Torts Illustrated (Issue 4, 2018) by QUT Law Society

QUT law society inc.

Torts illustrated issue four 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: Anna Wilson [Publications Officer] Content Editor: Rianna Shoemaker [Publications Officer] Consultant Editor: Zane Jhetam [IT Officer] Ben Quick [Videographer] Visual Design and Formatting: Wei-Han Chan [Design Officer] Anna Wilson [Publications Officer] Zane Jhetam [IT Officer]

Contents Reconciliation....................................................................................................4 From the pressroom..........................................................................................6 FROM YOUR EXECUTIVES........................................................................................8 Help is out there for struggling students: Mental illness is a pertinent pandemic, especially in the high-pressure environment of university..14 mystical law: how tv lawyers are hurting the legal profession and the public.................................................................................................................16 the new colombo plan: an opportunity to change your future...............18 five reasons that i am grateful....................................................................20 techtip 101: document templates.................................................................22 #metruth: the #metoo movement is forcing people to reconsider the line between respect and rape.............................................................................26 out of the closet but behind closed doors: how domestic violence legislation fails lgbtiq+ people ...................................................................28 australia: A country failing to uphold human rights...............................30 life after uni: why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to be a human being first and foremost ............................................................................................................................34 allowance review............................................................................................36

Reconciliation The QUT Law Society respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land upon which it works, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pays its respects to Elders past and present. We recognise the contributions that 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. In 2018/2019, the QUT Law Society welcomes commencing Indigenous students, and wish you every success in your studies and beyond. If you have any queries do not hesitate to contact our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Officer at atsi.officer@qutlawsociety.com

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From the Press Room Media and Communication Team Can you believe it, 2018 is over just as suddenly as it arrived? For some this may have felt like an eternity, for others this year may have passed by as swiftly as a train forgetting to stop at your station and leaving you behind, desperately trying to catch up. Either way, the seemingly never-ending stress of university can be forgotten for another year (excluding those diligent students who are studying over summer). So, now that it’s time to relax, gather your towel, sunscreen and a couple of ice-cold beverages, and take a seat outside in this beautiful summer sun and have a flick through our final issue of Torts Illustrated for 2018: ‘Breaking the Mental Health Stigma’. Although this topic may seem rather dark for your summer reading, this issue aims to display the prominence of this problem in our law student dynamic. Issue 4 strives to provide students with assistance and support, whilst involving numerous writers with individual perspectives on the unspoken issue and in turn, break the silence on what QUTLS believe to be an epidemic: that we can only suffer in isolated silence. By openly discussing mental health, we hope to provide you with some ‘battle gear’ to ensure that you are capable of completing the remainder of your studies at your best performance. Such armour includes: emotional intelligence, mindfulness (which is so important!) and an array of free university services to assist you through out your time at QUT. Some of these tools came into use for the Media and Communication team whilst trying to navigate our way through one of the busiest years for the portfolio. We created and published the usual QUTLS publication culprits: • Springboard Careers Guide; • O-Week Brochure; • First Year Survival Guide; • Four issues of Torts Illustrated. We have also been answering your QUTLS queries online whilst maintaining our social media presence by creating online content that is designed specifically for our members, highlighting all QUTLS or local law events, job vacancies and any QUT Law students’ endeavours. We are also excited to release the first ever QUT Student Law Review at the end of this year. This affords members an opportunity to showcase their intellectual pursuits with a focus on a number of policy and legislative changes that they are interested in, and which also correspond to the current socio-legal climate. Another addition to the portfolio’s workload was the creation of the videographer position whose primary role was to create podcasts for the elected sponsoring firms, creating a new and exciting opportunity for firms to connect with our members whilst highlighting the firm’s individual personality. Whilst the Media and Communication team sets aside our MacBooks, notepads and cameras for another year, a massive thank you is necessary for the entire 2018 team: Zane Jhetam, Anna Wilson, Wei-Han Chan, Abby Wood, Rianna Shoemaker, Silvia Lee, Charlotte Mann, Alfie Green and Ben Quick. This year’s tremendous work will be continued through 2019 by Anna Wilson who was elected as Director of Media and Communication for next year. She aims to continue to innovate the portfolio and provide the most informative, relevant and i nteractive content to our members. We thank you for your continued support throughout this year and we hope that you find the final issue of 2018 both constructive and enjoyable.

From your executives Management Committee From everyone at QUTLS, we would like to congratulate everyone on the fantastic year that has been 2018. The exam period is frightening but not forever. In this final issue of Torts Illustrated, we would like to get you mentally prepared so you will be ready and raring for what next year has install and wrap up 2018 with some of the key highlights. Take these away with you as you spirit away into the summer holidays. In Semester One, we had our Law Ball, which was commendable as in previous years. We also went head to head with the UQ Law Society in the Soccer Grudge Match and won! Our Careers Without Clerkships event also had spectacular attendance. In Semester Two, we introduced a new set of By-Laws, which significantly changes the structure and running of QUTLS as an organisation. These changes include a Membership Agreement, Code of Conduct, Events Agreement, Working with Children Policy and a Privacy Policy. In this second part of the year, we also had our first Spring Soirée event – which replaced to the traditional Law Dinner. It was a great success and we look forward to how we can approach our social events in 2019. Another noteworthy point is that in 2018, Helen Driscoll and Laura Falkner completely revamped the Moot Club Portfolio, introducing workshops and ‘Moot Clubs’. This is such an important activity to get involved in during law school so we congratulate Helen on her amazing work. Later in the second semester, we had our election, returning some familiar faces and bringing on some new faces as well. Alongside this, we will now have a Director of Equity in 2019, Rebecca Le. This is an incredible development, with the potential to transform and revitalise the opportunities to bring equity to QUT law students. Now, we encourage everyone to enjoy their Summer break (or part of it, if you are doing a Summer Semester). Get excited for 2019 and the plans that QUTLS has in store for QUT law students. To those graduating, we wish you all the best! 8

