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15
SULS O-WEEK HANDBOOK 2015
All contents © Sydney University Francis socials@ Law Society 2015 Nicholas Gowland publications@ Ashley Gladwish campus@ P (02) 9352 0204 Executive Contacts Winnie Liu equity@ W suls.org.au (use ‘suls.org.au’ suffix) Patricia Arcilla design@ Gabrielle Chiu sport@ Room 103, Alice Zhou president@ Samuel Hoare it@ New Law Building f10, University Hope Williams education@ Oscar Monaghan firstnations@ of Sydney, Camperdown NSW Millie Dale careers@ 2006 Liz Pearson queer@ Remona Zeng socialjustice@ Evan Tutton secretary@Joseph mon-thurs / 10am - 2pm Baine treasurer@ Meena Mariadassou womens@ Design + layout Nicholas Matthew Green sponsorship@ Gowland + Patricia Arcilla Kate Reagh international@ Printing KopyStop William Hanna + Michael Peng Type set in Montserrat, Karla. competitions@ Big John used on cover Stephanie Fang + Brendon Cover photo John Gollings
contents 05 dean’s welcome — prof. joellen riley 08 president’s welcome — alice zhou 09 NSW young lawyers 10 what is SULS?
11 semester 1 calendar 12 portfolios + subcomittees 21 LLB I law camp 22 JD I cocktail evening
05 Congratulations, and welcome to Sydney Law School!
“This is a time to thrive and grow as a person, and not just as a student” — prof. joellen riley (dean of law)
O-Week is always an exciting but sometimes bewildering time for new students. The University of Sydney is big place, and it always takes a few weeks to familiarize yourselves with the campus and the routines of academic life. So my advice is: hang in there! Come to all of your classes, and to as many of the orientation activities that you can squeeze into your diary. Keep your eyes out for new people to meet. Remember that Seinfeld episode, where all those jaded 30-somethings claimed that they were no longer ‘interviewing for new friends’? Don’t be like that. Be open to meeting new people. People from different schools, diverse
cultural backgrounds, other countries. Make university your time to expand your circle of friends. The people you meet here are very likely to be friends for life. They will be people who enrich your lives, now and in the future. See other students as travelling companions, not as competitors, and enjoy riding with them. Academic achievement is important, and anyone who made it into Sydney Law School (through any of our various pathways) certainly has the grey matter to achieve their ambitions, so long as they are diligent and persistent. But there is a whole lot more to the university experience than mark-harvesting, and I do hope you will immerse yourselves in extra-curricular activities to get
06 the most from your university experience while you are here. When you are as old as I am, you know that these university years are very precious. Rarely will a working life permit you so much time and opportunity to experiment with new ideas, and to develop new skills and talents. So make the most of these years. This is a time to thrive and grow as a person, and not just as a student.
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY LAW SOCIETY TEXTBOOK EXCHANGE I Want To Sell Books
I Want To Buy Books
1. Drop off your books to SULS’ O-Week Stall, or to the SULS Office from Week 1 between 10am and 2pm.
+ Attend our launch from 10AM - 4PM on Tuesday, March 10 in the Law School Foyer. + Drop by the SULS Office in weeks 2 - 4 between 10AM and 2PM. + Cash only please!
2. Let us do the rest! Pick up your money when the book is sold education@suls.org.au for more information
Photo
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Pavel
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08 Welcome from the President To those of you fresh from school or transferring from another degree, welcome to Sydney Law! And to those of you returning to the old haunt, welcome back!
“There is much more to studying law at Sydney than studying the law” — alice zhou (SULS president)
The 2015 Executive is excited to present this snapshot of the Sydney University Law Society (SULS). Whether you’re trying to make sense of pages of notwithstandings and double negatives for the first time or for the hundredth time, there is much more to studying law at Sydney than studying the law. To this end, SULS has a lot to offer. This guide contains some of the many activities, events, programs and services that SULS runs. So whether
you’re looking for educational support, information on career paths, or volunteering opportunities, SULS has something for you. I encourage you to make the most of your time here (it goes surprisingly quickly!) by joining one of the subcommittees, challenging yourself with a moot, editing a publication, or just taking a well-deserved break from it all at a social event. Notwithstanding that law school is not unchallenging, it is also an exciting and enjoyable place to be. I look forward to meeting you all and my best wishes for the year ahead!
