Edition one, twenty sixteen. Thank you to our wonderful sponsors, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, King & Wood Mallesons, Minter Ellison, QUT PLT and Thomson Geer Lawyers for supporting the QUT Law Society and allowing us to produce this quarterly publication. Particular acknowledgment goes to the newly appointed publications group, especially Helen Driscoll, Kate Droney, Emily Ryan and Nina VVos. On behalf of Publications 2016 we look forward to bringing you another year of great reading.
CONTENTS Editor’s Welcome
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President’s Induction .......................................2 New Executive Welcome
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General Content First Year Law Guide .......................................13 Law of #fashun Feature .......................................15 General Counsel Did you know .......................................19 Law Revue Get Involved .......................................21 Culture Corner What’s going on .......................................23 Seeking Inspiration What to Watch .......................................25
Induction
Publication team - QUTLS 2016
Kate Droney - Design Officer, Helen Driscoll and Emily Ryan - Publication Officers Nikki Keijer VP of Media and Communication
On behalf of the entire Publication team, welcome the first Torts Illustrated publication of 2016. We had the pleasure of bringing you the final Torts Illustrated of 2015 with our Christmas edition, and contrary to our expectation it has not yet taken out the likes of E.L.James... Don’t loose hope. How is it already April? Moments ago we were sipping summer through a straw and now we’re collecting the autumn leaves from our blow up pools that sadly deflate with our hopes and dreams. Without a doubt 2016 has been a complete banger from the moment the clocks ticked over. With Leo bagging his first Oscar, Trump making himself a legitimate candidate for presidency (still no idea how), and Kanye still finding new ways to appreciate Kanye. As for the publication babes, we’ve been inundated ourselves too. Preparation for this magazine began through the months of summer, in conjunction with the Careers Guide Springboard and O week hype. We’d like to introduce ourselves as the team of five lady-bosses who equally take pleasure in the art of a great footer and clever pun. Welcoming: Kate | The ex-architect who, despite trading in her copic markers for a legal dictionary, still loves her fair share of design porn. She has minimalist design tendencies, a love of monochrome and one day hopes to become a real criminal lawyer who makes pottery on the side.
Helen | The publications fairy studying full time law and journalism whilst finding creative refuge working as a speech and drama teacher and making moot court her unfulfilled aspirations for the stage. She loves all things pink and is obsessed with her almond milk lattes. Emily | An ex-(art)gallerina who relishes the fact that she need not worry about her indie appearance anymore in her now all-legal career direction. She is studying full time law but likes to get her regular culture fix whenever possible. Nina | A low-key languages aficionado who is interested in Intellectual Property and French for no reason but to whisper, ‘Je™’ to Harvey Specter as he once again has his back against the wall. And myself (Nikki), studying law and journalism full time while working in PR & Media, I am fanatic about a synchronised marketing message and using Pantone’s colour scheme wherever reasonably foreseeable. So now that the clerkship and graduate application craziness has settled, and holidays are ahead, we hope you can enjoy this read with as much relaxation possible… granted that you are a law student entering week 7 you probably have 10 weeks of reading and 7 assignments due tomorrow. Enjoy xxx
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Induction
Harriette Watson - QUTLS President 2016 On behalf of the 2016 QUTLS Committee, welcome to the 2016 Uni year. May your grades be high and your anxiety levels low. To the final year students returning once again through the glamorous C Block stairwell which oozes old world sophistication, welcome back. May your final year/s be your most zen-filled, resume building, GPA lifting yet. To our first years, you have an awesome and crazy journey ahead of you. But if you just remember to take the gate on the right at the entrance to the library, and NEVER try to occupy a library booth with less than 3 pals in your wolf pack you should be just fine. We have an exciting year ahead of us and an incredible team who I have every confidence will deliver above expectation on all of our programs for the year.
Get fit and become the most popular nerd in town by joining one of our weekly touch, soccer, and netball competitions. The more uncoordinated you are the more we want you.
I cannot encourage you enough to make the most of the absurd amount of programs we run throughout the year, it really will make your time during and after uni a lot easier.
Calm your farm before exams with our exam block de-stress days and learn more about the effects mental illness and how to deal with them in a legal context at our Wellness Breakfast in Semester 2. And finally, before you read any further, fill out your diary with the only two events more important than your birthday: Law Ball (Cloudland, 6 April) and Law Dinner (Ridges, 24 September).
Boost your resume by entering one of our many many moots and competitions, and attend the finals to get schmoozy with the HR Reps and partners of all the firms you will be begging to hire you down the track. Save your wallet and kill your kidneys by attending our bar tabbed L Card parties where you may or may not (but probably will) meet the love of your life.
Best of luck for semester ahead, Harriette
The year of 2016 is well underway and it’s about time you got to know your executive QUT Law Society committee!