Yehanka Ranasinghe Director of Events

Another year done and dusted! A big congratulations to each and every one of you for completing another year of law. The Events portfolio has had a wonderful year in 2018. This year we hosted a Law Ball, Pub Crawl, two L Card parties, two #letsgetrekt end of semester drinks and we hosted our inaugural Spring Soiree. Our merchandise was also a hit this year, as we sold QUTLS hoodies, t-shirts, canvas bags and our fabulous new keep cups. We also had our Law Revue (titled The Betoota Advocacy Exercise) in October at Gardens Point Theatre. It was a magnificent production which played on the satirical news outlet The Betoota Advocate and the advocacy exercises us law students go through. The Law Revue is completely written, directed, and produced by QUT law students and some big congratulations must go to Kerry Doherty and Fergus Harte, our 2018 Law Revue convenors for such a successful show. The response to our events and merchandise has increased exponentially this year and we are so happy to see so many students getting involved. As law students, networking and socialising is a big component of our lifestyles and careers and thus, it is extremely important to start this whilst still at uni. The QUTLS social events are a great way to meet other students in a casual and friendly way (with liquid courage to offer assistance) and I strongly urge you to come along to any of our events, regardless of what year you may be in. I would like to thank Lilly Langford, Alexandria Brown, and Elena Dimeski for being supportive Events Portfolio members. Without their hard work and dedication, none of the aforementioned events would have been as successful as they were! And finally, after three fantastic years in the QUT Law Society, I have decided I will not be returning to this amazing society. I have learnt so much from my involvement in the QUTLS and will forever be indebted to the society for all the remarkable experiences and people I have met along the way.

Ebony-Lee Corbyn Director of Education

The year has flown by so fast. As I write this article, I can remember the first Torts Illustrated of the year. This has been a year of trying new things, meeting new people, and being so grateful to work with students to develop an education portfolio that fits their interests and needs. Our goal for this year has been two-fold: to put students first and to prioritise diversity in thought and experience. I strongly encourage our members to get involved, and try new things. I did not attend a QUTLS event until 2017, right before I became a Competitions Officer. I remember the rumours surrounding this enigmatic society, and was happily surprised when it was anything but. I encourage you to put yourself out there and attend events; you will meet new people, you will find a little more passion to get through those late-night study sessions, and you might even grow from it. I challenge you to give it a go next year, come along and see what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re about, and then make up your mind.

To encourage diversity and more work in the community space, QUTLS is adding an Equity Portfolio. This will be run by our 2019 Director of Equity, Rebecca Le. Rebecca is a passionate advocate for students, and will work incredibly hard to deliver an exciting year for the society. I hope you all have a safe and fun summer holiday (especially if This continues our theme of giving back to the community youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing a summer semester) and I wish you all the best for that carried throughout this year: charity walks, awareness the rest of your degrees. Good luck to the 2019 QUTLS committee, breakfasts, donations to the equity textbook scheme and I look forward to seeing the continuing success of the QUTLS! donations to community legal services. We pride ourselves on giving and I look forward to seeing this continue in 2019. The highlight for me this year has been working with three incredibly competent, hard-working and gracious Education Officers. Lauren Trickey, Elise Emmerson, and Kat Dorante have worked incredibly hard to ensure the Education Portfolio could grow this year. I am so grateful for the work of the education officers, and I wish them all the best in their future endeavours. I am also excited to announce that I will be handing over the portfolio to Chelsea Lee, the 2019 Director of Education. Chelsea is passionate about the portfolio, and I know that her compassion and enthusiasm will be well placed in education next year. I have the utmost confidence in Chelsea and her team. Enjoy your well-deserved summer break, take care of yourself, and enjoy the holiday festivities. It has been such a privilege to be your Director of Education for 2018. 11

Lucy Hammond

Director of Sport and Health

Well well well… What a year for Sport & Health! Rebecca Humphries, Raphael Ebeling and I had the privileging of running the FUNNEST portfolio and it feels very bittersweet to be hanging up the boots for 2018. That being said, we’re super proud of what we’ve achieved and excited for what’s to come! So, what have we been up to this year? While summing up two semesters in a quick 200 words is no easy task, I’ll do my best by listing this year’s highlights:

Annalise Spurge Director of Competitions

Wow, what a year! I can’t believe it is coming to a close. This year has been massive for the Competitions Portfolio, who ran six internal competitions and assisted in the facilitation of three external competitions. Most recently, the Competitions Portfolio ran the QUTLS Criminal Law Junior Moot and the MinterEllison Client Interview. For the Junior Moot, congratulations to our runners up - Ryan Minuti, Nam Doan and Cassandra Grey - and to our winners - Renee Kemps and Vinicius Rottgering. For the Client Interview, congratulations to our runners up - Rana Lateef and Zane Jhetam and our winners - Dominic Bilton-Philp and Matthew Adams! This year’s achievements could not have been done without the incredibly long hours and tireless work of the fantastic Competitions Officers: Bronte Jackson, Yashila de Silva, Jordan Lee and Bobby Nair. Thank you to everyone who played a role in the Competitions Portfolio this year, no matter how small or large. It has been an incredible experience being Director of Competitions, and I am confident to pass the baton to Ben Quick for 2019. Best of luck to Ben and I’m looking forward to seeing the amazing things the Competitions Portfolio will achieve next year!

Old classics: • Social sport (the ’classic three’: soccer, touch and netball) • Soccer Grudge match (a massive 2-0 win against UQ!) • Qld LawRight Legal Walk (biggest team there by a long shot, and that’s including all participating firms! We also raised $817.32!) New initiatives/achievements: • Merch (did someone say QUTLS active wear?) • Running Club • Sunny Coast Half Marathon • River To Rooftop • Dodgeball • QLS Touch Football Tournament • QUTLS Sport Facebook page Above all of that, we’ve lifted the game enormously in terms of participation, encouragement and teamwork and that was our primary goal for the year. Thank you so much to everyone that’s been a part of the Sport and Health portfolio: from soccer players, to netball fanatics, to first-time runners (even walkers!), and to those that just came to support (particularly you guys, in fact!). A HUGE congratulations to Bronte Jackson who is taking over next year and who I have the utmost faith in. Glad to be passing the baton on to someone so competent! Bye for now but not forever, over ‘n’ out, loads of love and happy holidays all!

Thirdly, we had our workshops/lectorials specifically for preparing students for our internal QUTLS competitions. These were essentially mini lectures giving specific instructions on how to prepare and partake in the competition for those competing or simply interested. We conducted these for the Junior Moot, Witness Examination and Negotiation and we hoped these helped you guys in preparing!

