QUTLS: First Year Guide 2020

QUT LAW SOCIETY

First Year

Survival Guide

2020 QUTLAWSOCIETY.COM

Reconciliation The QUT Law Society respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land upon which it works, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pays its respects to Elders past and present.

We recognise the contributions that First Nations people make to society, and celebrate First Nations success. The QUT Law Society is committed to inclusion, reconciliation and consultation to ensure the future of Australia is one where First Nations people are afforded equal opportunity.

The QUT Law Society demonstrates its commitment to reconciliation through numerous events and programs facilitated throughout the year.

There are many upcoming opportunities to acknowledge First Nations history, both within the QUT community and beyond.

In 2020, the QUT Law Society welcomes commencing First Nations students, and wish you every success in your studies and beyond.

Acknowledgements

The QUT Law Society would like to sincerely thank the following people for the creation of this guide: Ben Quick, President and the QUT Law Faculty Edward Williams, Director of Media and Communication Alexandra White, Publications Officer Gideon Caturla, Publications Officer Mikayla Toms, Design Officer

We’d also like to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to this guide and to the wider QUT Law community. Especially to the previous QUTLS Media and Communications personnel whose efforts and content were used to build and inspire this guide. We’d also like to thank the academics and students who shared their experiences so that first years have access to real-world stories and information that will help guide their journeys.

QUT LAW SOCIETY

Foreword Welcome to QUT Law. Before you delve into this guide and your weekly readings, I’d like you to take a moment and reflect on how you got to this point. Perhaps you worked your butt off in high school to get the right grades, perhaps you had an excellent support network which helped get you across the line, or perhaps you’ve already begun or finished some form of tertiary education and are now pursuing law. Your story is uniquely yours and you should be extremely proud of being here.

While our stories are unique, we share a common trait. What binds us all is the value we each place on the pursuit of learning. It is this value on education which I encourage you to cherish and nurture as it will be a powerful driver of your success both personally and professionally. You can develop your passion for learning by challenging yourself – challenge your own knowledge and beliefs, challenge the knowledge and beliefs of others, and challenge yourself to take the difficult path (for at the end of it lies great reward).

Doing this will make you a deeper thinker and give you a wider and more comprehensive understanding of the world and how you might impact it. This isn’t to say you can’t relax, in fact, you should also challenge yourself to find balance in your day-to-day life and gloriously bask during well-deserved breaks.

You are fortunate to have this opportunity to study – especially when you reflect upon the grander scheme of things and those who will never see such a prospect – so dive in and use this time to better yourself. Between the legal profession, the faculty and your fellow students, you are surrounded by a community of people who will empower you to create the future you want to live in. This guide includes the stuff we think will help you on this journey.

I’ll finish with my favourite piece of advice. When things get tough, which they will, remember: a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor (Teddy Roosevelt).

Good luck and I hope to see you around C Block and online.

Until then, Ben

Contents GETTING TO UNI Welcome Law Industry Basics Six Steps to Success at Uni Our Reflections (Part 1)

ADJUSTING TO UNI Adjusting to Uni Your Questions Answered Reflections from the QUTLS Academic Integrity Degree Structure Our Reflections (Part 2)

GETTING INVOLVED About the QUTLS Events Portfolio Education Portfolio Diversity Culture and Wellbeing Portfolio Competitions Portfolio Media & Communication Portfolio Moot Club Portfolio Sport & Health Portfolio Law Revue Best of Luck!

Bingo Visit Level 7 of the Law Library and see the tutor offices

Sign up for Moot Club

Attend the First Year Social

Go to the QUT Library in V Block and see the HiQ Staff

Collect Your L Card

Sign up for the qutls first year Mentor program

Find the Magna Carta document in the Law Library

Grab the business card of a qutls exec and take a selfie with them

Go to the library information literacy sessions for LLB101 Introduction to law or attend any o-week information session and get a pic

Catch the shuttle bus to KG or Learn about stumpy and write a poem in his honour*

Complete the academic integrity section of this book

Recite the facts of Donoghue v Stevenson to a QUTLS committee member

Visit the Lawbry and locate your Torts and Intro to Law textbooks

Play chess at the QUT Lawbry with a friend.

Post to Insta with the hashtag #qutls

Visit the Law library and locate your Torts and Intro to Law textbooks

Visit Merlo and use your L Card for a free upgrade

đ&#x;?Ś

The first five people to come to the QUTLS office with 13 squares complete will receive some sweet QUTLS merch!

Make sure to take grab some evidence that you’ve completed the task!

đ&#x;“ˇ: grab a photo! đ&#x;“ą: take a screenshot! đ&#x;’ł: get a card đ&#x;–Š: get it signed off *You can begin your very first legal research task by visiting Facebook and searching for “FSLSâ€? or “QUT SSâ€?.

QUTLS Instagram

Welcome!

So, you made it to QUT. You chose a law degree, and you now have several years of study ahead of you.

Believe it or not but these years of study will be over in no time. While it will feel like your degree takes forever while you’re in the middle of the semester, contrary to popular belief, time flies past regardless if you are having fun or not.

Make sure your first year of law school counts with this QUTLS First Year Survival Guide that we have put together based on our own experiences when we were in your shoes.

The guide is to help you transition into university, adjust to university life and give you enough tips and tricks about your QUT Law degree in order to help you survive the first year of law school and beyond!

For starters, the university experience will be incredibly different to the ones you see on TV. It’s an experience where you can choose your lecture and tutorial on the days that you want.

You want to go to uni on Friday?

Go for it.

You want classes in the evening?

Sure.

That sounds amazing right? Freedom at last!

When you need a break from study, you should pursue the many extracurricular events and activities offered at QUT. We have too many societies here that it’s criminal, honestly.

Because you are a law student, we recommend that you join your fellow law students and come to the many QUTLS events, competitions and activities that we host. In this guide, we will cover many events created for first years to meet new people, learn new things and get involved!

Interested in the art of courtroom battles and intrigue?

Paticipate in or come to the QUTLS First Year Moot and QUTLS Negotiation comps!

Are you shy about mooting but still want to get involved?

Join the QUTLS Moot Club run by Catherine Bugler, who won the QUT PLT Negotiation Competition, Clayton Utz First Year Moot, QUT v UQ Grudge moot and the QUT Paper Presentation Competition in her first year which was last year.

Do you just want to meet fellow first years in an environment other than a classroom or lecture hall?

Tag along to the QUTLS First Year Social!

Do you want to learn more about your law degree from someone who’s been in your shoes before?

Sign up for the QUTLS First Year Mentor Program!

Fi r s t

Year S

ocia l

Come to our O-Week stall, or our office at C402, to pick one up and stay across the QUTLS events, comps and initiatives for the year. Pro tip: add your assessment due dates to the calendar so you don’t forget to plan properly and submit on time!’

uni essentials checklist LAPTOP LAPTOP & PHONE CHARGERS PENS & PENCILS NOTEBOOK TEXTBOOKS PACKED LUNCH OR LUNCH MONEY WATER BOTTLE & KEEP CUP

Law Industry Basics

Now that you’ve achieved the first step on your journey to becoming a legal professional, it’s important to start becoming familiar with the legal industry. Legal industry terminology can often take a long time to come to grips with, so here are a few basics to start with:

types of lawyers

law firms

In Queensland (and in most other jurisdictions), there are two types of ‘lawyers’: solicitors and barristers.

Solicitors, while appearing in court from time-to-time, spend most of their time in an office working with clients to provide legal advice.

