SIX STEPS TO SUCEED AT UNI

SIX STEPS TO SUCCEED AT UNI

1. PLAN YOUR DEGREE Get started by talking to a careers advisor. Talk to them about your interests and why you chose a law degree; they’ll help you plan your units.

Create an excel sheet to track your completed units; there’s nothing worse than being unable to progress your degree because you failed a prerequisite unit. We’ve made one that can help you out, but make sure to make your own calculations!

Calculate your GPA so that you understand the percentage you need to pass a unit. There are multiple apps online for this! Also see the QUT app and website for a GPA calculator.

Keep in mind you’ll need to refer to C/5.2 of the MOPP for more information.

LLH subjects are the only units that determine if you graduate with first class, second class or third class honours. If you calculate your GPA (using the methods mentioned above) based on the results of your LLH subjects then you’ll find out your honours GPA. 2. LOOK FOR VOLUNTEERING AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES One of the best ways to gain real-world experience in the legal profession is to put your hand up for volunteering positions. Many community legal centres (aka CLCs) love to take on board university students to man the phones and work in client-facing roles to support the solicitors providing pro bono and low bono services.

You can also start getting paid legal-related employment before you graduate. A common university job is working as a paralegal at a law firm. These positions are advertised on Seek, Indeed, Unihub, LinkedIn, and the QUT Faculty Facebook page advertises some as well! Other firms look for law students to work as receptionists and in client servicing support.

3. COME TO EVENTS You gotta get involved to be involved. The QUTLS hosts a wide variety of social and professional events that you can meet people in your degree and in the professional world.

If one of your goals is to make the Dean’s List for your law subjects, make sure your that your semester GPA is 6.5 or higher. Only law subjects should be used to calculate this.

4. BUILD YOUR BRAND Setting yourself apart from your peers is easier than ever in this digital day and age. Create a LinkedIn account so that you can build your profile up with your interests and experiences. Then you can start connecting with people and following companies that you are interested in working for. Social media is a great way to also find out about job positions and news in various companies and organisations. Twitter is a great way to keep up to date as well. The QUTLS also offers free headshots at some events, so make sure you don’t miss one of those to polish off your LinkedIn!

Publishing your writing also develops your professional portfolio. You can write for the QUT Guild student magazine Glass, the QUTLS magazine Torts Illustrated, and QUTLS’ student law review, Corpus Juris.

5. HAVE FUN AND EXPLORE Law at QUT is not all books and studying. Some of the most enriching experiences will be the ones outside of the classroom. Practice your advocacy skills through Moot Club, fire up your friendly competition with QUTLS social sport, and bring out your inner theatre kid with the QUTLS Law Revue. University is meant to be enjoyed! 6. ASK FOR HELP For many school-leavers, university is an overwhelming experience. Especially if you have moved away from where you grew up, living away from family and friends and in the big city can be isolating even without terms such as ‘social distancing’ and ‘isolation’ being in our everyday vocabulary. The stress of trying to juggle all facets of life all at once can become too much sometimes. But, there are many ways that you can reach out for help and it is not a shameful thing to need support. QUT offers bulk-billed counselling and medical services where you can go for assignment extensions, medical advice and psychological assistance. These are invaluable resources for you to take care of yourself.

Remember, this is a guide only! There is no one

‘correct’ way to do uni. Be honest with yourself and go easy on yourself. Not everyone can do four subjects a semester for eight semesters. Your support networks will make your life easier, so be committed to making friends as well. Take your degree at the pace you need to in order to get the grades you want and the support you need, and the extra experiences that you want!