Torts Illustrated (Issue 1, 2018) by QUT Law Society

QUT law society inc. Torts illustrated issue ONE 2018 acknowledgements The QUT Law Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quarterly Torts Illustrated publication would not have been possible without the support of its sponsors, as well as the dedicated Media & Communication team. Our sponsors Allens | Clayton Utz | Johnson Winter & Slattery | McCullough Robertson | MinterEllison QUT PLT | Thomson Geer | Ashurst | Herbert Smith Freehills | King & Wood Mallesons Editor Zane Jhetam [IT Officer] Content Editors Anna Rose Wilson [Publications Officer] Rianna Shoemaker [Publications Officer] Consultant Editors Charlotte Mann [Director of Media and Communication] Claudia Choi [2017 Director of Media and Communication] Visual Design and Formatting Zane Jhetam [IT Officer] Wei Han Chan [Designs Officer] Cover Models Jack Bristed [Vice-President] Rana Lateef [Treasurer] 2

Contents

Reconciliation..................................................................................................... 4 From the pressroom.......................................................................................... 6 FROM YOUR EXECUTIVES........................................................................................ 8 Competition Law and The Ron Swanson Fallacy.......................................... 14 Indigenous QUT Alumni Continue to Enrich the Australian Legal Landscape........................................................................... 15 #MeToo needs to be more than just me......................................................... 16 A Short Guide to self-Care.............................................................................. 18 Mid-Semester Motivation: The Women We Aspire to Be............................... 20 Law as we know it............................................................................................. 22 TEch Tip: AGLC Referencing with EndNote.................................................... 26 How to Love your Dual in 10 Ways.................................................................. 28 The Feminazi Cult.............................................................................................. 32 University Life in Japan: Oceania Tour Report............................................. 34

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 Indigenous people make to society, and celebrate Indigenous success. The QUT Law Society is committed to inclusion, reconciliation and consultation to ensure the future of Australia is one where Indigenous people are afforded equal opportunity. The QUT Law Society demonstrates its commitment to reconciliation through numerous events and programs facilitated throughout the year, organised in partnership with a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Officer. There are many upcoming opportunities to acknowledge Indigenous history, both within the QUT community and beyond: • 26 May – Sorry Day – This date commemorates the 20 year anniversary of the first National Sorry Day, which was held one year after the tabling of a report about the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander children from their families. • 27 May – 3 June – Reconciliation Week – This week commemorates two significant milestones in Australia’s Reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum and historic Mabo decision in 1992. • 23 May – Colin Biggers & Paisley Reconciliation Week Breakfast – The QUTLS hosts an annual breakfast to recognise Reconciliation Week. Further information will be provided in due course.

In 2018, the QUT Law Society welcomes commencing Indigenous students, and wish you every success in your studies and beyond. Kathryn Dorante, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Officer atsi.officer@qutlawsociety.com

Connect with us... Thomson Geer @ThomsonGeer www.tglaw.com.au

ARRIVE... A LARGE AUSTRALIAN CORPORATE LAW FIRM WHY CHOOSE US? We know you’re not just a student on work experience. We want to give you a realistic introduction to the legal profession. How does this happen? From day one, you’ll be an active member of the team, working directly with experienced practitioners. We also want you to enjoy your time with us – there are lots of social events you can join – and what better way for you to get to know your colleagues?

DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS TO SET YOU UP FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE We will dedicate time to your development as an up and coming lawyer in our team: an investment in you is an investment in our future, and the future of our valued clients. You will find that our partners and staff are approachable and happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. We encourage our clerks, graduates and trainees to get as much exposure to different practice areas and ways of working as they can – this is a reflection of how we work as a wider organisation; a fully integrated, cohesive, national team.

Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Adelaide

OUR CLERKSHIP & GRADUATE PROGRAM We are looking for law students who have excelled academically, are client focused, commercially minded, and work well in a team environment. We are especially keen to talk to students who have an additional technical degree! Our structured four week program helps clerks learn through a combination of hands-on experience, training, coaching and observation. Students who complete a clerkship are eligible to be considered for a position in our next graduate program, commencing in 2020. This program runs for 12 months and includes rotation among different practice areas to help determine the area of law which best suits you.

APPLICATIONS If your ambition is to develop a career in commercial law and you possess the drive to make your ambitions a reality, we want to hear from you. If you also have a desire to work interstate one day, let us know! We welcome the opportunity to assist our team members with personal career development. Applications open 26 February 2018 via cvMail 5 or our website.

From the pressroom Media and Communication Team On behalf of the Media and Communication Team, welcome to the first edition of Torts Illustrated for 2018! The Media and Communication team is led by the lovely and talented Charlotte Mann. She ensures the smooth running of the QUT Law Society’s social media pages, its website, and our annual publications. Charlotte is assisted by a large team. Rianna Shoemaker and Anna Rose Wilson are our Publications Officers, and they curated a lot of the great content in this magazine. Our Design Officer, Wei-Han Chan assists with design and layout of all the marketing and promotional material that the Society produces. Our IT Officer, Zane Jhetam, generally ensures that our website and internal tools are running well. Our photographers, Abby Wood and Silvia Lee capture and process just about every photograph that you see from Society events.

2018

Law School

r a e Y t s Fir

id ival gu

A Surv

The QUT Law Society produces six publications every year: the First Year Guide, ‘Springboard’ Careers Guide and four editions of our law-school magazine, Torts Illustrated. The Society prides itself on being a collective effort for the benefit of every law student. In light of this, we’d like to thank all of the other members of the Committee for their ongoing contributions. Without them, creating this magazine would not have been possible. We’d also like to thank Jack Bristed and Rana Lateef for being our stunning cover models. We’re sure everyone would agree their hands are much better than Edward Cullen’s.

CAREERS GUIDE

Springboard 2018

To the first years reading this publication, welcome to QUT and to the law school! The study of law is incredibly rewarding, but it demands time and hard work. Just remember that you are not in this alone and there will always be people around you who can help. Please do not hesitate to contact us at the QUT Law Society if you have any academic or social questions. We’d love to help, or at least direct you to the appropriate person. As we are now deep into the semester it’s time to get serious about study and stop procrastinating. It is more important now than ever to stay healthy and look after your physical and mental wellbeing. Make sure you balance your study with physical exercise, good food and time for socialising. Your future self will thank you for it.

This publication includes a broad range of material, from tech tips to the advantages of studying a dual degree, and opinion pieces on the modern feminist movement. We can’t thank the students who contributed articles to this publication enough. We sincerely hope you all enjoy reading our very first issue of Torts Illustrated for this year and we look forward to meeting you all in the Lawbry!

FROM YOUR EXECUTIVES Management Committee In the immortal words of one of the icons of our generation: ‘wake me up when it’s all over.’ Law School 2018 has begun and what a start it’s been. The QUT Law Society welcomed our fresh faced first year peers to the family during O Week; helped organise one of the biggest L Card Launch parties ever; and in an effort to give our members the best possible start to their legal careers, built connections with more firms than ever before. Our mission is bringing law students together. We truly hope to create real opportunities and positive memories for you, your peers and all other QUT law students. University is fleeting and we hope you make the most of it. This is why we aim to help you become involved as much as possible throughout your experience. No matter what your interest areas, we cater for you with six amazing portfolios – Education, Moot Club, Competitions, Sport & Health, Events and Media & Communication.

