTIVE OFFICER (IT)
RHEANNA GIBSON
publicity@muls.org
Take advantage of the events held by MULS... Whether you attend social events or competitions, it’s a great way to put yourself out there and meet new people, which will most likely help with the transition into uni.
My name is Tiana Shahid and I’m in my second year of university, studying a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Commerce. I am one of the Executive Officers for publicity within MULS.
One quick tip I’d give to students is to take advantage of the events held by MULS. Whether you attend social events or competitions, it’s a great way to put yourself out there and meet new people, which will most likely help with the transition into uni.
One MULS event that all first years should look forward to, is the First Year Law Camp. It’s an amazing opportunity to socialise with people who also study your degree, within an entertaining environment.
publicity@muls.org DISCLAIMER: The MULS Merch pictured was made for 2022 and may not be available this year. Want to rep some of our merch?
Hey! My name is Artin and I am one of the Executive Officers for Publicity. I'm a second year student studying a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce.
A quick tip I would give to new students is to try and stay up to date with the work, otherwise trying to catch up when assessments are approaching can be overwhelming.
*The MULS Merch pictured was made for 2022 and may not be available this year. Be sure to stay tuned for the 2023 drop!
polar white legally pink
Make sure you visit our O-Week stall to get your handson some MULS pens, post-it notes and hand sanitizer! Hate
• MULS Hoodies
• MULS Crew Neck Sweaters
Bucket hats
• Caps
• Laptop Stickers
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for all the latest MULS news, events, competitions, opportunities and experiences.
Macquarie University Law Society https://www.muls.org
Hi guys! My name is Mikaela. I am in my Fourth Year of Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) and Bachelor of Laws and I am the Director of Publications for 2023. I am responsible for directing, coordinating and supervising the operations of the Publications such as The Brief and the Guides released this year (including the one you are reading now!). My vision for Publications in 2023 is to provide all-around guidance to students in their personal and professional development. As such, I plan to expand the guides to reflect the diverse representations of student experience, assisting students in creating their own path.
One quick tip I would give to students is get into the habit of a study routine. Study routines are not always a ‘one size fits all’, however, I strongly encourage every student to personalise your study routine to what works best for you (no matter how ‘unusual’ it seems). For me, when I needed to be in the ‘zone’, I would listen to Lo-fi music,
JOSHUA BRERETON
editor @muls.org
Welcome to Macquarie Law School! My name is Josh, a penultimate student of a double degree in Laws and Commerce. I am the Executive Officer (Editor) of the MULS Publications Portfolio (2023). My primary role is to coordinate, write, and edit our Portfolio's various Law Publications, such as the First Year Law Guide, Competitions Guide, and Clerkship Guide
A quick tip I would provide to first year students is to establish and maintain consistent study routines and habits without compromising your work/life balance and social life. Try to actively participate in your classes. I find the Arts building outdoor area to be a good study space!
All first years should look forward to any moot or skills competition organised by MULS! These are great opportunities to enhance your skills, confidence and professional careers. The social events are also great to attend!
put on a ‘Study with Me’ Video on (KharmaMedic ‘Study with Me’ videos are my personal favourite!) playing in the back-ground, a cup of coffee and fruits to snack on. Be open to trying various studying routines (changing your setting, listening to music, the time of day you study etc) to find what is effective for you!
All First Year Students should definitely look forward to the Guides and The Brief coming out this year! Guides such as the Competitions Guide, Clerkship Guide, Alternative Careers Guide and Wellbeing Guide will help students create their own path of Law School. Contributing to The Brief is also a great way to get involved and to admire the work of other students. These Publications provide a point where students can not only access what we release, but also encourage students to produce their own or contribute in some other way.
thebrief@muls.org
Hey everyone! I'm Brad, a fourth year Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts student majoring in creative writing. I'm the editor-in-chief for The Brief and manage the Brief student subcommittee. The Brief is a publication featuring student articles covering law, policy and the Australian law student experience. As editor-in-chief, I'm obliged to stress the importance of writing as simply as possible. Law is complicated and expressing legal concepts should be as clear as possible to make it easier for the marker to read. Remember these tips: shorter, simpler sentences; try not to cram more than one or two ideas into a single sentence; active voice; and read your writing aloud before you submit. If you can explain it to your grandparents, you can explain it to anyone.
Definitely get involved with the 2023 Brief Subcommittee! No article writing experience is required and we're always looking for keen contributors to offer their insight into the law either online or in print. Other than that, I recommend first years to get involved with the Foundations Moot. Mooting is a whole other world from law in the classroom and the Foundies Moot is an excellent way to test the waters!
Study routines are not always a ‘one-size-fits-all’, however, I strongly encourage every student to personalise your study routine to what works best for you (no matter how 'unusual' it seems.)
MARIANO
Establish and maintain consistent study routines and habits without compromising your work/life balance and social life.
EXECUTIVE
('THE BRIEF' EDITOR-IN-CHIEF)
BRADLEY CAGAUAN
Law is complicated and expressing legal concepts should be as clear as possible to make it easier for the marker to read.
PUBLISHING IN FEBRUARY 2023
The Competitions Guide is an initiative that provides various competition manuals, including personal insights from previous competitors and judges. Inside you will find information about how each competition is run, in addition to advice on how to succeed and further improve.
PUBLISHING IN MAY 2023
The Clerkship Guide provides excellent insight into law clerkships and the clerkship process that law firms undertake. It contains tips and information from law students and lawyers with previous clerkship experience.
Introduced in 2019, the Wellbeing Guide focuses on the mental health of law students. This Guide will cover very common, yet unspoken, issues that students may face in law school, working towards overcoming the stigma that comes with mental health. It is the aim of this Guide that we not only open this conversation, but we continue it.
A new addition for 2023 Publications is the ‘Alternative Careers Guide’. As students begin to understand that the law is a diverse, versatile and interdisciplinary field, they may feel uncertain whether adhering to a ‘traditional pathway’ (i.e. becoming a lawyer) is the right choice for them. To accommodate this common concern, this Guide will inform students of different careers they could venture into with their law degree.
https://www.muls.org/publications-the-brief
The Brief is the MULS flagship publication, covering topical issues from law to politics to economics, as well as more light-hearted content on the Australian law student experience. It issues three printed editions a year and regularly updates an online edition.
Students can be involved in any of three capacities: online edition contributor, print edition contributor, and print-edition sub-editor. This is a rewarding opportunity to publish critical and diverse pieces on topical legal issues, and we encourage students from all years of their law degree to apply.
Students can contribute as a writer or a sub-editor. Look out for Facebook posts from MULS on Expressions of Interest.
Scan
ELLEN SHAI-HEE
socialjustice@muls.org
Do not underestimate the power you have for change.
Hey! I’m Ellen and I’m the Social Justice Director for 2023. I have a strong passion for social justice stemming from contempt for inquality, discrimination, and poverty. MULS enables me to employ this passion for tangible change, especially through pre-existing connections with the Aboriginal Legal Service, Diverse Women in Law, pro-bono practices and many other organisations. I’m also privileged to facilitate MULS charitable initiatives, wherein members are granted opportunities to assist the wider global community.
sjadvocacy@muls.org
Hi Guys! My name is Tiana, and I am in my Final Year of a Bachelor of Arts (International Law and Global Governance) and Bachelor of Laws. I am the Executive Officer for the Social Justice (Advocacy) portfolio, which is responsible for engaging with students about social justice issues. Exposing them to a variety of issues in the broader global and domestic community, and encouraging them to get involved and develop skills that will facilitate equality, diversity and inclusion.
One tip I would give to students starting university is to develop some good study habits. Planning and staying organised is an extremely important habit to establish. Get into the habit of planning and writing down things as soon as you know the dates! I am old school. I find what works best for me is to have a good old planner that I can brain dump all the assessments, key dates and events into which allows me to stay on top of due dates while still being able to plan some time for myself. If you plan forwards you can work backwards. Balance is key!
All first years should look forward to the Social Justice Speaker nights. If you are interested in Environmental Law or Human Rights Law, keep an eye out! These events are a great opportunity to expand your understanding of key challenges.
The 2023 vision for the Social Justice portfolio utilises the core principles of social justice to promote social inclusion. We acknowledge the need to promote equity, access, and participation within the society and amongst its members. We also acknowledge that as law students in Australia we are in a privileged position with the opportunity to give back to the community where we can. This year we also wish to educate members on careers that are alternative to the traditionally corporate and commercial routes, allowing students to couple their passion for social justice with the workplace.
My advice for first year students is not to underestimate the power that they have for change. No matter how big or small the resources are at your disposal, you should be encouraged to make an impact wherever you can.
1. Environmental Law Panel sponsored by DLA Piper
2. Excursion to a Pro Bono law practice
3. An event combined with Diverse Women in Law
4. MULS 40 Hour Famine!
SARAH DAWSON
communityoutreach@muls.org
Hello!! My name is Sarah and I am in my fifth year of a Bachelor of International Studies (Spanish and Latin American Studies) and a Bachelor of Laws. This year I am an Executive Officer (Community Outreach) in the Social Justice Portfolio of MULS.
I think my biggest tip for new students would be to work on creating a balance between your academic life and your social life. For example, you could schedule your time so that you are studying for at least three hours from Monday to Friday but do not study on the weekend. This was really important for me to do while I was on exchange in Switzerland because I still wanted to maintain my grades and explore Europe with the new friends that I made (speaking of, I highly recommend going on an exchange if you can!).
I think that all first years should follow our social media pages for the Social Justice Portfolio! On these accounts we will keep you all updated with the latest news in social justice in Australia and worldwide. We will also use these pages to inform you of the events we have planned.
No matter how big or small the resources are at your disposal, you should be encouraged to make an impact wherever you can.
TIANA POND Planning and staying organised is an extremely important habit to establish.
The Social Justice instagram page is @socialjustice.muls. This Instagram account will have helpful social justice tips, news updates on social justice developments, and give the dates for upcoming events.
A new initiative in the Social Justice Portfolio, the intention of ‘Docuseries’ is to interview lawyers from different social justice backgrounds and make videos regarding the work that they do. This is not an individual event, but is an educational initiative the Social Justice Portfolio is running to demonstrate
Social Justice holds a Speaker Night every semester exploring a topical social justice issue and its relationship with the law. It fosters a forum for meaningful discussion and debate as the panel commonly features leading advocates and international speakers.
Speaker Nights that will be held this year are:
• Environmental Law Speaker Night in Semester 1
• Human Rights Speaker Panel in Semester 2
Welcome to the Juris Doctor and Postgraduate MULS portfolio. In 2021, MULS established the Juris Doctor and Postgraduate portfolio in recognition of our appreciation of the differing interests, commitments and preferences between the Macquarie University Undergraduate law cohort, from that of the Juris Doctor and Postgraduate cohort.
The Juris Doctor and Postgraduate portfolio continues to focus on deepening the relationship between the Law Society, Law School, and Juris Doctor and Postgraduate students to better understand and deliver events and initiatives that meet the interest and expectations of these cohorts.
Alongside events dedicated to targeting the interests and preferences of the Juris Doctor and Postgraduate cohorts, we encourage students outside the undergraduate cohorts to keep a close eye on all the events and initiatives MULS facilitates. You will have the opportunity to become involved in MULS Education, Career Engagement, Social Justice, Publications, Competitions, and Events-related initiatives and activities. Whether you are interested in meeting representatives from leading legal organisations or developing legal advocacy skills in a moot court, there are avenues to explore a diverse range of interests with MULS in 2023.