Induction
Rose Kirby - QUTLS Vice President 2016 Hello, I am Rosie and I am the Vice President of the QUT Law Society. I am in my sixth and final (hopefully) year of a dual degree in Law and Journalism. Before joining the law society last year as Vice President (Education) I had been involved with the QUT World Vision VGen Society, the Australian Institute of International Affairs and the Australia-China Youth Association. I am passionate about ensuring all members of the community have equal access to a legal education. Through my involvement with the QUT Law Society I have the opportunity to represent QUT as a councillor with the Australian Law Student Association. This national organisation focuses on the interests of law students nationally. Various topics of discussion can include anything from tax rules for student societies to university fee deregulation. ALSA often appears in the news advocating rights for law students and has submitted several position papers to parliament on relevant issues.
Through these events and the many more initiatives that we have in store, I hope that the law students of QUT don’t get too stressed out about feeling like they have to follow one specific career path. I also have many interests outside the legal industry. As a loyal journalism student I enjoy reading current affairs, and follow the news around the world. I love literature and spend far too much of what I earn on books. I like trying different foods and travelling, ideally at the same time.
I am also passionate about making sure law students are aware of all their options when it comes to career paths. Last year I started two events called Careers Without Clerkships and What I Wish I knew when I Started Law School.
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Induction
Radhia Aku - QUTLS Treasurer 2016 As the newly elected treasurer, I’d like to personallwelcome all new and former students to 2016. A year I hope is filled with success, endless excitement, and lets not forget the countless hours cramming before an exam. Today I will be an optimist about this new year. Surely this year will bring losses our way, however, dear friends, I say to never forget the past so it can shape your future. I encourage you to keep on trying, seek potential and if ever life decides to give you lemons, make orange juice instead and leave life wondering how you did it! Among many other goals, my primary goal this year is to reduce the tax paid by the QUT Law Society, through the mutuality principle. As I embark on this journey as your treasurer, I hope to learn, grow and constantly challenge myself. By having your confidence placed in me, I am aspiring not only to provide the best of skills, but I hope to perfect and improve the position while inspiring others. Dear friends, I wish you nothing but the best for this year and remember: “Be like the flower that gives its fragrance to even the hand that crushes it.” - Ali Ibn Abi Talib
Induction
Sarah Nguyen - QUTLS Secretary 2016 Hi! I’m Sarah Nguyen and I am the QUT Law Society’s secretary for 2016. I’m currently studying a double degree in Business, majoring in economics, and Law (duh!). I love food, a good read, the more-than-occasional nap and have a great interest in linguistics. My role as secretary involves delving into the nitty gritty behind the works of the society itself. This means everything from compliance with the society’s constitution and by-laws and recording meeting minutes, to the registration of members and coordinating weekly newsletters. The best part of my role is that I get to dabble in other portfolio’s and can’t wait to see what everyone delivers this year!
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Induction
Bianca Parmar - QUTLS Vice President for Education 2016
Induction
Ethan Neil QUTLS Vice President of Mooting 2016
I’m excited to start 2016 as a part of the QUTLS, and especially honoured to be filling the position of VP for Education. I’m currently studying a dual degree in Law and Business (majoring in International Business), and interested in human rights and international law. This year, I am also in the executive committee for Amnesty International QUT. Outside of uni, I enjoy dancing, cooking, yoga and most importantly eating (Yes, this is a real hobby! I am a major foodie). The Education portfolio consists of three branches - careers, mentoring and Indigenous relations - that are organised with the help of my awesome team, Flora, Jake and Shekira. Our first major event for the year is the Clerkship Symposium held in early March. Additionally, the QUTLS Mentoring Program is currently underway, where first year law students are paired with experienced law students for mentoring and guidance throughout the year. Other events that we are preparing for first semester include, Meet the Profession, Women in Law (an exciting debut event!), Careers without Clerkships, First Year Lunch and The Indigenous Breakfast. Our underlying goal for the year is helping law students, and fostering the best learning, education and networking experiences that we can. In order to do this, we are aiming to host a range of events, functions and workshops that facilitate a good balance. The QUT Law Society has endeavoured to take on board student feedback and understands providing a broad range of opportunities is important for law students. We have planned an exciting year ahead, and I look forward to meeting you.
Mooting seems intimidating to those unfamiliar with it – the arguments sound complex, the judges look imposing, and the competition seems fierce. It is for this reason that many students, including me, think that mooting is not for them. For a long time I told myself that mooting is only for students with a perfect GPA, a relative who is a barrister, and a shelf full of high school debating trophies. As is so often the case, however, my assumptions were false. It’s true that mooting is hard work and, at times, a bit nerve racking. It is also one of most rewarding experiences available to law students. Not only do you get the opportunity to network with members of the profession, you also develop your ability to conduct research, engage in legal reasoning, and work as a team. These skills are crucial to any lawyer, and highly sought after by employers. My role, as the Director of the Moot Club, is to make mooting as accessible to students as possible. To that end, the Moot Club will be conducting workshops throughout the year. These workshops are designed to equip students with the skills they need to moot successfully. Some workshops will introduce you to the basics of mooting – aimed at students with little to no prior mooting experience. Others will be designed to prepare students intending to try-out for international mooting competitions. The QUTLS Moot Club’s Facebook page will keep you informed about mooting at QUT, so be sure to follow it. Any questions about mooting, don’t hesitate to contact me at director.mootclub@qutlawsociety.com.