Education

Of course none of this would be possible without the incredible amount of time and effort that our fantastic Education team put in every single week. The QUTLS is dedicated to providing assistance to all QUT Law Students in as many ways as possible. For those of you currently going through the clerkship process, we hope you enjoyed our Clerkship Symposium and Meet the Profession evenings. They were a huge success. Both events garnered more attention than ever before from firms and students. It is great to see that students value Education events and we have our wonderful Education team to thank for making it possible. We would also like to thank our wonderful sponsors and guest speaker, Justice Philippides, for their continued support.

Moot Club

At QUT Law Society we believe every law student can unleash their inner mooter. In 2018, Moot Club has seen new life and now offers more opportunity for keen advocates to meet like-minded students and put into practice all the ‘real world’ legal skills that make a good lawyer. Whether you are a newbie to legal competitions or an experienced veteran, Moot Club has so much to offer. This year’s Welcome to Moot Club event was heavily attended and generated plenty of interest from students. 8

Competitions

The Competitions team as always have been hard at work, creating problems for students to work through and finding awesome judges to guide you on your journey. The Ashurst First Year Moot saw some of the hottest competition to date with both finalists exhibiting amazing legal knowledge and skill which impressed all in attendance. This year’s Clayton Utz Negotiation was also spectacularly contested. The King & Wood Mallesons Senior Moot is the next comp on the calendar - come and show off all your hard work and critical advocacy skills. Arguably the premier comp of the year, we are expecting some serious competition and are looking forward to seeing the winners compete on behalf of the QUT Law Society at the Australia Law Society Association Conference in July.

Sport & Health

Our Sport & Health team started the year off with a bang in a continued effort to support all of your failed New Year’s resolutions (including ours). We currently have three QUT Law Society social sport teams entered into the QUT Guild’s competitions, including soccer, touch footy and netball. If you are keen to join, look out for registration in Semester 2, which includes a singlet that will make you run faster than Usain Bolt. Additionally, because law students aren’t sleep deprived enough already, we have introduced the QUT Law Society’s Running Club. Of course, all of this training is geared towards the soccer grudge match with UQ Law Society in a couple of weeks. We encourage all of you to come down and show your support for the University that legal employers unanimously prefer.

Events

The QUT Law Society remembers that you also need balance – a night off or two. We want you to celebrate and cherish your time with fellow law students. Semester 1 Pub Crawl was an excellent saga and a night which will not be forgotten. Mostly. We were equally thrilled to bring you the QUT Law Society Ball once again at Cloudland. Coming up in Semester 2 we are happy to present something different and ambitious – please join us at this year’s Spring Soiree. Bust out your best Camilla or your chinos and join us for an afternoon of drinks in the sun. If we do not see you there, we hope to see you at the Semester 2 Pub Crawl.

Media & Communication

Finally, the portfolio which makes the words you are reading right now so possible and enticing – Media & Communication. Take a dip into the publications we have to offer, from this year’s Careers Guide to the First Year Guide. Most importantly, be sure to read the rest of this spectacular first edition of Torts Illustrated.

Final Words

We’re always here for you, whether you visit us in our office hours or join us by getting involved in one our six exciting portfolios. We hope to see you soon!

Yehanka Ranasinghe Director of Events

Hello all! My name is Yehanka Ranasinghe and I am your Director of Events for 2018. Some of you may remember me from the Society last year, but for those who don’t know me, I lead the team that runs all those drinking events that keep you and your grades feeling below average. This year I am lucky to be joined by Elena Dimeski, Alexandria Brown (Events Officers) and Lilly Langford (Merchandising Officer). We’ve had a very busy few months already, with our team spending the summer holidays working very hard to organise the L Card. We liaised with other QLD Universities to organise this discount card that has over 215 deals with businesses throughout the state. And from this year onwards represents membership for our society.

Annalise Spurge

Director of Competitions

We had a very successful L Card launch party with UQ Law Society and Griffith University Law Society at Friday’s Riverside, and we look forward to the Semester 2 launch party. Semester 1 Pub Crawl saw our students mingle and make new friends whilst bar hopping through Brisbane’s finest watering holes.

Thank you for electing me as your Director of Competitions in 2018. Semester 1 has been off to a fantastic start! Within the Competitions portfolio, we have facilitated two internal competitions. Congratulations to the 138 students who have competed so far and special congratulations to our grand finalists:

Just recently, we packed 1200 attendees into Cloudland at our “Seven Deadly Sins” themed ball. Pride, Lust, Greed, Envy, Sloth, Wrath, Gluttony... We hope you all found your vice...

For the Ashurst First Year Moot: • Ellie Geurts, Jack Jacques-Shaw and Nick Powys (Runners Up); • Ahana Shetty and Christy Sebastian (Winners).

Whether you’re a baby-faced first year, a senior citizen final year or somewhere in between, I would love to see old and new faces at our social events this year. They are always a lot of fun and a great way to make new friends and study buddies. Follow our Facebook page for details to our events and don’t forget, there is merchandise in the Society office for purchase!

For the Clayton Utz Negotiation: • Madeleine Jones and Zak Cassells (Runners Up); • Erin Laird and Lauren Trickey (Winners).

We look forward to bringing you another year of fun events and best of luck for the rest of the semester.

A huge thanks must be given to the Competitions Team - Bobby Nair, Brontë Jackson, Jordan Lee and Yashila de Silva - for all of their hard work over the semester so far, to our incredible volunteers for timekeeping, to each and every competitor, to our judges for their assistance and invaluable advice, and to the QUT Law Society committee for their continuous support. Our next competition is the King & Wood Mallesons Senior Moot. This competition is a chance for our finest mooters to battle it out to be crowned as Senior Moot champions. The final competition of the semester is the QUT PLT Witness Examination – a great opportunity for those thinking about working in criminal advocacy. If you want to gain incredible practical skills, meet new people, learn something new or simply add something to your resume, competitions are fantastic experiences. I’m looking forward to the rest of the year, and to seeing as many new faces as possible.