JADE DALY
jdpostgrad@muls.org
Hi everyone! My name is Jade. I am a Politics graduate, and Juris Doctor student at Macquarie about to enter my penultimate year. I am super excited to be the Director (JD/PG) for 2023, working to ensure MULS meets the needs and interests of Juris Doctor and Postgraduate students.
This year, I want to build on the progress made by the former JD/PG Director Aryana, deepening postgraduate involvement in MULS by increasing the visibility and accessibility of MULS events, as well as the number of postgraduate-aimed initiatives. With that being said, keep an eye out for welcome drinks to be hosted within the first couple of weeks of semester!
In 2023, MULS will look to run an educational careers-related workshop tailored toward Juris Doctor and Postgraduate students to ensure all Macquarie Law students have the opportunity to be informed about the diverse range of legal careers and pathways one can undertake, regardless of the course of studies being currently undertaken. Alongside education and careers, MULS will also look toward creating social opportunities for the Juris Doctor and Postgraduate cohorts to facilitate a healthy social element to enrich one’s academic experience.
The MULS Executive appreciates that the Juris Doctor and Postgraduate cohort's preferences and external commitments vary from that of the undergraduate cohorts. To that end, we encourage you to contact MULS via email or Facebook for support if you have any questions or concerns about becoming involved in a MULS event or initiative.
To keep up to date with news and developments from MULS, follow the main MULS Facebook page, which can be accessed here. Alongside the main MULS Facebook page, you can also become involved in the MULS Juris Doctor and Postgraduate Facebook page to keep up to date and in contact with fellow students, which can be accessed here Be sure to sign up for your 2023 MULS Membership to keep up to date with all MULS news alongside the perks of membership.
I am especially committed to ensuring that postgraduates studying online are well-integrated into the MULS community, and don’t miss out on opportunities to participate. I will organise a Zoom welcome for those who can’t make the on-campus event (although of course everyone is welcome to join!)
I would encourage interested first years to participate in MULS competitions as soon as they can. Competitions are a great way to build your professional skills, network and confidence. MULS hosts a range of competitions throughout the year aimed at varying experience levels — so novice competitors need not be intimidated. Also look into what other opportunities are available to you as part of your degree, such as international exchange. Law exchange can be a little more complicated than other degrees, so it is good to be aware of the requirements early so that you can plan.
I am especially committed to ensuring that postgraduates studying online are well-integrated into the MULS community, and don’t miss out on opportunities to participate.
Law in particular is very intensive, and the style of study requires a lot of adjusting too. Leave yourself the time and the space to learn, adapt, make mistakes and improve.
My name is Madi and I am in my second year of a double Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Environment, majoring in Environmental Management. I am one of the First Year Student Representatives for 2023, and I’m working with the MULS Education portfolio.
To all students, and first years in particular, my advice would be to remember that university itself is a full time job, and study should always be prioritised over work. I found in my first year, I was so excited to be earning money and going out with friends, that I treated my part-time job as my main priority, and didn’t put enough time aside to study. Any degree at university is a lot of work, but law in particular is very intensive, and the style of study requires a lot of adjusting too, particularly for students straight out of high school. Leave yourself the time and the space to learn, adapt, make mistakes and improve.
MULS social events are such a great way to connect with friends, meet students from other years, and network with students who have survived the first year themselves! However, workshops are another way that you can connect and meet people with similar interests and passions as you, while also picking up a skill or two on the way!
Some of my closest friends that I've made at uni are through meeting them during class or extracurriculars. More likely than not, most people are in the same position and just nervous to make the first move!
My name is Aashna, I am in the second year of Juris Doctor Degree and I am the JD Representative.
The easiest way to make friends is to get involved at uni! Go to different events that the university runs, join a society that interests you, and do classes in person! Some of my closest friends that I've made at uni are through meeting them during class or extracurriculars. More likely than not, most people are in the same position and just nervous to make the first move!
All first year students should look forward to the workshops we run! They're incredibly helpful to get some guidance and tips when it comes to legal research and referencing, especially if it's your first time!
I urge students to make the most of the smaller things in uni, whether it be catching up with friends and playing pool at the Central Courtyard.
I'm Jerin, and I'm your First Year Representative. I'm a second-year student studying a double degree in Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Media and Communications (majoring in Public Relations).
If I were to give a piece of advice, it would be that Lashings make the best chips (in Central Courtyard!) . Although Eat Istanbul is a close second.
I'm sure you've heard about making the most of uni, and its events. Although we do have large exciting events planned such as FirstYear Afternoon Tea, or even Law Camp (get keen!). I also urge students to make the most of the smaller things in uni, whether it be catching up with friends and playing pool at the Central Courtyard. Exploring campus to find some of our not-so-secret study spots (the rooftop gardens are my favourite), or sleeping in and watching your lectures online and at 2x speed.
As repetitive as this may sound, my advice for first years is to get involved in University activities — especially societies that are related to your degree.
Hey everyone! My name is Acshaya and I am the Diversity Representative for MULS 2023. I am currently in my third year studying a double degree in Law and Arts (majoring in English).
My role at MULS is to work alongside the Education team to create events and initiatives that are mindful of and support the diversity within Macquarie Law School. By initiating inclusivity-based events, organisations, and social media engagement — this role allows me to ensure that every student feels seen, heard and comfortable to share and embrace their diverse experiences and identities.
As repetitive as this may sound, my advice for first years is to get involved in University activities — especially societies that are related to your degree. This allows you to befriend older students who are studying the same degree as yourself — which can be extremely resourceful as they may have advice from experience, insight on a particular unit that can help you academically or even guide you to on-campus services that you could have been completely unaware of.
One MULS event that all first years should look forward to is the First Year Afternoon Tea, as it is a great opportunity to make friends and become comfortable around your new cohort!
Sessions, Courses, HECS, Enrollments?
All of these sound confusing to you?
Answer: 'Yes.' ☹
Don't worry — We got you covered.
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!
> A session is synonymous with a semester. The academic year consists of three sessions:
SESSION 1 (FEBRUARY - JUNE)
• First half of the year.
SESSION 2 (LATE JULY - DECEMBER)
• Second half of the year.
SESSION 3 (DECEMBER - FEBRUARY)
• An additional semester that runs during the summer break for students to complete more units and accelerate their course.
> 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 number signifies the unit’s year level. Here it is a 1000 level unit.
> 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.
https://student1.mq.edu.au
> 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.
The tabs have different functions as follows:
‘MY DETAILS’
• Check and update your personal details.
‘MY ENROLMENT’
• Enrol into units — a maximum of 4 units per semester.
‘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.
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 $48,361.
Make sure you are up to date with your finances by completing the steps below before the census date. This is on 17 March, 2023 for Session 1, on 18 August, 2023 for Session 2 and 21 December 2023 ( https://students. mq.edu.au/study/course/dates). 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.
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.
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. If you pay fees after this date, you will incur a $200 late payment fee (https://students.mq.edu.au/finances/fees/key-dates).
Domestic students have a choice of studying either full-time or part-time. International students holding student visas must study full-time. Fulltime involves studying 3 or 4 units per session and part-time involves studying 1 or 2 units per session.
• Major: a compulsory sequence of study within one of your degrees. Eg 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 credit point — for your Bachelor of Laws that is 320 credit points. Undergraduate units are worth 10 credit points each.
https://coursehandbook.mq.edu.au/
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. 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.
If your non-law degree requires you to choose a major, you must select this in eStudent before enrolling:
https://unitguides.mq.edu.au/units
This resource contains important unit specific information such as:
• The schedule of topics
• Assessment tasks
• Textbooks needed for weekly readings
• The unit convenor’s contact details
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 2023 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 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.
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.
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 are typically required to attend one or two oncampus 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.
https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/
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.
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.
PLEASE NOTE: This information is intended as a guide only and does not replace the Macquarie University Handbook of Undergraduate Studies. For full degree requirements you should refer to the Macquarie University Handbook at: handbook. mq.edu.au. Offerings of units may change from year to year. Find further information and specific requirements in the Macquarie University Handbook.
* This is a sample degree program where it assumes the student is studying full time, taking the maximum of 4 units (10 credits) each semester until the end of their degree.