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Induction
Shona Fitzgerald QUTLS Vice President of Competitions 2016 I’m Shona Fitzgerald this year’s Vice President of Competitions. I have been successful in a number of QUTLS competitions and was even fortunate enough to represent QUT at last year’s ALSA conference. I also have experience working in the legal industry and I am committed to ensuring QUTLS members are job ready. I am supported by two Competitions Officers, Yanery Ventura Rodriguez and Eva Sheppard. Between us we have previously competed in or helped run every competition in our portfolio so you’re in good hands. The competitions portfolio is all about organising competitions for students to get involved with and develop their legal skills. We also provide a link between the students and the profession so that QUTLS members are able to develop their professional network and gain an idea of their ideal career path. Internal competitions are a great way to stretch your practical-legal-skills-legs. We run a range of competitions for a whole bunch of legal skill sets from our client interview and negotiation competitions right through to the international arbitration moot.
You can do what I did and live out your Rake fantasies by joining in our witness examination competition or find your public speaking confidence through one of our more traditional moots. There’s something for everyone! We’re committed to bringing you a real world experience so we fill our judging panels with the best and brightest of Brisbane’s legal scene including experienced barristers, top tier solicitors and leading academics. The competition judges are all uniquely placed to provide you with feedback on your performance within the parameters of the competition and marry that feedback up to how it applies to the skills you will use in your legal career. Competitions are also a great way to not only build a network with your university peers, but also with the local profession. If you’re not keen on competing, we’re always looking for volunteers so you can get all the benefits of entering the competition like meeting current practitioners and learning practical skills without much of the work!
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Induction
Liz Singleton, Vice President of Sport and Health 2016 Hello fellow law students! I am currently studying law (obviously) and business majoring in marketing. Outside of uni I enjoy eating good food, drinking delicious drinks and spending time with my fabulous friends. I ran for election in the law society because I know how difficult being a law student is, and hope to restore a sometimes hard to find sense of community among us. This year in sport and health there are exciting things happening. Social sports is back to provide a much needed run around for willing participants, as well as to hone our sporting prowess for our face off with our (inferior) counterparts at other universities. The soccer and rugby grudge match between us and UQ will be bigger than ever this year, and the law cup will see us face off against other universities as well as the profession and judges associates. Health wise, mental health is a big focus for us this year. The stress of clerkships, grad jobs and finding a general direction in life is very overwhelming for almost everyone; QUTLS will be here to remind you that it really isn’t the end of the world with goodie bags, wellness week, petting zoos, free snacks and other exam week treats.
Induction
Zoe Watson and Lewis Holmes QUTLS Law Revue Convenors 2016
The convenors of the fourth QUTLS Law Revue are Lewis Holmes and Zoë Watson. Affectionately known as “Team Sherlock” due to their respective surnames, they are both excited to be working together to produce the best QUTLS Law Revue to date. Both have been cast members the previous two years, and are ready to take the satirical world by storm (or at the very least have a successful show!).
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graduates.minterellison.com
Induction
Induction
Claudia Choi- QUTLS Vice President of Events 2016
Nikki Keijzer QUTLS Vice President of Media and Communication 2016 Welcome back to another publication made by the new team of 2016. I hope you welcome this new era like I welcome the return of the Bachelor series... Albeit a love hate relationship. I am proud to lead the very confident and capable team of Media and Communications this year, and I look forward to learning as much as I can throughout this invaluable experience. Torts Illustrated was created to bring an air of light-heartedness while you battle through the daily duties of a law student. Since you are all likely transitioning from frozen margaritas and poolside bliss to battling with remembering your old uni log-in and dusting out old textbooks, we hope this magazine brings you some comfort. At least there is solace in knowing that we’re all in this together, right? I can’t wait to deliver on a great year ahead!
My name is Claudia Choi and I am the Vice-President of Events. To those who don’t know me, I am the small and weird Asian girl running around the law library. One person has even described their first impression of me as ‘strange’… later correcting it to ‘unique’ – thanks friend. I love socialising and organising events, and therefore it is no surprise that I am in the events team for the QUT Law Society. I won’t go into detail here regarding the social events, but what I can tell you is that I have a great team consisting of Yehanka Ranasinghe, Nick Arndt and Harry Bell, and we are all working together to make all the social events for 2016 bigger and better than ever! Be ready to get your drank on.
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The first year of a law degree is a steep learning curve, but if you get it right, it can set you up for long-term rewards.
