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Trimester Three2013
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ADVERTISEMENT
Practical legal training at Anu Legal Workshop Your Pathway to Legal Practice Information law.anu.edu.au/legalworkshop/gdlp T 02 6125 4463 E lwsa@law.anu.edu.au CRICOS# 00120C | 221012LW
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The ANU Legal Workshop is Australia’s largest university-based legal practice program. We provide practical legal training in the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP). Becoming a Practitioner (BAP) is the first part of the program and is a 5 day pre-requisite face-to-face intensive offered in cities Australia wide. We also offer: > flexible on-line delivery > concurrent enrolment with your LLB & JD studies > your choice of 20, 40, 60 or 80 day Legal Practice Experience > direct or reciprocal admission to legal practice nationally > Substantial credit towards an ANU LLM. We have an efficient and friendly administrative team who are available to answer any questions students may have about the program. Many of our academic staff are practising lawyers.
Becoming a Practitioner (BAP) face-to-face intensives for 2012/13: Adelaide 17 Dec 2012 Melbourne & Brisbane 7 January 2013 Canberra & Darwin 14 January 2013 Perth 21 January 2013 Sydney & Canberra 18 March 2013 Adelaide 27 May 2013 Darwin 17 June 2013 Melbourne, Perth & Sydney 24 June 2013 Brisbane & Canberra 1 July 2013 Melbourne 2 September 2013 Canberra 9 September 2013 Canberra & Townsville 18 November 2013 Perth & Sydney 25 November 2013 Toowoomba* 25 November 2013 Adelaide 16 December 2013 * Subject to change
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>> The evening of Wednesday the 25th of September was a turnng point for The Obiter. For years we have been writing thought provoking articles on the issues on the minds of law students today, but on that evening The Obiter put on their very first event. Guests were treated to a screening of the film After Innocence, followed by a Q&A Panel. Matthew Goldberg, President of Reprieve Australia flew over from Melbourne to be part of the panel, and graciously agreed to have his mug on our little magazine.
enjoy reading
obiter the
the magazine for Law students at UniSA
acknowledgements the obiter team would like to acknowledge the support of USALSA, ANU Legal Workshop, College of Law, Experience Plus & the UniSA School of Law. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and not those of the UniSA School of Law or USALSA Inc.
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From the Editors Our Team & Guest Contributors Coming Events
billable hours
Billable Hours
news
Recent Law Reforms in South Australia Phoebe Bowden In with the new Eugene Lagana
profile features extra wilburj precedent identityparade
Radical Restraint: Notes on a Kirby Portrait Meredith Hennessy Letter to my 21 year old Self How to write a legal essay Marie Hadley The Shotgun Act Lessons for Law Strudents Wilbur Jordan Goodbye PLE Identity Parade page5
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TrimesterThree2013
from the editors billable hours profile features news extra wilburj precedent identityparade
Hello friends, Studying law is like making a pavlova. Or a soufflé. --No, a lemon meringue pie. Okay, let’s just establish that the metaphor I am trying to makes involves whisking egg whites. You start off, confident that beating eggwhites until you can hold yhe bowl upside down above your head will be easy. You understand that other people have gone on about how they struggled with it, how it takes a lot of work, but you are different. You are a special snowflake. You start off, following the recipe to a tee. You are beating away, beating away, beating away. Your mind starts to wander. What will this pie taste like? Did I make the right decision? Do I really like pie at all? Maybe I should change, but I’ve already got these eggs out of their shells and into a bowl. You keep beating; your arm begins to hurt. You regret not listening to all that advice people gave you. Something is happening, but if this is it, there is no way you will ever hold this bowl upside down above you. You will get egg on your face, literally. So you keep beating. You start to resent the eggs. Why haven’t they made easy to beat eggwhites yet? It’s the 21st century, c’mon civilisation! We have been on the moon, created bionic limbs, but we still have to slave away like Neanderthals to make a good pie? You keep beating. Your arm is now sorer than when you had your last tetanus booster. You whine to your housemates/your partner/your family/whoever comes by. After you have a good whine, you realise that you could reach out and ask for some help. But you