YEAR 1
SESSION
LAWS1000: Foundations of Law
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
YEAR 2
LAWS2200: Property Law
LAWS2300: Business Organisation
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
YEAR 3
LAWS3000: Constitutional Law
LAWS3200: Criminal and Civil Procedure
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
LAWS1200: Contracts
LAWS1300: Criminal Justice
LAWS1100: Law, Lawyers and Society
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
LAWS2500: Equity and Trusts
LAWS2400: Torts
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
LAWS2100: Jurisprudence
LAWS2000: International Law
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
YEAR 4
SESSION 1
Law PACE Elective Unit
Law Elective 3
Law Elective 4
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
YEAR 5
SESSION 1
LAWS5000: Remedies, Reparations and Resolutions in Law
Law Elective 5
Law Elective 6
Art Major Elective Unit
SESSION 2
LAWS3400: Evidence
LAWS3300: Administrative Law
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
SESSION 2
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
Law Elective 7
Law Elective 8
Art Major Elective Unit
YEAR 1
SESSION 1
LAWS1000: Foundations of Law
LAWS1100: Law, Lawyers and Society
ARTS1000: Humanities and the World
Art Major Essential Unit
YEAR 2
SESSION 1
LAWS2200: Property Law
LAWS2300: Business Organisation
Arts Unit for Minor
Art Major Essential Unit
SESSION 2
LAWS1200: Contracts
LAWS1300: Criminal Justice
Art Major Essential Unit
Other Degree Unit Major/Minor
SESSION 2
LAWS2000: International Law
LAWS2400: Torts
Art Major Essential Unit
Art Major Essential Unit
YEAR 3
SESSION 1
LAWS3000: Constitutional Law
LAWS3200: Criminal and Civil Procedure
Law Elective 1
PACE Unit Elective Arts
YEAR 4
SESSION 1
Law PACE Elective Unit
Law Elective 3
Law Elective 4
Arts Unit for Minor
YEAR 5
SESSION 1
LAWS5000: Remedies, Reparations and Resolutions in Law
Law Elective 5
Art Major Elective Unit
Art Major Elective Unit
SESSION 2
LAWS2100: Jurisprudence
LAWS2500: Equity and Trusts
Law Elective 2
Arts Unit for Minor
SESSION 2
LAWS3400: Evidence
LAWS3300: Administrative Law
ARTS3500: Arts Capstone
Arts Unit for Minor
SESSION 2
Law Elective 6
Law Elective 7
Law Elective 8
Art Major Elective Unit
BACHELOR OF COMMERCE/LAW (MAJOR IN CYBER SECURITY GOVERNANCE) — SAMPLE STUDENT
YEAR 1
SESSION 1
ACST1001: Finance 1A
MGMT1002: Principles of Management
STAT1250: Business Statistics
LAWS1000: Foundations of Law
SESSION 2
ACCG1000: Accounting in Society
LAWS1200: Contracts
LAWS1300: Criminal Justice
LAWS1100: Law, Lawyers and Society
YEAR 2
SESSION 1
ECON1020: Principles of Economics 1
LAWS2200: Property Law
LAWS2300: Business Organisations
MKTG1001: Marketing Fundamentals
YEAR 3
SESSION 1
ACCG3058: Information Systems Audit and Assurance
COMP1300: Introduction to Cyber Security
LAWS3000: Constitutional Law
PICT2001: Cybercrime
YEAR 4
SESSION 1
ACCG3060: Cyber Security Governance and Ethics
Commerce PACE Unit
LAWS3200: Criminal and Civil Procedure
Law Elective 1
YEAR 5
SESSION 1
SESSION 2
ACCG2050: Information Systems and Business Processes
ACCG2065: Blockchain for Business
LAWS2000: International Law
LAWS2100: Jurisprudence
SESSION 2
LAWS2400: Torts
LAWS2500: Equity and Trusts
LAWS3000: Administrative Law
PICT3011: Cyber Security in Practice
SESSION 2
ACCG3025: Cyber Security and Privacy
LAWS3500: Evidence
Commerce Capstone Unit
Law Elective 2
SESSION 3
LAWS5000: Remedies, Reparations and Resolutions in Law
International Exchange (with 2 Law Electives)
International Exchange
International Exchange
International Exchange
SESSION 2
Law Elective 3
Law Elective 4
Law Elective 5
Law Elective 6
YEAR 1
SESSION 1
LAWS1000: Foundations of Law
LAWS1100: Law, Lawyers and Society
PHIL1037: Critical Thinking
PICT1010: Introduction to Security
YEAR 2
SESSION 1
LAWS2200: Property Law
LAWS2300: Business Organisation
PICT1011: New Security Challenges
LAWS2000: International Law
YEAR 3
SESSION 1
LAWS3000: Constitutional Law
LAWS3200: Criminal and Civil Procedure
PICT2001: Cybercrime
PICT2010: Intelligence and Counter
YEAR 4
SESSION 1
Law PACE Elective Unit
Law Elective 3
Law Elective 4
PICT3012: Intelligence Policy
SESSION 2
LAWS1200: Contracts
LAWS1300: Criminal Justice
PICT1014: International Security in the 20th Century
PICT1012: Strategy and Security in the Indo-Pacific
SESSION 2
LAWS2400: Torts
PICT2013: Crisis Management and Disaster Relief
PICT2012: Modern Warfare
PICT2015: Terrorism in the 21st Century
SESSION 2
LAWS2100: Jurisprudence
LAWS2500: Equity and Trusts
Law Elective 1
PICT3011: Cyber Security in Practice
SESSION 2
LAWS3400: Evidence
LAWS3300: Administrative Law
Law Elective 2
PICT3020: PACE: Ethical Practice in Security Studies
YEAR 5
SESSION 1 SESSION 2
LAWS5000: Remedies, Reparations and Resolutions in Law
Law Elective 5
PICT3013: Strategies of Political Violence and Counter Terrorism
PICT3014: Australian National Security
YEAR 1
SESSION 1
LAWS1000: Foundations of Law
PSYU1101: Introduction to Psychology
LAWS1100: Law, Lawyers and Society
STAT1103: Introduction to Psychological Design and Statistics
YEAR 2
SESSION 1
LAWS2200: Property Law
LAWS2300: Business Organisation
PSYU2234: Social and Personality Psychology
Law Elective 6
Law Elective 7
Law Elective 8
PICT3015: Security Policy Analysis: Current and Emerging Issues
SESSION 2
LAWS1200: Contracts
LAWS1300: Criminal Justice
PSYU1102: Introduction to Psychology II
PHIL1032: Happiness, Goodness and Justice
SESSION 2
LAWS2000: International Law
LAWS2400: Torts
PSYU2235: Developmental Psychology
YEAR 3
PSYU2246: Cognitive Processes I
SESSION 1
LAWS3000: Constitutional Law
LAWS3200: Criminal and Civil Procedure
PSYU2247: Perception
PSYU2224: Psychology, Health and Wellbeing
PSYU2236: Biopsychology and Learning
SESSION 2
LAWS2100: Jurisprudence
LAWS2000: International Law
PSYU2248: Design and Statistics II
Law Elective 1
YEAR 3
SESSION 1
LAWS3000: Constitutional Law
LAWS3200: Criminal and Civil Procedure
PSYU2247: Perception
PSYU2224: Psychology, Health and Wellbeing
YEAR 5
SESSION 1
LAWS3000: Constitutional Law
LAWS3200: Criminal and Civil Procedure
PSYU2247: Perception
PSYU2224: Psychology, Health and Wellbeing
YEAR 1
SESSION 1
LAWS1000: Foundations of Law
LAWS1100: Law, Lawyers and Society
Flexible Zone Unit 1
Flexible Zone Unit 2
YEAR 2
SESSION 1
LAWS2200: Property Law
LAWS2300: Business Organisations
SESSION 2
LAWS2100: Jurisprudence
LAWS2000: International Law
PSYU2248: Design and Statistics II
Law Elective 1
SESSION 2
LAWS2100: Jurisprudence
LAWS2000: International Law
PSYU2248: Design and Statistics II
Law Elective 1
SESSION 2
LAWS1200: Contracts
LAWS1300: Criminal Justice
Flexible Zone Unit 3
Flexible Zone Unit 4
SESSION 2
LAWS2400: Torts
LAWS2100: Jurisprudence
LAWS2000: International Law
Flexible Zone Unit 5
LAWS2500: Equity and Trusts
Flexible Zone Unit 6
YEAR 3
SESSION 1
LAWS3000: Constitutional Law
LAWS3200: Criminal and Civil Procedure
Law Elective 1
Law Elective 2
YEAR 4
SESSION 1
LAWS5000: Remedies, Reparations and Resolution in Law
Law Elective 5
Law Elective 6
Flexible Zone Unit 7
SESSION 2
LAWS3300: Administrative Law
LAWS3400: Evidence
Law Elective 3
Law Elective 4
SESSION 2
Law PACE Unit
Law Elective 7
Law Elective 7
Flexible Zone Unit 8
SESSION 1
LAWS1000: Foundations of Law
LAWS8006: Applied Legal Ethics
LAWS8018: Research Methodologies
LAWS8030: The Law of Obligations I - Contracts
SESSION 1
LAWS2200: Property Law
LAWS8070: Constitutional Law
LAWS8013: Civil and Criminal
LAWS8027: Law of Obligations III - Remedies
YEAR 3
SESSION 1
LAWS8099: Professional and Community Engagement
Law Elective 1
Law Elective 2
Law Elective 3
SESSION 2
LAWS8002: Criminal Justice and Public Policy
LAWS8005: Theories of Law and Justice
LAWS8040: Law of Obligations II - Torts
LAWS8015: International Law
SESSION 2
LAWS8010: Equity and Trusts
LAWS8011: Company Law
LAWS8080: Administrative Law
LAWS8014: Evidence
SESSION 2
LAWS8019: Dispute Resolution Processes and Law
Law Elective 4
Law Elective 5
Law Elective 6
YEAR 1
SESSION 1
LAWS1000: Foundations of Law
LAWS8030: The Law of Obligations I - Contracts
YEAR 2
SESSION 1
LAWS8006: Applied Legal Ethics
LAWS8018: Research Methodologies
YEAR 3
SESSION 1
LAWS8009: Property Law
LAWS8070: Constitutional Law
YEAR 4
SESSION 1
LAWS8013: Civil and Criminal Procedure
LAWS8027: Law of Obligations III - Remedies
YEAR 5
SESSION 1
LAWS8099: Professional and Community Engagement
Law Elective 1
YEAR 6
SESSION 1
Law Elective 3
Law Elective 4
SESSION 2
LAWS8002: Criminal Justice and Public Policy
LAWS8005: Theories of Law and Justice
SESSION 2
LAWS8040: Law of Obligations II - Torts
LAWS8015: International Law
SESSION 2
LAWS8010: Equity and Trusts
LAWS8011: Company Law
SESSION 2
LAWS1200: Contracts
LAWS8014: Evidence
SESSION 2
LAWS8019: Dispute Resolution Processes and Law
Law Elective 2
SESSION 2
Law Elective 5
Law Elective 6
• This student started their Juris Doctor Degree in Session 2.
• This student’s approach was to get all the core units out of the way and leave the electives towards the latter end of their degree.
YEAR 1
SESSION 1 SESSION 2
LAWS800: Foundations of Law
LAWS8002: Criminal Law
LAWS8018: Research Methodologies
LAWS8030: Contracts
YEAR 2
SESSION 1
LAWS8009: Property Law
LAWS8006: Ethics
LAWS8015: International Law
LAWS8070: Constitutional Law
YEAR 3
SESSION 1
LAWS8013: Civil and Criminal Procedure
LAWS8027: Remedies
Law Elective 1
Law Elective 3
YEAR 3
SESSION 1
LAW8099: PACE
Law Elective 5
Law Elective 6
SESSION 3
• This student decided to do summer school to ease off workload. N/A N/A
LAWS8005: Theories of Law
SESSION 2
LAWS8040: Torts
LAWS8010: Equity and Trusts
LAWS8011: Company Law
LAWS8080: Administrative Law
SESSION 2
LAWS8014: Evidence
LAWS8019: Dispute Resolution Processes & Law
Law Elective 2
Law Elective 4
SESSION 2 N/A
DR MAREIKE RIEDEL
• The name says it all: Foundations of Law. These foundations include essential legal skills such as statutory interpretation and case analysis, and essential knowledge about features of the Australian legal system, such as separation of powers and the rule of law. It is the only ungraded unit in the program which means that you get a chance to redo your assessments to correct mistakes as you go along and this also takes a bit of the pressure off.
• In the LAWS1000 unit we put a lot of emphasis teaching you basic university skills to help with the transition from school to uni.
• In the LAWS8001, we assume you already have many of those skills, so we spend time on refreshing and refining them.
• These days both undergraduate and JD students are often juggling multiple commitments along with their studies and as the semester progresses this can become quite overwhelming. The key is to make a clear plan at the beginning of the semester with all the due dates and to allow sufficient time for all assessments and other tasks. Being organised helps you approach the busy periods with less stress.
• Be mindful of your mental health. Reach out if you need help. Campus Wellbeing has great resources and dedicated staff.
• Read instructions carefully and allow enough time. It might sound basic but many of the mistakes that I have seen in student assignments come from not having read the instructions carefully or from starting the assessment too late. Familiarise yourself with the additional materials that we provide to help you prepare for your assignments.
• Be mindful of deadlines! Put them in your calendar or pin them to your wall.
• One of the most common mistakes is students not spending sufficient time on mastering the system for legal referencing and citations. It is easy marks to gain and worth investing your time.
• Another common mistake is not proof-reading your assessment before submitting it. Easy marks are lost here as well.
I really enjoy assisting students in getting a handle on statutory interpretation. Students often find statutory interpretation difficult, abstract, and daunting, and that is why we do lots of little exercises together in class. It is such a foundational skill and I love seeing the lightbulb moments when students find their way through statutes and start thinking like lawyers.
Think about forming a study group with your peers. I wish I had done that earlier when I was in law school. Learning with your peers is such a great experience and very effective.