Guide
Emily Ryan, Publications Officer 2016 First of all, congratulations on being accepted into a law degree. You have joined an elite crew of people who are ruthlessly competitive, good with their words (and not their numbers) and stressed from day one about securing the most hallowed gift: a clerkship and graduate position. Coming from a diverse range of backgrounds, law students are seeking to acquire a particular set of skills that will unlock a range of employment options. Your cohort will spawn graduates who may go on to run the country, sit on the High Court or negotiate the deal to end global warming. Choosing QUT was your first good decision* - you’re in the right place to succeed. Your next good decision should be to abide by these 10 commandments. It’s just a set of guidelines, but we’re overflowing with absolutely stellar experience, knowledge and witty charm – and following rules is what you’re getting into for life. It’s probably best to just start now. 1. THOU SHALL ALWAYS ATTEND/LISTEN TO LECTURES AND TUTORIALS In a shocking turn of events: it turns out a subject’s lectures and tutorials are where you learn everything you will need to pass. Realistically, if you go/listen to absolutely everything you should have no dramas. From personal experience, we can tell you that the answer guides you develop in the torts tutorials are solid gold – don’t miss them. Even if you haven’t prepared [bad you], still go and try to absorb as much as you can. Succeeding in the study of law is all about being strategic with your time. By attending these classes you can get a very clear
idea of what you need to focus on – your SWOTVAC** will much more enjoyable [hahaha…ha ha]. 2. THOU SHALL ENDEAVOUR TO READ PRESCRIBED CASES This is not a joke. Exam questions are regularly based on these cases. Nobody is trying to trick you and you’re not being clever by just reading a summary. Trust us. 3.
THOU SHALL NOT BE A LONE WOLF
We know you will play ‘getting to know you games’ and that you will be told about forming study groups early. This is solid advice. Law is not a degree you want to go through as a lone wolf. In some ways, they will force this upon you by setting group work – but outside of this, if you catch eyes with someone in a lecture or bond with someone over mutual stress and ‘imposter syndrome’ [thanks Dispute Res], then lock yourself down a study buddy. There are many advantages to said buddy – not only do you have someone to hit up Boost and Merlo with, but you can share case readings and nut out the essence of assignments [See: not colluding]. 4. THOU SHALL ATTEND EVENTS BOTH SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL Now you’ve got your study buddies, get together and hit up some events. The Law Society puts on heaps of events throughout the year like the L Card Launch Party, Law Ball and Law Dinner [shameless plug]. Nothing helps you make true friends like getting super ‘social’ together. As well as these hectic raves, you should also check out some of the
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symposiums, networking events and guest speakers that crop up throughout the year. These events are not only interesting and inspiring but will mean that people start to get to know your face – once you start participating in university life it will change your whole experience of study. We promise. 5.
NETWORKING IS HOLY TO THOU
Whenever you see the word ‘networking’ in the advertising for an event…GO. If we can be frank, you are in an extremely competitive field where who you know is going to be one of the most useful tools in your arsenal. We know it sometimes seems unfair when your arch nemesis’ uncle is the senior partner in a top-tier firm and their dad is a Supreme Court judge, but if you are smart and attend a few events, you might just surprise yourself with the connections you can make. 6. THOU SHALL NOT CURSE PAST SELF IN SWOTVAC Leaving something to be your future-self’s problem is classic university procrastination. We can guarantee you are going to do it, but when you do, think back to this article and remember that WE TOLD YOU SO. If you can motivate yourself, you can actually start building your notes from week one. The way we try to think about it is as if we have an exam at the end of every week. You want your notes to be on point. If you do this, by the end of the semester you can just focus on doing practice questions and actually revising. This is something we wish we could have told our past selves, so you know, YOU’RE WELCOME. 7. THOU SHALL NOT THINK OPEN BOOK EQUALS OPTIONAL STUDY Open book exams are a sneaky trap that can lead you into a false sense of exam security. Please do not be fooled. Law exams are big – too big for the time that you are allocated. If you have to spend your time flicking through your notes then you are not going to do well. If you do, we congratulate you because you are a magical unicorn. You need to know your material and build notes that you can use effectively in a short timeframe. Coming to university from school or from a past degree, it can be hard to appreciate how different a law exam can be. There is an immense amount of content to cover, and although you aren’t expected to memorize it [most of the time – see: torts], if you’re doing it right you shouldn’t stop writing for the entire exam time. If you put your pen down and have time to spare we advise going back and checking your answers, friends.
8. THOU SHALL MONITOR ADVERTISED OPPORTUNITIES RELIGIOUSLY [EXPERIENCE IS THE HOLY GRAIL] So, Facebook is this thing - you may have heard of it which allows the Law Society and QUT to continually post opportunities as they arise. If you haven’t already, we would recommend joining the QUT Law Students and QUT Law Society groups as soon as you finish reading this article. By doing this you will not only stay up to date with events, but will be made aware of opportunities for work experience, volunteering and employment. As we have subtly pointed out previously, this is a COMPETITIVE business people. Any experience you can get under your belt will be supremely useful. Do yourself a favour and be aware of this fact from day one. We know it is easy to just cruise along without any thought to your future career, but in this current climate you need to wise up. 9. THOU SHALL JOIN AT LEAST ONE TEAM/ SOCIETY/GROUP This harks back to a number of our previous other points, namely the fact that friends are good and being able to demonstrate an involvement in university life is beneficial in the long run. It does keep coming back to this, but building your resume should be at the forefront of your mind from day one. 10. THOU SHALL NOT SKIP THE POST-TORTS SESSION AT BOTANIC BAR [STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS] This goes without saying. If you couldn’t infer the necessity of this from the other commandments then shame on you. First years need to stick together and if you want to bond over a stressful shared experience, this is the time to do it. If you abide by these rules, not only will your first year be rewarding and filled with new experiences and friends, you will have started to build an exceptional resume that you can submit proudly in the bloodbath that is clerkship applications. *The author may or may not be biased regarding this statement. **SWOTVAC is the time you get between the end of substantive content and exams – basically a study week (three days this semester) that gives you a bit of extra time to get your notes together, overdose on caffeine and get a little crazy in the library.