A ‘law firm’ is essentially a group of lawyers working collectively for one business. Law firms are commonly divided into three different categories – boutique (very small), mid-tier and top-tier. While this division is fairly arbitrary, law firms are often ranked according to their number of ‘fee earners’ – the number of partners and lawyers employed by the business.

Solicitors are often a client’s first point of contact in any legal matter. As there are so many different areas of law, you’ll often find that solicitors will have a specialised area that they practice in, such as property or family law. You can choose electives at university if you have an idea of an area you’d like to specialise in, but you will study all core law units, called the ‘Priestley 11’ as part of your degree. Most lawyers practice as solicitors. Barristers are the lawyers you will probably be most familiar with (think white wig and long robes).

Barristers spend most of their time in a courtroom setting, advocating for their client. Additionally, barristers often work with an instructing solicitor on a matter to provide targeted, specialised advice.

Many barristers will often also specialise in ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution’ (‘ADR’), ‘which includes things like negotiation and mediation. In Queensland, barristers are self-employed, but often work from premises shared with other barristers called ‘chambers.’ Becoming a barrister involves completing further study and Bar examinations after completing your law degree.

A growing practice is to have ‘in-house lawyers’, who work outside the firm system, employed directly by companies to perform day-to-day legal work and assist with common legal matters. In-house counsel positions are often available at a whole range of businesses, from airlines to banks to pizza stores.

CLERKSHIPS & GRADUATE POSITIONS A clerkship can be the first step in working for a major firm. Most firms recruit February – April for the following year, and generally want penultimate students (‘penultimate’ second last year). Some firms offer different clerkships that seek pre-penultimate (third last year) students and have programs for those even earlier in their degree (this is particularly important to note for any Graduate-Entry and single degree students).

Though a lot of emphasis is placed on receiving a clerkship, don’t stress too much if it doesn’t happen for you – it’s an amazing opportunity if you get one, but lots of very successful lawyers don’t clerk.

ORGANISATION STRUCTURES In its most basic form, a law firm is a partnership of one or more legal practitioners. Like every business, different firms work differently and have different ways of doing business.

There are several common legal roles which you’ll find in most law firms. Smaller businesses will have a more limited range of role types, while larger businesses will often have very targeted role classifications. Firms tend to be very structured, generally in the order of: 1. Partner 2. Senior/Special Counsel 3. Senior Lawyer/Associate 4. Lawyer/Associate 5. Junior Lawyer/Trainee/Graduate 6. Paralegal 7. Vacation Clerks posium ship Sym Clerk

The main difference between these roles is the type and complexity of work, as well as the level of remuneration. You may be able to find work as a ‘paralegal’ while you study – paralegals perform basic legal and administrative tasks, which is invaluable experience when applying for jobs.

Remember that each firm is different and many have a variety of names for similar roles.

OTHER WAYS TO USE YOUR LAW DEGREE While we’ve given you a run-down of the basics of the legal industry, being a solicitor or barrister isn’t the end of the road with a law degree. A law degree can open up many doors to other careers if you discover that practicing law isn’t for you.

Possible career outcomes include, but are not limited to: policy and government, diplomacy, legal technology, politics, legal academia and media and journalism. The legal industry and society at large are constantly changing – so the world is your oyster!

YOUR FIRST YEAR IN THE LAW INDUSTRY Now that you are across all the basic industry terminology you can figure out how you want to get involved. Some firms will specifically target first years but do not be disheartened if you do not get a job this year. First year is about getting your foot in the door and gaining foundational knowledge.

Keep an eye out for our educational events as a First Year!

Want to know what else you can do as a First Year? Read on...

Meet the Profession

Six Steps to Succeed at Uni

There are countless ways to succeed at university, however, we recommend a game plan from the start. If you have a plan from the get-go, you will begin the degree determined now that you have an idea of where your law degree could take you after your first year.

Planning out now will also hopefully avoid any mid-year crises about your law degree so that’s definitely a plus!

Here are six steps to succeed at university:

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.

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!: http://qutlawsociety.com/grade-spreadsheet Calculate your GPA (there’s multiple apps online for this! See the QUT app and website for a GPA calculator) So that you understand the percentage you need to pass a unit. (unit credit points * grade) = subject subject1 + subject2 + subject3 + subject4 sum of your unit credit points (12 * 5) + (12 * 4) + (12 * 6) + (12 * 5) 48

= GPA = 5

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. Honours I (First Class Honours): GPA of 6.50 to 7.00 Honours IIA (Second Class Honours, Division A): GPA of 5.50 to 6.49 Honours IIB (Second Class Honours, Division B): GPA of 4.50 to 5.49 Honours III (Third Class Honours): GPA of less than 4.50

2 3 4 5 6

Volunteering & Professional experiences Once you have a degree plan. Go out there and get some volunteer experiences.

Look for volunteering and professional communities.

Volunteer at community legal centres. Follow their social medias so that you’ll never miss an opportunity when they announce a call for volunteers!

Shoot your shot at firms, but do not get disheartened if you do not get it. Each application, iteration of your resume and interview will make you a better candidate.

It’s important to use this time to try out different approaches, learn from your experience and ask for feedback on your application if the workplace is willing to offer it.

come to events The QUT Law Society hosts a tremendous amount of education events that will inform you on the incredible diversity of legal careers and roles out there after graduation

build your brand Create a LinkedIn profile. Do it as soon as possible. List all your achievements and work experience on this website/app. Almost every important professional in the professional world has a profile.

Get your work published in online publications. In doing so, it increases your reach online and the chances of a search engine result arriving on your name. An easy way to get your name across is to submit an article for the QUTLS Torts Illustrated issues or QUTLS Student Law QUTLS LinkedIn Review. Write an article on anything you feel passionate about in line with a Torts Illustrated theme and we’ll publish it (submissions close May 5).

have fun & explore Get involved with QUT Sports! You can strive for excellence and join one of QUT’s many teams (including eSports!), or if you’re after something a little more fun, you can join one of the QUTLS’ social sport teams. We run touch, netball, soccer and dodgeball, all of which are great opportunities to meet and bond with other law students.

Try out competitive activities or other entrepreneurial hackathons at uni (check out the Foundry) or with organisations like The Legal Forecast. These competitions are a fun and interesting opportunity for you to get involved and change the game!’

Ask for help There is an abudance of help available online. There’s the Faculty, the QUTLS, the Guild, the LLB Help Me Program, the QUTLS Mentor Program, Torts Peer Mentor Program, and free counselling services just to name just a few.

Further to that, QUT law breeds students who are willing to have a chat and share their experiences for the benefit of others. Stand in the lawbrary for five minutes and you’ll see what we mean. We’ve got a lot of tips and tricks to offer that will make your university experience better. We’ve also made many mistakes you can learn from. All you have to do is ask a friendly face (note: we do not advise approaching the 3rd year stress-printing 400 pages of Civil Procedure exam notes).

Our Reflections: Publications Officer’s First Weeks of Law School - Alex

I started my QUT Law degree back in 2017 in my first year out of high school. I remember being quite nervous because I was one of those people who did not really have a clear idea about what they wanted to do after school and I was quite worried I’d get into my first lecture and absolutely hate it. However, thankfully that did not happen.

I do very clearly remember my first lecture. I was by myself and walked into a massive hall with probably 200 students and did not recognise any faces. Coming from a smaller high school where I was on a first name basis with my whole grade, this was something quite foreign to me. I awkwardly sat next to someone and we exchanged a bit of small talk and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her since. If this happens to you during your first few weeks, do not stress! QUT Law is a very popular degree and first year courses have huge cohorts, which in your first few weeks can be overwhelming. However, with time you will see more familiar faces and build friendships from there.