The key is to make a clear plan at the beginning of the semester with all the due dates and to allow sufficient time for all assessments and other tasks.DR AMANDA HEAD LECTURER / SEASONAL STAFF COORDINATOR
Macquarie Law School, 6 First Walk Room 518, Wallumattagal Campus
• In this unit we focus on the role of the lawyer in Australian society. We look at lawyer client confidentiality, access to justice, conflicts of interest, communication skills and the relationships between lawyers, clients, and society generally. We spend some time in class, problem solving ethical dilemmas that lawyers have faced in the real world which provides for very interesting discussion.
• Plan the semester, noting when assessments are due and plan for blocks of time to spend on assessments, readings, and revision.
• Regularly attend the lectures and tutorials. There are live lectures in this unit, and I recommend attending them when possible, rather than listening to the recordings. In my experience live lectures are far more engaging and there will often be an opportunity to ask questions of the lecturer.
• Engage with the discussions with the class and your peers and, importantly, ask questions.
• Keep an organised system of notes.
• For assessments that require research, start early (as soon as the assessment details are released) and begin by reading widely on the topic. This really helps with managing workload, and I find it
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 is offered at the undergraduate level and LAWS8030 at the postgraduate level. Although the material is similar and is covered through shared lectures, there are some differences in the assessment tasks and levels of analysis.
significantly reduces stress. If you are having any issues, it gives time to contact academic staff for support. We are here to help.
• For timed assessments, keep up to date with the unit content by setting time aside each week to listen to the lectures and attend the tutorials. Keep notes up to date and set aside time for revision.
What are some common mistakes that students make?
• Not reaching out to the academic staff if you are having difficulties.
• Not planning the semester or leaving assessments a few days before they are due and underestimating the time needed to complete assessments.
• Not utilising the study and writing resources that are available through the university. Studiosity and Writewise in particular can really help fine tune legal writing skills.
• Not proof-reading assessments before they are submitted. Valuable marks are lost through silly mistakes that can be picked up by spending a little time reading over your paper before submitting it.
What is one aspect of this unit that you like teaching?
• All of it really; legal ethics is a surprisingly rich area of law. I particularly like engaging with students in ethical dilemmas, in which there is sometimes a conflict between what appears to be the morally right thing to do and what a lawyer is ethically bound to do.
What is one piece of advice you would provide to all law students?
• University is far less structured than school and even work, which can catch students out. At the beginning of semester prepare a plan that details when assessments are due and block out time each week to focus on particular tasks.
• Study/work/social life balance is really important and can best be achieved with good time management skills and planning.
If you were a student, how would you study for this unit and why?
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 to attempt, both before and during class, to solve questions using principles and case decisions.
Listening to lectures carefully, making relevant notes, and reading case judgments are the key to proper study of the material Understanding principles and applying them to factual scenarios is the essence of success in this unit.
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. Students with poor attendance invariably have poorer results.
It is always enjoyable to see students relating their own life experiences to what they study in Contracts. They constantly tell me they are surprised how a topic they thought would be dry and boring ends up being relatable, enjoyable and interesting. This always inspires me to teach and also to learn from the students and their questions in class.
The key to success in Contracts is understanding legal principles through cases and knowing how those principles apply to recognisable problem fact scenarios. Understanding the principles in a simple way gives you the basic skills to tackling any Contracts problem that arises. Doing well requires students to develop goodlegal problem-solving skills, through tutorial discussions, and to prepare for themselves succinct summaries and notes about the law in advance of the Assessments.
Students in LAWS1300/LAWS8002 study the (substantive) criminal law — or, what makes an accused guilty or not guilty of a crime in NSW. We therefore examine the general principles of criminal responsibility, the elements of various crimes, including murder, manslaughter, assault, and property offences, and available defences. Students also consider the historical, social, political, and philosophical factors that have shaped the development of this area of the law—and are encouraged to question whether the law is rational, fair, and/or just.
There is a lot of content in this unit, with lectures and tutorials both commencing in Week 1 (and running into Week 13). I would therefore encourage students to hit the ground running. Completing the assigned readings and preparing the tutorial activities would be an excellent starting point. Not only will this assist students to keep up, but it will also render them well-placed to contribute to the discussion in tutorials, a requirement for class participation.
Aside from participating in tutorial activities — there is a 20% class participation mark — most of the assessment tasks for this unit are written. I would encourage Criminal Justice students to review the resources made available to them on iLearn, which include exemplar answers to previous questions, to read the instructions (and the question) carefully, and to submit a response
Students are far more likely to achieve a passing grade for this unit — and, indeed, other units — if they complete all assessment tasks. If students experience difficulties when tasks are due for submission, they can consider applying for Special Consideration.
Students are asked to provide responses to hypothetical problems— both in tutorials and in written assessment tasks. A common mistake that I’ve encountered in previous offerings of this unit is when students neglect to follow a logical structure in answering these questions, leading to their omitting to discuss significant aspects of the question asked. In short, when responding to a problem question, the clearer the structure, the easier the marker’s task!
I like how the Criminal Law is well-suited to using pop culture as a teaching tool. Most, if not all, students are familiar with various concepts encountered in the unit from having watched crimefocused TV shows or movies. Using such references to teach sensitive and/or complex content facilitates learning and often creates a lighter atmosphere in the classroom.
Time management is crucial, particularly when simultaneously working on assessment tasks for multiple units. If students are struggling to stay on top of this (or any) unit, your convenor has regular consultation hours—and we’re more than happy to help!
• Diarising your assessments for your units for the semester will not only help you remember the dates for each of the assessments but also allow you create a schedule, ensuring the assessment is completed at a reasonable time. This can be done by creating small deadlines for the assessment to make time management feasible.
• You may want to create a table of the assessment due dates and stick it where you always see it.
• For example, this is genetic template you could use (Please note, this dates are not reflective of actual units offered by Macquarie, I have simply added dates for the purposes of showing how you could diarise).
• Law students tend to be perfectionists, ambitious to make a good first draft. However, it is important to remember that this will not always be the case, and that is completely okay.
• Having a “bad” assessment draft gives you the opportunity to work with something. You will be able to read and edit your response thoroughly, identifying weaknesses in it, improvements to be made and what you do not need to focus on.
• Remember, practice makes perfect, how can you perfect your response if there was nothing or something minimal to work with in the
• Set aside a good amount of time to edit your work so that you can fix the mistakes in your paper and improve the content. You do not want to be losing marks for small mistakes like referencing or grammar!
• You may want to give yourself a few days before the deadline to read over your response. The benefit of this is that you are able to pick up on more mistakes you need to fix than you would if you were to read your response once or twice. Give yourself time between each ‘editing session’ so you can read your response ‘with fresh eyes’.
Treat your notes in the long-term. Treat your notes as if you were preparing for an exam.
• Making notes not only reflects your level of understanding in a subject, but also pinpoints exactly where you weaknesses are.
• Make sure you are constantly updating your notes. You may want to look over your previous notes for the previous topics once a week to see if there is anything you can condense, add or remove based on your tutorials. This refinement will be much more helpful to you and you will thank your future self later.
Attending Australian Guide Australian Guide to Legal Citation 4th Edition (AGLC4)1, or LexisNexis Workshops that the Education Portfolio runs, or the writing resources that are available through the University, will allow you to learn much more about the common mistakes you should be avoiding and some insightful tips on how to improve your legal research skills and writing skills.
1. Psst... Did you know... citations are important?
DISCLAIMER: The information in this section is merely informative and should not be relied upon as personalised or program advice. We recommend you seek academic or program advice where appropriate.
• Having a case table for your law units is a great idea as you can visually see the case facts, outcomes and principles as well. Having a case table allows you to also see all the cases laid out and gives you the opportunity to personalise however you want it, which in turn, might help you understand the content better! You may want to structure your case table like this:
• When you are writing your case law notes, make sure you write in a way that is easy for you to understand. You will be referring to these notes throughout the unit and your future self will appreciate the extra time it takes for you to simplify your notes!
• Remember that the way you study is different to how other people study and that is completely fine!
• There are many different ways on how students structure their notes. Structuring notes may not be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, but remember to structure your notes in a way that is most effective to you.
• Mikaela, Publications Director’s Tip: This may sound unusual, but whenever I had to write a case summary, I always associated an emoji with it, especially if it was an important case the unit would be constantly referencing, to remember the case better. For example, Donaghue v Stevenson, on my notes was written as �� Donaghue v Stevenson, and everytime I saw that snail emoji, I would remember that this case was about how Donaghue fell ill because there was a decomposed snail in the bottle, and that the ginger beer manufacturer, Mr. Stevenson owed a duty of care to her as a consumer.
• You not only need to make sure you are taking notes of the relevant topic, but you are writing in a way where if someone who has never done the subject, would understand. The worst thing you can do for yourself is make notes with no structure, headings or direction and when your future self opens it, you think 'oh no', realising you have to do that extra research.
• Remember, it is better if your notes are in plain English and you are confident that your future self will understand what you wrote.
• Structuring and using subheadings is a BLESSING for your future self. Fall into the habit of structuring your notes. You can do this by colour coding headings, subheadings and sub-subheadings as it visually lays out what information falls under what topic.
• For example, you might use different highlighters to pinpoint different pieces of information e.g. pink could be case law, green could be the principle of the case law, yellow could be important information.
A good way to actively recall what you have learned is to pretend that you are teaching that same unit to someone else. Try speaking out loud and explaining the concept. When you stumble or realise that you are confusing yourself, review the content and repeat the process. This will build confidence in your understanding of the concept!
Using a different colour anytime you make notes based on what your tutor has said. Having different colours that contrast between how you have answered the questions versus how the tutor would have answered this allows you to reflect on your gaps of understanding. It also does allow you to identify some of the tutor’s insight as well!
• To make better Tutorial Notes and enhance your understanding, participate in the class discussion. I completely understand how daunting this is for students, especially with the fear and anxiety if what you may say is wrong.
• Mikaela, Publications Director’s Tip: Let me tell you this, I have remembered and retained much more information when I have participated (and may have gotten some information incorrect) rather than just listening. It sticks with you much more.
• Participation is not just about making sure you always say the right thing or the ‘smartest’ thing — it's about aiding your understanding and making sure you are using your tutorial time to your advantage.
Treat your lectures as a topic skeleton. In essence, your lectures are the rough notes that will help you gain a foundational understanding of the week’s topic. You want to focus on identifying whether you understand it or not and refer back to your readings if you need clarification.
• In the chance where you travel to university the same day you have lectures, I would strongly recommend you go ahead (provided there is a live lecture).
• In my experience, whenever I have attended a lecture, I found myself listening more rather than typing everything the lecturer has to say as I found that helped me better remember the information. It also does cut down the time when you have to do it later.
• You can even ask questions on the content that is in front of you! Lecturers love it when you engage with them and ask if what they are saying is the same page on how you understand it.
• There are many different ways on how you could structure your lecture notes — remember to focus on what works best for you. Here are some examples of how you could structure your lecture notes (please note that this is not an exhaustive list!):
Remember to keep these notes short and sweet! You want to make sure that you understand the content first, listen first and if the lecturer provides additional information, write that down!
• You can write your notes afresh
• Make sure you can structure them well! Remember you will be constantly referring to these so structure them in a way that is most effective for your study!
• Remember to use colours and highlight so you can pinpoint information better! Use as much signposting as you can!
Think of tutorials as an opportunity to really refine your knowledge of the content. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind when you are writing tutorial notes!