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Much angst and mental struggle can come with preparing one’s outfit so as to look casual yet chic yet effortless yet fabulous yet hot yet hinting intelligence for uni each day. Never fear! Another brief, generalized, haphazard and stereotypical analysis article by mwah (Helen) is here, this time on the law of #fashun.
Feature
Helen Driscoll – QUTLS Publications officer 2016 The SHOES One particular area of concern when it comes to appropriate footwear is generally stilettos/overly gigantic raised shoes of any kind are not socially acceptable, unless of course you are either attending a function/event/ competition which requires you to do so or are a “corporate”, please see definition below. We in law school highly appreciate your feeling of supremacy, you are of course, a law student after all. However with such we feel this does not extend to heels you cannot comfortably maintain a more than 3km/hr stride without wobbling dangerously, knowing you would in fact be contributorially negligent for any accident or glamorous stumble which may occur. Thongs are generally not acceptable either unless you are quickly dropping in for an errand/assignment delivery bordering on ‘bogan’ or your shoes actually broke and you needed to make an emergency investment.
In summary, please wear either sandals, or closed footwear. However socks paired with sandals, or even worse, sneakers with jeans, will result in automatic probation from your study as a law student and you will subsequently be referred to a Bachelor of Engineering. The CLOTHING Throughout the raucous halls of banter that is the lawbry, you’ll discover quite quickly that it’s vital you fit in. We recommend wearing the crisp and clean lines of Ralph Lauren or Tommy. However, a polo with a collar is acceptable if Ralphie does not float in your wardrobe. Jks. Maybe. Maybe not. Further, the standard ‘my daddy is a lawyer outfit’ - that is, the button up, dress shorts, belt, loafers paired with some snazzy sunnies, no matter what will always grab a gal’s attention, despite vigorous protests. Or maybe it’s just me. A brushed mop doesn’t go astray either.
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And laslty, it’s self explanatory but oh so important it is worthy of repeat, sneakers with jeans are definite no no. Still though, you may meet the requirements for engineering? The BAG Reality zone: In all honesty, any kind of side bag containing several kilograms of traumatic text is AGONY on one’s shoulder, especially when galloping down George Street in a hurry. The constant swapping of sides and positioning in an attempt to level out the suffering is just not worth it. Wear your backup and strut with your new bulging tortoise extension loud and proud. In this case, #fashun can extend to practicality. P.s the likelihood your Mimco bag as #fashun as it is will buckle under pressure is not insignificant nor far-fetched or fanciful. The STATIONARY The prospect of purchasing fresh notebooks, pens, highlighters and sticky notes is probably the most exhilarating part of preparing to hit the books again. These item are truly so significant they will either make or break your academic success for the year. Somehow, having a notebook with “shoes make me happy” plastered across the cover alongside a selection of printed unicorn pens, plus a set of 50% off fairy lights because what the heck - makes you feel UBER organised, temporarily increasing your study motivation by 110 per cent. Smiggle and any kind of scented erasers will be judged accordingly, because they are to
remain between the years of 2005 – 2011 or alternatively buried under your high school maths books. Moreover, ensure you own a MacBook of some kind. Please, don’t be the mediocre Acer in a sea of slick neon apples in Z411. Lurking about the grounds you may come across a being formerly called the HIPSTER. This particular species of student was classified as alternative and individual, however there are now so many of them that the ‘hipster’ is pretty much main stream. Don’t forget the Beats by Dray, as a must accessory. Long live the hipster. Sometimes, generally after the clock strikes 5 in the pm, you may be lucky enough to view the CORPORATE. The corporate is the student who shelters in offices during the daylight hours and ventures to the realm of chosen academia in the evening. They are often those looking distinguished in their power suits as they flawlessly glide through campus. In conclusion Reality zone: In the end though, quite seriously you can wear whatever takes your fancy of the day. We’re individuals, this isn’t a traumatic free dress day at high school. You don’t have to impress or be accountable/ acceptable to anyone (insert fist emoji here).