Helen Driscoll Director of Moot Club

It’s time to say, ‘au revoir’, ‘sayonara’ and farewell to Moot Club and my time at QUT Law Society. It’s been a marvellous time and thank you to all who have made it so special! I have truly loved every event, workshop and Moot Club with every single one of you this year – your efforts have made Moot Club the fun that it is! To summarise an EPIC year: Firstly, the Welcome to Moot Club and Competitions Social and Information night was a major success. We outlined the various opportunities to compete throughout the year and what they involved so students were fully aware of what is available. This was the first time an event of this kind had been held. We also explained exactly what mooting is, and why it is the most important, and fun (not biased) thing you should do while at uni. We had two great additional guest speakers, Jonathan Horton QC, and also our very own Mark Thomas who coaches several mooting teams here at QUT. We were THRILLED with the enthusiasm in both attendance at the event and following the event. it was a fantastic start to the year.

Lastly, we had the QUT Law Faculty High School Mooting Competition. This is one of the biggest events for Moot Club. The point of the moot is to engage high school students and show them how awesome law at QUT is, as well as give high school cherubs a taste of law school. Each school is provided with a QUT university student mentor who helps teams develop arguments, written submissions and advocacy preparation. The Grand Final was judged by Richard Morton, Barrister, Paul Telford, Barrister, and our very own Kirby Moot Coach and positive professional identity god James Duffy, in the Banco Court in August. Congratulations to the Grand Finalists Somerville House (mentored by Issac Fisher and Holly Vaughan) and St Patrick’s College (mentored by Harry Kecek) – it was an astonishing high calibre of competition. Most of all, thank you to my amazing officer, Laura Falkner for her incredible efforts this year. Keep calm and moot on!

Secondly, we have Moot Club, which was also a new initiative this year. The purpose of Moot Club is to give students an opportunity to give mooting a go for the very first time, without having to actually compete for your first ever moot. We received awesome feedback from this, and it was WONDERFUL to see regular moot clubbers continuing to build on and improve their skills each time, and then go on to compete in our internal competitions!

HELP IS OUT THERE FOR

Mental Illness is a pertinent pandem environment

By Hannah Burstow

Alas, there is help out there, many students just don’t know where to look. With Queensland Mental Health Week recently upon us, awareness surrounding mental illness has been particularly pertinent in the public sphere. Falling in sync with week eleven of the university semester, most students begin to feel the strain of looming exams, as they bid farewell to assignments that have procured their blood, sweat, and tears. For one Queensland University of Technology (QUT) student, Anon (name withheld for privacy reasons), the annual week of awareness could not have come at a more ironic time. Like many other university students, preparation for exams was well and truly underway for Anon - until she began to experience the debilitating effects of anxiety and depression. The terror brought panic attacks and subsequent rounds of antidepressants. Despite eleven weeks of the semester already under her belt, Anon had no choice but to withdraw from her studies. “The last three years I have been pushing myself further than I ever have in my life, and I haven’t been taking the adequate time off for myself. I’ve reached my ‘breaking point’, and have had this extra time to contemplate how necessary reflecting on your emotions is, instead of ignoring the stress and anxiety”. A Growing Pandemic Anon is just one student in an ever-growing pandemic of mental illness. A recent study conducted by leading mental health organisation, ‘Headspace’, has unveiled some harrowing statistics about the mental health of tertiary students. Out of the 2,600 participants of the ‘Headspace’ student survey, one in three revealed they thought about suicide or self-harm, and overall, seventy percent of survey participants rated their mental health as “poor.” While not all students seek help, the amount that do is also ever-increasing. General Practitioner Natalie Carnell says that a large majority of her patients suffering from ill mental health are students. “At times, I would estimate that almost seventy per cent of my patients are mental health related. A large majority of these are young students.” High-Pressure Environments Dr Carnell also believes that certain university degrees that attract high-achieving, Type-A personalities are breeding grounds for mental illnesses. “These personalities push themselves past the point of excelling at university while trying to juggle every other area of their lives. I struggled with anxiety at medical school, and I didn’t have most of the added pressures that students face today”. For Anon, trying to juggle necessary extra-curricular activities, a social life, part-time work, and 14

R STRUGGLING STUDENTs

mic, especially in the high-pressure of university excelling in a law degree was too much to bear while trying to treat her mental illness. “Perhaps the burden of a law degree coupled with me being a perfectionist played a large role in my withdrawal from my semester two units.” Lack of Awareness Dropping out of the semester was the last resort for Anon, and thanks to her careful research of the student services that QUT offers, she was able to seek advice about the best option for her. What she also discovered was a range of services offered to students struggling with mental illness, that she never knew existed. “I have had some previous contact with the counselling services during my time here at QUT and although there is only so much they can do, the open and welcoming environment, the support and advice I received truly helped me before my mental health issues needed medical attention”. QUT Guild Advocacy Officer, Shane Snow, says that the lack of awareness around the assistance available to mentally ill students is a major downfall. “Lack of awareness is the main issue. I see students every day that are struggling with mental health. Most of them have no idea of the help available to them.” The Sad Truth Unfortunately, for many students, Mr. Snow says that the advocacy advice comes all too late. In his twenty-five plus years in the role, he still feels it personally. “We see some students that are too far gone by the time they get to us. They don’t graduate. It is upsetting”. Help is Out There But Mr. Snow wants his key message to be that help is out there for those students who are struggling with mental illness. Receiving 1,300 mental health cases this year alone, Mr. Snow ensures that struggling with a mental illness is a very legitimate reason to put off study. “If you have friends, tell them to come see us. There is a lot that we can do for you. I just wish more students knew about it.” With the stigma surrounding mental illness slowly breaking, students are encouraged to come forward unashamedly and seek advice on their studies. While her semester didn’t go to plan, Anon says it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off her shoulders. “You would be surprised how prevalent mental illness is in our messed-up world, but the only way that you can get through this is to utilise the resources around you. These resources are like life jackets keeping you afloat when you’re stranded out at sea, you need to keep fighting (floating) to get through this. Please remember, this isn’t permanent.” If you or someone you know is struggling, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. 15