Throughout your time in Law School, you will often hear the words ' I’m stressed.' Whether this is about work, study or even extracurriculars you engage in, stress and anxiety is experienced by many individuals. Here are some contributions in this section that outlines tips and reflects on personal experiences on how each of them have found an approach to deal with stress and anxiety.
You may find yourself experiencing symptoms of stress and anxiety during your studies, and know from the get-go that you are not alone. There are resources available to support you in forging a path forward.
Law students, like solicitors and barristers, exhibit high levels of distress and disproportionately higher experiences of depression than members of the general population. Encouragingly, there is now a wealth of literature that helps us promote better responses in our profession. example, there’s ‘Being Well In The Law: A Guide for Lawyers’ from the Law Society of NSW, NSW Young Lawyers and ANU, and the extremely comprehensive ‘Mental Wellbeing in the Legal Profession: A Global Study’ courtesy of the International Bar Association. The Law Society of NSW even maintains an online page on Mental Health and Wellbeing My tip is to telegraph forward and plug into these spaces to prepare yourself for your career.
Of course, you don’t have to be a law student to experience stress and anxiety, so there are a range of more general supports for students while at university. University Support Services are available including aps, accessibility assistance, counselling, and other health services. Your Unit Guides will also have the standard links to the University’s Special Consideration process. I find a lot of anxiety for first years culminates around not knowing the university basics (e.g. finding classrooms, navigating iLearn, how to find assessment feedback, using Multisearch for research, etc). The best way to beat this is to familiarise yourself with university systems and processes. Before you ‘rage-quit’ on the University’s online platforms, my advice is to scroll to the bottom to see if there are help guides or FAQs. If all else fails, there’s AskMQ
Part of law school is developing your professional identity, and part of professionalism is self-management. Part of effective self-management is knowing how to identify when you’re not feeling well and take action. Most times this starts with communicating your needs to others and getting support. Just like your substantive legal work, it’s an important thing to practise before graduation as your workplace will have their own policies and practices too.ZARA BENDING
LECTURERAT MACQUARIE LAW SCHOOL AND AN ASSOCIATE AT THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 1 Sharon Medlow, Norm Kelk and Ian Hickie, ‘Depression and the Law: Experiences of Australian Barristers and Solicitors’ (2011) 33 Sydney Law Review 771. 2 There are also general support spaces and aps open to the public. I rate headspace (https://headspace.org.au/) but there are others.
ACADEMIC AND LAW GRADUATE
When you are learning content, you may fall behind on your assignments. When you are completing your assignments, you may fall behind on your readings. When you are catching up in one unit, you may fall behind in another. There are always more readings, more revision and more research that can be done.
This cycle will become a little too familiar for many of you, so my advice to you is simple. When you feel overwhelmed by your workload, take a breath, write down a set of obtainable weekly goals, prioritise them, create a weekly schedule, and at the at the end of the week, give yourself a break.
Yes, I want you to actually schedule a break after your week of tasks is complete. A balanced and healthy mind is a prolific mind, so it is actually productive to allow yourself some down time.
I hope that you find ways to seek joy from your weekly schedule. Maybe you like to schedule in some time to cook your favourite meal on a weeknight, or you decide to schedule in your readings on Friday so that you can enjoy a relaxing morning on Saturday. Maybe you find colour-coding your schedule really satisfying (I certainly do), or you enjoy writing your schedule on a whiteboard so that you can tick off tasks as you go.
All of these little things can make a huge difference in your mindset. Once you find strategies that work for you, they can form part of your daily habits that help you maintain a healthy mind for life.
Anxiety differs from person to person, and there’s no such thing as an easy ‘fix.’ However, here are some small things that helped me manage my anxiety during law school:
At the beginning of every semester, I went through the unit guides for my subjects and marked in my calendar when each assignment was due. Having visibility of my workload made me feel more in control, and avoided any surprise all-nighters and cramming sessions.
I often felt anxious about being called upon by my tutor in class. However, I was always more confident if I had done my readings and written down some notes in preparation. Keep
I often felt anxious with unfamiliar scenarios, whether that be speaking up in tutorials or mooting. While the nerves may never completely go away, exposure to new experiences makes them slightly more manageable.
The best way to get the most out of your studies is to ensure that you are firstly looking after your physical and mental wellbeing.
The anthem of my Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Environment was, “after this week, I will be back on track.” It took 5 years of study before I admitted to myself that I was never genuinely going to be “on top” of my studies.
Fortunately for current and upcoming graduates of law, self-care has become quite the catch-phrase in the legal arena. In just about every law journal you will find at least one section talking about the critical need for self-care. Self-care is not just about pampering yourself occasionally or taking a well-deserved break when the opportunity arises (although these are great ideas too!)
Recognise that the journey you have been on has not always been easy and when you graduate and hit the ground running in your new legal profession, it will not be easy most of the time! So, start practicing now. Remember that you have achieved so much to be where you are today and give yourself credit for that. Even if you didn’t achieve as many HDs as you would have liked, or you didn’t land that dream job right off the bat, it is a journey, and you are nailing it! One of the best pieces of advice I can offer is this: every time you find yourself stressing out over an essay or exam preparations, remember that you did this every single other time you had an essay due or an upcoming exam and you did it! You can do your very best without making yourself sick over it.
The most practical advice I can give to balancing your workload is this: Start now! I know procrastination was one of my biggest hurdles and I could have saved myself from many ‘all nighters’ if I had only started sooner! The more you can do today, the easier tomorrow will be. Work out if study groups work for you. If you think they may be
ARYANA KHAJA JD STUDENTBalancing university commitments can be quite stressful, particularly for a JD student. With JD & Postgrad students, most of us have careers that are in the background of our university life. Some of us also have families to care for. With all these responsibilities, it can become incredibly stressful to stay on top of everything! A way to combat this is to plan ahead. The best way for me to balance my studies with my other commitments is to plan! I love making to-do lists at the start of each week to spread out all my responsibilities
Although studying law is generally stressful, the exam period at the end of semester can make you reach extreme levels of stress. I have two strategies to mitigate stress throughout and at the end of the semester.
Firstly, I engage in hard-core strenuous exercise. During COVID lockdown, that would mean running 7km or skipping for an hour; but now it means going to the gym and doing jiu-jitsu classes at night. This exercise not only provides escapism, but a euphoric rush of endorphins and brain chemicals that allows me to feel more focused, happy, and surprisingly energised. Exercise declutters my mind, allows me to redirect my stress in a healthy way, and contributes to all aspects of my life.
useful, try them, but if they are not working for you, don’t hesitate to drop out of the group and find a more useful way of using your study time. I have been in study groups that have saved me from failing a unit and I have been in other study groups where you quickly work out you are the only one doing the reading, considering the tutorial questions and watching the lectures. Drop it! Always support one another but don’t allow yourself to become the 'worker bee' for others.
Optimise your study time. Work out what works for you. Do you study better early in the morning or in the evening? Is your bedroom or home office the best study area for you or do you achieve more when you find a quiet spot in the library and set up for the day? Once you know when and where the best study environment is for you, you can work out your timetable around it.
Utilise the resources available to you! If there are PAL or PASS sessions available and these work for you – join them! Also, the library has fantastic workshops, and I would strongly recommend you see what is available. In my first 2 years I found the AGLC workshops particularly helpful.
Finally, learn how to say no! Find a healthy balance of work/ study/play and stick to your plan. I know it can be hard to say no sometimes but trust me, you need to know what your priorities are at the time and say no when you need to. Whether it is saying no to a party, or no to helping a friend move house, or no to a weekend away… people will understand and you will feel the benefits when you are celebrating the completion of another year or attending your graduation party!
and tasks evenly so I can stay on top of everything and make sure I do not fall behind. I also find using a calendar incredibly helpful, so you can never plan too much on one day. This is particularly helpful in splitting up personal commitments, extracurricular commitments, and university work evenly across the month.
Secondly, I message my classmates and ask how they’re feeling. Despite being told that this may further contribute to the stress, I find that it provides a sense of solidarity; I realise that I’m not the only one who's falling behind, overwhelmed, and anxious; I realise that if other people can push through, I can too.
Sometimes I feel as if I am so far behind everyone, but when I actually talk to people, I realise that it’s unrealistic to be perfect all the time and that a lot of people are in the same boat.
There is no doubt that the legal industry is full of high achievers. Yet, in conforming to this standard, everyone wants to present their best selves. However, what often is neglected is the voice within them that tells them what they think about themselves.
This voice, filled with criticism, makes one doubt their own abilities, highlighting their insecurities and guilt that they are not good enough for their achievements. This experience, coined as ‘Impostor Syndrome’ is one that is common amongst people who wish to pursue, or are pursuing a career in law. If you are someone who experiences this, I hope you know that you are already worthy enough. And, it is the aim of this section to provide you comfort and reassurance that there are people that go through this same experience.
Ranging from current students, academics and graduates, all contributions shed light into this issue and their advice on how to steer away from that mentality.
As a student at a law school, I feared that I was not good enough at times. As an Academic at Law School, that feeling has not subsided. I thought this feeling may dissipate as I stepped into a legal career after completing my studies. But the interesting thing about impostor syndrome is that it does not just go away because you have grown a few years older or completed your degree.
Individuals typically strive to complete a Bachelor of Laws because they value high accolades and are willing to work hard in order to accomplish their aspirations. If this sounds like you, then you may encounter impostor syndrome at some point throughout your studies. So my advice is to remind yourself of the following:
Instead of striving for perfectionism, strive for excellence in a healthy manner.
Instead of setting unrealistically high standards for yourself, set achievable and measurable goals.
Instead of only valuing the outcome of your hard work, value the process.
Instead of trying to avoid making mistakes, see mistakes as an opportunity for growth.
How do I put these reminders into practice? I have a diary that contains all of my weekly, monthly and yearly goals so that I can reflect on them, amend them, and tick them off when they have been achieved. For each goal, I answer the following questions:
What date do I want to achieve this goal by?
Why do I want to achieve this goal?
How am I going to accomplish this goal?
How will I measure this goal?
What is my reward for achieving this goal?
These questions prompt you to set standards for yourself that are realistic, and encourage you to actually take a moment to give yourself praise and celebrate your accomplishments. These moments will give you an opportunity to realise how much you have learnt and grown during your studies, which will help you feel validated that you deserve to be here — because you do!
Ever felt like a fraud? Maybe on the outside you radiate confidence, composure and achievement but on the inside you doubt your ability or worthiness to be where you are? Sometimes you may feel like you’re one or two questions away from having your inadequacy laid out for everyone to see? Maybe you think others overestimate your abilities? The phenomenon now known as ‘impostor syndrome’ first hit the research world in 1978 in psychological studies of highachieving women but subsequent studies have also observed it in men.
The takeaway isn’t that we’re all frauds (the criminologist in me can confirm) but that feelings of self-doubt can happen to anyone, including (and maybe especially) high achievers. I also know a lot of students who deal with impostor syndrome and become so hypercritical of their work that there's a disconnect somewhere between their ability, performance, and perception of capability. Students who may have the potential for Ds and HDs overthink themselves into Ps and Cs, or sometimes can’t bring themselves to submit their work.
