FIRST YEAR
GUIDE 2019
Find Us The best way to reach the common room, or our office in 6 First Walk, room 332.
Contact Details 6 First Walk, Level 3, Macquarie University, NSW, 2109 Telephone: (02) 9850 7939 Website: www.muls.org Email: enquiries@muls.org Instagram: muls_macquarie Twitter: @muls_macquarie
MULS Facebook Page The Facebook page will keep you up-to-date with the latest MULS news and events. ‘Liking’ this page means you will 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.
You should regularly check your student email, as you will receive correspondence from Macquarie Law School staff, including Professor Marc De Vos (Dean), Debbie Loo (Department Administrator), Eleanor McGhee (Assistant to Dean of the Law School and Assistant Department Administrator) and Debra Ronan (Director of PACE).
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LLB students (either as a single or double degree) — join the LLB group that corresponds with the year that you started. JD students — join the JD group of the year that you started. External students — join the externals group.
Links to these groups are available at the MULS Facebook page, under the tab ‘Cohorts’.
You may also receive emails relating to MULS from staff members.
Important Dates Event
Date
O-Week MULS 101 Commencement of Classes for S1
18-22 Feb 2019 19 Feb 2019 25 Feb 2019
First Year Afternoon Tea AGLC4 Workshop Social Sports Begins Harmony Day First Year Law Camp SOS 1
25 Feb 2019
Speaker Night
23 May 2019
SOS 2
S2 - Keep a look out! S2 - Keep a look out!
Law Ball
11 Mar 2019 11 Mar 2019 20 Mar 2019 22-24 Mar 2019 Week 6 (tbc)
University Dates It is a good idea to regularly check the Macquarie University website for information that may be relevant to you. For general important dates relating to your study see the Academic Dates Website.
President’s
WELCOME On behalf of the entire MULS Team for 2019, welcome to Macquarie University Law School! Congratulations on making it through the HSC and beginning your life as a law student at Macquarie. My name is Matt and I am the President of MULS for the year 2019. MULS is the one-stop-shop for all law students at Macquarie. MULS provides its members with opportunities to develop your skills in competitions, polish your resume and get in contact with the top firms in the world with our careers team, give back to the community with our social justice team, publish articles in our award-winning magazine, The Brief with our publications team, dance the night away or hit the sports fields with our events team and learn how to get the most out of your degree with the education team. If you are only going to join one society on campus in your first year, MULS should be the one! The highlight of many people’s first year is our First Year Law Camp (don’t worry there won’t be any studying) where you will meet lifelong friends and start your degree with a solid foundation from which you can beg for notes later in the year. Please have a good read of this guide and if there is any information you need, head to our website (muls.org) or contact me or any Executive Officer and we will be happy to help. Don’t forget to register as a MULS Member at our Membership Portal. MULS Members receive exclusive benefits such as access to cheaper tickets for our events, priority access to Law Ball tickets, the ability to participate in our competitions and much more!
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About
MULS 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 for over 40 years. MULS acts as a representative body for all law students at Macquarie University. The Law Society aims to enhance the experiences of law students at Macquarie University by assisting students in their personal and professional development; through social justice initiatives and careers events; encouraging students to strengthen their skills through legal competitions and sporting programs; and, ensuring students have a lot of fun in the process through social events. In order to take full advantage of the benefits that MULS has to offer, law students are encouraged to sign up as a member of the society. As a member you are entitled to get involved as much or as little as you like — you are not under any obligations. However, getting involved with MULS can be a rewarding experience, giving you the opportunity to form lasting friendships and network with your peers. You will also be able to put some of the skills you learn through your studies into practice, both within and outside the grounds of Macquarie. MULS aims to provide students with these opportunities for development and growth, as well as facilitate your access to information and events, so that you can get the most out of your legal studies. The most important point to take away from this guide is that MULS exists to assist Macquarie Law students — it is your society. We want to ensure that your time at law school is not only educational and informative, but a fun, rewarding and positive experience.
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MULS
Structure
As per our Constitution MULS is run by an executive of 30 people. 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 is made up of two parts: 1. The Board, comprises of: • The President, • The Secretary, • The Treasurer, and • The six portfolio Directors 2. The Executive Council, which includes: • The above Board, and • Twenty-One Executive Officers. 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 each portfolio, providing you with information on many of the opportunities offered by MULS, as well as introducing you to our talented and committed Executive Council for 2019.