Mysti Law How TV Lawyers are hurting the By Zane Jhetam In 2014, I started to tell friends that I intended to study law (goodbye UQ Comm/Econ). Just about every time I mentioned it, people said something to the effect of, “So you want to be like the guys in Suits?” At the time, I thought the comments were just jokes. Surely, I assumed, everyone understands legal dramas and ‘courtroom’ reality TV are almost pure theatre, perhaps even satire… i.e. that Better Call Saul is to lawyering as House is to medicine, and perhaps as Family Guy is to parenting. However, in a panel discussion at a meeting of the American Bar Association about legal television shows, it was observed that the legal system “Is a mystical thing; [the public] like these shows because they think they may learn something about the law.” Therefore, I have decided that the comments I heard in 2014 point to a fairly upsetting state of affairs: people think the things which happen in ‘legal’ dramas are representative of the real practice of law. The flagrant ethics violations, coupled with the legal inaccuracies ought to frustrate any 16

law student or legal practitioner. However, in my view, there is a more egregious issue: consumer expectations of how legal disputes are resolved will be affected, and that may lead to dissatisfaction as those expectations are not met. Let me explain. If laypeople are legitimately watching these shows to try and learn about the ‘mystical’ world of law, they might reasonably believe, for instance: • Any evidence is admissible in a trial (because they watched Judge Judy, who is not a real judge, she is an arbitrator); • Giving someone a coin to create a retainer after disclosing serious illegal conduct protects the information under lawyer-client privilege (which occurred in Better Call Saul); • It is permissible to ‘bury the other side in paperwork’ to delay discovery of adverse evidence until after trail, ‘bluff’, and ‘strong-arm’ the other side to win (every episode of Suits, summarized); • Evidence obtained illegally can’t ever be used (this one comes up so often it is ridiculous, and it does not even get the

ical w: Legal Profession and the Public position in the United States correct); â&#x20AC;˘ Attacking the character of opposing counsel in open court is acceptable, and may lead to a victory for oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s client if the judge also dislikes that lawyer. You get the picture. If the public thinks that this is how legal disputes are resolved, we definitely have a problem. They will expect that their case turns not on its legal merits, but on the aggression and manipulation of their lawyer/Pitbull.

their standard of behaviour to meet consumer expectations. Either way, we are stewards of special knowledge about the law. And as people with that advantage, we have a duty to correct the disinformation and misunderstanding that is being disseminated on the silver screen.

The problem is exacerbated because most people do not get any other exposure to legal practice until they are actually involved in a dispute. Whereas everyone knows vaguely what the day to day business of a police officer or a medical doctor is, because their business is more visible. At best, this means that lawyers have to spend precious (often billed) time explaining the realities of the legal system to clients who cannot get it through their heads that attrition litigation is not appropriate; or that refusing a settlement just to have oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day in court has adverse costs implications. At worst, lawyers less committed to professional ideals may start slowly lowering 17

The New Colombo Plan: an Oppo By Sarah Sheppard When I began the third year of my Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Business (Accounting) degree I had never heard of the New Colombo Plan. I received a chance email that went on to completely change my university experience. The New Colombo Plan scholarship is an Australian Government initiative designed to increase Australian undergraduate knowledge of the Indo-Pacific. Students who are awarded the New Colombo Plan scholarship live, work and study in the Indo-Pacific region. The scholarship supports students to undertake language courses, mentorship programs, internships and semester exchanges. In addition to the New Colombo Plan scholarship, the New Colombo Plan initiative also offers a range of shorter mobility scholarships. In 2018, I began my fifth year of my degree and became one of 120 university students nationwide to receive the 2018 New Colombo Plan Scholarship. As part of my New Colombo Plan journey, I went to South Korea to complete a Korean language intensive program at Yonsei University. The New Colombo Plan scholarship encourages and funds scholars to complete full-time language programs in order to not only help them connect with the culture on a deeper level, but also to assist the scholar practically in allowing them to navigate a city and settle into their new environment. I then undertook a semester exchange at Korea University where I studied ‘International Economic Law’, ‘Korean History and Culture’, ‘International Organisations’ and ‘International Dispute Settlement’, whilst I completed additional Korean language classes.

ortunity to Change your Future My time in South Korea was extraordinary. I arrived in Winter and was able to enjoy a totally different climate to Brisbane. Just after I moved into the dormitories at Korea University we had a week of snow: which I thoroughly enjoyed. I then spent the last few weeks of winter taking advantage of the snow season learning to ski on the slopes of the nearby Jisan Resort. As I am also completing a degree in business, I undertook an internship in Tokyo with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. As one of the three largest banks in Japan, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation allowed me to work in both their legal and compliance department as well as their finance departments. During my time in Japan I was fortunate enough to travel around and see some of Tokyoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best sites, meet up with other New Colombo Plan scholars and, believe it or not, even drive around the streets of Tokyo in a go-kart dressed as Mario! I then went back to South Korea to complete an internship with Herbert Smith Freehills in Seoul. During my internship I was able to work in the Corporate and Dispute Settlement Departments. Everyone I worked with was welcoming, willing to help and provided me with challenging and interesting work. This was a great opportunity to gain experience and a realistic insight into what life will be like working in a top tier firm, as well as providing me with a chance to hear from lawyers who originate and practice from all over the globe. The New Colombo Plan has helped me develop my cross-cultural skills, improved upon my real world experience in a variety of professional environments, grown my global network, and has given me an experience of a lifetime. If you want to help internationalise your career and university experience whilst developing real world skills and connections, I would highly recommend applying for the New Colombo Plan scholarship.