ACADEMIC AND LAW GRADUATE
Personally, my feelings of impostor syndrome are often born out of comparing myself to other people. The first time I experienced impostor syndrome was actually in my first Foundations of Law tutorial. It felt as if every other student was so much more articulate and confident than I was. I remember questioning whether I was at the same ‘level’ as my peers. If you find yourself having similar thoughts, remember that you worked hard to get here, and that you deserve to be here. One of my favourite quote to reflect
GRADUATE SOLICITOR AT ABORIGINAL LEGAL SERVICE
Hi, my name is Tomas Ditton and I have impostor syndrome. I am a Juris Doctorgraduate from Macquarie University and work as a Graduate Solicitor in Criminal Law for the Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS).
According to Merriam-Webster, impostor syndrome is ‘a psychological condition that is characterised by persistent doubt concerning one’s abilities or accomplishments accompanied by the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of one’s ongoing success’ (Impostor syndrome Definition & Meaning — Merriam-Webster).
As a law student and now as a lawyer, I was and am constantly worried I had fluked it. While a student, I was overwhelmed with insecurity over feeling inferior to other people in my cohort, who seemed smarter, more experienced, and more accomplished than me. I studied with people who were prize winning students in their first degree, accomplished athletes, already had extensive experience as a paralegal, or were capable musicians. I had none of those things and felt like I had faked it to make it into law school. I heard people describe law school as ‘easy’ when I found it to be a serious challenge. Whenever I met lawyers at career events, I felt
I don’t have all the answers. What I do have are some tips that have worked for me and droves of my students and mentees in the last decade. If you find yourself inching towards negative thoughts about yourself, start with the prompt ‘That isn’t true because…’ and find data and evidence to complete the rest of the sentence. Or, reframe with ‘A better or more helpful way to think about it is…’ Be open to constructive thinking (including criticism).
I also see that students who devote time to investing in the foundations of their academic work and getting feedback can wind back feelings of impostor syndrome because they know they’re not ‘winging it’. I highly recommend the workshops and online resources offered by the university, particularly the free workshops (I occasionally check them out when I get so deep in my research that I feel I’ve forgotten how to string together a sentence!).
on is: ‘Comparison is the thief of joy.’ If you notice yourself making comparisons between yourself and other students, remember that everyone has entirely different circumstances and aspirations. You have already achieved so much by just getting into law school. When in doubt, reflect upon your achievements to date and allow these to instil the greater self-confidence needed to seize the opportunities you have ahead of you.
like a total fake compared to them. Lawyers seemed so smooth and self-assured, while I felt like a stumbled around like a bumbling oaf and was about to be exposed as someone who was not smart enough or good enough to be a lawyer. I constantly felt the impulse to quit because I was not good enough to make it.
I did not quit though. I reminded myself that I had my own strengths and achievements, and focused on improving myself within my own abilities, rather than others. For me, impostor syndrome is exacerbated by comparison with others and in a competitive environment, it is virtually impossible not to compare yourself to others.
However, it is important to realise getting into law school is an achievement. Every single piece of information you learn is an achievement. Every time you don’t give up when you want to, is an achievement. You have your own unique abilities and when you have the need to improve on skills that are necessary to studying law, then that is something you can do.
All that said, I think the most helpful way to deal with selfdoubt is to re-orient your relationship with failure. Every person who has ever succeeded or innovated has done so off the back of not getting it right the first time. The trick is to learn how to fail forwards, not backwardsLECTURER AT MACQUARIE LAW SCHOOL AND AN ASSOCIATE AT THE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
As a mature age student who never completed high school let alone attend university, I probably struggled with this more than some. When I was accepted to enrol in a Bachelor of Arts, I honestly thought someone had made a mistake! I spent the first couple of years waiting for someone to tap me on the shoulder and say “Hey! How did you get here? You can’t be here! (laughing) You’re not smart enough to do a degree!” Then I got accepted to transfer to a BA Psych degree. Really? Me? All the while I kept looking over my shoulder (figuratively speaking) at the Law Department and thinking, ‘I wish I could do that’.
Then one day, I considered the fact that I never thought I would be able to go to university at all. I did so well in my first couple of semesters that they then let me enrol in a psychology degree! I wonder if I could actually get accepted into law? Guess what?
Nothing quite prepares you for all the struggle that comes with it. You go from being one of the brightest kids in high school to suddenly being one of the many bright intellectuals in law school and it is quite a shock to the system. The adjustment period was a debilitating experience for me. I was the first of my immediate family to make it into a degree of this kind and also be able to graduate university. There was no one to guide me through the university experience nor was I cultured or connected with the same lifestyle of most of my peers. On top of facing all of this pressure, I could count with one hand how many other Filipino women from the Western Suburbs, like me, who were studying this degree. I often felt alienated; like I didn’t belong.
Majority of the first couple of years of law school and up until now, I wrestled with doubt. What am I doing in this degree? Am I good enough to study law? Am I even cut out to be a lawyer? These were the underlying anxieties I faced all while trying to keep on top of numerous readings, contribute valuable answers in class and get reasonable marks with my assignments. It didn’t help that most of the first year I wasn’t getting the marks I expected. This made me feel worse about myself. I didn’t feel worthy enough to be sitting amongst my peers who seemed so proactive and eloquent in answering. but there I was, an introverted INFJ, struggling to voice all the thoughts burgeoning in my mind.
When I struggled to understand the verbose readings we were assigned, I beat myself up internally. Why can’t I understand this?
I bet everyone is breezing through this reading while it takes me hours. I set myself extreme standards for assignments, feeling anxious every time I had to hand something in because to me, it just wasn’t good enough. I would never be able to write the way my peers did. I was constantly comparing myself to others and
So now I have just completed a double degree in Psychology with an LLB Laws. I think the biggest epiphany for me was the realisation that I deserved to be there. I worked hard for that! I should never have felt like I didn’t belong or like someone must have really lost the plot to think I was good enough to do this. I am good enough. I am smart enough. I am enough. If you have trouble with ‘impostor syndrome’, if you are riddled with self-doubt, if you think you will never get there or that someone will suddenly realise you don’t belong here… write these affirmations in size 36 font, in bold, and underlined and stick them to your bathroom mirror and repeat them to yourself every single day.
constantly beating myself up. Admittedly, I wanted to drop out of law school badly in my first ever semester of study. But I stuck it out. And I am glad I did. After all that struggle, I am now working at a law firm. I get to use my law degree to give back to the community and it is the greatest joy for me.
See, by constantly undermining yourself, you don’t realise the potential you possess within you. I was judging myself when I had just started.
There were so many more years to improve, many more conversations to be had to guide me into the right direction and more experiences to refine my skills. There was no reason for me to be perfect from the get-go nor is there any reason for you to pressure yourself to be perfect either. We are only just beginning this whole journey.
Now that I am heading into my fourth year, there are many things I have learnt, and I can summarise it into the following:
• You have something unique to offer. There is a reason why you made it into law.
• Give yourself plenty of grace and patience – this degree is tough.
• Your grades in law school are literally not indicative of how you’ll perform as a professional. When I was balancing two jobs and volunteer work, my grades fell to credits and distinctions, but it did not make me any less capable; rather, it made me a well-rounded person (and highly stressed but that’s a different conversation altogether).
• If you’re struggling to understand the reading and stay disciplined with your studies, it is highly likely that your peers are too.
• If you open up about your fears in law school to your peers, chances are they are actually feeling the same way too.
• Once you overcome this fear, law school isn’t all that scary and overwhelming. It might actually become enjoyable.
LAWS1300. Criminal Justice. My Friday Afternoons during the second semester of my first year of Law School was preoccupied with this unit. It was also the first unit, for me, where participation was graded. I never participated in any tutorial session, content that being quiet and typing the tutor’s answers from the set tutorial questions that day was enough. As long as I did the work and knew what was happening in the class, I was fine.
Even after seeing the 20% participation underneath the ‘Assessment Tasks’ section of the unit guide, I still remained indifferent to my approach in class. Yet, this satisfaction soon was confronted with reality that I was afraid to acknowledge. As every Friday came creeping in, anxiety would overwhelm me as I knew there would be students shooting up their hands, articulating eloquent answers that referenced everything from the lectures to the articles that were placed as ‘reading suggestions’. Which would happen for every question. And yet, for every cycle this occurred, somehow confirmed my feelings of not belonging here and my lack of self-esteem.
'I do not belong here.'
'How did I even manage to get into this course? I am nowhere as smart as these students.'
'How do they understand everything? What seems like minutes to them, takes me hours to understand.'
'I am nowhere as smart as them… and they will soon figure that out.'
Any sort of affirmation, hung by a loose thread. A mental pattern of self-doubt that confirmed my self-inducing thoughts was what filled me. I would sit in my tutorials, frozen that I would be buzzkill, ruining this thread of articulate answers. What if I said the wrong answers? used the wrong case law? Misunderstood the question? I would rather sit in silence than make any of these possibilities become real. It was only until later during the semester, when I made a couple
more friends in this class that this feeling - this burden - was common. What I felt every lesson, other people in my class felt the same. The expressed reassurance that I was not the only one feeling like this, was a source of comfort I never thought I would find. When I asked them how they were able to put their hands up and not be that anxious as I was, one person replied “the first time will always be tough, but remember, that everyone in that tutorial is there for a reason. It's not to see who is the smartest, but make sure that YOU understand”. After that one person had said that, another person contributed and said ‘If you contribute, whether you are right or wrong, you might actually end up helping another student clarify their own understanding of the topic’. That support and compassion made me feel better.
So to you, reading this, remember that imposter syndrome is common amongst us. However, please do not let the thoughts of negativity or not being good enough overfill you. Remember, getting into Law School is already an achievement itself, you are NOT a fraud! What I have learned is that it is normal to not understand things on the first try. Do not beat yourself up on it. Some topics are harder to learn than others and just because you observe someone who seems smarter, it does not mean that their strengths take away from your own. That person has their own strengths and so do you.
Overcoming imposter syndrome is not an easy journey (I myself still struggle with this), however attempting to change your mindset to steer away from it, is the beginning of entering a journey of acceptance and mindfulness of your own thoughts.
And, when you begin to identify that these beliefs of ‘not belonging here’, ‘this was all an accident’, ‘they will soon find out that I am not enough’ roaming in your head are false, you begin to connect with the deeper truth — there is no imposter to your intelligence, it is your skills and how your unique self contributes to the lives of others that really matters
Imposter syndrome can be quite common among law students. It is important not to let it overtake your entire university life! A great way to manage this is to acknowledge that most students probably feel this way. That’s why it is best to always talk to someone and have a support network to rely on. Another way to manage this is not to be too hard on yourself. It is completely fine to take breaks and invest in self-care. Find something you like to do and make sure you do it at least once a week. As law students, it is common to invest a lot of time in our studies. It is important however to replicate this for our self-care as well and take breaks so we are not always consumed with our studies.
Amongst work, study, exercise and other extracurriculars one may balance, it is understandably overwhelming and difficult. It is important to find a routine that works for you, where you are able to schedule breaks, prioritise urgent tasks, allocate time for your health and maintain your relationships with your friends. Attending Law School is a time for students to not only develop academically, but also personally. Here are some contributions that reflect how some students balanced their studies with law school.
Balancing studies as a law student is difficult, whether you are a JD or a LLB student. The degree itself is challenging enough, with its dense readings, frequent assessments, and high academic standards.