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The
MULS Team
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ADMINISTRATION The Administration portfolio is responsible for the day-to-day operation of MULS, including coordinating and communicating with members, the Executive and the University. This department includes the Secretary and the Treasurer and is tasked with maintaining the organisation and finances of the Law Society. The Secretary is required to take minutes at meetings, meet with University staff or groups, correspond on behalf of the Law Society, update the constitution, and ensure that all executive members are fulfilling their obligations. The Treasurer handles all financial transactions related to the Society’s activities, keeping accounting records and providing assistance with budgetary decisions.
Secretary
Treasurer
Jazmine Reid administration@muls.org
Casey Thomas treasurer@muls.org
Welcome first years! My name is Jazmine. I am now entering my final year at law school and am the Secretary for MULS. I first started my journey in 2015, and while it can be quite daunting, one piece of advice I have for you all is that hard work pays off no matter what. I began getting involved with MULS last year working on the Careers portfolio and enjoyed being able to participate in extracurricular activities, as well as being a part of a team that bridges the gap between law students and the law school. My role as Secretary is largely about internal governance and ensuring the society acts in accordance with the Constitution, and most importantly that the day-to-day management of the society runs efficiently. If you have any questions for me please don’t hesitate to ask!
Welcome to law at Macquarie! My name is Casey and I am in my fifth year of Law and Arts. I am the current treasurer of MULS, which means it’s my job to ensure that MULS’ finances are in shape so we can run all sorts of events, competitions and initiatives. I work with everyone on MULS to ensure that we are following our budget and are able to finance our activities. I look forward to meeting you all, whether it be in the moot court or on the netball court. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about university life.
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EDUCATION Director (Education) Lauren Said education@muls.org
Cyrus Daruwalla campusexperience@muls.org
Hello first years and welcome to Macquarie Law School!
Hi First Years! Welcome to Macquarie and the best 4+ years of your life!
My name is Lauren and I’m the MULS Education Director which means I will be responsible for organising events which aim to help you succeed in your studies in law. Make sure to keep an eye out for a workshop on the highly-anticipated AGLC4 — it will be your best friend throughout law school!
Over this year it will be my role to look after You. I am responsible for managing your representatives as well as managing all the fun aspects of being a law school. I will manage your common room (yes you have a common room), I will run events to help you get those high marks in class as well act as a friendly face around campus. Most importantly though, I will feed you at various stages throughout the year! If you see me around campus, feel free to come say hi!
My best advice for you is to make sure you grab every opportunity MQ throws at you with both hands... that means joining MULS for a start! Apart from that, I wish you all the best of luck and never be afraid to shoot me an email if you have questions about how MULS can help you get through your studies.
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Executive Officer (Campus Experience) The Education Portfolio is responsible for ensuring that law students are able to make the most of their time at university in terms of learning. The Education Director, along with their team, are tasked with organising activities (such as workshops and seminars) that help students improve study habits and expand their legal skills and knowledge. Education is also tasked with assisting in providing support resources to law students (such as the Education Guide) that can help students succeed at University and utilise all the available opportunities. MULS Education is also taksed with running our campus experience initiatives. Student Engagement is responsible for enriching the on-campus experience of students, as well as appointing first year, Juris Doctor and external MULS representatives. This department is also tasked with organising and coordinating initiatives designed to promote health and wellbeing and stimulating debate about topic issues that impact law students.
SOCIAL JUSTICE Director (Social Justice) The Social Justice portfolio is responsible for coordinating social justice events and promoting student involvement in practical community legal outreach initiatives. This department also promotes awareness of inequalities in the legal profession, engages with health and wellbeing initiatives and stimulates debate about topical issues.
Michela Mueller socialjustice@muls.org
Hello and Welcome to Macquarie! My name is Micki and I’m in my fourth year of a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Security Studies. As the Director for Social Justice my role this year is to work alongside Juwariya and Paul to create a platform to allow you to participate in initiatives that you are passionate about, seeing injustices first hand whilst developing your skills, capabilities and helping your community. This year I hope to make things more hands on and practical, empowering you to use your law degrees and talents to add value to the community. We have some fantastic events coming up, but feedback is everything! We want to make sure our events are speaking to you. So if you have any questions, passions or want to get involved please let the Social Justice team know via email or our Facebook page “MULS Social Justice”.