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are still a special snowflake law student and you never ask for help. But your arm is aching so badly. You pass the bowl to you housemate, sit back and have a much needed rest and a cup of tea. While you drink the tea, you ponder. You know what what would go really well with this tea? Some sort of baked good. Perhaps a pie. Ah, yes! You realise why you began making a pie in the first place. You love pie! You take back the bowl, thanking your housemate for the epiphany. Now you believe in the eggwhites. All it takes is a lot of hard work, trust in the process and faith in yourself. You beat those eggwhites like they have killed your family for a 50c piece. You beat them for all the times you had to stay in, say no to a party, let your housemates watch all of the Final Destination films while you had to stay in your room, beating eggwhites. Finally, it happens. You don’t see the moment itself, but you were beating eggwhites and now your whisk is stuck in a gloriously fluffy white cloud. All you need now is that last burst of confidence. You, nervous but triumphantly, lift the bowl up. VICTORY! You are now exhausted. You may be red in the face, but you are happy! A bowl of eggwhite is suspended above you, breaking the law of physics. You are now fully qualified --I mean fully prepared, to make pie! Well, if that wasn’t a great analogy, I don’t know what is. Good luck with your legal studies friends; I am dropping out and going to pastry school. ,Meredith Hennessy and the Obiter team
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our team
Cameron Henderson Publications Director
Phoebe Bowden Editor
Royce Kurmelovs Editor
Meredith Hennessy Editor in chief
Guest Contributors this edition
Marie Hadley
Wilbur Jordan
Eugenio Lagana
Want to get involved in the obiter? Drop us an email at theobiter@usalsa.org Go on...you know you want to...
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coming events
October 2013 to March 2014
October
February
Week 7 - Week 9 - First Year Monday 24th - First day of Moot Competition Trimester 1 November
Week 3 - USALSA Welcome Back BBQ
Friday 29th - Trimester 3 Pub Crawl March Wednesday 19th - Careers Day
Keep an eye out for the latest news & updates on events through your emails, as well as on the USALSA Facebook group and on Twitter... facebook.com/groups/26119087577/ twitter.com/usalsa
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anonymous help to anonymous questions
Ask all your important questions - theobiter@usalsa.org
Dear Billable Hours,
Dear Billable Hours,
My family has gone away on a beach holiday, while I have to stay in Adelaide catching up on uni work. Should I sulk, or does this come with the law student status?
I saw in Lawyers Weekly that it is “the worst time ever to be a law graduate.” I’m quickly losing hope that I’ll never get a job in law. What should I do? Regards Anxious, LLB
Frustrated
Dear Anxious, LLB
Dear Frustrated,
Alas it is tough times for law graduates, but it’s also bad for established lawyers. Over the last few months some of the state’s biggest law firms have been making lawyers redundant. Consequently, we recommend you use your law degree to become a comedian, like Sean Micallef or Chas Licciardello. If you lack the comedic prowess, we recommend politics; lots of politicians have law degrees - like Julia Gillard, Penny Wong and Jay Weatherill (did you know the latter two used to date?).
You have a few options. One, you sulk. This, though thoroughly irritating to anyone you encounter, is good practice for when you have entered the legal world. Make sure you put it on your resume. Nothing says mature and professional like experience in sulking. Two, realise that your family is probably happy to have a day or two without your jibber jabbering about a snail and a ginger bottle or the constitution, or just how irrational those tutors who expect you to get work in on time and in a legible condition. Let them have their holiday. Being related to you, they deserve it. Three, realise that this is the calling card of the profession you have chosen. One day, you will be sitting at a desk, overflowing with papers, when you overhear one of your colleagues mention the word holiday. Now, was that a criminal negligence case, you will ponder, or was it one of the Federal Court judges? You will fail to recognise the concept of having a day dedicated to not working. Suck it up, young one, and realise that the law never takes a holiday, so neither should you.
Chin up, BH Dear Billable Hours, What is a tort? Thanks, Did Not Listen. Dear Did Not Listen, Well, I am clearly not qualified to explain this to you. Therefore, I have edited your question with what I am sure was your intended spelling.