Five Reasons that I am Grateful

By Rose Kinnear 20

After an entire day of not studying untill the the sun-down, stress began to get to me. Naturally I turned to the most on-trend, ‘Band-Aid’ solution to my intensifying anxiety in the form of a mindfulness podcast. Usually I am unenthusiastic about sullen music and husky voices telling me to “feel the breath” and that “everything will be fine”, but as they say, ‘desperate times.’ The podcast spoke about thought patterns and gratitude and asked its fretful listener audience to name five things they were grateful for today. Aghast, in this week 14 of my final semester of university, I drew a blank. However, I began to think that perhaps my perplexion lay at the hands of my own thought pattern. Had I been asked about five things I want I could have listed 50 without hesitation. Before you begin thinking I am an entitled spoiled brat, let me assure you that on reflection I find this inability to be thankful for what I had to be slightly embarrassing for myself. So here it is, my gratitude on paper. Whilst it may reek of bourgeoise novel-gazing, I say don’t knock it till you tried it. This simple act of reminding myself of all that I have has given me a new perspective, moving forward into the big bad world of post-graduation. 1. My Family I am grateful that I grew up in a family that could afford to send to me a good school. I am even luckier that my family allowed me to live at home whilst I studied at university: meaning I didn’t have to pay for rent or bills. My family has supported me through my mood swings, SWATVAC, post-exam 3am-window entries, fad diets and have passively listened to that damn Echo theme tune about 750 times without complaint. They have always unequivocally supported my dream of becoming a lawyer and have always celebrated my endeavours even if I get a 4. 2. My Brain As a law student, comparison is rife and debilitating. We generally suffer from ‘imposter syndrome’ in which none of us believe we are supposed to be at Law School (bar the law school veterans that always wears suits to uni). I have to remind myself that I am studying one of the most difficult courses, at one of the top universities in Australia. As James Duffy told us all on day one of our first year – it really is an achievement just to be here. We are all smart, there is no denying it. So, when I have absolutely no idea what that lecturer is on about or what that paragraph I have read 10 times even says, I should not beat myself up with negative self-talk or compare myself to this perfect ‘other’ I have created, but instead remember to be grateful I have even made it this far. 3. My Skills I am extremely lucky to have pursued a glamourous career in hospitality on my gap year(s). This enabled me to work casually and flexibly through my law degree and to fund my fast lifestyle of coffee study dates and snacks…lots of snacks. It taught me time management, how to prioritise, how to work as a team and get along with others. It allowed me to work with people of all ages, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. This provided me with a wider perspective on life and allowed me to get away from the insular law world and blow off some steam by being patronised by rich, drunk housewives. It also gave me something to talk about during job interviews and prepared me with many anecdotes to stock clerkship questions such as “name a time you worked in a team or encountered a challenge” or “tell me what diversity means to you”. I am also (probably most) grateful for all the free food I managed to eat along the way. 4. My Country I am grateful that I grew up in a country that has a well-funded and accessible education system. I am extremely lucky to be literate and have had the opportunity to travel to school on a relatively reliable public transport system on safe and well-maintained roads. I am also lucky to live in a country without war, political unrest or mass shootings. I am even luckier that my country has a decent, low interest, student loan system in which I pay nothing for my degree up front. Yes, the system is not perfect and there are certainly debates to be had about it but alas, we are practicing gratitude! 5. My Body I am absolutely blessed to be entirely able bodied. I am 100% functioning in every way (if you don’t count feeling bloated all the time? What’s WITH that? – perhaps an article for another time). I am so lucky that I can take myself for a run whenever I want, I can go to the beach and swim past the break or I can hit that D-floor real hard. I have a perfectly working set of eyes that can read the pages and pages of content required for this degree. I also have two perfectly working ears to binge hours of glorious lectures. Although my hand cramps occasionally during inopportune moments: like when there are only three minutes left in an exam, I am grateful it does work for the three preceding hours. When I finish that final exam of my life, I am going to throw up my two perfectly working arms in the air and scream at the top of my pitchy-but-otherwise perfectly working voice. I think that being thankful for your body is so important in this age of hyper-comparison. No, I do not have a six-pack or a thigh gap but I do have thighs, and they keep me up-right when I want to stand and sat down when I must sit. And surely, that is something to be grateful for. 21

Tech Tip 101: Docu By Zane Jhetam Law students and lawyers are expected to produce an absolutely ridiculous number of different document types and styles. So, one might assume that every law student has at least a modicum of skills with the tools of their trade. However, you will be disabused of that misconception instantly if you just take a step back and consider your own assessment workflow. I would hazard a guess that if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re like the average computer user, these are the key steps in your writing workflow: 1. Open Microsoft Word; 2. Write the text of the document; 3. Attempt to format the document to comply with a specification (if any). This is generally done by making piecemeal edits to the formatting of different parts of the document. Steps 1 to 2 are totally legitimate and I would encourage you to keep those the same. But the formatting thing is just ridiculous. Save yourself hours of time, and keep your hair in place. All you have to do is learn how to use

ument Templates document templates. For instance, I have templates for AGLC compliant essays (with and without a bibliography), case notes, memorandums of advice, oral argument submissions, etcâ&#x20AC;Ś Now I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t try to give you a full tutorial on how to make a template. That has been covered comprehensively by this Lynda tutorial series (you have free membership to Lynda thanks to QUT): http://bit.ly/2nQsheH Browse those courses, and learn as you are going along by making a template for a common document type (a memo is a nice and easy one to start with). And then just keep reaping the time rewards for the rest of your degree. When you sit down to write, you open the template file. A new document is created with automatic headings, paragraph and page numbering, correct line spacing, and other exciting document features are already handled for you. No worries.

“

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 24

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.

#Me The # movemen people to the line between By Rianna Shoemaker On October 13 2018, an article was published in the Los Angeles Times about the recent banishment of notable geneticist, Professor Francisco Ayala. Professor Ayala was dismissed due to four alleged accusations of sexual harassment from women in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) where he worked for over thirty years. Ayala handed in his own resignation, without emeritus status, because, “I do not wish to put them [the women], my family, or this institution through the lengthy process of further investigation.” The incident has received considerable backlash with support both for and against Ayala and highlights the difficulty in assigning fault in sexual assault cases. Supporters of Ayala suggest the #Metoo movement has taken a step backwards and victim blaming has transformed into prejudiced victim support without evidence. Tarana Burke, the founder of the #MeToo movement, worries that her intent in creating the hashtag has been misrepresented and misused. She says, “part of the challenge we have right now is that everybody is trying to couch everything under #MeToo.” The #MeToo Movement spread virally in October 2017 as a hashtag on social media in an attempt to demonstrate the widespread prevalence of sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace. Burke began using the phrase ‘Me Too’ as early as 2006, and the phrase was later popularised by American actor, Alyssa Milano, on Twitter in 2017. Milano encouraged victims of sexual harassment to tweet about it and “Give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.” Milano’s encouragement 26

was successful and was re-posted by high profile female American celebrities: Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd, Jennifer Lawrence and Uma Thurman. Shortly after #Metoo took off in 2017, the sexual misconduct allegations against American film producer, Harvey Weinstein, were released. Since then, the phrase has come to mean different things to different people. Burke states that, “my movement has grown to include both men and women of all colours and ages, as it continues to support marginalised people in marginalised communities.” Spin-off hashtags #Ididthat, #Ihave, and #Iwill were created by men aiming to challenge the culture through personal reflection and future action. The recent controversy surrounding Ayala’s dismissal is an example of how the #MeToo movement has been used to shame rather than empower, but it’s not the only one. Prominent author and feminist, Margaret Atwood (famously known for her novel, and now television series, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’) wrote an opinion piece for Canada’s Globe and Mail in which she defended her friend and fellow academic Steven Galloway, against what Atwood viewed as a trial by accusation. Atwood argued that Galloway had been denied due process in a sexual assault case, and instead was dismissed from his job on the basis of suspicion and secrecy, thereby ruining his reputation. Atwood argued that the #MeToo Movement has gone too far and has now become a witch hunt filled with fundamentalists who demand loyalty to a cause without law. Atwood says, “The public – including me – was left with the impression that Galloway was a violent serial rapist, and everyone was free to attack him publicly.”