Executive Officer (Advocacy) Paul Kaletsis sjadvocacy@muls.org Hey everyone! I hope you’re all excited to begin the most exciting journey of your life (so far). My name is Paul and I’m currently in the 4th year of a combined Law and Arts degree majoring in Development Studies and Cultural Change. My role as Advocacy Executive Officer, working alongside Michela and Juwariya, is to organise events and opportunities to allow MULS students to engage with their passions for Social Justice and to promote awareness and understanding of important global issues. My personal passions lie in the areas of International Development and Global Peace, both of which I hope to work within in the future. Looking forward to getting to know you all at our upcoming events throughout the year!
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Executive Officer (Community Outreach) Juwariya Malik communityoutreach@muls.org Hey there and welcome to Macquarie! My name is Juwariya and I’m a second year studying a Bachelor of Arts/Laws (majoring in Politics and International Relations). As Community Outreach officer, I will be working with Micki and Paul to implement social justice initiatives on and off-campus, with a focus on passion and active participation from law students like you. Keep an eye out for events on our facebook page, and don’t hesitate to get involved. Feel free to reach out and have a chat , everyone is welcome and I’d be more than happy to hear from you! Good luck with first year!
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Social Justice
CAREER ENGAGEMENT
The purpose of the Career Engagement portfolio is to represent MULS’ interests to law firms and our sponsors. This involves securing the sponsorship and liaising with sponsors, as well as assisting with the coordination of career-related events.
Director (Career Engagement)
Executive Officer (Public Interest Careers)
Nadine Jacob finance@muls.org
Ivy Shi publicinterestcareers@muls.org
Hey everyone, welcome to Macquarie Law! My name is Nadine and I’m in my fifth-year law/arts (Chinese-Mandarin major). I will be responsible for organising all of the ecareers-related initiatives that MULS offers. Learning, mingling and travelling is really a fabulous trio. I know first year can be daunting but please do not hesitate to come and say hello — I’m often always near a coffee cart on campus (caffeine addiction is a real thing) and I am always eager to meet new people! If you are interested in the learning more about the bright future waiting for you at the end of your law degree and have any questions, I am more than happy to help. I hope your time in Macquarie Law is unforgettable, here’s to a great year ahead!
Welcome to Macquarie University! I’m Ivy, a second year law student at Macquarie. I’m a legaltech guru, marketer, hackathon planner, dog obsessor, environmentalist and a human. So if you have dog pictures, show me. Want me to run a hackathon? No problem. Want to hear from someone amazing in the field? I’ll try make it happen. As I get the opportunity to be in Public Interest Careers this year, I hope I can help your university experience be as opportunistic as possible. This is the area is where you learn about your career through experience, not education. We look in the intersection of law and arts, law and animals, law and the environment and my personal favourite, law and technology. See you soon! (Look out for MQ dog Redford, he’s one good boy.)
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Executive Officer (Corporate Careers)
Executive Officer (Corporate Careers)
Beheshta Wasseh careers@muls.org
Ariane Thierry careers@muls.org
Welcome to Macquarie first years! My name is Beheshta and I am in my fourth year of studying a Bachelor of Laws with a Bachelor of Commerce. As a Corporate Careers Officer, my role involves organising events to provide opportunities for career development, such as interview and networking skills workshops, as well as the Clerkship Fair. Semester one will be busy with firm presentations, and although you will not be applying for clerkships in your first year, I encourage you to attend so you can grasp a greater understanding of what a career in law looks like.
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Career Engagement
Hi everyone! I’m Ari, and I’m in my final year of my Law and Arts degree. I’ll be one of the Executive Officers for Corporate Careers at MULS this year. My role includes liaising with different firms and other jobs in the legal industry, as well as organising events aimed at developing your interview, professional and networking skills. Semester 1 will be particularly busy, as 4th and 5th year students apply to Clerkships and Graduate positions. While you have a few years before you can apply, it’s never too early to start filling your resume so get involved! Feel free to reach out if you have any suggestions or questions!
COMPETITIONS Director (Competitions) The Competitions Portfolio is designed to complement your law degree. It allows you to put the skills you have learned into practice. Competing improves your legal knowledge, professional manners, teamwork and time management skills. It is also a great way to interact with your peers and develop friendships.