Helen Driscoll Director of Moot Club

Ebony-Lee Corbyn Director of Education

Semester 1 has been very busy for the Education Portfolio! Our goal for this year has been to diversify events — ensuring that our upcoming events reflect the broader interests of our members. I am excited for all of our upcoming events, and proud of the work that he Society has done so far to deliver events geared towards our membership base. The clerkship period (fondly called the ‘Hunger Games’) brings unique opportunities to network and engage with professionals. For students applying, this is a peak stress period, and it is key to engage with firms before applying. We ran our annual Meet the Profession Networking Evening in March, presenting a unique opportunity for students to meet firms, ask questions and build their personal networks. The MinterEllison Women in Law Cocktail Evening was a highlight of the year, as students were able to discuss issues of diversity and equality in the legal profession. I am proud to say that we will be running more events this year centred on inclusion, accessibility and equity. The HopgoodGanim Mentoring Program has continued to be beneficial for first year students, assisting in building relationships and support in their early years of law school. If you are still interested in signing up for a mentor, please email our Mentoring Officer, Elise, on mentor.officer@qutlawsociety.com I would like to thank the rest of my team for their continued hard work, passion and commitment. Lauren, Elise and Kat work tirelessly to ensure that our events have optimum benefit for our members. In 2018 we are committed to meeting the needs of our Members. If you have feedback or suggestions for the Education Portfolio, please email me on director. education@qutlawsociety.com 12

It’s been a super exciting start to 2018 in the Moot Club portfolio! Students’ enthusiasm to dip their toes or dive headfirst into mooting has been overwhelming and rather sensational! On 28 February we held the first ever Welcome to Moot Club Information and Networking Evening. We were privileged to have Jonathan Horton QC as our keynote speaker for the night. Mr Horton inspired us by speaking on the topic of the “Beautiful Advocate”. Special thanks must also be given to Mr Mark Thomas from the Law Faculty for speaking about the personal and professional growth that comes with mooting. The night was a massive success and indicative of the fabulous year to come. In conjunction with the Ashurst First Year Moot and Clayton Utz Negotiation Competition, Moot Club has held seminar style workshops specifically for first year mooters and those competing in the negotiation. Both were well attended. We hope these levels of gusto continue with many more competitions and workshops ahead. Whether you’re first year or fifth year, it’s never too late or too early to moot! QUT Law Society has various competitions and opportunities for you, no matter what stage of your degree! However, if you’re feeling a bit nervous and want to get a head start on mastering your grip on the lectern, we will be holding multiple ‘Moot Clubs’ through out the year in addition to seminar style workshops for specific competitions. Our next Moot Club is 17 May at 6pm in the Industrial Court on Level 5 of the Law Library. Please like ‘QUTLS Moot Club’ on Facebook for updates and keep an eye on the Weekly Newsletter in your student emails. Keep calm and moot on.

Lucy Hammond Director of Sport and Health

RUNNING Club

Hey there! My name’s Lucy Hammond and I’m your Director of Sport and Health for 2018! This year the Sport & Health Portfolio Mission Statement is pretty simple: promote physical and mental health, and wellbeing among student members through the encouragement and support of widespread involvement. With that in mind, my personal goal for 2018 is to organise a wide variety of events that encourage students to stay active and to maintain a positive work/life/study balance. My hope is that our sports program will be highly valued by both novices and avid sporting enthusiasts alike. We coordinate a variety of weekly social sports as well as a series of annual competitions against the UQ Law Society and Griffith University Law Society (e.g, Soccer Grudge Match, Rugby Grudge Match and Law Cup). We’ve also had a great start to our first ever Running Club. Every Friday at 7am we meet for a little run (or walk/jog/skip… whatever you like, really) and meet for coffee afterwards! Thanks to QUT Healthstream we even get to use the change rooms and showers afterwards – it’s a perfect start to Friday (we promise!). As part of this initiative, we’re also sponsoring places in a few charity runs, including the QLD Legal Walk on 15 May! We are also committed to facilitating discussions about mental health and acknowledge the difficulties many students face when studying and transitioning into the workforce. Therefore, we’ll be organising our annual Mental Health Awareness Breakfast, as well as providing help and support during stressful exam periods with Exam Stress Packs. I’m SO excited for what the rest of 2018 will bring, and hope members get as much out of this Portfolio as I aim to put in!

Friday 7AM Ground Level Outside Gp C Block 13

Competition Law and The Ron Swanson Fallacy By Christian Jeffery Laws protecting consumers against monopolies represent the nexus between economics and the law. Pawnee, Indiana native Ron Swanson is known for many things: his walrus moustache, manliness epitomised, and libertarianism. Libertarianism is an ideology that, among many things, focuses on a mostly unregulated free market. “The free market is a jungle. It’s beautiful and brutal, and should be left alone,” Ron quips, exemplifying the ideology’s disdain for government intervention in the market. Is Parks & Rec’s leading macho-man correct though? Is the market really better unregulated? Lawmakers clearly disagree, evidenced by the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) (the ‘Act’). To narrow the scope of the question, let’s look at the case for regulation against monopolies. Monopolies are where a single firm services the entire market demand. Think if JJ’s Diner was the only place in Pawnee where Ron could get a steak. Due to this considerable market power, JJ’s could set the price for a porterhouse as it sees fit. This is more than unfair: it’s inefficient. JJ’s can set the prices as it sees fit, so they will set them at a price to maximise the value they, the producer, achieve. This surplus, known as producer surplus, is at the behest of the consumer’s value (their surplus). Compare this to a situation in which Pawnee residents have their fair pick of places to get a steak. In this situation, the market sets the price, and consumers and producers both enjoy surplus. The difference between the two market situations gives rise to deadweight loss: the value neither party captures by the monopolist price setting. Its for this reason government intervention is necessary. Pt IV of the Act is an effort by the government to prevent formation of monopolies. The Act prohibits arrangements that have the effect of, or are likely to, substantially lessen competition in a market. This legislation helps keep the market competitive and economically efficient. While this type of legislation may prove unpopular from a libertarian perspective, in economic terms it’s a necessity, even if means the Commonwealth might not be in Ron’s good books. Ron’s political ideologies may very well have some merit. Unfortunately, his views regarding government intervention in the market might be as popular as Lil Sebastian, but about as valid as a belief of a Native American curse on the Harvest Festival (See season 3, episode 7). 14

Indigenous QUT Alumni Continue to Enrich the Australian Legal Landscape On 26 March 2018, Mr Nathan Jarro, Ghangulu and Bidjara man and QUT alumnus, was appointed to the Brisbane’s District Court as Queensland’s first Indigenous Judge. His Honour has significant litigation experience and has practised in a number of areas, including family, criminal, insurance, administrative, commercial, and property law. As described by Tony McAvoy SC, Australia’s first Indigenous silk and also QUT alumnus, Judge Jarro’s appointment was a, “hugely significant moment for First Nations people all over the country,” - and it was. At a time when one of the greatest plights faced by Indigenous Australians is severe overrepresentation in prison, it is reassuring to see the diversity of the justice system enriched by members of the same community. As Queensland Law Society President Ken Taylor noted, the representation of First Nation’s people in the judiciary is long overdue. While this is the case, it is important to recognise the current Indigenous representation and the impact these individuals have had in an area where Indigenous lawyers and barristers are few and far between. Judge Jarro joins the ranks of other QUT Alumni in being the first Indigenous person in different legal positions in Queensland and Australia. “I recognise that I’m following the path of a growing number of Indigenous Queensland judicial officers who have broken the glass ceiling,” – Judge Jarro In 1999, Magistrate Jacqui Payne, of the Wanamutta clan of the Butchulla people of K’Gari (Fraser Island), was the first Indigenous woman to be admitted as a solicitor in Queensland, and was also Queensland’s first Indigenous Magistrate. Magistrate Payne’s career entailed over a decade’s experience in criminal defence for the ATSI Corporation Legal Service and in her own private practice. In 2015, Tony McAvoy SC, a Wiri man, was appointed to senior counsel, making him the first Indigenous person in Australia to be appointed silk. He is widely known and respected for his commitment to Indigenous justice and has made an outstanding contribution in the area of native title and land rights; notably the securing of native title recognition for the Quandamooka people of North Stradbroke Island in 2011. “Aboriginal lawyers have a responsibility to engage and do what they can to change the system to change the outcome for Aboriginal people,” – Tony McAvoy SC Despite the overwhelming statistics related to Indigenous incarceration, poor university retention rates, underrepresentation in professional industries and experiences of racism and prejudice, Indigenous Law students and legal practitioners continue to thrive and break the glass ceiling. The increase in representation of Indigenous lawyers builds on the diverse and rich fabric of the legal industry and inspires a new wave of professionals from all walks of life. On behalf of the QUT Law Society, I would like to extend my most sincere congratulations to Judge Jarro and also take this opportunity to recognise the illustrious careers of Magistrate Jacqui Payne and Tony McAvoy SC. Kathryn Dorante ATSI Officer 15