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Previous Law Clerk Ashley Rooney shares about her experience clerking Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Experience
Ashley Rooney, Law Graduate Corrs Chambers Westgarth
To be perfectly honest, the thought of it didn’t thrill me. I had heard the rumours. Boring work, dreadfully long hours, demanding colleagues. Nevertheless, I decided I should probably find out for myself. Before I knew it, I found myself clerking at Corrs Chambers Westgarth. I couldn’t believe that within the first day of my clerkship all my preconceived notions about corporate law were changed. I could sense all the clerks were a bit nervous on day one. Obviously! However, we learnt quickly we had no reason to be. The whole firm made all the clerks feel welcome and like part of the firm. We were told we were the first group of clerks to work in the new, open plan office. We had an introduction session, where like magic, every possible question we could have asked was answered. I was also relieved to find out we would be paired with a graduate, who would be our buddy during our clerkship. From there it was all go! We had a number of training sessions, including how to use the Corrs research facilities, format documents, navigate the computer systems, use precedents and draft legal documents.
We even had a buddy take us all on a trip to Court! We were encouraged to attend as many of Corrs legal education sessions as we could. I couldn’t believe how much I was learning in such a short space of time. As Corrs is open plan I was constantly able to listen to how partners interact with clients and each other. There were events that gave us opportunities to meet people across the firm. We had an informal graduate session where we could ask the graduates anything about life as a graduate lawyer at Corrs. We also had lunch with the partners and breakfast with our grad buddies. Suffice to say, I was very well fed during my clerkship at Corrs! What I found most useful was the sessions by people from the different practice areas across the firm. These provided a glimpse of what it would be like to work in each of these groups and gave us the opportunity to meet and interact with a range of Corrs employes. I was pretty excited to find out I would be clerking in the Energy and Resources practice area. The group is top-heavy (meaning lots of senior Associates and partners and not a lot of junior lawyers). Indeed the group only had one graduate lawyer, Katherine, who was my buddy!
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I was hoping that I might be entrusted with some actual work. Although surely clerks are only given administrative tasks and coffee runs, right? Wrong. From the moment I sat down at my desk, I was given the opportunity to work on real matters! I was calling the Land Court, compiling mining lease applications, checking contracts, sitting in on client meetings and researching interesting points of law. Nick, a Senior Associate, asked me to look at an ambiguous indemnity clause and to do some research how the Court would likely interpret it. I had studied this, but to actually see how the principles I learnt had real life implications was awesome. But I wasn’t left on my own. Katherine, my buddy, was always there to guide me if I had questions (and also made the best brownies). Before long, I was surprised that when I woke up in the morning I was happy to go work! Who knew?
So, to conclude. The work wasn’t boring like I had been told, but instead interesting and diverse. And challenging. There were times when there just wasn’t any definite law on what I had been asked to research and I had to formulate an opinion based on the little that was there. And sure, to be suddenly taken from the comfort of law school to real work was a little daunting, but it’s also awesome. Importantly, the people were lovely and helpful and good-humoured. My choice to clerk at Corrs completely changed my view on where I wanted to go with my career. I highly recommend participating in a clerkship program to find out for yourself if corporate law is right for you.
Indeed, my whole group was very supportive and I always felt part of the team. Never more so, when they surprised me on my birthday with a cake and (a slightly out of tune) happy birthday song.
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The evolving role of the in-house general counsel – an alternative to the standard lawyer
Did you know
Helen Driscoll, QUTLS Publications Officer 2016 Ever heard of an in-house legal counsel or a general counsel? Sure you may have come across the title once or twice, but do you actually know what it is? Studying law doesn’t mean you have to become a solicitor within the four walls of a firm; there is a wealth of career options available to you! The rise of the general counsel is just one of these opportunities …. The role of the general counsel is to provide advice on the legal environment and legal responsibilities within a company. However, more and more companies are turning to their resident GC to provide advice going far beyond the realms of legal compliance. General counsel would not be able to provide sufficiently useful advice to their employer without first understanding the business itself and its management – this is the first step of outside the legal realm. Inevitably in the role comes close links with those in senior management and those making all the big decisions at the top.
This gives the in house counsel an exclusive opportunity to assess the way significant decision makers approach the problem – an insight not many other employees would get. The increasing ability to be involved in business transactions and client negotiations undoubtedly creates more opportunities for in-house legal counsel than every before. In a study in the USA conducted by the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), 71% of the general counsel surveyed believed strategic decision-making will be in the top three value driver for legal department heads in the next five years. Adam Lister, Sydney based legal counsel for AEG Ogden, says he most enjoys being part of a team working towards a single goal. (It) “gives me a sense of pride in the development and an infrastructure legacy that will be left to the people of Sydney, to drive economic benefits that feed back into the State for years to come.”
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Consideration should perhaps be given to any potential ethical issues that may arise as a lawyer, when it comes to stepping and expanding just outside the role of legal counsel. Rule 12 of the Australian Solicitor’s Conduct Rules requires a practitioner to avoid conflicts of interests between the best interests of the client and the interests of the solicitor. The key question here is whether opportunities for general counsel to further themselves in a business scenario presents an ethical dilemma. Law Society of NSW v Harvey [1972] 2 NSWLR 15 discussed the potential disadvantage of not being able to be involved with business opportunities and benefits, and how this just comes with the honorability of the profession. The facts in Harvey involve a lawyer intermingling their personal financial affairs with those of a client. While the role of the general counsel differs to that of a solicitor in a firm, the principle of owing a duty to your client, or company/ corporation in this case, could still be applied in order to ensure the company’s best interests are met, over any other benefit that could be personally reaped. Seeking and giving advice outside a practitioner’s expertise or legal considerations such as on business and finance, commercial risks or reputation on the company, could potentially conflict with their duties. Rule four of the ASCR requires a solicitor to deliver services competently and diligently.