Bethany Burns competitions@muls.org
Hi everyone! I’m Beth. I’m in my third year of a combined law and applied finance degree and I’ll be heading the Competitions Department this year. My team and I are currently preparing for a big year of competitions with more training, workshops and learning opportunities than ever before. We are incredibly excited to share our hard work with you and are hoping to get as many students involved as possible. Please introduce yourselves and approach with me any questions you have about competitions. I can’t wait to meet you all and I hope you’re keen to get involved!
Executive Officer (Externals) Hamshini Sathiyamoorthy externalcomps@muls.org Hello everyone and welcome to your first year of law school! My name is Hamshini, and I am the Executive Officer for external competitions. I am currently in my fourth year of a Bachelor of Law/Science degree and I am here to help you if you have any questions or queries as you leave the comfort of high school and venture into the exhilarating journey that is Law School. My position within MULS means I help organise external competitions for students to compete in, with other universities in Sydney and maybe even across Australia. Participating in various competitions is a rewarding experience where you get the opportunity to meet like-minded and interesting individuals, whilst improving your legal and professional rapport skills. If you are interested in meeting other students who are passionate about law in both Macquarie and other universities, or just want to have a chat, feel free to contact me!
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Executive Officer (Advocacy)
Executive Officer (Advocacy)
Executive Officer (Professional Skills)
Pegah Kavianpour compsadvocacy@muls.org
Annya Reshty compsadvocacy1@muls.org
Lily Whiting compsskills@muls.org
Hello and welcome to Macquarie University! My name is Pegah Kavianpour and I am currently in my fourth year of a combined law and commerce degree studying human resources. My role in MULS as one of the two Executive Officers for Advocacy is to organise and oversee a number of competitions. Competitions are a great way to make new friends and apply your theoretical knowledge to real world situations. So make the most of your University experience. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an email! Wishing you all the very best for 2019!
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Competitions
Hi my name is Annya and welcome to your first year of law school! I am currently in my third year of a double degree in law and international studies. I am one of your MULS Competitions (Advocacy) Executive Officers, and our job is to organise and run the moots, Championship Moot and Witness Examination competitions. First year is a time to have new experiences and meet new people so I encourage you to get involved and participate in everything that MULS has to offer. I am looking forward to meeting all of you and please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions!
Hey everyone, and welcome to first year law! I’m Lily and I’m one of the executive officers for MULS’ professional skills competitions. I’m currently in my fifth year of my combined law and media degree. Alongside Beth and Lily, I will be coordinating competitions such as negotiations, client interview and ADR. Without being biased, I definitely encourage all of you to give competitions a try throughout your degree – they give you the opportunity to learn skills that will be invaluable in the profession, as well as meeting some wonderful people along the way!
Executive Officer (Professional Skills)
Executive Officer (Foundations)
Executive Officer (Foundations)
Lily Jones compsskills1@muls.org
Georgia Murray foundationcomps@muls.org
Sydney Gale novicecomp@muls.org
Welcome to all first year students! My name is Lily, and I am a third year Arts/Law student who is passionate about anything and everything French! I am one of the Executive Officers (Professional Skills) this year, and with Lily Whiting (it will be easy to remember our names!), we will organise and oversee the MULS Competitions such as negotiations and client interviews. I encourage you to participate in our array of competitions, as it is a great way to extend your skills while you study, and meet new people! I look forward to meeting you all this year!
Welcome to first year law! I’m a fourth year arts/law student. My role in MULS is as one of two Executive Officers for the Foundations competitions. I’ll be organising and overseeing first year competitions such as the Foundations and Novice moots with Sydney. We highly encourage you to get involved in these competitions, particularly the Foundations moot which is exclusively for first years! Mooting is perfect for building your legal communication skills and meeting new people. If you have any questions or would like to chat, please don’t hesitate to contact either myself or Sydney.
Welcome to Macquarie! I’m Sydney and I am in my third year of a double degree of law/ international studies. Georgia and I will be working together to coordinate the novice and foundations mooting competitions. We run mooting workshops and provide a mooting guide to help you get a start in competitions. Participating in the first year moot is a fantastic way to make friends, network and build your legal skills! Please feel free to shoot me an email if you have any questions at all about uni life or the competitions.