#MeToo needs to be more than just me by Lucy Czerwinski

The tweet that started it all...

I spent International Women’s Day (‘IWD’) 2018, full of hatred and resignation. Cheery posts continued to pop up on my feed weeks later for the falsely gratuitous, most “empowering” day of the year. My day was tarnished by a few minor setbacks. Firstly, I was leeched at and yelled obscenities at by two men in a car. Then, I listened to a DV incident play out on a balcony next door. And then to round out an otherwise flawless day, I was told by an elderly man on a bus that I would be prettier if I smiled more. IWD events have always rubbed me the wrong way. Specifically, breakfasts which price anyone who isn’t a white middle-class woman out of the market. This is a snap shot of an extremely privileged demographic not a snap shot of femininity. Yet the source of my fury is without a doubt, a direct result of my disappointment in what I genuinely thought would be a revolutionary movement. The #MeToo movement was conceived by Tarana Burke and repropagated by actor, Alyssa Milano focussing specifically on sexual violence and harassment. Organisations have raised enormous amounts of money in support of survivors. And whilst I recognise the importance of support efforts, I take issue with the way in which the movement was presented as the Pangea of intersectional feminist theory providing relief from inequality in all its many forms.

“While the movement is plagued by internalised misogyny, International Women’s Day fails women.”

The movement has emphasised the importance of women feeling safe enough to share their experiences and to send an unmistakable message about the prevalence of abuse. Yet no tangible steps have been taken to ensure women without the privilege of a Hollywood actor will not suffer the consequences of outing an abuser. Working class women risk far more than unfavourable Twitter reception.

We should be seeking support in our employers and in our unions. This is often an employees’ first port of call for workplace grievances. Very rarely is an issue taken directly to a solicitor funded by a charity. But more than messy organisation, the movement is plagued by internalised misogyny and fragmented ideology. We argue about TERFs (trans exclusionary radical feminists) and SWERFs (sex worker exclusionary radical feminism) without ever directly addressing the real issues that affect these demographics. High profile feminist figures have failed, with some notable exceptions, to adequately give public support to the sex worker strikes in New York City. We appear to have slowly grown more comfortable with the infamous “F-Word”, that the semantics that got us here have seriously inhibited the cultivation of effective allyship giving way to openly sexist and unconstructive hate speech from the same men that label themselves as feminists. While non-binary, trans and nonidentifying individuals continue to be left out of the conversation, International Women’s Day is futile. While the movement is plagued by internalised misogyny, International Women’s day fails women. It has failed, with some notable exceptions, to adequately give public support to the sex worker strikes in New York City, and with that, unashamedly made public judgment on the value of these women. While we neglect the concept of collective action, we excuse systematic inequality. Dialogue is the start. It’s a fundamental planning device which we cannot proceed without. I’m not saying that we should stop recognising the pivotal role our mothers and sisters play in our lives. I am simply suggesting that on a day that is marketed as our day, we discuss genuine areas of inequality which continue to oppress women. But we have a fight ahead of us that would be deeply shameful if we lost.

A Short Guide to self-Care By Courtney David Attending lectures (most weeks) and tutorials (rarely), pulling all nighters to finish assignments by the due date, cramming 10 weeks worth of work into one week during swotvac, barely skimming over pages and pages of readings, taking 2pm naps (or 11am naps), drinking caffeine-filled beverages, procrasticleaning and procrasti-baking, somewhere in between all of this having somewhat of a social life, and of course the mental breakdowns and guilt you experience after spending a weekend out on the town with your mates. You may also regularly experience thoughts such as “why on earth did I decide to pursue a legal career” or “do people actually get out of this degree alive”? Does this sound all too familiar to you? It can be hard to find the motivation to keep on top of the busy schedule that inevitably comes with pursuing a legal degree. It can be even harder to find the time during the semester to engage in healthy and regular self care practices - such as exercising, cooking healthy meals, and relaxation and mindfulness techniques. You might be thinking, this is ridiculous, I do not have time for self care nor can I afford to be spending money on breathable 100% cotton yoga pants or $4.50 on organic, pesticide-free, hormone-free, everything free avocados. I assure you, however, that these tips I am about to give you are cost-free and time effective. And you may even have already tried them in the past. Just as you should aim to study SMART not HARD by being SELECTIVE with how you allocate your time studying, you too can practice SMART and SELECTIVE self care. If you are still not convinced, here are some reasons why you should consider incorporating self care practices such as yoga and meditation into your daily/weekly routine: • Mental clarity • Increased energy levels • Improved general well being (e.g. immune system functioning) • Better sleep • It’s cheaper to do some yoga at home on a Friday night than it is to go out and spend $50 on drinks and club entry (and if you ask me, way more enjoyable). You can do it in a group environment too if you want to take the opportunity to be more sociable.