etruth: #MeToo nt is forcing o reconsider n respect and rape Actor and comedian, Aziz Ansari, who identifies as a feminist ally, was also accused of sexual assault. The story was published on ‘Babe.net’ in the form of an anonymous interview by a woman with the pseudonym ‘Grace’ who experienced “the worst date of her life” with Ansari, which ended in him allegedly sexually assaulting her. While her account is detailed and in-depth, scepticism has emerged on the truth of Grace’s story. ‘Babe.net’ approached Grace and they gave Ansari less than six hours to respond to their interview request before they posted their very-public naming and shaming of him online. Jezebel’s, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd says that Babe.net’s handling of the story, “Leaves the subject open to further attacks” and Vox’s Caroline Framke says, “The controversy around Babe.net’s story deepened a crucial divide in the #Metoo reckoning.”

In Ayala’s case, there is strong suggestion that what the four women perceived as ‘sexual assault’ was misinterpreted due to Ayala’s Spanish background. “I deeply regret that what I have always thought of as the good manners of a European gentleman - to greet women colleagues warmly, with a kiss to both cheeks and to compliment them on their beauty made colleagues I respect uncomfortable”. In 2015, less than 20% of sexual assaults on campus are reported to police and many countries continue to demand stricter rape laws, so clearly sexual crimes should remain a focus in law. However, there is a persistent grey area that must be addressed by policy-makers and legal practitioners alike if we have any hope of reducing sexual crimes in our society.

A new hashtag has been created for the accused: #metoowounded, with many people crying for the dismantling of the #MeToo movement. These stories highlight the slippery slope that sexual assault cases sit on and the difficulty of knowing where the truth lies. 27

Out of the closet but how domestic violence legis By Rebekah Roma The legalisation of same-sex marriage was a hard-fought struggle for the recognition of LGBTIQ+ relationships. However, due to the constant fight for validity, another issue has not received the requisite attention. One third of LGBTIQ+ people in Australia have reported a relationship with an abusive partner and unfortunately, institutional barriers persist, preventing access to support and protective services. The Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act (Qld) (DFVP Act) outlines what constitutes domestic violence and the types of protection orders which can be made to address it. The Act identifies that the LGBTIQ+ community is a high-risk group for abuse and ensures they are eligible for all the protections offered to their heterosexual counterparts. Prima facie, it provides an appropriate response to the issue. Where the legislation fails therefore, is not in its exclusion of any type of relationship, but in the procedures it establishes to supplement it. The court is able to make a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) which compels a perpetrator to refrain from violence and can include any other necessary terms for the victimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s protection. However, DVOs are civil actions which require an appearance in court. This in itself presents an obstacle as legal fees, lost wages, as well as medical bills and potentially economic abuse preclude victims from being able to financially afford to takeout an order. This is exacerbated by a recent study revealing that gay men earn approximately 18% less than heterosexual men in the same job and women 15-19% less than men. The gender, and gay pay gaps disadvantage the people who are the most likely to experience domestic violence and creates a system of economic-based injustice. Another barrier for LGBTIQ+ people in accessing support is in whom the DFVP Act places the power and responsibility of first response: the police. The LGBTIQ +community and law enforcement have had a tumultuous history. Homosexuality was punishable by 14 years imprisonment until 1991 in Queensland. Just this year, those who were convicted were allowed to apply to have their record expunged. The tension resulting from years of persecution prevails, and many victims have reported they endured dangerous situations without assistance, for fear of police intervention. This mistrust has also provided useful capital for abusers, who might suggest to their victims that law enforcement will not help them because they are LGBTIQ+, isolating them further. Additionally, the LGBTIQ+ communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s projection of self-management prevents victims from accessing support services. For so long the sexually and gender diverse community have had to fight to have their relationships recognised as legitimate. It is unsurprising that egregious accounts of violence have remained silent, rather than risk undermining the civil rights progressions achieved for the community thus far. The troublesome outcome of such under-reporting is that if assistance is sought, responders are unlikely to have appropriate training to address the issue in an LGBTIQ+ context. Having a support worker ill-prepared and confused at best, or homophobic at worst, adds further strain on an already precarious situation, and many victims would rather go without. 28

behind closed doors: slation fails LGBTIQ+ people The awareness campaigns run by the Australian Government to address domestic violence (DV) are specifically catered towards heterosexual couples with a male perpetrator and female victim. While it is true that that dynamic is the most prevalent, the result is that many LGBTIQ+ victims do not recognise their abuse as DV as they have not had their experience included in the rhetoric. This is particularly troublesome for lesbian couples who report higher incidence of abuse in studies but do not seek legal action because their perpetrator is another woman and the severity of their experience may be diminished. The legislation addressing DV in Queensland states that anyone can be a victim, and anyone can be a perpetrator. However, this statement proves tokenistic as the government who acknowledged it has not set up corresponding perpetrator behaviour change programs: the only available services are for straight men. Consequently, the particular types of abuse committed by LGBTIQ+ people, including threats of ‘outing’ and increased levels of sexual coercion are going unchecked by DV services thus disadvantaging victims. It is not enough to recognise the vulnerability of LGBTIQ+ people in legislation and provide no further avenue of government assistance. DVO’s and police procedure afford little in the way of security but involve objectively greater risks for LGBTIQ+ victims. Institutional discrimination, ignorance, and a lack of services which specifically address the nuances of violence in an LGBTIQ+ context have resulted in this epidemic. The sufferers of this abuse do so in silence and behind closed doors, because their relationships have only just been let out of the closet and into the Marriage Act.