Competitions
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PUBLICATIONS Director (Publications)
Executive Officer (IT)
Michael Graziano publications@muls.org
Alex Moss itofficer@muls.org
Hello and welcome to Macquarie Law School! My name is Michael and I am the Director of Publications for MULS. In this role I oversee all activities relating to the MULS brand including publications, social media, IT and marketing. If you want your degree to be filled with more than writing essays and reading cases, then I can highly recommend getting in touch with any of the executive officers in my team and ask to get involved! IT, visual communication, marketing and journalistic writing are all incredibly valuable skills for law students and young lawyers; not to mention, it is A LOT of fun.
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Hi there! I’m Alex and I am a final year JD student from the UK. My role in MULS is to keep the systems of MULS running including the website, the portals and emails. This year has been a big leap forward for MULS with new technology being implemented to help improve the MULS student experience. I’m always happy to discuss new technology concepts that you may come across in your studies such as the increased use of block chain technology or the ever-changing privacy laws of Australia. MULS is full of terrific people and opportunities so get involved and have a fantastic year.
The Publications department is responsible for MULS’ social media, IT, photography and publicity, as well as publishing The Brief, the First Year Guide, Clerkship Guide, Careers Guide, and the Education Guide. Publications is also responsible for providing you with MULS merchandise. You can get involved with The Brief by writing or sub-editing for one of its quarterly editions. Alternatively, you may wish to contribute regularly as an online writer for the blog.
Executive Officer (Publicity) Monica Pedro publicity@muls.org Hello fellow law students! My name is Monica and I am currently undertaking my third year studying a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of International Studies. My position within MULS involves designing promotional graphics and handling all things to do with social media. At events, I’ll be the one with the camera! When I can get away from the textbooks, I will either be furiously playing the piano, learning yet another language, heavily invested in a trashy teen book series (we all have our guilty pleasures) or catching brunch with some friends. I hope you are as keen as we are for the year ahead and if you ever have any questions feel free to shoot me a message on the MULS Facebook page.
Executive Officer (Editor) Adam Lewis editor@muls.org
Welcome to Macquarie Law! My name is Adam and I am currently in my 6th and final year of a combined Commerce Law degree. In my spare time you will usually find me on the golf course or studying (of course!). In MULS, my role is as Editor. The Editor looks after the compilation and organisation of the series of publications that MULS puts out (including this first year guide!). I highly recommend getting involved in the societies across the university, especially MULS. Personally, I left it to my last year to put my hand up and get involved and regret not doing it earlier. It is a great opportunity to meet new people and build connections for later down your career path. Feel free to get in touch with any questions about my role or if you are interested in helping out. See you around!
Executive Officer (The Brief Editor-in-Chief) Emalee Walker-Philcox thebrief@muls.org Hello everyone! Welcome to Macquarie Law. My name is Emalee and I am the Editor-in-Chief of The Brief, and am in fourth year studying a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts-Psychology degree. Outside of university, I mostly spend my time doing aerial silks, reading, and procrastinating study by planning overseas trips! The Brief is MULS’ flagship publication which provides a platform for law students to explore a range of topics to keep students informed and engaged with the law, social justice issues, current affairs and many other aspects of our world. Feel free to email me if you are interested or have any questions, or find me for a chat! I encourage you all to get involved in the opportunities MULS offers — enjoy your first year of law!
Publications
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EVENTS Director (Events)
Executive Officer (Socials)
Sian Skyes events@muls.org
Tess O’Connor socials@muls.org
Hi guys! I’m Sian and I’m a fourth year Law/ Arts student, majoring in Criminology.
Hi! Welcome to MULS! My name is Tess, and I am a third year Law/Accounting student.
Outside of my studies, I’m a firm believer that law students should be able to play just as hard as we work!
I was very hesitant joining Macquarie because I didn’t know anyone. However, the First Year Afternoon Tea and Law Camp allowed me to meet a fun group of lifelong friends that are always helping me get through my degree and have made uni such an enjoyable experience. Without getting involved in these social events, I believe my uni experience would be dramatically different.
As the MULS Director of Events, I help organise not-to-be-missed experiences such as First Year Law Camp and Law Ball which are a fantastic opportunity to meet, mingle and party with your peers. Plus our start-of-semester drinks nights, social sport and Gala Day will keep your social calendar full all year long! I can’t wait to meet you all at Law Camp and hear your ideas for events in 2019!
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MULS is a fantastic society, and I have loved organising all the great events we have planned for you this year. So get keen for a great year of parties, including First Year Law Camp, the Start of Semester Parties and the prestigious Law Ball. You really don’t want to miss out!