One key similarity between yoga and meditation is their focus on breathing. Did you know the depth and pace of your breathing significantly influences how well your body and mind function, whether whilst studying, sleeping or hitting up the gym? Especially for those of you who exercise regularly, breathing techniques can immensely enhance the effectiveness of your workouts. There is of course lots of medical and exercise physiology research out there about this stuff, but for the purposes of this article here is a quick overview about how to improve your breathing: https://www.drdavidwilliams.com/properbreathing-improves-health I know some of you reading this will still at this point be thinking ‘this is so lame, this person is crazy she thinks that sitting still doing absolutely nothing for 5 minutes a day and stretching for 10-15 minutes a day will magically cure all of my problems.’ And if you had asked me 12 months ago I would have had the same response. But since engaging in regular self care practices, my stress-levels have decreased, my mental clarity has improved and above all, I’ve learnt not to bounce back from and not waste so much time sweating on the small things in life, such as getting a 4 for a particularly difficult exam. Amazingly, the benefits that yoga and meditation provide for your overall mental functioning and the skills you learn by engaging in these practices, are very useful for and translatable to your legal careers. You will be more equipped to tackle problems, complex assignments or clients with open mindedness, you will have a higher level of emotional intelligence than your student counterparts, and you will be in a better position to complete work in a productive and effective manner. You don’t have to be perfect at self care from the get go. It is a learning process that requires patience and persistence. Self care practices are not taught at school or in any great depth at university. So it is not something that many people are inherently in tune to or understanding of. But just as the legal concepts of a constructive trust or equitable interest made zero sense to you prior to your legal studies, if you persist with self care it too will soon come more easily and naturally to you. Here are some helpful links to beginners meditation and yoga videos/podcasts that I have found useful. I hope they help you feel less stressed, more level headed, and ready for a guilt-free and productive week of study! There are of course many, many more useful videos/ tools available online for you to explore, if you so choose. Beginner’s Guide to Meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UyJG2b8FMc Beginner’s Guide to Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7AYKMP6rOE So give it a go! Don’t try it just once and give up because you feel like you look stupid or you can’t quite do a “down-ward dog” in yoga properly. It’s not about perfection, it’s about taking the time during your busy schedule to nurture your mind and your body. I wish you all the best with your self care practices and your journey toward becoming a healthier, happier law student!

Mid-Semester Motivation

The Women We Aspire to Be

I am sure you have seen the hashtag ‘MeToo’ featured in just about every single news channel worldwide or in celebrity tweets. Essentially this hashtag has been published on every platform of modern day (social) media. It has become a movement as influential and indispensable to our generation as ‘The Suffragette’ uprising was in the late twentieth century. The movement was started twelve years ago, founded upon the concept of “empowerment through empathy” so that victims of sexual violence can speak up confidently and eradicate both the stigma that has been integrally associated with sexual harassment and the establishment of the unsolicited male dominated status of our society. I don’t know about you, but I feel like we are currently teetering on the edge of a universally recognised change to gender equality that develops effective actions for these types of issues rather than simply defining their existence. Never have our voices been so plentiful nor shouted with such vehemence. So, ladies (and gentlemen) to embrace becoming the generation that defends this new-found liberation, and to provide you with that mid-semester motivation, here are our top picks of the most inspirational and empowering female lawyer movies and TV series of all time. ERIN BROKOVICH If Erin Brockovich was not on this list it would be prima facie considered incomplete. Plus, we can all appreciate a classic ‘David and Goliath’ type story. Erin’s tenacious personality inevitably leaks into her work ethic as a file clerk where she shows that a law degree does not demonstrate your intelligence (this does not mean you can all drop out simultaneously). She displays perseverance, compassion for her clients and trusts her instincts, all of these admirable and aspirational traits of a great lawyer. These skills lead to her success in pursuing the largest toxic tort injury settlement in US history.

LEGALLY BLONDE Although her pink attire may be regarded as slightly patronising by modern day feminists, Elle Woods is the definition of a strong and capable woman. This movie was one of the first feminist movies of the twenty-first century, featuring a blonde female lead who was not portrayed as a stereotypical dumb Barbie. Although the movie begins with her attempting to win her ex-boyfriend back by following him to Harvard Law School, Elle realizes what is truly important to her and pushes herself to achieve her goals, with the support of many other resilient woman. Rather than allowing the inappropriate touching from her boss (with the underlying promise of position in the firm) to sway her away from her morals, Elle takes control of the situation. This is a perfect reminder that women have more than their bodies to contribute and the simple fact of workplace superiority should not force you to compromise your beliefs. JANET KING Walking into law school, it is every student’s dream to become a barrister, but soon enough reality kicks in and you wonder whether you will even graduate at all. Janet King was a barrister in the show ‘Crownies’ (which we also recommend watching) before ABC decided to create a spin-off series focusing on Janet King, shining her in a more relatable and intimate light. Initially working for the DPP, Janet establishes a reputation of being “tough and tenacious” which lead to her being appointed as Commissioner to a Royal Investigation. There are now three seasons out on ABC, which means a whole lot of binging time. NORTH COUNTRY Josey Aimes was not a lawyer, she was not even a law student. Josey was simply a mother trying to support her children, to do so she acquired a job working in the mines. This film demonstrates the hardships that women face in male dominated industries and workplaces, all issues centrally connected to the core value surrounding discrimination of any kind; the difficulties of obtaining equal respect. After being the subject of cruel sexual jokes, misogynistic comments and demoralizing pranks which lead to the men sexually assaulting Josey, she (with the help of like-minded women and legal advocates) initiated America’s first class-action sexual harassment lawsuit. Talk about the power of the sister-hood. HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER One of the central character of the show, Annalise Keating is the female anti-hero whose almost overbearing personality and unapologetic honesty to herself makes her so relatable. You cannot help but to be terrified, yet still somehow inspired by her. Annalise’s character demonstrates the raw reality of being a black woman in the modern world. Her character is not the drug addicted, broken mother nor the respectable, stiletto wearing executive, but rather a real woman who uniquely displays the complexity of the history of black, female societal struggles. Anna Rose Wilson Publications Officer

Law as we

Are robots taking over our jobs? By Meagan Liu We are living in an age of constant disruption where something new pops up every week. Think selfdriving cars, robotic bartenders, chefs, bank tellers and even surgeons. Arguably, no industry is immune. Technological advancement in the legal profession is not a new concept by any stretch of the imagination. For example, long gone are the days of flicking through leather-bound books, physical loose-leafs, and index guide cards. We now enjoy a smorgasbord of online databases where all our legal research needs are met at the click of a mouse. Advancements in technology have no doubt made our lives so much easier and more efficient. However, the last decade has seen unprecedented developments in the legal sphere. There is a tangible stir of uncertainty within the profession as innovative technologies are inexorably permeating this stereotypically ‘traditional’ industry. Terms such as ‘artificial intelligence (AI)’, ‘Blockchain’ and ‘machine learning’ are fast becoming a standard part of our vocabulary. The advent of E-discovery has cut down the time it takes to organise millions of pages of information to identify relevant documents. Selfexecuting ‘smart contracts’ hold the power to digitally facilitate agreements between parties without the need for a lawyer. Predictive analytics software can sift through thousands of cases in a matter of moments to determine the prospects of the case at hand. This all sounds pretty exciting and future focused, but the catch is that most of the tasks being automated tend to be those that are menial, administrative and repetitive. The same tasks which are often what comprises the better part of a junior lawyer’s day. Consequently, there is a very real fear festering among law students that AI will make, what’s traditionally, a rite of passage into the legal profession, redundant. It should take no convincing to see that it is increasingly important for us to familiarise ourselves with the pervasive and exponentially growing technologies that will come to radically transform the way lawyers and courts operate. Those wishing to remain relevant will also have to follow suit. This electrifying rise in the power of technology seems to have brought a dark cloud with it. The desperate scramble for highly coveted clerkships and graduate positions is already stressful enough without having to also compete with robots. So what can we, as law students, do to arm ourselves with the right tools and knowledge to survive in this battle of brains versus computer code?