When it came to the actual studying aspect, I found there was definitely a difference from school.

However I felt personally this was quite a smooth transition as I have always been a bit of a selflearner. My first law assignment was quite different to any other assignment I had done in the past. However, having past examples on Blackboard and attending tutorials was super helpful so I highly recommend doing that when you’re still finding your feet. I found the workload overall very manageable even while working 20-25 hours a week as long as I made time to study in the library and kept on top of all my classes!

I have immensely enjoyed my past three years at QUT but I definitely have a few things I wish I had done differently in my first few years. I’ve summarised them into three main points to pass onto all of you: Don’t be shy – probably the most annoying advice ever but one that bears repeating. You have to keep in mind that particularly in those first few weeks there will be soooo many people in the same boat as you feeling nervous and not knowing anyone, why not go say hi? Networking is hugely important in law school so the more connections you have, the better!

Get involved – again advice that you will hear over and over again but it will really help you in the long run. Probably my biggest regret is not doing a competition in first year because by the time I started doing them in my second year I felt that a lot of people had more experience than me. The QUTLS is also an amazing way to make friends and also has really good connections with a variety of firms around Brisbane. Getting your name out there is super important because you’ll begin to learn that when it comes to jobs it is often not what you know, but who you know.

Everyone has their own path – that was one thing that I had to tell myself over the past few years.

You will often find yourself getting concerned that you are not progressing as quickly as other people or that you do not know have a clear plan for what you want to do after university, do not worry! Everybody has a different university experience and a different path to graduation.

Adjusting to Uni high school to law school

At school, you have a teacher who is responsible for your learning. At university that responsibility rests with you. Lecturers and tutors are a really great learning resource, but they won’t be chasing you for your homework.

Each academic staff member will place different demands on you and have different expectations of the work they’d like to see. It’s up to you to work out how to exact the best grade from them and the easiest way of doing this is to ask! Don’t be afraid to approach your lecturers and tutors with questions – they’re here to help!

At uni, you’re expected to be self-directed when it comes to your learning. You’ll be told what you have to read, but a big part of studying law is to read as widely as possible to gain an in-depth understanding of the subject matter.

First Year Social

Adjusting to Uni A Word from the Faculty of Law Staff part one of three What are some of the mistakes that you often see from first years?

“First years are prone to underestimating just how much reading and hard work goes in to performing well in the law degree. I often see many students attending classes who I’m sure are understanding the content discussed. But unless you go away and prepare for tutorials independently, you never really practice applying your knowledge. If you aren’t practiced at doing this, then writing assignments and final exams is much harder.”

– James Duffy, LLB103, LLB105, LLB107 Lecturer “Assuming that most other students are smarter and more together than they are. You do not have to be a special or smart person to achieve at law school or in legal-related careers. All you need is a positive, growth mindset and hard work.”

“Not paying enough attention to the Australian Guide to Legal Citation 4 ed. Many times, an assessment will go from a 4 to a 5 etc. simply by following the referencing style.”

– Dr Hope Johnson, LLB104 Lecturer “Not asking for help. So we are here to help you if you are having problems with referencing your assignments and that sort of thing. If you are not sure what to do, just ask for help.”

– Debbie Kelly, QUT Law Library Librarian

Teaching staff are here to help!

Get in contact with the Law Faculty by email, phone or even chat online with HiQ! https://www.qut.edu.au/law/about/contacts

lawandjustice@qut.edu.au

Tips to get off on the right foot!

Get familiar with Blackboard, in particular the “Learning Resources” and the “Assessment” tabs Make sure your QUT email and printing account is setup Work out when all your assessment is due and create a calendar so you can plan and manage your time effectively Schedule time for readings, tutorial work, assignments, study and end of semester revision Keep up with your lectures, tutorials and start your assignments as early as possible If you haven’t studied at uni before, finding your feet with lectures and tutorials can be difficult. Just turning up isn’t usually enough – they’re the heart and soul of your degree, so it pays to get them right!

lectures If you haven’t studied at uni before, finding your feet with lectures and tutorials can be difficult. Just turning up isn’t usually enough – they’re the heart and soul of your degree, so it pays to get them right!

Lectures go for two hours and may be face-to-face and/or online. Either way, a recording will be made available via the Blackboard site. They provide the basis of what you should know about the topic, using slides that you can acquire prior to the lecture.

Lecture tips: Find out what notetaking method works for you whether that be Word, OneNote or even handwriting!

Try to get into a routine of preparing for your lecture beforehand so you have an idea of what content is going to be discussed that week, you can do this through the “Learning Resources” tab on Blackboard.

Bring coffee or snacks to help you stay alert during your lecture and if you feel like you missed anything watch the recording later, falling behind in your lecture content will make exam preparation much more difficult.

tutorials Tutorials are the core element of your studies. You learn how to apply the law to practical situations (which is what you’ll have to do in the exam) and you have an opportunity to clarify any questions you have about a topic. Different tutors have different approaches, but generally they will walk the class through that week’s tutorial questions asking for input from the class.

In previous years, students were marked on their tutorial participation. This was to encourage students to attend classes and to provide input. Luckily, tutorial participation marks are no longer part of the assessment criteria. In saying that, it is highly recommended that students continue to attend classes to get the most out of their degree. You’re accumulating a HECS debt for a reason! Listening and asking questions in class will give you an edge over the students that don’t attend class.

Your Questions Answered A Word from the Faculty of Law Staff part two of three Do you have any tips for first years entering law school?

“Engage – both in your studies and in extra-curricular activities.

What I mean by this is, don’t try to cruise through doing the bare minimum. While it might seem like a long road ahead of you, it will absolutely fly by (far more than high school). Before you know it, you’ll be graduating, and you don’t want to have regrets about not achieving to your potential, not forming networks (QUTLS is excellent for this) or not enjoying your time at university.”

– John O’Brien, First Year Coordinator, LLB101, LLB107 and LLB245 Lecturer “Start off really well organised, and try to form some routine around when and how you are going to do your study each week. Attend face-to-face classes as much as possible, and come prepared for your tutorials each week in the unit. If you don’t understand something, come and see your lecturers during their consult time.

Try and form a group of friends you can regularly catch up with to talk about university work (like a study group…but cooler).”

– James Duffy, LLB103, LLB105, LLB107 Lecturer “Not asking questions. I encourage you to ask questions of your lecturer or tutor if there is anything that you do not understand.

We are here to help you.”

– Dr Peta Stephanson, LLB107 Lecturer

Reflections

from the QUTLS Committee “The most important piece of advice that I would give first years, and that I wish I knew in my first year was the hundred of jobs listed on the QUT Uni Hubs page - https://unihub.qut.edu.au/students/ jobs. I got my first professional job by applying to a job listed on the UniHub website. Not many people know about it meaning employers peruse each of the resumes they receive and you are more likely to make it to the interview stage.”

– Crystal McPhilips Vice President The most important piece of advice that I would give first years, and that I wish I knew in my first year, would be to plan ahead with career pathways to make sure I was as knowledgable as possible.

Ideally a student will have completed the first year being knowledgable about the sectors they can work in the law industry, have an idea of some of their ideal private firms and an understanding of how competitive the upcoming clerkship process will be when the time comes. Had I appreciated this knowledge from my first year, I would have had clearer goals and would’ve prioritised networking, academics and extra-curriculas much sooner.”

– Stefan Tucakovic Competitions Officer

“The best piece of advice I wish I knew about in my first year of uni is this: Most units will have past exam papers available via the Library’s website.