Hope your family is a having a swell time,
Dear Billable Hours,
BH
What is a torte? Thanks, Did Not Listen. Dear Did Not Listen, <<< This.
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Recent Law Reforms
in South Australia words: Phoebe Bowden
L
NEW… SA’s very own Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Librarians accepting muffins in return for waiving library fees and politicians receiving sports cars in exchange for mining licenses had better watch out, because South Australia now has its very own Independent Commissioner against Corruption.
Justice Bruce Lander, from the Federal court, is hanging up his robes to become a modern day superhero, fighting corruption with his not-so-secret weapon the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act 2012. As of 2 September 2013, if you see or hear of something suspicious to do with state or local government, you are encouraged to voice your concerns to Mr ICAC.
Interstate they’ve been ICACing for yonks – like since the 80s – and recently there have been some fairly notorious corruption scandals (Eddie Obeid ring a bell?). But before you take a moment to appreciate that SA is finally catching up, we’re not all the way there yet, as our hearings will happen behind closed doors. So unless there is some super serious mischief, we may not hear about it.
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ONE TO WATCH … a Disability Justice Plan for South Australia
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At the end of 2011, there was public outcry after charges were dropped against a bus driver accused of sexually assaulting his passengers, who were children with intellectual disabilities. The reason for dropping the charges? The then DPP Stephen Pallaras thought that the children would not be able to withstand examination in court.
The case, as well as a report published that year titled Strong Voices, highlighted how ill-equipped SA’s justice system is in dealing with people with a disability, whether they are an alleged offender or victim. So, the SA Attorney General’s department will soon release a Disability Justice Plan for South Australia, which will outline how the Government plans to reform the justice system to cater for people with intellectual or physical disabilities.
The State Government has already made moves in the right direction by looking into changing the Evidence Act 1929 and drafting guidelines for best practice questioning.
TIME FOR CHANGE … the need for an electronic filing system
I
It’s no secret SA courts are under-funded, but once you’ve experienced the smooth online filing system of the Federal Court, it’s hard to return to the paper-tastic ways of the District and Supreme Courts.
Out in the world of private practice, there is so much disdain for the system, practitioners with big litigation matters will go to great lengths to have matters fall within the Federal Court’s jurisdiction. The very Honorable Chief Justice Kourakis recently gave a presentation in law week about courts and technology where he indicated that an electronic filing system for SA Courts is still several eons away.
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A word from...
The Incoming President of USALSA:
Eugenio Lagana USALSA needs you! UniSA needs you! I need you!
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As incoming President of USALSA, it has come to my attention that law students at the University of South Australia have something of an inferiority complex when it comes to how we are perceived, not only in the legal community but also among our fellow students in other South Australian institutions. I am sure we have all heard the “Super Tafe” sledge, or have been told that our degree is no good because we only spend three years studying instead of four. This could not be further from the truth. I constantly speak to Solicitors and Barristers who have nothing but praise for the UniSA Law Degree. They speak highly of the practicality of our Bachelor of Laws aand of the graduates who have forged a presence in Adelaide’s tight-knit legal community.
Right now, you may be asking how this involves you. Well, I need you to follow three simple steps. In doing so together, we can raise the profile of UniSA Law and hopefully leave the other Law schools feeling a mixture of fear and trepidation. page12
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1) Ignore the sledges Next time someone from Adelaide Uni tells you that their degree is steeped in history, instead of telling them you wished they were steeped in something else, smile, tell them, “That’s nice,” and walk away, leaving them to scratch their heads while wondering what is going on.
2) Brag It doesn’t matter whether you are on placement, Facebook or talking to the bouncer at the Havelock (I know you love Thursdays), talk up the UniSA degree any chance you can get.