Luckily there are many opportunities available for us to take advantage of. I can only speak from experience and the following two extra-curricular activities have been instrumental in helping grapple the intersection of law and technology. Because let’s face it - however ‘real world’ our universities claim to be, the reality is that the real world is leaving us in the dust.

VIRTUAL INTERNSHIPS As the saying goes, it takes an estimated 10,000 hours to master something. Senior lawyers before us have had the blessing (or curse) to have manually pored over legal research tasks. However painstaking that was, they reaped the benefits of invaluable experience and knowledge from those cumulative hours of hard work. Of course, these tasks are now automated, so what can we do instead? Inside Sherpa have created an open access virtual internship program where students are able to experience the life of a junior lawyer without having to leave the comfort of their room. By completing online modules, you are able to learn what it’s like working at one of the world’s leading international law firms and are able to build skills required to excel as a commercial lawyer. By simulating relevant and modern legal practice, we can take some initiative over fulfilling our hours on the road to mastery. So it doesn’t matter that robots are taking over the tasks that would conventionally have afforded us this opportunity.

DISRUPTING LAW Disrupting Law is an annual hackathon run by QUT Starters and The Legal Forecast. Student teams are partnered with law firms with the shared goal of coming up with an innovative solution to a challenge facing the legal industry. Participating in that weekend was personally one of the highlights of my year. It made me realise that the rise of machine learning and AI meant that lawyers can shift their focus from grunt work to concentrating on delivering services that clients truly value. Effectively, automation is not eliminating jobs, but rather reallocating time to allow lawyers to engage in the creative, interpersonal and strategic parts of legal practice.

CONCLUDING REMARKS In the words of Professor Richard Susskind, author of ‘Tomorrow’s Lawyers’, “The challenge is not just to automate current working practices that are not efficient. The challenge is to innovate, to practice law in ways that we could not have done in the past”. No one wants to be replaced. The touted notion that it’s only a matter of time before AI takes over paints quite a dystopian picture of the future. Such prediction naturally instills a certain amount of fear and anxiety about where that may leave us. However, ignorance is not bliss and there is nowhere to run. Technology will march on regardless of whether we decide to turn a fearful blind eye to its impacts. A tsunami is brewing and it’s entirely up to us whether we succumb and get swept away, or ride this exciting wave and come out the other end thriving, by learning to embrace, work alongside, and create new technologies. So, are you up for the challenge?

e m a The g hanged. c s a . t h i f o t r a p Be anger

mech intersga

We have changed our offering. Graduates who join MinterEllison have the opportunity to change the game when it comes to their future and career.

graduates.minterellison.com MinterEllison minterellisongraduates minterellison

TEch Tip: AGLC Referencing with EndNote I spend a significant amount of time in the Lawbrary absolutely gobsmacked at some of the ways QUT Law students use technology. Seriously, there is no reason for anyone to use Apple Pages or Google Docs for a serious writing task when you have paid for Office 365 in your fees. Similarly, it is absolutely ridiculous to entrust your only copy of an honours level assignment to a USB on your keyring. This is the first of a series of Torts Illustrated Tech Tips. With these columns, I’m going to try to show you how to leverage technology instead of wrestling with it. Now, there are few things that QUT Law students reach consensus on. Topics like Real Property Law, Semester 1 2017; the ‘4-Rs’ reflection method; and bar tabs come to mind. But I am almost certain that it is impossible to find anyone in the Lawbrary who would say that the Australian Guide to Legal Citation ‘deserves celebration’.1 Fortunately, there is a solution which will do much to ease your citation-induced suffering.

A source of hope Enter: EndNote – the one simple trick your lecturers don’t want you to know about. It’s a piece of software which automates big parts of the research and writing process. There are some killer features for law students, including: • Tracking all the sources you have consulted; • PDF attachment with search, annotations, and highlighting built in; • Direct download of citation information from the library instead of having to manually input it; and • Near-perfect AGLC citation as you work.

1 Cf Melbourne University Law Review Association, Australian Guide to Legal Citation (3rd ed, 2012) v. 26

Now, there is a slight learning curve. You need to play with it for about an hour to get familiar enough to put it into active service. Don’t try to learn how to use the thing while running to a deadline, it will result in a nightmare.2

Acquisition Where do I get this mystical software? What is it going to cost me? Big news: you already paid for it in your fees! Head over to http://qut.to/esmr7 and download EndNote X8. As soon as you have done that, I recommend updating to the latest version (there are some bugs in the version QUT supplies). This has to be done manually, so follow the guide at https://tinyurl.com/endnoteupdates.

Setup Now that you have installed EndNote, there are a few things that need to be done before you can unleash it on the ‘real world’ memos and research tasks which come down to us from on high in C-Block. Various university libraries have created ‘output styles’ for EndNote. An output style takes the information in your EndNote library and turns it into the type of footnote that fuels the fantasies of LLMs around the country. I recommend either the QUT EndNote style if you prefer to type your reference out yourself once (See http://qut.to/2p79g); or the UQ version if you want more automation with some trade-offs (https:// tinyurl.com/uq-aglc). Each set of styles has an accompanying setup guide. Follow this setup guide very carefully or things will start to break down more quickly than a seventeen year-old in exam block.

Usage If all went well, you should now have the EndNote app fully installed; and a new tab on the ribbon in Microsoft Word. Play around, or watch a short tutorial on YouTube or Lynda (another great resource that you already paid for) to learn the ropes. I’ll offer you a few other tips: • Create a new library for each assignment that you start. • Create groups in EndNote to organise material by legal issues, or particular viewpoints. • When entering new citation info, do it once and do it thoroughly – if you put garbage in, you will get garbage out. • Convert your citations to text before submitting, and check them thoroughly! • EndNote doesn’t handle short titles or ‘above n’ type footnotes, so you will have to do this part manually just before submission if it bothers you. Happy assignment writing, from your fellow in the ‘delights, agonies and obsessions of … citation methods’ (someone actually wrote that).3 Zane Jhetam IT Officer 2 Ask me how I feel about EndNote, section breaks, and my IFB102 group assignment in 2017. 3 Melbourne University Law Review, above n 1, v. 27

How to Love your Dual in 10 Ways By a QUTLS Member Flashback to grade 12, when I wasn’t legally able to vote and was generally incompetent at life, and yet was expected to make a life altering decision on my career path. I was fairly confident I wanted to study law but also needed the comfort of a “backup” or something else that interested me. QUT, not only the university for the real world but also a modern day Cupid, provides pleasantly surprising options for a match made in heaven, aka dual degrees. There are the combinations edgier than mint chocolate (creative industries, science) and the sensible ones, like adding guac to your burrito (business, justice). I considered myself mildly creative and nurtured an obsessive love-hate relationship with the media industry. In an effort to keep my enemies close I chose Media and Communication. It was a completely logical decision - a second degree for only 1 and a half extra years - what a bargain (although at this stage I was unaware that university years are equivalent to dog years and feel 7 times longer). Fast forward to my sixth year at university. I’m older and wiser and remain frenemies with the media industry. One time I saw it wearing army pants and flip flops, so I wore army pants and flip flops. However, the thought of a career in or directly related to media has almost completely dwindled as I know I want to be the next Judge Judy when she inevitably reincarnates. I have naturally questioned if my media degree is effectively redundant and whether I have entered into the worse trade deal in the history of trade deals. The answer to that question depends on the situation. But if you’re having second thoughts about one of your bachelors, here’s some reassuring relationship advice.