They’re all a lot more involved than anything I came across during high school (ie: not short answer, usually 2 or 3 big questions per exam). Complete the most recent past exams for each unit under ‘exam conditions’: Set a timer for both perusal and working time, then write out your answers.

This’ll be the most brutally honest thing you can possibly do to see how prepared you really are for any given exam. And, when you reach the end of your first year, if you feel like you want to go on a gap-year, go for it!”

–Alexander Harper Law Revue Convenor

Academic Integrity

At QUT, academic dishonesty is taken very seriously and the rules and regulations are found in QUT’s policies and procedures (MOPP) C/5.3. Is important that you are aware of the potential consequences of academic misconduct to highlight the importance of acting with integrity in your studies. Below we have outlined below different examples of academic misconduct, the potential consequences and finally how to avoid any potential issues.

Academic Integrity Mythbusters!

I CANNOT BRING NOTES INTO AN EXAM

TRUE

FALSE

BRINGING A PHONE INTO AN EXAM ROOM IS CONSIDERED CHEATING

TRUE

FALSE

I AM NOT ALLOWED TO WORK WITH OTHERS ON MY ASSIGNMENTS

TRUE

FALSE

NOT REFERENCING MY ASSIGNMENTS CORRECTLY COULD BE CONSIDERED PLAGIARISM

TRUE

FALSE

MY PRIVATE TUTOR CAN HELP ME WRITE MY ASSIGNMENTS SO LONG AS IT IS LESS THAN 10% OF THE CONTENT

TRUE

FALSE

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER ONCE I LEAVE UNI

TRUE

FALSE

SHARING ANSWERS TO QUIZZES OR ASSIGNMENTS IS FINE AS LONG AS WE’RE NOT STUDYING THE SUBJECT AT THE SAME TIME

TRUE

FALSE

I CAN BE PART OF A FACEBOOK GROUP CREATED FOR THE SUBJECT I AM CURRENTLY STUDYING

TRUE

FALSE

IF I HAVE TO REDO A SUBJECT, I CAN USE THE WORK I’VE SUBMITTED PREVIOUSLY

TRUE

FALSE

Find the answers on the next page!

true or false answers Bringing a phone into an exam room is considered cheating – False: You are allowed to bring your mobile into the exam room. However, you must leave it at the front of the room with your bag and make sure it is switched off (nothing worse than the embarrassment of your phone going off during an exam and disturbing others). Having a phone on your person during the exam is considered cheating and could lead to academic misconduct allegations.

I cannot bring notes into an exam – True: Yes and no. Currently you can’t bring notes to your first year Torts Law and Intro to Law exams – they’re “closed book”. However, an “open-book” exam will permit you to take in your own material (within specification). You’ll need to check for yourself what material is permitted and any exam specifics upto 48 hours before you’re due to sit the paper.

I am not allowed to work with others on my assignments – True: Generally. You will need to check whether the work is a group assessment. Even then, misrepresenting work as your own (when it is not) can lead to some serious repercussions. You cannot for instance pay for someone to write all or part of your assignment or even make edits. Your work is your work! You can discuss an assignment or subject generally but you can’t ask for the answer. Make sure you allocate group work per the assessment requirements and are honest about your sources.

Hey! Where’s the rest of the answers? – You’ll need to do your own work here but when you do you’re one step closer to some sweet QUTLS merch. See the Bingo Square (page 5) for more information.

What should I do Now? The most obvious advice is to steer clear of any actions that could be considered cheating or collusion. If you are having problems with completing assignments or preparing for an exam, contact your tutor or unit coordinator for advice, do not resort to cheating as you will seriously regret it in the long run.

Another important tip is to familiarise yourself with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC4). This will become your law school bible. It is a massive guide that contains all the correct referencing templates for you to complete your law assignments.

Having correct citations is an extremely important skill to have during uni and also in your professional career. So it is a skill you should work on perfecting in law school as tutors will pick up the tiniest of mistakes! In addition, not having references where necessary could constitute academic misconduct so definitely make sure you are always giving references where necessary in your assignments.

AGLC 4 Download

The AGLC is free to download: https://law.unimelb.edu.au/_data/assets/pdf_file/0005/3181325/AGLC4-with-Bookmarks-1.pdf

Degree Structure A career in the law industry is becoming increasingly competitive but also more diverse than ever before. It is important that law students are prepared to meet the demands of the law in 2020 and beyond. Just like the industry, the law degree at QUT is constantly changing and updating to meet these new pressures. As you progress throughout your law degree you will take a variety of subjects that will equip you to enter into the workforce as a lawyer or any other career!

“Priestly 11” As part of your law degree you will have a mix of core units and elective units. There are 11 core units known as the “Priestly 11”. In Australia, the completion of these units is mandatory to become a professional in the legal industry. These subjects are: Administrative Law Civil Procedure Corporations Law Constitutional Law Contract Law Criminal Law

Equity and Trusts Ethics Evidence Real Property Torts

QUT Core Units

FSLS

QUT also has their own mandatory subjects. These subjects are ones that the Law School believes are highly important to becoming a well-rounded lawyer. You will take a few of these subjects in your first year! These subjects include: Introduction to Law Statutory Interpretation Dispute Resolution Contemporary Law and Justice

electives Electives are also a great part of your learning experience where you will get to choose areas of law that are of interest to you. Electives are broken down into three groups depending on what stage of your degree you are at. These categories are introductory, general and advanced. On the next page you will receive an overview of the three introductory electives in the Your First Year Law Units Summarised section so definitely check that out when deciding what elective you might want to take.

A good tip with electives is to keep an open mind about the subjects you want to take. Due to demand, teaching staff and timetabling restraints, not every elective is offered every year.

Therefore, if you see a subject you are keen on completing and it fits within your course structure, definitely do it because you do not know when it will be offered next! Also if you are unsure of which elective to pick definitely ask friends or Facebook groups such as Fellow Surviving Law Students for advice on the subject content and assessment.

The QUTLS also runs an Elective Showcase event, so check the Facebook page!

Course Structure The QUT Law degree course structure has been specifically designed to be the most optimal choice for students. Our best advice would be to try and avoid deviating from it unless you absolutely need to. The reason for this is that very few core QUT Law subjects beyond first year are offered every semester.

In addition, almost all subjects beyond the first year will have prerequisite units, meaning you must have passed a certain unit to be able to take another unit. This becomes a problem when you haven’t completed a certain prerequisite unit/s and can find yourself locked out of classes and unable to progress in your degree.

Another important thing to note is that unit coordinators will often try to organise assessment and exam timetables so they are more advantageous for students who are following the course structure, so this will help you avoid having two exams in one day!

However, there will be various reasons why you may be unable to follow the course structure such as exchange, failing a unit, taking a break from study or changing from full time to part time study. If this happens do not stress you will definitely still graduate. Our best advice would be to make sure you plan ahead so you are taking the best subjects for each semester.

First Year Law Units Summarised In your first year you will cover what is considered introductory legal subjects that will help you tackle the rest of the law degree. We have kindly provided a summary of your first year law units. Treat this summary as a synopsis to help you be prepared for that unit.

Remember you can always contact your teaching staff with questions! We’ve included their contact details below.

Please note: Unit coordinators and assessments may change semester to semester.

LLB101: INTRODUCTION TO LAW Coordinator: Dr Elizabeth Dickson Email: e.dickson@qut.edu.au Phone: 3138 4413

Office Location: GP C736 Office Work Hours: Tuesday 11am -1pm

Intro to law is the first subject that you will tackle in your law degree. It will teach the fundamental basics of university-level legal studies by introducing you to core Australian legal knowledge concepts about government, Magna Carta and the history of law itself.