If you work full-time, even studying part-time is hard. If you study full-time, even part-time work is tough. Even tougher, there still is the need to balance extracurricular activities such as mooting and student law society responsibilities. If you do not work in the legal profession as a student, like me, then the time needed to research and apply for jobs in the legal industry becomes a massive demand on your time. Once activities outside of your law degree come into play, such as sport and music, it starts to feel as though you are overwhelmed. Then of course, you need to care for your family and have a social life with friends. Ultimately, one of these things must be sacrificed. While my time management skills improved over my degree, I still had to sacrifice friends and my outside of law
4TH YEAR ARTS/LAW
Nothing really quite prepares you for the terror they call law school.
It’s daunting, unforgiving and it demands the best of you at all times. You may even start to question whether this degree is truly for you or if you are even good enough to be in the legal field (unless you are part of the 1% who have their entire lives together and have dreamed of studying law from the day they were born). But, at the end of the day, it’s not life. This degree is the beginning of your entry into the legal field. It is not determinative of the trajectory of your career. Rather, the character you develop and the experience you build is more determinative of the purpose you’ll serve in your career.
Now that I am heading into my fourth year of law school there are definitely things I wish I knew earlier. Firstly, give each assignment, exam and class your best but set boundaries. Do not devote all your time to studying but instead make time for other things as this will increase your productivity and prevent burnout in the long-term. Secondly, surround yourself with good, like-minded people in law school. Be transparent with them. They are likely to be struggling too and you can all work together to alleviate the workload. We are not competing with one another but rather learning the law together. Thirdly, although you are studying law, you do not have to be a lawyer. There are so many avenues out there and you just have to scope out what you are made for. Do not limit yourself. All in all, may you use your law degree to better the world.
hobbies to complete my degree and pursue my career. This was not the most mentally healthy choice. I felt one-dimensional as a person and lost friends over the course of my degree due to falling out of contact with them.
I felt lonely and miserable. Paradoxically, spending all my time on law-related activities made me worse at them, which took a toll on my mental health.
Since finishing law school, I have reconnected with friends and hobbies and noticed my mental health has improved. The lesson I have learnt is that good time management accounts for your own limits and mental health. Make sure you make time for friends and your hobbies, because these things help keep you mentally healthy and engaged as a student, thus better able to manage the rigours of study, work, and law society commitments. You need to exercise, sleep well, eat properly, and have friends to be focused and mentally healthy enough to manage your time properly.
4TH YEAR ARTS/LAW
Studying law necessitates striking a delicate balance between ensuring one's resume foundations are strong enough to stand out in a competitive class while also ensuring that there is a healthy balance with other aspects of life. Establishing a schedule that is compatible with the workload associated with being a law student, including classes, exams, and other extracurricular activities, is crucial in order to achieve this.
During my time in law school, I have learned a few useful tricks, such as scheduling tasks daily in order of priority throughout the day. This method helps organise and arrange tasks in order of importance and ensures deadlines are met. Scheduling breaks throughout the day is also important to prevent burnout and to provide a healthy way to balance other responsibilities, like keeping an active social and professional life. Another helpful tip is to organise your notes before classes. I find that this is a great way to make sure that the material is understood, and it also helps me get ready for any contributions that will be made in class. It also helps me focus more during the unit because the material is easier to interpret and interact with. Another excellent strategy for maintaining interest and developing relationships in law school is to discuss material with peers.
To find a balance between law school and all the other facets of life outside of it, time management is a crucial skill, so organisation and commitment to these various things are crucial.
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Access support and resources from one of Australia’s most renowned mental health organisations.
Headspace
1800 650 890
Free online and telephone service that supports young people aged between 12 and 25 and their families going through a tough time.
National Alcohol and 1800 250 015 Other Drug Hotline
Free and confidential advice about alcohol and drugs.
Lifeline
13 11 14 lifeline.org.au/ 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Australian Hearing Hub
16 University Avenue
Macquarie University NSW 2109 +61 (2) 9850 7497 wellbeing@mq.edu.au
1800RESPECT
1800 737 732
24/7 National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counseling service.
MensLine
1300 789 978
24/7 Counselling and resources for men in crisis.
Relationships Australia
1300 364 277
A provider of relationship support services for individuals, families, and communities.
QLife
1800 184 527
Australia’s first nationally-oriented counseling and referral service for LGBTI people.
The MQ Wellbeing App provides resources on mindfulness, productivity, stress management and interpersonal skills. Access relevant posts from the Macquarie Wellbeing Team, as well useful tools such as guided meditations, breathing exercises, a mood tracker and habit tracker.
Macquarie Student Wellbeing is equipped with a number of tools and resources to help students with their emotional, physical, financial and academic wellbeing.
Wellbeing WISE is an online portal which you can access via iLearn. The portal has been curated by Student Wellbeing to provide a comprehensive resource on wellbeing. You will find resources to help you manage your university assessments, your mental or physical health, or financial health.
Counselling services are provided to currently enrolled Macquarie students online or over the phone by qualified psychologists. Their services include:
• short term, solution focused counselling,
• cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT),
• mindfulness,
• referral to external specialist services, and
• on the day brief phone appointments for urgent support.
Welfare services are available for social, financial and academic help. Areas the Welfare Service can assist with include:
• academic concerns,
• adjustment to university life,
• accommodation, tenancy and renting concerns,
• financial concerns,
• family concerns,
• general health concerns (referrals only),
• legal concerns (referrals only),
• relationships including domestic and family violence, and
• other social concerns.
Headspace is a subscription-based app that provides you with a catalog of resources to help improve your mental health. This includes resources such as guided meditations, white noise, exercise routines, and breathing exercises.
Breathwrk guides you through breathing exercises that alleviate stress and anxiety, improve focus and energy, and help you fall asleep.
Forest
Forest is a productivity timer app that helps you stay productive and better manage your time. Whether you prefer working in concentrated bursts or longer periods of time, the Forest app acts as an accountability tool to stop from endlessly scrolling on social media.
Getting enough sleep is crucial to maintaining a healthy wellbeing. Pzizz provides calming sound effects to help users rest soundly with a patented system of psychoacoustics. Through the app, users are able to customise the duration, volume and gender of the speaker to suit their own needs and preferences.
Reflectly is a journaling app that helps users practice mindfulness and gratitude. Based on positive psychology, mindfulness and cognitive behavioural theory, this app provides users with a series of tools to build a healthy mindset and habits.
There are two types of lawyers in NSW, solicitors and barristers These two terms cause a lot of confusion so we will briefly explain them below.
Solicitors spend most of their time in the office, attending to the needs of their clients. They provide legal advice or plans for handling legal issues. Their day-to-day tasks include email and telephone communications, drafting court documents and correspondence, advising barristers on behalf of their client and negotiating. Solicitors generally have a legal area of expertise, such as family law or personal injury law.
Barristers, on the other hand, spend most of their time in court. They are typically called on by a client or their solicitor in cases which require significant time in court. Barristers are not always needed in legal cases but their common tasks include appearing in trials, executing court applications and advising in an intricate area of law.
Law firms are groups of lawyers that work together. They can be divided into the following categories by a variety of factors including revenue, type of work and client, number of employees and global reach. Please note that whilst there are firms of varying sizes, they all offer unique opportunities.
These firms have a relatively small number of employees and usually specialise in a few areas of law, such as family law or Intellectual Property. They typically work with individuals or small businesses.
These are moderately large firms, with more employees than boutique firms and operate in a few different cities. They may undertake similar work to international firms but at lower monetary value and complexity. Additionally, there are other national firms that have similar clients and legal work as the international firms but are typically not full service firms.
International firms:
These are the largest firms in Australia and many are global businesses. They are the largest by revenue in the country and tend to undertake the largest and most complex corporate deals. They were previously known as the Big Six but many of the six have since merged or formed partnerships.
Lawyers are often assigned titles designated by their experience in the sector. These include Principal, Managing Partner, Partner, Special Counsel, Senior Associate and Junior Associate. These titles are more clearly defined in firms with larger numbers of lawyers. Other legal staff at firms include legal assistants, paralegals and law clerks, which law students often work as.
Legal experience is highly sought after by law students and applications are very competitive. Students typically start off by working at law firms on a casual basis as a law clerk or paralegal or volunteering at non-profit legal centres.
Receive updates on legal job opportunities below:
• Student university email
• MULS Facebook page
• LegalVitae https://legalvitae.com.au/
• CareerHub https://www.careerhub.mq.edu.au/students/jobs
Keep an eye out for the Careers Guide and Clerkship Guide for more information on legal jobs and clerkship applications.
Networking is the process of forming valuable connections that will improve your soft skills and grow your professional network. MULS provides endless opportunities to meet and connect with fellow students, alumni, academics, lawyers and judges. Reach out to the Campus Engagement team for any help or questions and get involved in the various networking events they run throughout the year.
You can access your student email by logging into mail.google.com, with your university email address, for example, harvey.specter1@ students.mq.edu.au. The password is your OneID password (the same password you use to log into iLearn). You would have received information about your email address when you activated your OneID. You should check your email regularly for important information relating to your time at Macquarie.
As previously mentioned, eStudent gives you access to administrative information and allows you, amongst other functions, to enrol in units, choose classes and pay your fees.
Student Connect is your first point of contact for any enquiries you have relating to your time at Macquarie. They will provide you with advice and information about any aspect of your university life or refer you to the appropriate service. This can range from advice about your degree to information about overseas exchange to finding food on campus. They also provide essential administrative tasks such as issuing campus cards and Concession Opals.
Contacting Student Connect:
• Online at https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/ student-connect
• By phone on (02) 9850 6410
• In-person at 18 Wally’s Walk, Level 2 MUSE
Note: AskMQ https://ask.mq.edu.au is a similar online service that provides quick and simple answers to your university life questions.
OneHelp is the University’s online IT request system. If turning your laptop off and on again doesn’t work, you can use OneHelp to request IT assistance. They also provide IT services and take reports on any issues you experience with the university’s IT services. You can make such requests online on https://mq.servicenow.com/onehelp_public/ directly or log IT issues by:
• Calling the IT Service Desk on (02) 9850 4357
• Emailing onehelp@mq.edu.au or
• Visiting the IT Service Desk at 17 Wally’s Walk, Ground Floor
As online teaching will be an option in 2023, it is possible that your lectures and tutorials will be hosted via Zoom.
Zoom facilitates real-time online communication and collaboration. Zoom provides video and voice communication, text chat, interactive whiteboard, screen sharing and annotation. As students at Macquarie you will be able to participate in a Zoom meeting or schedule and host your own Zoom meeting.
As a security measure, the default in Zoom is to only allow for Macquarie OneID users to access a Zoom meeting. You must login to a Zoom meeting with your Student OneID through https:// macquarie.zoom.us/. By logging on to Zoom, you agree to comply with the Macquarie University Acceptable Use Policy
If you try to access a Macquarie hosted Zoom meeting with an account other than your Macquarie account you will not be able to join the meeting. Similarly, access to MULS’ Zoom events will be limited to current Macquarie University Students. MULS will not tolerate any behaviour that is in breach of the MULS Equity Policy or the Macquarie University Student Code of Conduct
You can consider applying for Special Consideration if you experienced significant and unavoidable difficulties during an exam period or when an assessment task is due. Applications must be made through AskMQ within five working days of the assessment due date. You must include supporting evidence of your difficulty such as a medical certificate. More information on the policy can be found at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/ special-consideration.
During the course of your studies you may experience disruptions that adversely affect your ability to perform in assessment tasks, for example a medical condition. Where a disruption is considered serious and unavoidable, you should look into the university’s Disruption to Studies policy and follow the appropriate steps.