The Events Portfolio is responsible for bringing you a range of exciting sporting and social events throughout the year. Through organising events, developing risk reports and ensuring events are executed smoothly, the Events Team aims to provide students with a safe and enjoyable 2019.
Executive Officer (Socials) Georgia Weeden socials@muls.org Welcome to MULS! I’m Georgia and I am currently in my second year of a law and arts Degree. I have absolutely loved my university experience at Macquarie, especially getting involved in MULS. I will be working hard alongside Siân and Tess to organise and put on some amazing socials which will no doubt be the highlight of your first year. This year’s social calendar is jam packed with events including First Year Law Camp and the annual Law Ball. MULS is the best way to meet new friends and make lasting friendships so make sure to get involved! Feel free to reach out to us if you ever need, whether it’s to ask a question or just say hello.
Executive Officer (Sports) Taris Watson sports@muls.org
Welcome to life as a Macquarie law student! I’m in my second year of combined Law/Arts (majoring in International Business). Sounds a bit dry… I know! Luckily, MULS offers many opportunities to escape academia by stepping outside your comfort zone and making new friends. I’d highly recommend joining a MULS team in Macquarie’s social sport competitions or taking part in our Gala Days. Sport fosters an environment conducive to many a good time - inciting a competitive streak in even the most ‘un-co’ law student! Your experience at law school is entirely dependent upon you, so grab your trainers and get involved. I can’t wait to see you on the sports field!
Events
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The
BRIEF
The Brief is the Law Society’s magazine, written and edited by students.
Having now published consistently for well over a decade, The Brief is one of Sydney’s (and indeed Australia’s) strongest law school publications, covering topical content in areas like politics, economics, legal and current affairs, the environment and social justice issues, as well as more light-hearted content reflecting the Australian law student experience. The Brief consists of a print edition (published three times a year) and an online edition (updated weekly). The Brief provides students with an opportunity to not only showcase their writing and editing skills, but to contribute to a truly fantastic university magazine. For more details on how to get involved contact the Editor-In-Chief Emalee Walker (thebrief@muls.org) or visit the Facebook page.
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Other recent editions
Why get involved with MULS?
A Q&A with former MULS President Rhiannon Bell Why should I get involved in MULS? • • • • •
•
To meet like-minded people, who will listen to your views on niche legal issues. To pretend to be Janet King/Martha Costello/ Harvey Specter during mooting competitions. To figure out those pesky rules in the Australian Guide to Legal Citation 4th edition (the key to the easiest marks you’ll ever get at law school!). To blow off some steam during social sport. To learn about the options available to you following graduation, and how to find extra-curricular experiences and/or internships that may make those graduate positions more easily attainable. To party the night away at the annual law ball.
Law school can be tough at times. Joining MULS is a great way to forge friendships with the people who will be by your side from university and into the profession.
How do I make the most of MULS? MULS has something to offer everyone, regardless of your background and pathway into law school. My best advice is to be open minded.
Over the 3–5 years you will be spending at law school, you will have time to try something from each department – whether it is writing for one of the publications, raising money through a social justice initiative, participating in a competition, contributing your voice at an Annual General Meeting, or attending a social event, careers presentation or educational initiative. There will surely be something that suits you.
What was your best experience in MULS? Broadly speaking, my best experience was being challenged in new and exciting ways. When I was in second year, I started writing for The Brief Online, which gave me the chance to write about current issues in a context outside a research essay. I also developed my advocacy and professional skills through multiple competitions. In my time on the Executive Council, I learned so much about corporate governance, which has been helpful in private practice. Attending Australian Law Student Association (ALSA) events gave me the opportunity to meet law students from around Australia. Above all, I made some lifelong friends in the process, who made law school just that little bit easier and fun.
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Studying at
University
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Understanding your law degree Units
Sessions
Whether your law degree is a single or double undergraduate degree, or a postgraduate Juris Doctor program, you will need to complete a set number of units. A ‘unit’ is similar to a ‘subject’ at school, except each unit only lasts for one ‘session’. Some of these will be core units, subjects that you must complete, and others will be electives, allowing you to choose between a range of subjects. Some early units will also be prerequisites for later units, and you should consider this when deciding which units to undertake. To find out which subjects you are required to complete to satisfy the requirements for your degree, you should refer to the Handbook that corresponds with the year you commenced your degree.