10 SULS represents all students in the LLB, JD and postgraduate programs at the Sydney law school. As the largest and most active society at the University of Sydney, SULS aims to enrich the experience of all law students throughout their degree.
What is SULS?
As a law student you are automatically a member, and will have access to the many social events, mooting competitions, volunteering opportunities and careers workshops that SULS will run throughout 2015. As well as representing student interests and hosting events, SULS also provides support services to students who may be struggling with a particular aspect of their law degree or time at university. These include help with academic advice and appeals, a financial grants scheme, and a textbook loan initiative. SULS also offers dedicated support
services for queer and First Nations students in the law school. SULS is dedicated to creating initiatives that provide opportunities for students to use the law as an instrument for social change. The society is committed to addressing issues such as educational disadvantage, gender inequality and racial discrimination before the law. Working for social justice, both on and off campus, is a key focus of SULS and something that all students are encouraged to engage with. There are multiple opportunities for all law students of any experience level to become involved with SULS. Applications for the various subcommittees and editorial boards are currently open until the end of week 3, and elections for the SULS executive take place in October each year.
calendar wk 1
close / running club starts / law school basics
int’l mooting + skills competition opening / textbook wk 4 loan scheme / eqJD I drinks / intro uity grants to clerkships / LLB I camp wk 2 welcome back drinks / tipstaves + associates panel /competitions intro seminar / beginner mooting workshops / int’l exchange student welcome lunch / textbook exchange opening
wk 3 beginner workshops for negotiations + client interviewing / interfaculty sport starts / juvenile justice mentoring starts / education forum / demo moot / careers fair / subcommittees
wk 5 subcommittee welcome drinks / careers prac group presentations + skills workshops start / assignment tips forum / law school basics / refugee language tutoring program starts
wk 6 health + wellbeing week / public forum / women leadership in law / weekly happy hour starts
wk 7 reading week / big gay moot
sem 1 wk 8 mid sem social / reading week / student golden gavel
wk 9 sir john peden contract law moot / clerkship presentations start
wk 11 moot grand finals / mental health panel / public forum
wk 12 law school basics: exam prep
wk 13 publicly interested careers fair / clerkship networking evening / end of semester informal
12
President / Alice Zhou
Vice President (Education) / Hope Williams
president@suls.org.au education@suls.org.au
Portfolios + subcommittees Please send all subcommittee applications to relevant exec members by the end of week 3. Applications for competitions subcommittees close at the end of week 2.
What I do What I Do Oversee the activities and programs of the Law Society / Advocate student interests to the Faculty / Work with various committees to ensure Sydney Law students are represented at an intervarsity level Get involved Apply for a subcommittee / Volunteer / Participate in a competition or edit a publication!
Represent SULS on NSW Young Lawyers, the Faculty Teaching and Curriculum Committee and Staff Student Consultation Committee / Liaise between students and staff about academic issues / Edit the Education Guide / Organise the Textbook Exchange / Oversee PASS in the Law School / Organise study and exam technique seminars Look Out For ‘Laws School Basics’ Seminar Series / SULS Textbook Exchange / PASS sessions / Education Reports on the SULS
13 website Get Involved Apply for the Education Guide Editorial Board / Meet up to discuss education-based concerns or ideas + Education Guide Editorial Subcommittee (4-5 Editors) The education guide brings together important information on degree progression, elective subjects, study and exam techniqvue, student support services, and offshore opportunities. A position is open for an Editor in Chief along with 3-4 editors responsible for research, writing and organising the publication launch.