3) Do stuff Seriously. Do stuff. USALSA is made up of students who volunteer their time and work hard to run events that make University a little more like University and less like stopping into the office in between meetings. Whether it is attending GDLP seminars, USALSA lunches or pub crawls, the more people involved, the greater the school spirit will be. Even just competing in the annual ALSA competitions is a great way of showing our skill set to all the other schools in Australia and winning means instant bragging rights. Who doesn’t like bragging rights? Our Law school is less than ten years old, so we have a responsibility to go out and succeed. We are responsible for forging the reputation of The University of South Australia Law School and its graduates. We are lucky to have a great law school and a world class faculty that is passionate, dynamic and, like myself, wants to see the UniSA become the best institution for legal education in South Australia. I need you, but I am also relying on you. Eugenio Lagana President USALSA page13
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Ralph Heiman’s
Radical Restraint
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words: Meredith Hennessy image: Relph Heiman Ralph Heiman began his portrait The portrait plays heavily on tradition by of The Honourable Michael Kirby picturing its figures in the crimson and just after the former High Court fur robes of the bench to symbolise the justice was appointed to the bench in heavy tasks undertaken by the Justices. December 1995. Heiman went into the project determined to paint Michael Kirby without making a single reference to his work as a judge. But during an early meeting of the pair, Heiman asked Kirby what he did in his spare time. “Work”, came the reply.
Close attention must be paid to the portrait’s composition. Justice Kirby is shown holding his wig, while the rest of the judges are wearing theirs. This humanises Kirby and hints he he is more radical than his peers, representing the present in an old institution.
It wasobvious the task Heiman had set himself was impossible.
Then there is the room. Empty of everything except the judges.
One of the first elements the viewer notices when seeing Radical Restraint for the first time is that there are a lot of people in the portrait.
It is symbolic of the private places judges occupy while they are not in the courtroom, where they are away from the public eye and focused on their work.
We are so used to portraits involving a single subject, it is strange to see Kirby’s personality explained by reference to his colleagues. But the portrait conveys an essential part of Kirby’s personality; his work ethic. In the painting, Kirby, then the President of the New South Wales Court of Appeals, is shown with Justices Sugerman and Wallace. Both Justices were appointed to the Court of Appeals when it began operation in 1966, serving as the first and second sitting Presidents.
Finally, there is the politely irritated expression on Kirby’s face. In an interview between the artist and the subject at the National Gallery, Kirby said that during his sitting he was reading through documents, unable to separate himself from his work. And really, the expression is the exact one a person will wear when they are interrupted while reading a good book. The original portrait now hangs in The National Gallery of Australia.
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If you think you can make a better law student meme, send it to: theobiter@usalsa.org The best will be printed in our next issue, uploaded on our facebook page and its creator will be awarded a mystery prize, because we like to keep you guessing here at The Obiter...
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STEP UPTO A
SKY HIGH LEGAL CAREER WITH THE RIGHT
PLT PROVIDER Give your legal career the best possible start with
THE COLLEGE OF LAW! NEW South Australian courses starting December 2013 PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING
Call 1300 856 111 or visit page17 www.collaw.edu.au/plt
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features
Five Things I Wish I’d Known about Law Essays When I was an Undergrad
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words: Marie Hadley
I have been a student of the law for TEN WHOLE YEARS now (since when did I get so old?). Avoiding full time employment for so many years takes dedication. How many people do you know would voluntarily write upwards of 200,000 words on legal topics for free, rather than earn big bucks in a firm? I am one of those strange people who love writing law essays and when I started teaching a couple of years ago, I realised I don’t like the way a lot of other people write law essays. People make the same mistakes again and again and again and it makes for quite frustrating reading. So at the start of a new trimester, here are five hot tips for writing law essays; 1. Introductions are more important than you think Your introduction is quite possibly the most important part of your paper. It is the first chance that you get to state your argument, to show that you understand the topic, to highlight key legal issues and developments and to impress your marker with beautiful syntax. In essence, your introduction is your first chance to show the marker that you are a HD student. So re-draft your introduction when you finish your first complete draft of your essay. Make sure that it answers the question, is specific, introduces the content of your key points, doesn’t go off on any tangents, and outlines your conclusion(s). 2. Subheadings are not just for science reports Subheadings are a godsend when you are marking papers. It is easy to see if the student has covered the marking criteria, the analysis stands out and there is a structure. Using subheadings forces a student to have greater awareness of their content, which orders their thoughts, and strengthens their argument. Always use subheadings that are appropriate for