In addition to this, you will be taught important skills of legal reasoning, problem solving, legal writing and research that you will take with you for the rest of your law degree. Your assessments will consist of a multiple choice quiz, a case law assignment and a take home statutory interpretation exam.

LLB102: TORTS Office Location: GP C703

Coordinator: Jen Yule Email: j.yule@qut.edu.au Phone: 3138 4413

Office Work Hours: Wednesdays 10am-12pm

You will apply the skills of legal problem solving and analysis that you learned from LLB101 Intro to Law towards Torts Law. The best way to describe this area of law is that it’s focused on civil wrongs that causes a party to suffer loss or harm, resulting in legal liability for the person that committed the wrongful tortious act. Torts is probably going to be a tough subject as many consider it as the first ‘substantive’ law unit that you will study. However Torts is one of the best taught units of the degree and there are many useful diagrams that will help you understand the content. Your assessments will consist of a multiple choice quiz and a closed-book exam.

LLB103: DISPUTE RESOLUTION Coordinator: James Duffy Email: james.duffy@qut.edu.au Phone: 3138 4446

Office Location: GP C728 Office Work Hours: Thursday 12-2pm

This unit teaches you the process of resolving disputes through negotiation, mediation, conciliation and arbitration. These are dispute resolution processes that are used in many areas of life to resolve disputes of a legal or non-legal nature. You will furthermore learn about such processes as well as “alternative dispute resolution” which is a new style of resolving disputes that focuses on WATNA and BATNA outcomes. Your assessments will be a mediation roleplay, a reflective practice exercise and a final exam.

LLB104: CONTEMPORARY LAW AND JUSTICE Co-coordinator: Dr Hope Johnson Email: h2.johnson@qut.edu.au Phone: 3138 4446 Office Location: GP C728 Office Work Hours: Thursdays 1-3pm

Co-coordinator: Dr Bridget Lewis Email: b.lewis@qut.edu.au Phone: 3138 5335 Office Location: GP C728 Office Work Hours: Thursday 12-2pm

Remember, the legal profession was created as a means of facilitating justice and fair outcomes for all parties involved. In this unit, you will analyse and critically explore this theme in a contemporary law and justice context by exploring many social justice issues and cases in today’s society. Your assessments will consist of a group oral presentation on a social justice issue matter, a critical essay and an exam.

LLB106: CRIMINAL LAW Office Location:

Coordinator: Email: Phone:

Office Work Hours:

In this subject, you will become familiar with the fundamentals of criminal law in Australia and how certain conduct can get people liable for punishment or severe penalties.

Studying this unit is furthermore interesting as criminal law covers a broad range of domestic, commercial, corporate and public activity in Queensland as any criminal wrong-doings in these sectors can result in criminal punishments. Your assessments will consist of a cultural competency critique, committal brief and a theory examination.

LLB107: STATUTORY INTERPRETATION Coordinator: Dr Peta Stephenson Email: peta.stephenson@qut.edu.au Phone: 3138 2833

Office Location: GP C726 Office Work Hours: Tuesday 10am - 12pm

Statutory interpretation is an incredibly important skill in the legal profession; in fact, many consider it to be the essential skill for legal practice. The unit will teach you how to interpret legislation through a public law and government context. It will furthermore develop your legal research, written communication and problem solving skills that you were introduced to in LLB101 Intro to Law. Your assessments will consist of a multiple choice quiz, research memorandum and a written examination.

LLB140: HUMAN RIGHTS LAW Coordinator: Dr Hope Johnson Email: h2.johnson@qut.edu.au Phone: 3138 5211

Office Location: GP C728 Office Work Hours: Thursdays 1-3pm

This unit is designed to build upon the concepts and principles of human rights that you learned in LLB104 Contemporary Law and Justice. The unit explores the theory and practice of international human rights law. The approach the unit takes is also interesting! It will provide an overview of the history and origins of human rights, international obligations and treaties while keeping the unit relevant with contemporary events and challenges being cited. Your assessments will consist of a report and an examination.

LLB141: INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL LAW Coordinator: Katie Woolaston Email: katie.woolaston@qut.edu.au Phone: 3138 4221

Office Location: GP C747A Office Work Hours: Thursday 1-3pm

International law is a fascinating subject that covers a broad range of international global issues such as climate change, terrorism and other global matters that require cooperation between nations through agreements, treaties and other forms of international legal dialogue. In addition to this, the unit will explore the impact of private individuals and companies interacting as global actors engaging with the laws of other countries. Your assessments will consist of a written submission/memorandum of advice and an examination.

LLB142: REGULATION OF BUSINESS Co-coordinator: Dr Felicity Deane Email: felicity.deane@qut.edu.au Phone: 3138 1103 Office Location: GP C712 Office Work Hours: Thursday 1-3pm

Coordinator: Stephen O’Mahony Email: stephen.omahony@qut.edu.au

This subject provides a broad overview of matters of business and commercial law.

It is a good subject to take in order to develop a fundamental understanding of how businesses can continue to operate within the context of the Australian legal system.

The unit will give you foundational skills and an understanding of law and regulation with regards to a business’ operations. Your assessments will consist of a policy submission and a written examination.

Our Reflections:

Publications Officer’s First Weeks of Law School - gideon I got by with good grades, a decent amount of extracurricular involvement and I made a lot of new friends in my first year of law, but, I wish I knew exactly what was going to happen in my first year of uni. Yeah, I followed the QUTLS socials and kept up to date with my assessments, but, knowing when an event or something is on, is different to how that actual thing will playout. Back then, I underestimated how hard assessments were going to be, how expensive parking will be and most important of all, I realised that my high school study habits would need to change.

With this knowledge of having been through a year at uni and understanding that assessments takes time; I knew how to plan each new year of uni in order to ensure that I strike a healthy balance of a good social lifestyle, great extracurricular involvement, study and work. So it’s okay if you fumble around in your first year and get things wrong. You’ll learn from the experience and your uni life will eventually get better.

What I mean by this is that the incredible amount of stuff and things to do at uni is something that second year me (and potentially you!) can say for sure “yeah man, let’s go to that event/do this and that activity.”

It’s because I had my first year to identify my strengths and weaknesses regarding my approach to uni. I was able to strike a balance between uni life and life in general. With this in mind, use your first year to get involved as much as possible so that you know your limits of extracurricular involvement, use your first year to find a study method that works for you, use your first year most important of all to find ways to get comfy. This can be a five-point-five-year (plus) degree my firstyear friends, and if you can get comfy and be mentally healthy then I’m sure you’re ready to endure first year and beyond in terms of finding a balance.

From there, I was able to make a lot of new friends and learn so much outside of my law degree. I got involved with app development, became director of Humans of QUT and have gotten photography as a new hobby! This year I’m trying to be healthy by eating more green foods lol and trying to get into shape - because let me tell you, growing up as a Filipino kid, our Filipino diet is mostly meat and carbs which is comfort food for sure but not ideal in the long term. My friends at QUT Running told me to try out a new diet plan, and I’m loving it.

The uni life is fun for sure, but I also learned a lot about the future of my legal career and the direction the industry is going to. I made my LinkedIn account in my first year, and I became exposed to the wider legal industry as a whole. That’s pretty amazing being a part of an industry of professionals even though I’m just a humble law student. These days networking events have become opportunities for me to make new connections in my professional and social life. As much as possible, I blend my careers with uni life in order to fit the two into my life.