There are three ‘sessions’ at Macquarie University, with ‘Session 1’ typically running from late February to the end of July, ‘Session 2’ generally commencing in August and finishing in late November, and ‘Session 3’ running over summer. It is worth noting that a particular unit will typically run in Session 1 or 2, with fewer, selected units being offered in Session 3. It is important to bear this in mind when planning your study program. Students usually study four units per session. However, you may choose to study more or less than four units. You may change the number of units you are studying each session. If you wish to study more than four units, you will need to consult an academic advisor.
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Understanding your law degree
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Getting Started
How to Approach University
It may prove useful to develop a structured program of study based upon the information from your Handbook and eStudent, the website that you will use to enrol. Unit specific information can be found in the Unit Guide [http://unitguides. mq.edu.au/units]. This guide will provide important information on assessments, textbooks and the best way to contact the convenor. In addition, iLearn will contain information from your unit convenor on weekly readings, assessments and any other information that is relevant to the unit.
Studying law can be a difficult and rewarding experience. You will notice that people will approach their studies differently, depending on their level of commitment, their personal circumstances and opportunities that may arise. Some may decide to undertake a full-time load of four subjects throughout their degree and work casually as opportunities present themselves. Others may decide to work more and do a reduced number of units. Some may even find the time to do four subjects and work in a demanding job!
If you have any questions regarding your program of study or wish to speak to an academic advisor, please log on to ask. mq.edu.au as a ‘current student’ and submit a question titled ‘academic advice’, indicating the degree you are studying and the nature of the advice that you require. Alternatively, it may be worthwhile contacting StudentConnect on 9850 6410 for any enquiries relating to your time at Macquarie.
There is not a ‘correct’ path through your law degree and it is not a race to see who can get through the degree the fastest. You ought to be realistic about managing competing demands and not take on too many responsibilities if your circumstances do not allow for such pressures to be managed. In order to get the most out of your law degree, it is important to identify what works best for you and bear in mind the importance of maintaining a work/life balance.
An Introduction to Classes Internal Students
External Students
Generally, each unit will have a lecture and a tutorial each week. Attendance is typically only required at the tutorial, given that the lecture will usually be recorded. However, you may decide to attend the lecture as a proactive way of keeping up to date, and to avoid the occasional technical difficulties that may mean particular lectures go unrecorded. To find out which classes are compulsory, as well as information regarding textbooks and assessments, you should read through the unit guide. If you are a Juris Doctor student, you may find that you only have one tutorial or seminar a week, and that your lectures are recorded on iLearn, but this will depend on the unit and the convenor.
External students will typically be required to attend one or two on-campus sessions. These sessions 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 check the unit guide and iLearn for more information.
You will usually be assessed on the information covered in lectures and tutorials, so it is worthwhile keeping up to date. Tutorials generally commence in Week 2, with lectures beginning in the first week. However, this is not necessarily the case for all units, and it is recommended that students consult the unit guide, iLearn or the relevant unit convenor if they are uncertain.
iLearn As alluded to earlier, iLearn is an important online resource for students. This website will give you access to information posted by the unit convenor, lecturer(s) or tutors. iLearn usually contains an announcements section, allowing the aforementioned staff to alert students to important information concerning the unit. There will also usually be a discussion forum, where students are provided with an opportunity to ask questions or interact with other students in the same unit. Before asking a question in the discussion forum, it is worthwhile considering whether you have consulted the unit guide or if someone has already asked a similar question. Questions should also not be posted if they constitute a form of academic dishonesty. Information on what constitutes academic dishonesty will be provided in class; especially in your Foundations of Law unit.
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Resources and Services Student Email
Contacting Staff Members
You can access your student email by logging into mail.google. com, with your email address usually being your first name and your surname, separated by a full-stop and without spaces. If another student has the same name as you, there will usually be a number at the end of this address. 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.
During your first classes, staff members will usually indicate the best way to get in contact with the unit convenor, lecturer(s) and tutors. Generally speaking, it is acceptable to contact staff members via the iLearn unit forums, by using your student email or simply by visiting them during their specified ‘consultation hours’. Depending on the staff member, visiting during these consultation hours may require students to make an appointment or may be characterised by an informal open-door policy, where students may drop by when necessary. Information regarding consultation hours are usually outlined in the unit guide or the relevant iLearn page, in addition to being indicated during the first class.
eStudent Your eStudent account is different to iLearn. It gives you access to administrative information and allows you, amongst other functions, to enrol in units, choose classes and pay your fees. Although you will use the same username, in the form of your student ID number, your eStudent password is different to your OneID password (which is used for iLearn and accessing the University WiFi).