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your question and do not get carried away. The only thing worse than an essay with zero headings is an essay with twenty. 3. Some people spend their whole lives writing on your question topic
Law essays require you to research. You need to read widely and you need to read deeply. Googling is not going to cut it. Aside from ticking the box on the mark-sheet for research, good quality research helps you develop perspective and figure out which author(s) and what view(s) are important to your argument. Some people spend their whole lives writing on your essay topic; to not discuss their research is practically criminal and shows up your ignorance of the field. Use a citatator to help you identify key authors. 4. Quoting and citing commentators is not the same as having an opinion The marker is looking at how you interpret legal tests and that you understand how the tests elements relate to each other. They are looking for your opinion on these matters. Citing a commentator’s descriptive material is not a good substitute for going to the original source and interpreting it in your own words. Make sure you only draw upon the case or the statute, unless the test is controversial and commentary gives guidance on how it may be interpreted in different situations. Engage with your sources rather than present their conclusion as if they are your own. Describe a commentator’s point of view and then reflect upon whether you agree or disagree with the view and why. 5. It’s the little things I love formatting my papers.As a marker, I’ve realised that many students don’t feel the same. They might not spell key cases correctly, unify the font type and size, double or 1.5 space their paper, note their word count, write their name or student number on the paper, mark which essay question they answered (which is very annoying if there were multiple questions), single space their footnotes, or use Ibid where appropriate. These things are rarely allocated many, if any, marks in the marking criteria. Yet, HD papers are HD papers because they are professional. They have great attention to detail. In essence, they are extremely pleasant to read and mark. So there you have it. There are genuine differences between HD papers, Distinction papers, Credits and Fails, so don’t take ten years to figure out what makes a good essay. Use the tips above to convince the marker that giving you anything other than a High Distinction is unthinkable.
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THE OBITER GAZETTE Announcement of Acts and Regulations assented by The Obiter and USALSA to rectify social issues and everyday dilemmas.
The Shotgun Act 2013 (Obiter) An act to regulate and dissolve social disputes regarding the reservation of the front passenger seat of an automobile. 1 - Short title This act may be cited as The Shotgun Act 2013. 2 - Commencement of Act The Shotgun Act 2013 will come into operation on 18/10/2013 proceeding proclamation by Head of State the Honourable President of USALSA Inc. 3- Interpretation ‘shotgun’ – refers to the call made reserving the front passenger seat of an automobile. ‘shotgun protocol’ – refers to the establishment of the shotgun rule in its entirety. ‘deed’ – any activity or objective that directly precedes the ride in the automobile. ‘deed is done’ – the time frame upon which the deed has been completed and the calling of ‘shotgun’ is applicable. ‘caller’ – the person who calls ‘shotgun’. ‘driver’ – the owner or operator of the automobile to which ‘shotgun’ is being claimed. ‘the balk’ – when the door handle is lifted as the door is being unlocked, forcing the door to remain locked inconveniently and creating a hassle and annoyance for the driver. ‘the mule’ – a person who retains shotgun by continuing their tenure in the seat while others perform a deed outside the vehicle. ‘Rock Paper Scissors’ – is a popular decision settlement activity as per the Rock Paper Scissors Act 2010 (Obiter). ‘automobile’ - any motorised road transport vehicle with four or more seats designed to carry passengers for the purpose of transportation.
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4 – The reservation of the ‘shotgun’ requires; (a)
The word ‘shotgun’ to be announced clearly in earshot of the driver;
(b)
The automobile in the line of sight of the caller;
(c)
The call to be made outside.
5 – Shotgun may not be called if; (a) The door handle of the ‘shotgun’ seat is already being held by another; (b) call;
If a member of the party is seated in the shotgun seat prior to the
(c)
A ‘mule’ retains the seat appropriately.
6 – Calling shotgun is acceptable providing the deed is; (a)
Done before ‘shotgun’ is called;
(b)
If the deed is outdoors, then the deed must be complete prior to the calling of shotgun;
(c)
This is confirmed by the driver stating ‘the deed is done’.