What I Do Organise careers events including clerkship presentations and networking opportunities, non-corporate careers presentations, and career skills workshops / Edit the Careers Guide and Introduction to Clerkships Handbook / Run the Careers Mentoring Program Look Out For Careers events, workshops and information starting from Week 2 / Careers Mentoring Program (applications due Monday 30 March) / Careers in the Law Series and non-corporate careers presentations across Semester Two Get Involved Apply for the Careers Sub-Committee to help with organising clerkship presentations and careers events throughout the year / Apply to edit the Careers Guide + Careers Subcommittee (5 members)
Vice President (Careers) / Millie Dale careers@suls.org.au
The SULS Careers Subcommittee helps connect students with potential employers
and career paths by assisting with a range of events and publications Each member has a discrete role with various obligations in first and/ or second semester Five positions available: Two Careers Mentoring Program Coordinators (First Semester), Three Careers Forums Coordinators (Both Semesters)
+ Careers Guide Editorial Board (7 members)’ Editorial Subcommittee puts together a comprehensive guide to legal-related careers; a publication widely considered the best law careers guide in the country. We are seeking 1 editorin-Chief and 6 editors Two of the six editors will assist with the organisation of the Clerkship Networking Evening and the Publicly Interested Careers Fair
14
Vice President (Social Justice) / Remona Zheng
Justice/Equity Subcommittee / Become a volunteer through one of the initiatives run by the SULS Social Justice portfolio, including the Juvenile Justice Mentoring Scheme, the Regional Schools Visit, or the refugee Englishteaching program / Get on the Dissent (SULS’ Social Justice journal) editing team
socialjustice@suls.org. au
What I Do Provide information about social justice career pathways / Promote and co-ordinate SULS Social Justice volunteer programs / Liaise with Faculty and legal departments of organisations to create more volunteer opportunities for Sydney Law School students / Encourage and foster wide participation in social justice Look Out For Publicly Interested Careers Fair / Social Justice Conference / Careers in the Law series Get Involved Apply for the Social
+ Social Justice / Equity Subcommittee (10-12 members) The Social Justice and Equity Portfolios aim to foster equal access, opportunity and representation both within and beyond the Law School. Members will be responsible for jointly managing a variety of programs, such as Compass Experience Days and Education Initiatives for school students, the Juvenile Justice Mentoring Scheme, the Refugee Language Program, and SULS’ Mental Health Strategy. Tutoring Program, and SULS’ Mental Health Strategy.
Secretary / Evan Tutton secretary@suls.org.au
What I Do Manages the society’s mailing list and distributes the SULS Weekly to society members /Coordinates the Annual General Meeting and maintains an up-to-date copy of the constitution / Communicates with faculty and the University of Sydney Union / Acts as a point of contact for anyone contacting SULS with general enquiries Get Involved Email me any questions or comments you have about SULS or about getting involved, and make sure you drop by the O-Week stall!
15 What I Do
Treasurer / Joseph Baine treasurer@suls.org.au
What I Do Keep records of income and vexpenditure throughout the year, as well as capital and property belonging to the society / Create the budget and ensure it is followed throughout the year/ Invest funds to ensure the long term sustainability of the society
Liase with SULS’ corporate partners and negotiate sponsorship arrangements for the year to fund SULS’ operations / Manage SULS’ relationships firms through regular communication throughout the year / Organise each firm’s materials and attendees for events, publications, presentations and competitions Look Out For
Look Out For Sponsored events throughout the year, including careers events, competitions, socials or sporting events
Apply for a subcommittee, to be a campus representative or volunteering opportunities / Join your cohort Facebook group. If you want to see something at the Law School, email me.
campus@suls.org.au
secretary@suls.org.au
Events happening on campus including trivia nights and film screenings / Two public forums each semester Get Involved
Campus Director / Ashley Gladwish
Sponsorship Director / Matthew Green
Campus Committee for each year from both JD and LLB cohorts / Maintain communication between the Campus Committee Members and among their cohorts / Increase awareness of SULS to students on campus / Foster leadership skills among cohorts / Organise two public forums a semester to discuss and engage in issues that advance the understanding and knowledge of law students.