This section contains the essential services and resources that the university offers. These are divided into sections from online resources to academic support to campus essentials such as food and drink. Make sure you make the most of them as they will both support and enhance your university experience!
The library is a valuable resource and provides an excellent study space for students. It has printing and scanning services accessed online
It is worthwhile heading to the library website where you can access some of the library’s features, including MultiSearch, a search engine which allows you to access journals, databases, unit readings and past papers.
PASS is an academic support program available to all students in selected units. Sessions are usually run for an hour, once a week. They are peer-facilitated, student-led and voluntary. The sessions are designed to deepen your understanding of unit content, as you are taught to develop the skills to find the answers. You will also be provided with study techniques from students who have succeeded in the unit. PASS sessions also help you to stay organised throughout the semester and allow you to meet new people in your courses. For more information, check out PASS on the Macquarie University website: https://students.mq.edu.au/ support/study/peer-support/PASS
Learning Skills provides a comprehensive support structure to assist you with your studies. Academic language and learning workshops are held in the library for the first few weeks of Session 1. Th ese workshops are generally repeated during the mid-session break. You can also get in contact with Learning Advisors through the skills development site at https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/skillsdevelopment
Learning Skills also provides excellent online support through iLearn under the ‘Student Support’ tab. Students can access ‘StudyWise’ for help with study techniques and writing assignments. The ‘Academic Integrity Module’ helps teaches students to act with integrity in their studies and avoid academic misconduct.
The Career and Employment Service provides knowledge you need to develop skills and plan pathways towards your future career. It places emphasis on gaining invaluable degree-relevant experience. A wide area is canvassed in this regard, including student exchange, Global Leadership Program and PACE. Access to extracurricular activities, competitions and internships opportunities can also be gained through this service.
For more information, visit the website https://students.mq.edu. au/experience/careers-and-job-opportunities/careers-andemployment-service, contact them via email at careers@mq.edu.au or visit the Career and Employment Service on Level 2 of the MUSE building (18 Wally's Walk).
This site allows you to access the range of services mentioned above. It is an interactive careers centre with tools such as a resume builder, interview stimulator and career assessments.
This is a careers portal that allows you to search for jobs and internships. You can also use it to register for the career events, workshops and appointments provided through the Career and Employment Service.
Studying law can be stressful and overwhelming. If you are ever struggling to cope with these pressures, or have other personal circumstances that are making life difficult, there is a free health and wellbeing service, Student Wellbeing, located on Level 2 of the Lincoln Building in C8A that provides:
• Counselling services
• Disability services
• Welfare services
• Religious services
They can be contacted on 9850 7497, at wellbeing@mq.edu.au or on their website: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/wellbeing
All students can access their 24-hour information and referral service by dialling 1800 CARE MQ (1800 2273 67) and receive helpful information at no cost, anytime, any day. This number can be found on the back of your campus card.
For more information on depression and anxiety in the legal profession, visit Minds Count Foundation at https://mindscount.org For general information regarding your mental health, visit Beyond Blue at https://www.beyondblue.org.au or Man Therapy https://www. mantherapy.org.au
There is also a GP service available to students at the Macquarie University Clinic (Suite 305, Level 3, 2 Technology Place, Macquarie University). This service is open Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 6:00pm and available on (02)9812 3944 to book an appointment.
If you are ever the subject of a disciplinary committee meeting, wish to make a complaint or appeal a grade, or have general queries regarding Disruptions to Studies or Student Visas, you may wish to contact Student Advocacy and Support for advice. They specialise in university policy, rules and procedure, and can provide you with independent, confidential advice. For further information, click the link: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/wellbeing/student-advocacy
Starting university can be exciting as well as challenging, and it is normal to feel worried or lost initially. Macquarie University Mentors is a peer support program designed to provide new students with support and guidance. Mentors are current student volunteers, who seek to assist new students by helping them to adjust to the new physical and online learning spaces. They are friendly faces who will help you feel connected to the Macquarie University Community.
For more information on the mentor program, please follow the link: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/peer-support/mentors
Friendly security staff can be seen around the main areas of campus and they patrol all precincts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are available to respond to incidents on campus such as fire alarms, thefts, reports of lost property and first aid. The essential services they provide are:
• Lost and found property: All property found on campus is held by Campus Security for two weeks. For any inquiries, phone 9850 7105 or visit the Security Shopfront in the library.
• Green light buildings: Green light buildings shown on the security map (scan QR code to view) indicate the presence of security staff during business hours. The officers are available to assist with any incident or emergency.
• Help points: Blue help points with a red button are positioned throughout the campus on posts or walls. If pressed, they will automatically connect you with Campus Security who are on-site 24/7.
• After hours security escorts: A walking escort service is available for students who do not wish to walk alone on campus after dark. You can submit an online form at https://www.mq.edu.au/about/ campus-services-and-facilities/security/request-for-security-footescort or call 9850 7112. Escorts will walk you from any location on campus to nearby public transport, carparks or campus accommodation.
The library is the main hub for studying with five levels of study areas. You can even book certain spaces such as presentation practice pods and quiet rooms online: https://www.mq.edu.au/ about/campus-services-and-facilities/library/facilities
When the library closes for the day, staff will tell you the location of the after-hours study rooms which are open until 2am. University Security manages access to these rooms and patrol the surrounding area.
Located upstairs, Macquarie’s innovative approach to learning and teaching takes centre stage with 26 assorted teaching rooms, breakout study areas and two interactive makerspaces. With vibrant colours designed to make group study sessions fun, there are also spaces for your individual study. Power points at desks mean you can charge your devices as you work.
The Macquarie University Spatial Experience (MUSE) is a mix between a traditional library and a relaxed social space. It is a social learning space where students can work on assignments, meet to discuss group projects or simply hang out.
A lesser-known study space is located in Room 325, 12 Second Way in building C5A. It has study desks, permanent storage facilities, a meeting room and a kitchen. It is a great area for student groups to run quiet events and store materials.
There is a spacious computer lab in Rooms 218 and 219 on the ground floor of 17 Wally’s Walk with 160 computers available for use. There are also computers available in the Student Connect area at MUSE and on Levels 1 and 2 of the Library.
1 CENTRAL COURTYARD
With over 17 retail outlets to choose from, The Hub is a space to unwind. Grab a drink at the Ubar, with terraced spaces overlooking the Macquarie Lake and enjoy live music. Look out for student discounts and promotions running on campus during exam season. Popular stores include Boost Juice, Roll’d, Soul Origin and more.
MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
Open for breakfast through to dinner, and conveniently located at the Library, the cafe provides a convenient spot for a caffeine fix or a carb load between studying.
23 WALLY’S WALK, NEXT TO MACQUARIE THEATRE
The cafe offers essential coffee and an all-day brunch menu. It is also a popular location for after-hours events such as cocktail parties and student group bookings.
10 MACQUARIE WALK, GROUND FLOOR REAR
Globe Cafe is a popular spot among the international campus community, offering coffee, snacks, meals and a quaint place to have lunch and hang out with friends.
THE HUB; 10 HADENFELD AVENUE; OR 25B WALLY’S WALK
Superb coffee, open from 7am. An exciting MULS initiative is happening here, so watch this space!
MUSE BUILDING, 18 WALLY’S WALK
A great stopover spot for a coffee and a friendly chat on-route to that dreaded 3pm tutorial.
Conveniently located across the road from campus is the iconic Macquarie Centre, boasting a large and spacious food court with stores ranging from King Tea to KFC to Ken’s Bento Box
At Macquarie University, we are very fortunate to have our own Sydney Metro train station at our doorstep and a large network of public buses. A good way to work out your commute is by using Trip Planner or an app such as Google Maps.
The NSW Government provides an on-demand transport service, Keoride. If you live in the Keoride service area, its minibus service will pick you up and drop you off at the closest safe space. Bookings can be made 30 minutes before the trip via the app, website https:// www.keoride.com.au/ or call on 1800 536 7433.
The University offers a complimentary shuttle bus service around the Campus during semester. It operates on Monday to Friday during semester from 4:00pm to 12.30am, and will transport you to and from Buildings; Campus Common, the train station and student accommodation. For more information, visit: https://www. mq.edu.au/about/contacts-and-maps/getting-to-macquarie/shuttle-bus
The university provides BikeHubs for you to safely store your bicycle. These facilities are accessed with your Campus Card, monitored by security and include secure undercover parking, lockers and showers. For more information, visit the website https://www.mq.edu. au/about/contacts-and-maps/getting-to-macquarie/bike-hubs
You can drive to university and park in the designated carparks, or try your luck with either street parking or the Macquarie Centre. Carparks on campus operate via licence plate recognition technology, so there is no need for tickets. Payment is made by either:
• Pay-as-you-go parking (PAYG) or;
• Virtual permit (vPermit)
For PAYG, you register with the provider, CellOpark, online or via the app. When you park on campus, you can use the app to start a parking session and it will charge you an hourly rate, depending on which carpark zone your vehicle is in. When exiting the carpark, go online to end the session: https://www.mq.edu.au/about/locations/ parking/student
If you travel to campus regularly, the vPermit may be the better option. You register and purchase one online at https://vpermit. com.au/mq/Account/Register and there are several options with rates based on different carpark zones. vPermits are available for a maximum of 12 months. Students can purchase one at any time during the year but the expiry date will always be on 31 December.
The Australian Law Students’ Association (ASLA) is a not-for-profit association comprising all Law Student Societies and Associations across Australia. It provides resources and information of interest to Australian law students and initiates events on a national scale. Like MULS, ALSA is student-run and the Executive is elected annually. To access their resources and for more information on how to get involved, visit their website at http://www.alsa.asn.au
New South Wales Young Lawyers (NSWYL) is the largest body of law students and young lawyers in Australia. It supports law students and young practitioners through the early stages of their legal careers by providing them with the opportunity to network, expand their knowledge and develop their careers as they contribute to their professions. NSWYL holds monthly meetings and events and as a law student, you can sign up to become a member for no charge. For more information, visit the NSWYL website http://www.lawsociety.com. au/about/YoungLawyers/index.htm
DWL
Diverse Women in Law (DWL) is a Sydney-based non-for-profit organisation, with a focus on promoting and supporting Diverse Women lawyers and law students. It supports lawyers and law students by providing meaningful structural enablers, such as mentoring, networking and awareness-raising initiatives. You can sign up to become a member for no charge. To find out more, visit the DWL website at https://www.diversewomeninlaw.com.au/ membership
AUSCL
The Australian Society for Computers and Law (AUSCL) aims to be Australia's leading interdisciplinary think-tank on issues relating to the law, at the intersection of technology and society. It is a registered Australian non-profit charity with a charter to advance education and advocacy at that intersection.
AUSCL members include legal and technology professionals, business leaders, government officials, academics and members of the bar and judiciary. This is a great resource for anybody interested in a career in technology, policy, business and governance. Follow their LinkedIn for more information about upcoming events and webinars.
If you wish to apply for a scholarship, please see: https://www.mq.edu. au/research/phd-and-research-degrees/scholarships/scholarshiprequirements-and-how-to-apply. This link will provide you with the preliminary details of what scholarships are available as you will be able to see sections such as eligibility, how to apply and other information.
On behalf of MULS, thank you for reading the 2023 First Year Guide.