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For more information regarding any of the terms used above, visit the MQ Handbook, especially the glossary, as this will provide you with useful information. This will probably seem confusing at first, but once you are familiar with all the processes it will become much easier.
Library
MUSE
The library is a valuable resource and provides study space for students. 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.
The Macquarie University Spatial Experience (MUSE) is a mix between a traditional library and a relaxed social space. Located in 18WW, just off Wally’s Walk, MUSE is a new social learning space where students can work on assignments, meet to discuss group projects or simply hang out. MUSE has two floors and also provides students with the opportunity to plug into the University’s wired internet.
Learning Skills Learning Skills provides a comprehensive support structure to assist you with your studies. Academic language and learning workshops are mainly held in the library and are available during the first few weeks of Session 1. These workshops are generally repeated during the mid-session break. It is also easy to get in contact with ‘Learning Advisors’ through the skills development website. Learning Skills also provides excellent online support through iLearn under the category ‘Student Support’. Students can access ‘StudyWise’ for support with study techniques and writing assignments, as well as referring to the ‘Academic Integrity Module’ to learn about strategies, responsibilities and rights in this area.
MUSE is also the home of ‘StudentConnect’, which is located on level 2. At StudentConnect, students can make course work or enrolment enquiries through self-help terminals, or speak to staff for assistance. In addition to face-to-face discussions with StudentConnect workers, students can lodge online questions via ask.mq.edu.au or call (02) 9850 6410 for assistance.
Student Advocacy and Support If you ever find yourself 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 this link
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Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)
Career and Employment Service
PAL is an academic support program available to all students in selected units. Sessions are usually run once a week and last for an hour. They are peer facilitated, student supported and voluntary. These sessions will help you understand unit content, as you will be provided with tips and hints from students who have already completed the unit. It will also assist in keeping you organised and allow you to meet new people. For more information, check out PAL on the Macquarie University website.
The Career and Employment Service is aimed at providing you with the knowledge you need to develop your skills and plan pathways towards your future career. It places emphasis on gaining degree-relevant experience which is invaluable for law students. A wide area is canvassed in this regard, including student exchange, Global Leadership Program and PACE. Access to extra-curricular activities, competitions and internships opportunities can also be gained through this service.
Disruptions to Studies
If you log into Career Hub you can register for career events, search for jobs, have your resume and cover letter reviewed and gain advice on gaining employment.
During the course of your studies you may experience disruptions that adversely affect your ability to perform academically in assessment tasks. For instance, you may fall ill or experience a disruption relating to a non-medical circumstance. In these circumstances, where a disruption may be classed as ‘serious and unavoidable’, you should look into the University’s Disruption to Studies policy and follow the appropriate steps.
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For more information, visit the website, contact this service via email at careers@mq.edu.au or visit the Career and Employment Service on Level 2 of the MUSE building (18WW).
ALSA
LEGAL VITAE
The Australian Law Students’ Association (ASLA) is a not-for-profit association that is made up of all Law Student Societies and Associations across the nation. It may be thought of as MULS on a wider scale. It aims to provide educational development to law studies, gathering and disseminating relevant information to Australian law students. In a similar fashion to MULS, ASLA is run by law students, who are annually elected. For more information on how to get involved or how you can access the opportunities provided, visit their website.
LegalVitae is an initiative developed by the Law Society of New South Wales that allows law students to find work in the legal industry. For more information visit the Law Society’s website, where a description of LegalVitae is provided, or LegalVitae directly.
Fill with something - MULS MEMBERSHIP Macquarie University Mentors maybe?
NSWYL New South Wales Young Lawyers (NSWYL) seeks to support law students and young practitioners through the early stages of their legal careers, providing them with the opportunity to meet and network, build knowledge and develop their careers as they seek to make a contribution to the legal profession and the community more generally.
Starting university can be exciting as well as challenging, and it is normal to feel worried or lost at first. 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 this link.
The NSWYL hold monthly meetings and events. As law students, it will cost you nothing to become a member of the NSWYL. For more information, visit the NSWYL website.
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