Australia: A country failin By Abigail Wood Australia has long been known as a country built upon the values of freedom, equality and acceptance. With such values enshrined into the roots of Australia, it is only reasonable to assume that Australia is a country successfully fulfilling its human rights responsibilities. Before looking into this issue, I naively presumed that Australia was a front runner in human rights. However, once I dug a little deeper it became blaringly clear to me that Australia is a country failing to fulfil some of its most basic human rights obligations. By this, I am referring to the recent treatment of refugees in detention centres. Australia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT) which was created to specifically prevent torture and other acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The United Nation’s (UN) report, by the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Torture, found that Australia is violating the rights of asylum seekers on multiple fronts under the CAT. However, when this report was released, the then acting Immigration Minster, Peter Dutton, now Home Affairs Minister, rejected the views of the report suggesting that “Australia is meeting all its international obligations.” Whilst I am admittedly no expert in human rights it’s almost nearly impossible to disagree with the claims made by the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Torture when hearing some of the horrific stories that have come out of detention centres.

ng to uphold Human Rights? The violation of the CAT can quite clearly be seen through the story of two asylum seekers detained at Manus Island. The two men alleged that they were tied to chairs and threatened with physical and sexual abuse if they refused to retract the statements they had made to police that included details about Reza Bareti, a fellow detainee who was killed during riots on Manus Island. The effect that this cruel treatment is having on refugees is horrifically startling. The UN have indicated that illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression are amongst the most common ailments within detention centres. Many refugees and asylum seekers, including children and adolescents, are on a constant diet of sleeping pills and anti-depressants. The arbitrary detention and inhuman treatment of asylum seekers, simply because they have arrived by boat, is just not an efficient nor productive course of action. If Australia doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make amendments to their treatment of refugees soon I am concerned that Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s human rights record will be irreversibly tarnished. No longer will we be seen as a country that values freedom, equality or acceptance but instead one that encourages violence, cruelty and discrimination. The UN has outlined that Australia has clear and undeniable responsibility for the harm done to refugees in detention centres. This leaves the question: how many stories, how many deaths and how many inquiries will it take before the Australian government realises that something needs to change?

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Life After Uni: Why It’s Important to b

By Rianna Shoemaker Everyone has different experiences at university, but one fact that many studies make painstakingly clear is that finding employment is hard. This is true for many degrees, but in the field of Law, graduates also have to grapple with exceedingly long hours and unrealistic workloads. This is coupled with the challenge that getting employed can sometimes seem like a random selection that lacks logic. A friend of mine who is currently doing their Practical Legal Training (PLT) with QUT remarked to me, “I did everything right. I have excellent grades, got involved with the Law Society, won moots, and still got rejected for all my clerkship applications. It feels like they’re pulling names out of a hat.” This information is probably discouraging, disappointing, and difficult to hear, but it presents law students, such as myself, with further opportunities for growth. Instead of allowing ourselves to feel crushed by such testimonials, we should explore other areas we are interested in so we can better ourselves as people and professionals. The number of students choosing double-degrees instead of just straight law has drastically increased in the last decade, as has the number of law graduates. It’s also exceedingly common to meet people choosing to do not just one but two or even three degrees. 34

Being qualified in more than one area means you are more knowledgeable and therefore more employable. There is also a small percentage of students, myself included, who are education nerds and simply love to learn for the sake of learning. Studying a double-degree has the added advantage of staggering your law units and of giving students a much-needed break from arduous legal theory while still taking in new information. A fellow double-degree friend said to me, “When I get sick of studying Law, I switch to my other degree instead. That way, I’m still being productive but I’m giving my brain a break.” Studies have also shown that studying multiple areas simultaneously exercises different parts of your brain. One long-established example is studying another language. People who speak or study another language use an entirely different part of their brain to those who do not. This is not to mention that studying a language can be super fun, can open up countless opportunities for international exchange, and allows students to brag about their bilingual tongue to their friends. But you don’t necessarily need to be studying a double-degree to be multi-skilled. Many students that study law engage in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, from sport, to the performing arts, to a wide range of other

be a Human Being First and Foremost

activities. Having other interests and skills can make a difference when it comes time to applying for clerkships and graduate positions at law firms. What you may think is simply a much-loved hobby of yours can result in you forming a genuine rapport with your interviewer, or being individually remembered among a sea of thousands of applications. It’s important to remember that solicitors and barristers do other things outside of the office. They may even enjoy the same hobby as you. And, more often than not, the person who will first be looking at your application often works in the Human Resources department of the law firm and may not necessarily know what the ‘Betoota Advocate’ is, so you can’t rely on just being passionate about the law and social justice for small talk. Being a well-rounded individual contributes significantly to personal development and has tremendous benefits for mental health, which is incredibly important in the legal field. Countless studies have demonstrated the extreme levels of anxiety, depression, and self-harm amongst law students. It’s a known fact that studying law can be extremely stressful, isolating, and downright exhausting. There is a lot of pressure to succeed, to be the best, and to receive and maintain high grades. It’s an unavoidable part of the industry that you’ll need to deal with if you want to pursue a

legal career. This is why having hobbies or other activities you’re passionate about is so important. Exercise is, of course, highly recommended for dealing with stress and ensuring good mental health. This doesn’t mean you have to run 10km or do five cardio sessions a week. Getting active looks different for everybody. You can dance, surf, weight lift, or do tai chi … the possibilities are endless. The only certainty is that not having an outlet may cause you to be worse off. My singing teacher told me only just last week that the opposite of tension is movement, not relaxation, as many people believe. When my voice tenses up, my singing teacher gets me to move and instantly my voice relaxes again. This philosophy should also be applied to life, and to law. It’s easy to get caught up in the university (and the law) bubble, but it’s important to look at the bigger picture. We are defined by more than just studying law: so our lives should follow suit. There are so many clubs you can get involved in at QUT (just like the QUT Law Society!), the only crime would be to do nothing.