At the end of the day, first-year has truly been an amazing opportunity for me to experiment and find my footing. While I wasn’t too sure what was happening as a first-year, the experiences I gained prepared me for life encounters that were to come beyond that first year of university. I hope that you too will have fun, learn new things and make new friends with your first year. Definitely be sure to consider the tips and tricks discussed in this guide and learn from your own experiences - that way you become ready for what lays ahead in your degree.

About the QUTLS The QUTLS is a volunteer student association which seeks to enhance the tertiary experiences of all QUT Law students. The QUTLS is the largest law student association in Australia. Of the 3,500 law students at QUT, over 2,700 are Members. Our size blesses us with a diverse range of students who benefit from our programs.

Our organisation is structured with three tiers. Our first tier is our management committee, also known as the “T4�, then we have the executive committee, followed by our subcommittee. We have over 30 committee members so if you have any questions feel free to send a query to the relevant email below.

Management Committee

President: Ben Quick president@qutlawsociety.com

Treasurer: Maggie Wu treasurer@qutlawsociety.com

Vice-President: Crystal McPhillips vicepresident@qutlawsociety.com

Secretary: Chelsea Lee secretary@qutlawsociety.com

executive committee Competitions: Simona Varga director.competititions@qutlawsociety.com

Moot Club: Catherine Bugler director.mootclub@qutlawsociety.com

Diversity, Culture and Wellbeing: Ella O’Brien director.dcw@qutlawsociety.com.au

Media & Communications: Edward Williams director.mediacommunication@ qutlawsociety.com

Education: Hamish Townsend director.education@qutlawsociety.com Events: Taylor Thomas director.events@qutlawsociety.com

Sport & Health: Katie Underwood director.sporthealth @qutlawsociety.com

The QUTLS aims to enhance the QUT Law student experience by being a one-stop shop for everything you need to get the most out of your law degree. The QUTLS provides a variety of services to our student members.

We host a variety of educational and professional events which gives students the opportunity to connect and network with not only their peers, but with the broader legal community as well.

Our relationship with a variety of law firms around Brisbane can help you get your foot in the door in the legal industry and kick start your legal career. Our events are a great way to get dressed up, make new friends and have a good time! Law is infamous for being a very stressful degree so these evenings are a great way to relax and see that there is definitely more to uni than studying.

We also offer student support through our Diversity, Culture and Wellbeing Portfolio, this is an invaluable resource if you feel like you need assistance or just a friendly face to meet with. We are all in the same boat studying law and want to support each other as much as possible so do not be afraid to reach out.

In addition to conducting extensive educational, professional development and support programs, we produce publications to assist students in their transition to tertiary education and professional practice. There are other great ways to get involved such as joining social sport, signing up to competitions or the law revue which is a satirical play held every year.

You can read more about each portfolio on the next few pages to see all the upcoming opportunities. We would love to see as many of you get involved this year as possible.

Joining the QUTLS and coming along to events is one of the best things you can do in your first year so we hope to meet you soon!

http://facebook.com/ qutlawsociety/

@qutlawsociety

QUT Law Society

The Portfolios qutls events

While a big part of law school is hitting the books and making industry connections, the QUTLS also believe in the importance of letting your hair down and socialising with your friends! The Events Portfolio is the committee who makes this happen. We organise multiple social events throughout the year, purely for students to enjoy themselves surrounded by friends and fellow law school survivors.

You don’t need to have a big group of law friends to attend - our social events are a great way to expand your social networks and a lot of them are even open to people from other courses, universities and pathways!

The only kicker, most of our events are strictly 18+ due to the responsible service of alcohol regulations at a lot of our venues. But don’t fret if you’re on the young side, we still offer a few opportunities to mingle and there are plenty of other general events from other portfolios to get involved with the QUTLS. Our major events throughout the year include: » First Year Social » Law Ball - probably our biggest event of the year! Get glammed up with all your pals; eat, drink and dance the night away… » Pub Crawl » Law Dinner » End of semester drinks - infamously known as #letsgetrekt

Get L Card

To find out when these events are occurring, keep up to date with the QUTLS Facebook page and Instagram as all the important details such as dates and ticket links will be posted there. We hope to meet many of you at our events this year!

The Portfolios qutls Education

Welcome to the QUTLS Education Portfolio!

This portfolio plays a key role throughout your QUT law degree, with the main goal being to inform and educate you on the potential pathways that you may want to take when you graduate with a law degree.

Primarily we hold events that range from informal Q&A sessions, networking opportunities and insight into how best to use your legal knowledge and law degree. The idea of our events is to cater to students who are interested in any facet of law, with key areas being technology and the law, criminal law, corporate law and environmental law just to name a few.

We hold several events every semester. Key events on the horizon for first year students include our Criminal Law Evening, technology evening and International Humanitarian Law Night. Also be on the lookout for our events in semester two such as our alternative law careers night for students who may potentially be looking at following a non-traditional legal pathway. As well as our Getting Your Foot in the Door night which gives crucial information on how to take your first steps towards gaining employment in the legal industry. A good tip is to subscribe to the QUTLS Facebook Calendar so that you get notifications of upcoming events!

As mentioned, our events don’t stop after the first year, key networking opportunities for prepenultimate and penultimate students become available through our Meet the Profession night and Alumni Networking evening. Make sure to get involved in the society to keep updated on what great events are coming your way. Graduate-entry students are strongly encouraged to come to these events in their first year (due to the shortened degree length).

One way to first get involved with the Law Society is to join our peer-mentor program. By signing up you will be partnered up with a more experienced student that will teach you tips and tricks to help you hit the ground running in your first year. This will be an invaluable resource as they have been in your shoes before and will be familiar with the challenges you face and can advise on how best to tackle them.

Overall, the Education Portfolio is a fantastic way to start learning about what areas of law are of interest to you and I would highly recommend coming to an event this year to see what we are all about.

The Portfolios

qutls diversity, culture & wellbeing QUTLS’ Diversity, Culture and Wellbeing portfolio (previously the Equity Portfolio) is committed to giving each Law Student at QUT an equal and fair opportunity to succeed, whilst celebrating our differences and seeking to understand them. We are aspiring to create a positive difference to the wellbeing of law students, whilst celebrating our diverse cultures and backgrounds. The aim for our portfolio is to seek gaps within the society, university and wider legal community and do our best to draw attention to these issues.

What Does 2020 Have in Store?

In 2020, we will focus on expanding our pre-existing initiatives and further address and raise awareness around, financial equity, disability support, culture and diversity, issues faced by LGBTIQA+ students, external students and international students.

Also in 2020, the QUT Law Society is committing to expanding upon the Diversity, Culture and Wellbeing portfolio with the addition of new officers. These new roles will help us better represent all law students and bridge gaps within the legal industry. We hope that these new officers will offer new insight and better strengthen collaboration across the entire law society.

This year the Diversity, Culture and Wellbeing Portfolio are hosting four major events which will include the: Women in Law Breakfast, Reconciliation Week Breakfast, LGBTIQA+ and the Law Forum and the Domestic Violence Awareness Breakfast.

All of these events pose great opportunities for you to connect with local firms whilst showing solidarity with members of these communities.

Women in Law Breakfast The Women in Law Breakfast celebrates the incredible achievements of women within the legal profession. With over 60% of our graduates being female, this is an excellent opportunity to show your enthusiasm for equality within the profession. With a history of influential speakers and high attendance rates from fellow students and professionals, the Women in Law Breakfast in early April is one not to be missed.