What I Do Select two members of
16 + Competitions Subcommittee (14 positions in semester 1)
Competitions Directors / William Hanna + Michael Peng competitions@suls.org.au
What We Do Facilitate SULS’ Competitions portfolio, including internal mooting and skills competitions, and intervarsity opportunities such as the National Women’s Moot How You’ll See Us
Each internal competition has two competitions convenors. Duties include creating draws, liaising with competitors and Faculty, facilitating the running of the competition, and organising the Grand Final. Two Intervarsity Officers: duties include organising registration for intervarsity competitions, liaising with competitors, other law student societies, and the Faculty. Two Judging Coordinators are appointed to allocate student judges.
Competitions Introductory Seminar (Week 2: 11 March) / Mooting and skills workshops / Participating in competitions / Your judge in an internal competition / At Taste
Administer the Equity Textbook Loan Scheme and Equity Grant Scheme / Promote equal access, opportunity and representation for all students at Sydney University Law School / Act as a point of contact for law students requiring assistance and seeking support / Raise awareness about mental health /Organise health and wellbeing activities throughout semester Look Out For Equity Handbook, Equity Grants and Textbook Loan Scheme / SULS at USU’s Health and Wellbeing Week, Mental Health Panel, and other health and wellbeing activities on campus Get Involved Join the Social Justice/ Equity Sub-Committee to work on activities and projects that contributes positively to the student experience
Get Involved Apply for the Competition Subcommittee / Compete in SULS internal mooting and skills competitions / Try out for intervarsity competition teams / Judge an internal competition
What I Do
Equity Officer / Winnie Liu equity@suls.org.au
17 Yemaya Editorial Board / Look out for upcoming volunteering opportunities with community legal centres. + Women’s Subcommittee (6 female-identifying members) Women’s Officer / Meena Mariadassou womens@suls.org.au
What I Do Organise events and opportunities for femaleidentifying students / Seek to create a positive network of women at law school / Establish connections between students and women in the profession Look Out For Women’s Mentoring Program / Intervarsity Women in Leadership Conference / Yemaya (SULS journal of Gender & Sexuality) / Public forums / USU Radical Sex & Consent Week / Women’s Networking Breakfast website
The Women’s Subcommittee will assist the Women’s Officer in fostering strong female networks on- and off-campus, discuss new ways to invigorate gendered legal discussions on campus, liaise with members of the legal profession, and create new initiatives for the Portfolio. The Subcommittee will help convene various events throughout the year, including the King & Wood Mallesons Women’s Mentoring Program and the Women, Leadership and Law Conference.
Queer Officer / Liz Pearson queer@suls.org.au
What I do Point of contact for supporting queer students in the Law School / Organise events with queer legal professionals / Organise events surrounding queer issues to promote education and inclusivity How you’ll see me The Big Gay Moot / Yemaya (SULS’ Journal of Gender and Sexuality) / Speaker events / Crosssociety events including SHADES parties) / University-wide events including Pride Week Get involved
Get Involved Apply for the Women’s Subcommittee or the
Apply for the Big Gay Moot / Write for Yemaya / Attend speaker events
18 and suggest topics or speakers / Volunteer for Pride Week
+ Yemaya Editorial Subcommittee (4 editors) Responsible for editing and designing the annual Gender & Sexuality interdisciplinary publication, Yemaya
First Nations Officer / Oscar Monaghan firstnations@suls.org.au
What I Do Support First Nations students in the Law School / Work with other First Nations groups on campus / Collaborate with Indigenous and non-Indigenous legal professionals to create professional pathways and opportunities / Highlight
the relationship between law and colonialism Look Out For First Nations Students Semester Lunches / Various public forums with Indigenous speakers throughout the year Get Involved Attend one of the autonomous lunches
International Officer / Kate Reagh
Look Out For International and Exchange Student Social Events / SULS International Mentorship Program / International Student Forum + International Subcommittee (3-4 members) Assist with the organizing of events to inform students on various international work opportunities available to international and domestic students; as well as organising social events. Editors to research and contribute to the International Publication Guide. Explore opportunities for expansion of the international portfolio.