By Dylan Ford 36

Allowance Review

DEAR STUDENT,

The department of Human Services as per your request on January 21 2015 to review your fortnightly youth allowance payment while you are presently enrolled in a current Commonwealth approved course. We apologise for the three-year delay for our response. Unfortunately, on this occasion, your request for an increase has been denied upon the review of your claim. While some of us were sympathetic to the merits of your case and the concerns that were raised towards your living standards. Including not being able to afford rent, food and university supplies, due to other inquiries made by receivers of similar benefits, we have attached suggestions to alleviate financial stress for recipients aged 18-24. University lifestyle is a stressful experience and incorporating rest and relaxation is vital for a sustained mental and physical wellbeing. However, despite that music can serve as an effective tool for relaxation and there are multiple online music streaming services available, paying for ‘iTunes’, ‘Spotify’, ‘Google Music’, ‘Soundcloud’ and ‘Tidal’ monthly is excessive. The differences in sound quality and the accessibility to listen to the most exclusive artists on ‘Tidal’ and the up and coming ‘mumblecore trap-star’ is not advisable. The department is more than confident you can enjoy high quality and ad-free music without dancing on the poverty line. The same can be said to your use of online movie and television streaming services as we have been informed you have concurrent subscriptions to multiple streaming services. We understand that in Australia certain telecommunications companies pay for exclusive high-quality television programs that aren’t available on ‘Netflix’ or ‘Stan’. In the spirit of the last five governments, it is our view that you need to make some tough choices about your viewing habits. While ‘Prime Video’ and ‘Crunchyrole’ have niche content, it does not have the broad variety of ‘Netflix’. If your habits cannot be curved, make some extra friends and share accounts to maximise savings. Many people express rent as their most significant household expense. We suggest sharing your accommodation with others to reduce costs. We understand that as more people have divorced parents and grow up accustomed to having early independence and two Christmases, sharing can prove to be an adjustment, but it can have its perks. To cut down on the costs of university textbooks, obtain the readings for your units and find the books at the library and photocopy all the pages. What students lose in time they make up for with saved up printing credit from their first year. Don’t forget to check out the QUT Law Faculty Textbook Loan Scheme. We appreciate your correspondence with us and if your circumstances change you must update your details with us within 14 days or your payments will cease. Regards, Department of Human Services. 37

Practical Legal Training

Choose a PLT with firm connections Relationships with more than 350 placement providers. Get hands-on experience as part of your course with a four-week placement in a law office that we will source for you through our relationships with firms, government and non-profit organisations. Or, if you’re already working in a law office, you may be eligible to claim credit for your real-life legal work. During our course you’ll learn by working on simulated legal problems and tasks—the type of work that lawyers undertake in real-world workplaces: • • • •

interviewing and negotiating drafting legal documents writing legal letters executing property, litigation and commercial transactions and proceedings.

Throughout the course you’ll build a portfolio of practical know-how and develop professional communication skills and workplace productivity skills. As a student in our course, you benefit from direct and indirect contributions from practicing lawyers. You will enjoy the support of staff who have practised law as solicitors and barristers.

500 PLT students went on work placements we sourced for them in the past three years

CRICOS No. 00216J

Flexibility We offer full-time on-campus and external (online) PLT, as well as part-time online PLT. International students may only enrol in full-time, on-campus courses. All our courses start with a five-day attendance school on campus. We then deliver the rest of the course online to our external students. If you enrol in our ‘Interactions’ unit and our criminal practice elective, you will have the option to attend on-campus, or SKYPE-in for court hearings. If you’re already working in a private, community, in-house or government law office you may be eligible to enrol in our part-time (in-practice) course, and receive credit for our ‘Interaction’ and ‘Placement’ units based on your real-life work experience. Our part-time (general) course is for you, if you wish to study part-time online, but you do not work in a law office.

Professional recognition The course is approved by the Queensland Legal Practitioners Admissions Board as meeting the practical training requirements for admission to the legal profession in Queensland.

Entry requirements Our course is open to students with a completed Bachelor of Laws degree or a Juris Doctor degree, however, you can start with two units of study left in your undergraduate law degree, as long as those two units are not ‘Priestley 11’ units and you satisfy the Queensland Legal Practitioners Admission Boards ‘early start’ requirements. Contact us if you need more information about early start requirements.

Scott Vanderwolf ‘I chose to study my undergraduate degree at QUT based on the strength of its reputation in both teaching staff and graduate outcomes. I connected with my graduate employer through QUT’s graduate employment register which is circulated for PLT students. I undertook my four-week placement with the firm, and was offered a position after the conclusion of the placement period.

Practical Legal Training 40

CRICOS No. 00216J

Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice • •

24 weeks full time; 34 and 38 weeks part time (excluding breaks) Online or on campus at QUT Gardens Point (Brisbane CBD) July 2018

August 2018

January 2019

February 2019

On-campus attendance for

all students Start: 16 July 2018

all students Start: 3 September 2018

all students Start: 28 January 2019

all students Start: 11 March 2019

Finish: 20 July 2018

Finish: 7 September 2018

Finish: 1 February 2019

Finish: 15 March 2019

Full-time online or

Full-time online

Full-time online or

Full-time online

on campus

Start: 20 August 2018

on campus

Start: 18 February 2019

Start: 21 July 2018 Finish: 14 December 2018 (or 16 November 2018 with

Finish: 15 February 2019 (or 21 December 2018 with credit for LPP118 placement)

Start: 7 January 2019 Finish: 21 June 2019 (or 24 May 2019 with credit

Finish: 28 June 2019

credit for LPP118 placement)

for placement)

Part-time online

Start: 2 July 2018 Finish: 5 April 2019

Start: 20 August 2018 Finish: 5 April 2019

Start 7: January 2019 Finish: 20 September 2019

Start 18: February 2019 Finish: 20 September 2019

On-time applications close 29 June 2018

On-time applications close 13 August 2018

On-time applications close To be advised

Dates subject toclose change On-time applications To be advised

CRICOS Code 009034F

All dates subject to official confirmation.

Contacts Email: law_enquiries@qut.edu.au Telephone: 07 3138 2707 Apply now www.qut.edu.au/study/legal-practice

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Practical Legal Training

CRICOS No. 00216J

President Jake Stacey (2019 Jack Bristed)

Vice President Jack Bristed (2019 Zane Jhetam)

vicepresident@qutlawsociety.com

Treasurer Rana Lateef (2019 Rana Lateef)

treasurer@qutlawsociety.com

Secretary Michael Webster (2019 Ebony-Lee Corbyn)

secretary@qutlawsociety.com

Director of Competitions Annalise Spurge (2019 Ben Quick)

director.competitions@qutlawsociety.com

Director of Education Ebony-Lee Corbyn (2019 Chelsea Lee)

director.education@qutlawsociety.com

Director of Events Yehanka Ranasinghe (2019 Alexandria Brown)

director.events@qutlawsociety.com

Director of Media and Communication Charlotte Mann (2019 Anna Wilson)

director.mediacommunication@qutlawsociety.com

Director of Sport and Health Lucy Hammond (2019 Bronte Jackson)

director.sporthealth@qutlawsociety.com

Director of Equity New portfolio (2019 Rebecca Nguyen Le)

director.equity@qutlawsociety.com

Director of Moot Club Helen Driscoll (2019 Holly Vaughan)

director.mootclub@qutlawsociety.com

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