GPA booster. If you hadn’t heard, law at QUT is now a “level 8” degree and you need a 6.5 GPA to receive first class honours. The amount of attention you’ll need to give law to achieve this GPA will probably make you a “level 8” clinger. Mixing up your law work load with units from your dual may be a good start. Or even better, pretend your straight law GPA doesn’t exist and revel in the combined score.

The Friend Zone. Although it’s great to meet like-minded students, a dual degree provides opportunities to meet diverse people who still have souls (ie don’t do law). Also, 2 different cohorts means twice the amount of friends, right?

Be attractive. If law is your forte, a dual degree is a good way to get ahead in the area of law you’re interested in, especially if you see yourself specialising. A second degree may make you more attractive to employers in certain industries or fields.

The good Ex’s. Extra-curriculars and Exchanges! Get involved with what the different faculties have to offer. Study abroad opportunities can double with a second degree. If you don’t want to use up all of your law electives, consider short term exchanges or study tours.

Transferrable skills. Even if one degree isn’t ‘directly’ pursued, it is guaranteed to be used inadvertently. Absorb the complementary skills and enjoy tertiary level knowledge of something you are passionate about. Learn to have a conversation without subconsciously applying ISAACs.

Rebound. So you decide to break up with law? Your other degree is there for you. Well known people like John Cleese and Ghandi have law degrees and went on to do both related and completely unrelated awesome things. On the other hand, there are plenty of barristers who went to the bar with non-legal backgrounds.

Too many fish in the sea? Don’t let Malcolm Turnbull discourage you *cough* home wrecker. There’s no denying there are plenty of students in our cohort. But law graduates still have relatively good prospects of employment after graduation. Keep in mind that only around half of law students are seeking careers in the legal profession.

Spend more time enjoying the university lifestyle. For some this may mean 2 minute noodles and drinking wine from a shiny sack. Ignoring the HECS loan, why rush into the real world? Uni is the land of dreams, filled with socialising, clubs, social sports and concession discounts.

It’s what the rest of the world is doing. Anyone that’s binged enough American TV knows that law is a ‘postgraduate’ degree. At some Australian universities it’s a requirement for students to undertake a dual with their law degree.

Couples Career Counselling. Having a little more affection for one of your degrees is not cheating. But if you’re seriously considering pulling the plug on one of them, consider talking to counselling, student services or the LLB help me team.

“

The McR Graduate program provides its graduates with the invaluable opportunity to apply the skills we learn in university to the commercial world. At McR you are more than just a number, but a valued member of a community committed to supporting, guiding and encouraging your personal and professional development.

“

Bronte Shaddock

2014 – Internship with McR 2017 – Commenced McR Graduate Program

At McR we do things a bit differently Our unique internship program recruits law students in their pre-penultimate year for an eight week program, which is completed over two years.

Work closely with some of the best partner in the industry on a range of complex, high profile matters

“

Enjoy more opportunities to gain valuable on the job experience, earlier in your degree Stay connected with us between your two internships and benefit from a two-year personal and professional development program

mccullough.com.au/careers

@MCRlaw 30

With McR’s extended internship, your supervisors become your mentors. Some of the most valuable learning experiences happen #outofoffice and McR’s internship program offers a constant stream of social events, training and networking opportunities throughout the program.

“

Enjoy the benefits of working for some of the biggest clients in Australia and overseas at a full service, top-tier commercial law firm

Milan Gandhi

2016 – Internship with McR 2018 – Commenced McR Graduate Program

As a junior lawyer, your enthusiasm is in overdrive. Everything is interesting. You have a million questions for everyone. You want to be the best. And for me, I wanted to be the best lawyer and leader I could be. Right now I’m a corporate and tax lawyer, buying and selling companies, structuring investments and having the occasional battle with the ATO.

STAY TRUE.

So, a little while after I started at Clayton Utz, I joined the social committee. A powerful assembly fuelled by lunchtime pizzawielding lawyers making important decisions like choosing the Christmas party theme. They knew I liked pizza, but had no idea I was gay. You see, I wasn’t out at work yet and this became a genuine source of anxiety for a good two years. But In May 2015 this all changed... To listen to Luke’s full story, go to: claytonutz.com/graduates Academic brilliance certainly counts, but graduates who thrive here have something extra – a natural passion for connecting with people and a strong sense of self. That’s what staying true is all about. If you have these qualities, Clayton Utz is for you.

The

Feminazi Cult

How a select, uneducated group are giving feminists a bad name... Feminazis. We’ve all heard of them. A radical group of so-called Feminists who apparently lust for female domination and the eradication of men. The memes are insidious and unescapable. Only yesterday a Feminazi meme popped up on my Facebook newsfeed which read: “they are usually sexually frustrated and ugly women who think every man is trying to rape them”. I’m sure there are a select few people in the world who are worthy of the title “Feminazi”. However, the fact remains: this derogatory promotion of the Feminazi Cult is giving Feminists a bad name and muddying the waters, and people’s perspectives, on what a true Feminist really is. Last night I read an incredible book entitled “We should all be feminists”. It was written by the Nigerian novelist and social justice advocator Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and it completely blew my mind. Based on the TEDx Talk of the same name, Adiche discussed the prevalence of gender politics, and specifically gender inequality, in our modern world. Now, you may think that gender inequality does not affect you and that the world has significantly evolved since the time of the dinosaurs. The argument Adiche put forth is that, in regards to gender equality, we are still living in the stone age. I know very little about Nigerian culture or lifestyle and certainly am not qualified to offer an opinion. But I can say that only last week, my mother received a letter in the post about her annual tax form and it was addressed to my father. Presumably the sender assumed that, as my parents are married and what’s mine is yours, it was only fitting to address the letter to my father, the “breadwinner of the household”. My mother has two Bachelor degrees and is easily one of the most capable and competent women I know. Yet because she decided to keep her maiden name, people often make assumptions. A high school girlfriend and I share a birthday. I’m a few hours older, as I often like to remind her, but we both are born on exactly the same day and year. When we turned eighteen, we decided to have a joint birthday party. My friend’s father took control of the planning and wrote the invitations himself. They did not say my name, or my friend’s, but that of my parents. The invitation was addressed, “Mr and Mrs Shoemaker invite you to celebrate Rianna’s 18th”. 32