First Nations Breakfast The First Nations Breakfast is a step in the ongoing journey of Reconciliation between First Nations people and non-indigenous Australians. The Breakfast provides a platform for First Nations students and professionals to voice their opinions and highlight the need for equal access to opportunities and education, and the importance of continued Reconciliation across Australia. This significant event is a brilliant opportunity to share your appreciation for one of the oldest cultures and show your commitment to both Reconciliation and equal opportunities for First Nations Law students.

Other Events to Look Out For Don’t miss out on the First Year Social, the LGBTIQA+ and the Law Forum event, the Domestic Violence Awareness Breakfast, the external students lunch, the Law Ball, Meet the Profession, Welcome to Moot Club and the First Year Moot. These are all great events to get you started within the Law Society.

Hot Tip All of our events will be posted on the QUTLS Facebook Page and Instagram so definitely follow both of them so that you do not miss out on any of our amazing events.

If you have any questions about our portfolio or just want more information, we are always available for a conversation! Email us at director.dcw@qutlawsociety.com or visit us in the QUTLS Office in C Block.

The Portfolios qutls competitions

The QUTLS Competitions portfolio creates engaging opportunities for students of all experience levels to develop their legal research, advocacy skills, make connections and explore potential career paths.

Competitions are tailored in such a way that you can put into practice the theoretical knowledge gathered during university in a real-world context. The competitions are judged by industry professionals and senior students who give you on-the-spot invaluable feedback and advice – a law student’s most precious commodity!

The Competitions on this year: Negotiation First Year Moot Open Moot Online Moot Client Interview Junior Moot Competition winners and runners-up may also be invited to represent the QUTLS at a state or national level, providing further opportunities to enhance your skills and grow your networks. The internal competitions listed above provide the stomping ground for those students who go on to represent the university in competitions like UQ v QUT Grudge Moot, ALSA and and external competitions like Jessup and the International Criminal Court Moot Registration for competitions open about one month before the competition begins, so keep an eye on the QUTLS Facebook page for announcement and check out the website for updates and registrations.

what is mooting?

Mooting is a head-to-head contest of legal arguments in a mock courtroom setting, similar to debating but with a legal focus. Working in teams of two or three people, you’ll have the opportunity to research and formulate legal arguments by applying legal principles to the given facts. Competitors then battle it out in front of a bench of judges.

b Moot Clu

get involved early!

Engaging in competitions in your first year is a great way to maximise your potential and growth. Particularly in your first year, it is a great way to meet new people, make friends and fast track your learning. We would highly recommend signing up to Moot Club and then sign up to the First Year Moot as this is a great way to give mooting a go while most people around you are still novices!

SEMESTER 1 Negotiation The Negotiation is suitable for students of all years and, for many, is their first experience in the legal competitions arena. Teams of two face off as ‘solicitors’ advocating for their respective fake clients. Competitors are given secret facts that they must bring to light at the perfect moment.

Just like in the real world, and subjects such as Dispute Resolution, the purpose of the Negotiation is to represent your clients interests while coming to a mutually beneficial outcome for all parties. Students love this competition as minimal preparation is required. It is open to students of all years.

First Year Moot As the name suggests this moot is open only to First Years.

It focuses on what you will learn in Torts (as well as some extra topics to test your research skills). Previous students rate the First Year Moot as the most beneficial and valuable competition in the entire portfolio. As well as challenging yourself, you’ll likely forge friendships that last well after you graduate (even if you find yourselves on opposite sides of a case)!

In 2020, the winning team will face off with UQ’s First Year Moot winners in the annual Grudge Moot held in the Supreme Court of Queensland (the Banco Court) and judged by a real-life Judge and industry professionals.

Open Moot The Open Moot is the premier event for mooters, judges and spectators. Competitors will be provided with a complex commercial litigation problem, testing their academic rigor and oral advocacy skills, as well as presenting submissions against experienced opponents. The Grand Final is a notto-be-missed event and usually draws a crowd eager to see QUT’s finest battle it out for glory!

MID SEMESTER BREAK Accessibility Moot We are very excited to bring you the first moot facilitated completely online! This competition will set a benchmark at QUT by maximising accessibility and opening up competitions to the whole of the law cohort. By leveraging cutting edge technology, external students and students facing other barriers to participation will have the opportunity to connect with like minded peers and participate in moot where they will be able to develop their skills and further their legal education.

SEMESTER TWO

Junior Moot One of the more popular moots is the Junior Moot. The problem is more complex than the First Year Moot, but by no means out of reach! All students are welcome to participate, so long as they have not won the competition or competed at a national level. Many first year students find themselves competing against more senior students in this moot, and while a greater challenger, first year students have historically done quite well.

Client Interview The Client Interview is one of the more popular competitions of the year. Students are exposed to a scenario and are required to interview a client to identify the complete facts behind their personal experience and propose possible solutions specific to the legal problem at hand.

It is a great opportunity for students to build on their essential communication skills (like active listening and reading body language) while honing the art of asking the appropriate questions at the appropriate times – a skill required when engaging clients in the real world.

Keep an eye out for the QUTLS Benchbook that has heaps of information about comps in general and provides a detailed ‘how-to’ breakdown of each competition. You can pick one up during O-Week or at the QUTLS office while stocks last. You can also find it on the QUTLS Website (along with examples of problems and example submissions).

Have questions or just want more information? We’re always down for a chat! Email us at competitions@qutlawsociety.com or visit us in the QUTLS Office in C Block.

The Portfolios qutls Media & Communications

The Media and Communications team is responsible for delivering online and print content to our 2,700 members. We keep you up to date through our socials: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and when-we’re-feeling-cute-but-want-to-delete-later Snapchat. Make sure you keep an eye out for our publications: we have a new team this year, and we’re committed to bringing content that’s more engaging than ever! We love receiving your Torts Illustrated submissions (our student-voice publication) so that’s a great way to get involved as a First Year. If you’re curious about how else you can get involved you should connect with us on Facebook: Connect with us on Messenger: m.me/qutlawsociety The QUT Law Society creates multiple publications throughout the year, including: Email Newsletter - NEWish In 2020, the QUTLS is reintroducing the QUTLS fortnightly student newsletter. This is a platform to highlight important events and news that are happening within the QUTLS. You will receive this newsletter in your membership-registered email.

Student Law Review - NEW The QUTLS Student Law Review is where we showcase our members’ intellectual pursuits.

Students submit extended written pieces which focus on a number of policy and legislative changes that QUT law students are interested in, but which also correspond to the current socio-legal climate. It is solely written by QUT law students, covering a broad range of legal and non-legal areas.

‘Springboard’ Careers Guide Springboard is our Members go-to resource when applying for clerkships and graduate positions. It provides a comprehensive overview of the different vacation and graduate programs on offer. Springboard also includes profiles on numerous public and private sector firms, job applications and interview techniques, and a myriad of other useful tips and information to assist students navigate through their professional legal careers.

Torts Illustrated Torts Illustrated is our student-interest magazine that functions as a creative outlet for our entire membership base, and a favourite talking point in the ‘Lawbry’. Content ranges from important legal information to witty articles about surviving Law School (and the law in general). In 2020, Torts Illustrated will be published once each Semester. Submissions for Torts Illustrated 1 open March 12 and close May 5.

The Portfolios qutls moot club

The QUTLS Moot Club is dedicated to helping students practice their advocacy skills in a friendly and relaxed environment. The Moot Club is a non-competitive environment where law students of any experience level can practice their mooting skills, get feedback and develop new skills. As a first year, it is the perfect place to meet new people, gain confidence and practice skills which are very important in law school and in practice.

what’s involved?