7 – The benefits of calling ‘shotgun’ will be void pursuant to any or all of the following actions; (a)
If ‘shotgun’ is called indoors;
(b)
If the caller is not wearing shoes;
(c)
If there is blatant disregard for the shotgun protocol as per this Act;
(d) (e)
If a person calls shotgun while outside then re-enters a building at any time, this is know as the re-entry clause and allows ‘shotgun’ to then be claimed by any claimant so willing to do so; if the caller initiates a ‘balk’ action.
8 – Multiple callers and/or unpredictable dispute resolution shall be settled by; (a)
The performance of a Rock, Paper, Scissors between adversarial callers and;
(b)
The clear winner of 3 rounds of the game mentioned in s8(a) receiving the rights to the ‘Shotgun’ pursuant to all other terms outlined in this Act.
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Introducing: Wilbur J
The first four years are the hardest: Lessons for law students
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words & images Wilbur Jordan
When I was ask to write a humour column for The Obiter, at first I dissented (law joke!). I’ve never really considered myself funny. I would, instead, like to think of myself as a kind of go-to guy. Don’t let the beard fool you, I’m a nice enough guy. I once almost gave to one of those dollar-a-day charities you see floating around the streets, until I panicked and gave the poor bloke completely false details. I hope, somewhere, there really is a 32-year-old British man named Phillip Gherkin who lives with his Mum and talks with an accent that can only be compared to somebody choking. So I digress (law joke?) and with a crop of fresh meat arriving next trimester, I thought I’d share with you some of the things I’ve learnt after three years of studious University studies -- which sounds a lot better than drinking cider at the pub.
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1. If a guy in a giant chicken outfit handed you a packet saying ‘not for soft cocks’ at Orientation, it probably wasn’t hot sauce.
2. If you’re choosing to sport a spiffy nickname, like Wilbur, or even The Big Cheese (it’s a work in progress), you may want to make sure your friends actually know it’s not your real name. And that, come Contracts B Negotiation time, they don’t then put you in a group under your nickname, so that you then have to explain to Charles Rickett why he’s put you in two separate groups under two different names, to which he will then berate you for in front of your entire peer group. This is all hypothetical of course (thanks a lot, Svenson). The author of this piece in his early law
school years, demonstrating tips #14 and #15.
3. To add to that, if you’re going to have any classes with Charles at all, don’t let yourself wear obscene headwear, such as propeller hats. You will become Charles’ new whipping boy. Also, they aren’t cool. 4. Just joking. Propeller hats will always be cool.
5. Before you start any criminal subjects with David Plater, make sure you understand the concept of Morris Dancing. It’ll save you quite a lot of confusion later on. 6. Consider wearing a name tag, otherwise you’ll be “the guy with the beard” for the rest of the trimester. 7. Grow a beard. 8. Relevance? There is none. 9. The Worldsend is not an appropriate place to study for a Torts B test. 10. It IS an appropriate place to drink your woes away after a Torts B test. 11. You’ll never get a better description of the tort of assault than seeing Julia Davis threaten the class with a pretend bazooka. 12. It’s also probably not appropriate to encourage your mate to share three whole jugs of cider with you right before his Law Society & Justice presentation. But it sure is funny. 13. You’ll be told throughout your studies that starting assignments the night before they are due is never truly ideal, but hell, you think, challenge accepted! Then it’s six in the morning, your Legal Research & Writing research assignment is due at nine, you and a friend started it at midnight, you’ve been working all night and then all of a sudden your friend’s grandad is knocking on the door
The Worldsend is not an appropriate place to study for a Torts B test.
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humour
because it’s time to wake up. You now notice the sun is shining through the window. A rooster is crowing, tormenting you, while you struggle to keep them eye lids prepped. With over a thousand words still to go you now start to realise, deep down, that you probably should have listened to your lecturers. Also, what is life?