These are only two examples of gendered situations I have encountered in my mere 22 years on this Earth. We don’t live in that society anymore, although apparently, some people haven’t received the memo. As a young woman studying Law, I am frankly appalled that women are still subtly being subjected to “... being a Feminist this treatment in the 21st century. Only last year House doesn’t mean believing of Cards star Robin Wright had to fight to close the pay gap between herself and co-star Kevin Spacey. She in supremacy or was eventually awarded success after lengthy court proceedings – but many women aren’t as lucky. oppresion, but allowing

everyone the right This isn’t to say that gender inequality is prevalent everywhere – it’s not. Many people and institutions to a life with equal have admirably embraced and advocated for gender privileges..” equality the world over. But the fact of the matter is, gender politics and inequality is still creating a significant divide socially, culturally and financially. With all our technological advances, the world is still playing catch-up. I looked up the definition of “Feminist” in the Oxford English Dictionary and it reads: “A person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes” A person. Not specifically a women or man. A person who believes in equality, not someone who purports the dominance of one gender over another. As Adiche rightly titled her book, “We Should All be Feminists”. Because being a Feminist doesn’t mean believing in supremacy or oppression, but allowing everyone the right to a life with equal privileges and not preferencing one gender over another. The solution begins with us. We need to change the way we think and act towards both genders and start educating ourselves, and others. If we become a generation of thoughtful, discerning and enlightened people then we will create a better world for everyone in it, regardless of gender. If that’s what it means to be a Feminist then I will proudly proclaim that is what I am. Rianna Shoemaker Publications Officer

University Life in Japan: Oceania Tour Report by Rianna Shoemaker It has been a dream of mine to visit Japan for many years. This fire was kindled when I first watched the famous Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away or, as they call it in Japan, 千と千尋の神隠し (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi). I, like young Chihiro, felt completely spirited away on the 2017 Oceania tour. From beginning to end, the tour was a whirlwind of education and connection. Even before I met up with my fellow tourgoers, I was thrust into the daunting excitement of foreign travel. Never have I visited a country where English is not the dominant language so this was a very new experience. Within mere minutes of landing in Kansai International Airport I learned my first lesson: signs written in English are my best friend (as are conductors at Japanese train stations. All these friendly fellows spoke at least enough English to help me on my way). Thanks to this, I and my fellow Oceania friend Jorja navigated our way to the Teltel Bouza Hostel. Here we spent our first two nights in Osaka before joining the other ten members of the Oceania tour. I was immediately blown away by the multiculturalism within the tour. Twelve students, myself included, united for a common purpose: to learn the culture and customs of a foreign nation: Japan. I and seven others are from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia. Two are from the University of Christchurch in New Zealand and two more are from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. And of course, all the students from Sonoda Women’s University, who so generously welcomed us during our stay in Amagasaki. One aspect I most treasured about the Oceania tour was the diversity within our group. The students Japanese-language ability ranged from fluent to absolute beginner. I personally fall within the latter category, but never did I feel that my lack of language knowledge was a barrier. The Sonoda students were immensely hospitable and warm and they never hesitated to introduce themselves or take many, many selfies. One of my favourite Japanese activities we did was origami. On three or four occasions, Sonoda and Oceania students alike would sit down and honour the ancient Japanese craft of paper folding. We made Tokyo Ojiro paper cranes, fish, miniature kimonos and a festive Santa Japan Claus decoration in the space of a few days. Many of these creations I gave to loved ones, who Kyoto rejoiced in a gift I had devoted time and effort to making. There is something incredibly healing about creating something with your hands, especially when the end-product is so beautiful. Map adapted from FreeVectorMaps.com 34

My short time spent in Ojiro with my host family was equally refreshing. I vividly recall falling asleep on the bus in Amagasaki and waking up to a world blanketed in white. Snow!!! This in itself was a precious gift, as were the many snowball fights I had with the Ojiro school students. The children may be small, but there is power in numbers. My host mother, Satomi, who did not speak any English, treated me as if I was her own daughter. We never had any problem communicating, even though we did not speak the same language. There is one exception to this. The first morning Satomi made me a traditional Japanese breakfast. It consisted of white rice, miso soup and a fried egg. I am not the hugest fan of miso soup, so I indulged in two bowls of white rice instead. Apparently, this created the impression in my host mother that I adore rice so the following morning she served me a huge helping. My host father, Youji, remarked (in Japanese) ‘that’s a lot of rice’ and the next two mornings we ate Western breakfasts. I didn’t learn of this until the going away ceremony when my friend translated what Satomi was saying. This story highlights the hospitality and generosity of the Japanese people. I can also now confirm that the myth is true: eating authentic Japanese cuisine ruins the same cuisine made in another country. When I got back to Australia, I craved ramen something terrible so I hit up my local ramen joint. The ramen was still delicious and I got extra noodles for free (#win), but it really did not taste the same. I’m sad to say, I can no longer eat Japanese food in Australia without craving all the wonderful food I had in Japan. From our handmade ichigo daifuku to green tea tayaki and street food ramen I did not experience one bad meal in Japan. Well, except maybe the takoyaki, but that is only because I dislike seafood. Since returning to Australia, I have a newfound love for everything matcha flavoured. Matcha ice cream, matcha pocky and I now drink at least one cup of matcha green tea every day, something I never did before the Oceania tour. Even my taste buds have been altered by my short stay in Osaka. Too many weird and wonderful experiences happened on the Oceania 2017 tour to put into words. I saw amazing sights I could never dream of, such as the Kobe Luminarie, the Fushimi-Inari Taisha in Kyoto and the Maishima Incineration Plant. Who knew garbage could be so much fun?! I formed close bonds with so many people from a range of cultures. As cliché as it may sound, my fellow Oceania students became my family. We forged a connection through shared experiences that will last forever. And I grew as a person and achieved tasks I never imagined I’d be capable of, such as navigating through a foreign country and ordering If you are interested in an exchange or any other study abroad program, QUTLS highly encourages you to attend an information session, or get in touch with the Study Abroad and Exchange Office in GP-A102 to find out more!

There are PLTs then there’s QUT’s. Meghan De Pinto-Smith HR Law

Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice January I February I July I August

Law

Full time or part time online I Full time on campus

CRICOS No. 00213J

president@qutlawsociety.com

Vice President Jack Bristed

vicepresident@qutlawsociety.com

Treasurer Rana Lateef

treasurer@qutlawsociety.com

Secretary Michael Webster

secretary@qutlawsociety.com

Director of Competitions Annalise Spurge

director.competitions@qutlawsociety.com

Director of Moot Club Helen Driscoll

director.mootclub@qutlawsociety.com

Director of Education Ebony-Lee Corbyn

director.education@qutlawsociety.com

Director of Events Yehanka Ranasinghe

director.events@qutlawsociety.com

Director of Media and Communication director.mediacommunication@qutlawsociety.com Charlotte Mann Director of Sport and Health Lucy Hammond

director.sporthealth@qutlawsociety.com

Connect with us on... QUT Law Society Website www.qutlawsociety.com Facebook www.facebook.com/qutlawsociety/ Instagram @qutlawsociety LinkedIn QUT Law Society 39

Proudly Supported By...