The Moot Club is held approximately four times a year at the Moot Courts in the Law Library on weekday nights and it includes dinner. You can register as a team or as an individual (and we will match you with someone). We send you the moot problem a few weeks prior which you then prepare submissions on. On the night, we provide moot judges to give helpful feedback, a seminar from an experienced mooter and free dinner. The dates and details of these Moot Clubs will be published on our Facebook page, QUTLS Moot Club, so definitely follow this page so you do not miss out.

upcoming events Ashurst Welcome to Moot Club Night

In order to find out more about mooting, how it can help you throughout your degree and make friends, come along to the Ashurst Welcome to Moot Club Night.

This year, our keynote speaker is Rebecca Treston QC, the President of the Bar Association of Queensland. You will also hear from our sponsor, Ashurst, about advocacy skills in practice and learn from veteran QUT mooters about how mooting can boost your confidence, employability and take you all over the world.

Negotiation Workshop The Moot Club Portfolio also runs workshops on each of the competitions run by the Competitions Portfolio. If you’ve never negotiated, or just want to brush up on your skills, this workshop is the place to be! You’ll get an in-depth explainer on the relevant principles and how you might get the most out of your competition experience.

QUT High School Moot Mentoring Program

The Moot Club also hosts the High School Moot in conjunction with the QUT Law Faculty.

Law students can volunteer as moot mentors to high school students to demonstrate their moot skills and contribute to their community.

what to look out for To stay up-to-date on Moot Club activities, you can like our Facebook page, QUTLS Moot Club. If you have any questions, you can contact Catherine Bugler, the Director of Moot Club at director.mootclub@qutlawsociety.com

b t Clu o o M

The Portfolios qutls sport & health

The Sport and Health Portfolio is an integral part of the support network provided by the QUT Law Society for students throughout their law degree. We aim to create a culture of wellbeing and positivity and to promote healthy habits among law students. The initiatives in this portfolio are key in strengthening the sense of community QUT Law student’s experience.

Facilitating wellbeing remains a vital feature of the legal industry, with lawyers and law students experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Our Sport and Health program aims to help students manage both their mental and physical health. By providing opportunities to get active and become involved in various sports and intiatives, you can network amongst their peers, make new friendships, promote healthy habits and lead a healthy lifestyle.

The QUT Law Society Sport Program is an important part of the members’ co-curricular involvement during their law degree. Our vision in 2020 is for our sporting initiatives to help build a stronger, more connected, QUT law student community, and for this community to engage in further health-orientated opportunities offered by our legal profession and society at large.

QUTLS Spor t

Social Sport Social Sport is the foundation of the QUT Law Society Sport Program. In the past, QUT Law Society has formed teams for touch football, soccer, netball, volleyball, basketball and dodgeball. Members of all stages of their degree should join the QUT Law society teams, especially first years! It is a great way to meet new people and get some exercise. The registration fee for members is subsidised and includes a QUT Law Society singlet.

Queensland Law Society Touch Competition We will be putting forward a team for the Queensland Law Society Touch Competition again this year. Students will be able to engage as a team, network with other participants and enjoy some tongue in-cheek fun as we assert our undisputed dominance over the other student law societies and participating law firms. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for information on how to join our team.

Running Club QUT Law Running Club is a weekly social event ‘run’ by the QUT Law Society. The run doubles as a chance for our members to network, challenge and befriend each other while fitting some physical exercise into their week. We also encourage the first years to join and get the much elusive leg day exercise sorted out.

Women’s Legal Service River to Rooftop Fundraiser In 2018 and 2019, QUT Law Society members tackled the daunting challenge of running up 1,040 stairs to raise money for the Women’s Legal Service. If you like a physical challenge while doing something great for your community, consider signing up for this amazing social justice opportunity.

QUTLS v UQLS Touch Football Grudge Match & Soccer Grudge Match Due to our fierce rivalry with the UQLS, many students get involved with these two events.

Students engage in friendly competition against their friends and adversaries, bringing the two universities together. This is a great opportunity to represent QUTLS. It’s time to show them what the real-world looks like!

Exam Stress Packs In 2020 the QUT Law Society will be supporting members through our Mental Health Program by providing them with exam stress packs. Offered from Week 11 onwards in both Semester 1 and Semester 2, these packs are a welcome sight for stressed-out students.

The packs will help make your uni life brighter with free stationary, snacks and other exam essentials.

Mental Health Breakfast The Mental Health Breakfast is held during National Mental Health Week. This event is focused upon awareness and starting conversations, typically facilitated by mental health experts. We highly recommend attending this event - after all your key asset in life is your mental health.

LawRight Walk for Justice The Queensland Legal Walk unites communities to walk together and raise vital funds to ensure all Queenslanders have access to the legal system through the community legal centre, LawRight. Your involvement at the fundraiser walk ensures that parties who can’t afford legal representation are given equal opportunity. Plus, you’ll get to chat to your peers and legal professionals as you walk around Brisbane City in the morning light.

BE NOT TO WITH D E S CONFU OLARLY H C S E TH RED S OFFE G IN IT W WR QUT LA

BY THE TUDENT TY S SOCIE REVIEW

qutls law revue

The QUT Law Society Law Revue is an annual comedic stage show written and performed by current law students. University Revues have a longstanding tradition within legal and medical schools the world over, serving as a creative centrepiece and outlet for students.

The 2020 Law Revue will feature a loosely-related series of sketches, songs and videos, providing a satirical take on TV, movies, news, current affairs and politics, in addition to lampooning university life and the legal professional as a whole.

So, if you’re an aspiring actor, singer, musician or dancer: come along to this year’s auditions. If you’re a would-be writer, videographer or choreographer and are looking to showcase your talents: show us what you’ve got. If you’re keen to get involved but don’t fall under any of the aforementioned roles: we’d still love to have you on board as part of the crew.

Law Revue

If you’re interested in getting involved come and have a chat with us during O-Week or like our Facebook page, QUT Law Society Law Revue.

If you’ve got any questions or want to sign up feel free to email us via: lawrevue@qutlawsociety.com

Best of Luck!

Finally we just want to wish you all good luck! Beginning university is a mixture of nerves and excitement, however, we hope this guide has given you a run down of enough information to put you at ease.

We at the QUTLS are super excited to see some new faces at our events and hopefully some of you will consider nominating for a committee role next year.

Whatever path your degree takes, we want you to feel supported every step of the way and have the resources to make these years as enjoyable as possible.

If you have any questions, do not be afraid to reach out to our listed contacts, otherwise best of luck and welcome to QUT!

A Word from the Faculty of Law Staff part three of three If you were back at uni, what are some things you wish you could have done differently?

“I would 100% travel back in time and prepare for tutorials. In hindsight, I was actually a pretty lazy student; I did enough work at the right times of semester to get by. However I was shocked when I first started working as a casual tutor how much more sense the law made when I prepared and practised. I genuinely couldn’t believe how big a difference it made. If you have a goal of achieving grades of 6 or 7, this is a must-do.”

– John O’Brien, First Year Coordinator, LLB101, LLB107 and LLB245 Lecturer “Many things! I think I would attend more seminars/talks/presentations that unit coordinators or others promoted that were outside-of-uni.

Like, there’s often different talks on at the Supreme Court etc., and community legal centres, academics, legal organisations will promote them. I think attending a few of these would have opened my mind sooner to all the deeper, transformative possibilities that exist within and for the legal system, and all the great people who are trying to make it happen.”

– Dr Hope Johnson, LLB104 Lecturer “Nothing! I loved every minute of it (even admin and constitutional law)!

Remember to enjoy the experience and be kind to yourself - you have already achieved so much just being here!”

– Katie Woolaston, LLB102 Lecturer

QUTLS

???

Facebook