14. Fuzzy pink ponchos are acceptable attire for late night lectures. 15. Fuzzy pink ponchos are acceptable full stop. 16. Go to the first tutorial for Corporate. Write the answers down. Withdraw from the subject. Re-enrol the following trimester. Go to that same tutorial. Surprise Lorenzo by giving him all the correct answers. If you’re lucky, you can then cruise the rest of Corporate Law without having to say a word. a. Please note: I don’t condone dropping subjects. I believe in you! 17. In the excitement of your first law pub crawl, don’t give the only key to your hotel room to the drunkest member of your party. Before you know it they’ll be kicked out of Sugar for almost vomiting in the corner, pass out in the hotel room while you’re still in Sugar (and definitely not at Strats), refuse to answer their phone, and you’ll have to wait for management to come let you in while you stand in the freezing cold and dream of snuggly bed time. Do promptly slap their face when you finally get inside. 18. You will forget that the desks in the HH building lecture theatres aren’t stable, and you will lose your books behind the person in front of you. Several times. And some jerk sitting behind you will notice. And he will laugh obnoxiously loud. 19. Nine times out of ten that jerk will be me. 20. If the first Torts lecture of the trimester happens to fall on your birthday, to which you decide cider is a much more appropriate way to spend your day, you’ve probably got no hope of ever going back. 21. If the lecture slides look detailed, then it’s cider time, my friend. 22. I also don’t condone abandoning lectures for the pub. (Yes I do) And one final tip, for anybody about to sign the next four-to-five years of their life away to gruelling If one has been dared to dress as Father readings and assignments that will make you question your very existence, is never take advice Christmas for the Crim exam, one should. from me.
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Goodbye, Mr Hip The Obiter mourns a lost love Dear PLE, Since you told me that things were not working out and that you were leaving, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on the last four years.
What we had was special and although I do not understand it, I am trying to come to This male model may or may not bear an uncanny terms with your decision. resemblance to this subject of this letter Sure, you acted distant. But I knew from the way you purposely did not ask me any questions in class that you cared. You could tell I had woken up less than half an hour ago and was only just starting to deal with the world, or that I was still coming to terms with who did what to whom on Hindley St with a cider glass in the early hours of the morning. Now, there is a big you-sized hole in the heart of UniSA Law. Future generations will not know the rush of speaking to a lecturer whilst holding a couple of glasses of coopers on a pub crawl. Nor the strange, but not unpleasant, feeling of looking up at the Crown and Anchor on a Wednesday night and seeing a familiar, but out of place, face at the bar during happy hour.
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We will miss the sense of je ne sais quoi in every outfit you wore. You brought style to this institution. But most of all, we will miss the rumours constantly circulating about you, such as your black metal band whose name The Obiter cannot print because the law school would shut us down. But on that sad day, one rumour turned out to be true; you were leaving us for greener pastures (emphasis on the green $$$). Weren’t we good enough for you? What did we do to make you leave? Was it because we never did readings in Fundamentals of Criminal Law? Was it because one of The Obiter staff may have told your former Supreme Court colleagues that all the University girls all make sure to turn up to your classes because they think you’re a babe? (sozzle) When, exactly, did you stop loving us? Yours forever, UniSA Law School
Editor’s Note: The Obiter would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to PLE for his support of USALSA’s events, and his excellent teaching abilities in Criminal Law. We would like to pass on our heartfelt congratulations and wish him all the best in his future endeavours Faithfully, The Obiter
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all the usual suspects, snapped whilst out and about The first ever “The Obiter” event was held at the Mercury Cinema on September 27th, a Wednesday night. The event was attended by law students, members of the legal community and guest panelists from around Australia.
<
The panel answering an audience member’s question
< Attendees mingling before the film
The 2013 USALSA Quiz Night was held on Friday the 16th of August , at the Director’s Hotel. A huge thank you to Lipman Karas for their continuing support with this event. <
< Quiz masterminds distract the competition by acting unfazed, but are cleary cracking under the pressure
The victorious table graciously accept ing their prizes <
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the
is the new obiterstudent magazine for law students at UniSA.
While created by a core group of students, we can’t do it all...
that’s why we need your help. We want your contributions to this magazine to ensure it really is a magazine for all law students. Ifknow youofhave ideas for columns, an issue that needs addressing, or want to submit a story yourself, we want to hear from you...
get in touch with our friendly team...normally creating a ruckus in the library or ‘studying’ at the pub
or drop us an email at theobiter@usalsa.org
obiter the
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a USALSA publication © 2013