From the Press Room

Welcome to the second edition ever of The Gavel, and the second edition of the QUTLS magazine for the year of 2021!

While it is the case every year, it seems that as the years tick on they always fly by faster than the last. This year is clearly no different. And alas, here we are again, with a new edition of the magazine. The Media Comms team can say with great confidence that it has been such a pleasure bringing to life the publications this year.

For The Gavel, we decided to make this edition’s theme open. We wanted writers to take control of what they wanted to write about. Inside this edition, you’ll find personal essays about identity and immigration, and of maybe never being satiated with the things that life has to continually offer. You’ll read research and thoughtful insight on the youth criminal justice system and public attitudes, sex work in society and law, and worker exploitation in the legal profession. Plus, you’ll get an entertaining read about misconceptions of what it means to study law (why do so many people think law students can help them get out of their speeding tickets? It’s baffling). In terms of fiction, our very own Ciaran (who’ll one day win the Premier’s Literary Award, the Stella, the Pulitzer, or all three on the one novel) offers readers a small look into the vanity and ego of primary school tuckshop and teacher politics, narrated by a sardonic and witty primary school art teacher.

We hope you sincerely enjoy the works inside, and thank you to all our contributors for this edition, and this year. It’s been an honour reading and publishing your words and stories. A massive thank you must also go to the talented Design Officers, Ben Steele and Kristina Vang, for their extraordinary vision. They see colour, shape, life, and dynamism in the words on these pages where many of us may just see black and white text. Thank you as well to our fabulous Director, Alex White, who will be stepping into the role of Vice President of the QUTLS in 2022.

And without further ado, go forth and enjoy your summer, and happy reading!

Ciaran and Ashton

Publications Officers