Their honours held in Vulic v Bilinsky (1983) 2 NSWLR 427, 483 a practitioner should not take on work outside their capacity, and should warn the client of any inexperience. In Littler v Price & Ors [2004] QCA 383, the court found in favour of the former clients and held it was negligent to provide advice without the proper qualifications. In that case, it was the difference between offering financial and investment advice and advice incidental to the provision of legal services. How this applies to a general counsel could be entirely different, it would depend on the scope of the service and agreement between the GC themselves and their employer. Nonetheless, every law student and every lawyer knows the law is a constantly evolving and updating body, changing and applying itself again in different ways depending on the context. In a business environment particularly, the world is becoming more and more globalised. According to Mr Lister, this creates the potential to extend outside the legal frame and into executive roles, while still maintaining your legal roots. The role of in-house counsel means you have the ability to plan and manage your career far beyond the confines of a law firm. Opportunities to further your skills, hone and fine tune business techniques, and develop network of global connections are infinite.
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Newly appointed Law Revue convenors Zoe Watson and Lewis Holmes are calling for YOU! Yes you! Quit looking left and right and open your eyes to your future of standing ovations and guaranteed employment.* *no binding intentions
Get involved
Zoe Watson and Lewis Holmes, Law Revue Convenors 2016 Define: Law Revue Results: A Law Revue is the annual musical parody of life at Law that is written, produced, and performed entirely by law students. Looking in from the outside, people could think that the law faculty is dull, and that all law students do is study from enormous textbooks, spending all day on their computers forever prepping for the next tutorial. What many people may not realise is that the students (and staff) within the law faculty are an immensely talented, funny, and creative group. All this talent is showcased in the yearly QUTLS Law Revue. Not to be confused with a Law REVIEW, a journal containing articles about different areas of law, the QUTLS Law REVUE is a satirical comedy show with skits and song parodies about life as a student, politics, pop culture, current affairs, and everything in between. This show is written, run, and performed by law students, and all songs are
performed by a live student band. Held in the second semester, the performances are the culmination of hard work, dedication, and determination of the cast. Rehearsals start at the beginning of the second semester, and are held up until the final performances, but are scheduled to not interfere too much with classes. It’s during these rehearsals that a close bond forms between the whole cast. As the only requirement for getting involved in the Law Revue is that you’re a law student. The cast is comprised of students of all ages and stages of their degree, and of life in general. Being in Law Revue is a great social experience as you’re meeting people similar to yourself, but who you potentially would never have met if not for Law Revue. It provides students with the opportunity to not only form great new friendships, but also to make
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connections and ask the advice of students further along in their degree. So if you think this sounds like fun (and I promise it really is!), come along and try out at auditions, to be held during Week 5 of first semester. If you play an instrument and want to be involved, get in touch as well! We will also be looking for backstage crew closer to the performances. Like our page QUT Law Society Law Revue on Facebook to keep up to date with the latest news and events. Finally, if you have any questions or want some more information, please send an email to lawrevue@qutlawsociety.com, and we’ll answer any/all questions. Performing in law revue has honestly been one of the best experiences I’ve had while at QUT, and I promise you won’t regret it either.
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Emily gets cultural among Brisbane’s fine arts and shares her discoveries here for her fellow connoisseurs to enjoy.
What’s going on
Emily Ryan, QUTLS Publications Officer 2016 Brisbane is host to a veritable feast of culture. Live music, art exhibitions, craft markets and film festivals are abundant and brimming with local creative talent. Getting out and experiencing the range of events on offer is not only a great way to meet people but will also introduce you to a whole other spectrum of ideas, perspectives and expressions. The Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) are currently hosting the 8th Asia Pacific Triennial (APT8). This is an exhibition held every three years and is a major highlight in the gallery’s calendar, focusing on work from Asia, the Pacific and Australia. The APT has enabled QAGOMA to develop one of the world’s most significant collections of Asian and Pacific art and also driven the Galley’s focus on the region. This year, the exhibition is host to more than 80 artists and groups from 36 countries. This eighth edition is focused on the role
of performance in recent art and includes work that incorporates live actions, video, kinetic art, figurative painting and sculpture exploring the use of the human form to express cultural, social and political ideas. It also emphasises the central role of the artist to articulate experiences that are specific to their locality. Some key works that deserve close examination include: ‘Coming to terms’ (2015) Abdul Abdullah This series of unusual wedding portraits was taken in Malaysia and as a whole, alludes to historic xenophobia. The artist is a seventh-generation Australian who identifies as Muslim. He often uses his own body and personal experience within his work to explore how Muslims are often portrayed in contemporary Australian society and culture. In this series of photographs, brides and grooms are shown in traditional wedding attire but have their faces obscured by close-fitting balaclavas.