international@suls.org.au
What I Do Provide administrative, academic, and personal support services to international students / Serve as a direct liaison between the students and the law faculty regarding international issues / Highlight relevant information regarding career opportunities and other resources
Socials Directors / Stephanie Fang + Brendan Francis
19 stand during O-Week / Come down to the Square behind Manning at 11am on a Wednesday to watch games / Follow the SULS Facebook page for weekly sport updates
socials@suls.org.au
What We Do We make sure that you guys enjoy the year by organising social events to fill each semester. We want everyone to be able to blow off steam and make lasting friendships (there’s no better way to bond than over embarrassing party photos) Look Out For First Year Law Camp / JD Cocktails / Mid-Semester Drinks / Informals / Law Ball / Law-n Bowls (and other terrible law puns) Get Involved Apply for both the Socials and Photography Subcommittees! But mostly, come along to events and have fun!
+ Sports Subcommittee (4-6 members) Sports Director / Gabrielle Chiu sport@suls.org.au
What I Do Organise weekly SULS fitness sessions including running club and yoga / Coordinate SULS’ teams for the SUSF’s weekly Wednesday interfaculty sport events / Organise a SULS City2Surf team supporting Headspace / Administer SULS merchandise
Roles include participating and assisting in organising Interfaculty Sport each Wednesday at 11 am, Intervarsity Day, SULS running club and City2Surf. No specific sporting ability or skill is required, but some previous participation in sport is encouraged.
Look Out For + Socials Subcommittee (4-6 members) Responsible for helping to arrange social activities for the society, including Mid Semester Drinks, End of Semester Informals and Law Ball. Work closely with social directors to plan, organise and execute SULS social events.
Interfaculty sports including netball, touch football, soccer, ultimate frisbee and much more, all of which will be promoted on the Facebook events. Keep your eye out for weekly SULS fitness and City2Surf sign ups! Get Involved Sign up to the sports emailing list at the SULS
Publications Director / Nick Gowland publications@suls.org.au
What I do Co-ordinate SULS’
20 various online and print publications / Assist with the weekly newsletter How you’ll see me SULS’ brand new Quarterly Journals / Dissent (SULS’ social justice Journal) / Yemaya (SULS’ gender & sexuality journal / Competitions Manual, Careers Guide / Education Guide Get involved Write for a publication! Email me with pitches and ideas/ Apply for the Education Guide, Careers, Dissent and Yemaya editorial teams
Design Director / Patricia Arcilla design@suls.org.au
What I Do Design and layout for all SULS graphics and publications
How you’ll see me
and social media accounts
You probably won’t; I’ll be spending my whole year in Adobe CreativeSuite 6. Alternatively: SULS publications / FB graphics and banners / Posters
Look Out For
+ Design / Publications SubCommittee (2 members) Assist with design and layout work for SULS’ publications. Sub-committee applicants must demonstrate experience with Adobe InDesign.
The SULS Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Instagram pages, as well as updates on our website and YouTube channel Get Involved Suggest content and legal news for the SULS page / Get in touch to help with SULS videos / Join the photography subcommittee to cover events throughout the year + Photography Subcommittee (6-8 members)
Responsible for photographing SULS events throughout the year and thereby contributing to the branding of the society. Open to photographers of any skill level.
IT Director / Samuel Hoare it@suls.org.au
What I Do Provide technical support to the 2015 SULS executive / Directs SULS’ photographic and video content / Maintain the SULS webpage
Sub-committee members must own or have access to a DSLR camera (or equivalent) and be willing to use it to photograph SULS events. Experience with Lightroom or similar processing software is desired.
S o u t h e r C r o s O u t d o o Educatio C e n t r
n s r n e
F i r s t Y e a r LLB Law C a m p
T i c k e t s @ the SULS Office from w e e k 1
photo Š Thomas Hawk
SULS Presents Cocktails, canapes, and company for JD I students. Week 4 semester 1 Tickets will be available online Further details including venue and pricing to follow
visit facebook for more information