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Though in many ways political, Abdullah’s works are often more about the feelings of displacement and alienation that are experienced by some migrants. The works are incredibly moving and thought provoking and will inspire different reactions in different audiences. ‘Cosmos’ (2015) Choi Jeong Hwa Cosmos is a large-scale installation of beaded strands that are suspended above the mandala of his ‘The Mandala of Flowers’ (2015). Form contradicts content as the intricate work, something highly labour intensive, sacred and designed to return to the earth, is crafted from non-biodegradable, massproduced plastic waste. Inspired by the flea markets and street stalls in Seoul, the work celebrates an unexpected source of beauty and challenges conventional ideas of taste and value. It is an incredible work of artistic craftsmanship that is really a sight to behold.
Take some time to appreciate the intricately interwoven layers of skill and meaning that these beautiful works have to offer. On the whole, APT8 is a moving experience that will make you hyperaware of the different cultures that you may encounter in Australia. The works are not only beautiful, but each offers a different worldview that will expand your understanding of global society in some way. Supporting exhibitions such as this is really important for the growth of our local art industry. If you have a break between classes, you won’t regret the short walk across the bridge. The exhibition closes on April 10.
‘Hell of Tuol Sleng’ (2014) & ‘Indochina’ (2014) Leang Seckon. These paintings are visually arresting, characterized by tapestry-like surfaces that incorporate collage elements, embroidery and illustrations. They embody stories of myth, popular culture and history – the first depicting a high school that became a notorious prison and death camp and the second reflecting on the spiritual and colonial past of Cambodia. Seckon is one of few remaining artists to have experienced that Khmer Rouge period first hand and his work is often strongly autobiographical.
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It’s time for clerkship applications and tensions are running high. These classic films will help remind you why you are putting in the hard yards.
What To Watch
Emily Ryan, QUTLS Publications Officer 2016 LEGALLY BLONDE This probably goes without saying, but if anything can fill you with optimism and a passion for the law it is Reese Witherspoon walking into court in headto-toe hot pink. She battles stereotypes, uses an extensive knowledge of beauty procedures to crack a witness and forgoes what appears to be an epic party to study. Elle Woods should be your spirit animal. A FEW GOOD MEN Okay we’ve got Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore – this is the first draw card. The film revolves around two U.S. Marines who are court-martialed after being charged with the murder of a fellow Marine. It follows the tribulations of their lawyers as they prepare their case to defend them. Even if criminal law isn’t your cup of tea, it is a modern classic for good reason.
It has twists and turns galore and the dialogue would make any barrister proud. It is ultimately about honour, ethics and standing up for those too weak to fight for themselves. What more could you want in your legal cinematic experience? ERIN BROCKOVICH This is a classic tale to inspire all of the law gals out there. It is a biographical film about a woman who fought against the energy corporation Pacific Gas and Electric Company. She starts out in the office in a secretarial/ administrative role but begins digging into the case after it piques her interest and is supported by her supervising lawyer when he finds out what she is doing. They win the case. Victory is epic and the little guy succeeds against the massive corporation. Talk about inspiration.
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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD If you want a reminder (or a reason) for why you decided to study law, look no further. Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch is a shining example of morality, justice and ethical standards. Set in the Depression-era South, he defends an African-American man against an undeserved rape charge and consequently, his kids against prejudice. This one is a must. THE FIRM Another Tom Cruise classic, The Firm is based on the John Grisham novel of the same name. The film follows Mitch McDeere who comes from an impoverished background, succeeds academically at Harvard Law School and is offered a number of positions at top-tier firms. He is initially seduced by the money and perks and is totally oblivious to the sinister side of his new employer. Things escalate significantly. I don’t want to give away any plot twists but morality comes out to play and Mitch has to make some tough decisions. It’s a thriller and involves criminal activity on behalf of a major law firm, which of course, would never happen in real life…but it is another good case for the ethical practitioner and likely to motivate you for good. LAW ABIDING CITIZEN
His character suffers a great personal tragedy and sees the perpetrator walk free as the result of a deal that happened outside of the courtroom. He systematically sets about killing a lot of people to make his distaste for the legal system clear. Entertainment value and eye candy aside, the message to take away is that as a solicitor you should always be striving for justice and to uphold the sanctity of the legal system to deal with criminals – get out there to do some good so to speak. SUITS SEASON 1 - 5 People who are already devotees are probably reading this, but for those who don’t know, Suits is a series about life in a commercial law firm... it’s not real life; I’m not going to lie to you people. The characters dress impeccably, victory is frequent and everyone is incredibly intelligent and witty – many practical jokes and dramatic interludes occur whilst the characters still manage to pull off massive workloads for clients. But hey, if anything is going to psych you up for writing applications this will undoubtedly do the trick. A word of caution though, watching said series is scarily addictive and I wouldn’t want to be responsible for you getting so caught up in the show that the application period slips by too quickly.
This is probably a more questionable choice in terms of feeling an uplifting passion for the law, but it does star Gerard Butler so that keeps it on the list.
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