2019
Lawkipedia A Guide for New UNSW Law Students
Acknowledgments Education Publications Director Kelly Yoon Publication Design Kelly Yoon Graphic Design Dimitry Miroliubov, DinosoftLabs, Freepik, Kiranshastry, monkik, pongsakornRed, Smashicons, Vectors Market Other Contributors Aanika Matin Adarsh Jeggannagari Alex Zoras Alicia Chea Anne Yang Ashton Cook Cameron Graf Chelsea Wu Cherry Tang Chetan Immidi Chujing Cai Disha Mehta Eezu Tan Eli Hall Emma McQuaid Fletcher O’Connor
Ganeshmoorthy Chandrasekaran Hannah Choi Hannah Quinn Holly Yuan Huey Nin Woon Jack Wheatstone James Lamberton Jessica Lasky Jessica Shao Jim Tong Joshua Everett Justin Song Kimberly Yoon Kirstyn Ho Lachlan Smith Lavanya Kumar Leigh Gordon
Lilian Wan Leon Delnawaz Matthew Shields Melanie Lo Mika Rosewarne Monica Chen Natasha Hartanto Nicola Ray Penseng Wang Sam Lee Sarah Rose McKenzie Sharon Zhang Sophie Berton Stephanie Bian Von Bacani Zheng Liu
This Student Club publication is proudly supported by Arc. UNSW Law Society Inc 2019 DISCLAIMER The articles and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the UNSW Law Society Inc., the editors, or those of the UNSW Faculty of Law. Although the editor and authors have taken every care in preparing and writing the guide, they expressly disclaim and accept no liability for any errors, omissions, misuse or misunderstandings on the part of any person who uses or relies upon it. The editors, authors and the UNSW Law Society Inc. accept no responsibility for any damage, injury or loss occasioned to any person or entity, whether law student or otherwise, as a result of a person relying wholly or in part on any material included, omitted or implied in this publication.
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Editor’s Note Welcome to UNSW Law! It has been my pleasure to compile, design and edit Lawkipedia this year. Finding your feet in the first few weeks of law school can be tricky. There’s so much to take in; you may feel lost and overwhelmed. That’s where Lawkipedia comes in - it contains nuggets of wisdom that will help you navigate law school. Lawkipedia will give you a sense of what UNSW Law School is like and how LawSoc can enrich your uni experience. You can devour Lawkipedia from beginning to end like a novel, or simply flick through to find things that interest you. My advice to you is to give things a go. Uni is the time to explore, to experiment. You will discover new things about yourself and extend yourself beyond your limits. UNSW Law is a safe and accepting community of which I’m very proud to be a part. I encourage you to fully immerse yourself in this community and the wider UNSW community. Best of luck for your first year of law school! Kelly Yoon Education Publications Director
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Contents Presidents’ Welcome
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Settling Into Law School What Should I Expect? Excelling at Uni Leading a Balanced Lifestyle Top 10 Law Hacks
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Law Society Cabinet Meet the LawSoc Cabinet Activities Portfolio Administration Portfolio Education Portfolio International Portfolio Juris Doctor/Post Graduate Portfolio Mooting Portfolio Private Law Careers Portfolio Public Interest Careers Portfolio Skills Portfolio Social Justice Portfolio Secretary Treasurer
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Events and Opportunities Law Camp LawPLUS JD/PG Impact Mentoring Program Law Revue Law Ball Sport with LawSoc Wellbeing at Law School UNSW Law Journal Law Faculty Board Exchange
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Competitions Mooting Negotiations Client Interviewing Witness Examination Mediation
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Subject Guides Introducing Law & Justice Torts Principles of Public Law Principles of Private Law Crime and the Criminal Process
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Enrolment Tips Transport Guide Important Dates
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Presidents’ Welcome Hello there and welcome to UNSW Law! We are very excited and proud to be welcoming you into a community that will undoubtedly show you the same stimulation and support that it has us. As Law Society Presidents, our role is to try and enrich your student experience through any and all means possible - if you like to be challenged, we have a string of different competitions running year-round; if you like music, try out for the LawSoc Band; if you’re career-minded, we have public and private sector events that you can engage with - the list goes on! We strongly encourage you to make the most of university by getting involved with whatever catches your interest, whether it be mooting, client interviewing, or negotiations to social sports, policy writing or joining Law Revue. At the very least, start yourself off by visiting our O-Week stall, liking the UNSW Law Society Facebook page and registering for membership (we also have a LawSoc Discussion Forum on Facebook which is like our online community). We very much look forward to getting to know you throughout your time here and will hopefully see you at Law Camp or through our UG LawPLUS, JD/PG Impact or International Outreach peer mentoring programs! If you see us or any of the LawSoc Cabinet around campus, feel free to say “Hi”. Congratulations on your entry into UNSW Law! All the best Fletcher O’Connor and Natasha Hartanto UNSW Law Society Co-Presidents 2019
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Why did you choose UNSW Law? Fletcher: I didn’t actually get into UNSW Law straight from high school, but I was always set on studying here. After doing the roundtrip to each university’s open day, it was clear to me that UNSW was the best suited to my interests and personality. I worked hard in my first year to transfer and haven’t looked back. Natasha: I was tossing up between the law schools in Sydney and ANU for my UAC preferences and went to all of the Info Days to see what they were like. I chose UNSW Law for three main reasons: 1. UNSW culture is fantastic, with a heavy focus on maximising the experience of its students. This university offers so many opportunities for people to get involved with and is so open and welcoming that anyone can find a home here (in my humble opinion). 2. I spoke to the then-Dean of Law (now turned lecturer), David Dixon, after the UNSW Law presentation and he was really nice, supportive and seemed to really care about his students. Culture starts from the top and he seemed like he was instilling a really positive one that’s only been continued by our current Dean, George Williams. 3. The learning style at UNSW Law is extremely unique, forcing you to bring your best to each class and engage closely with the material.
What did you expect law school to be like as a first year? Have your expectations changed since? Fletcher: I was terrified. I thought that the lecturers would be harsh and the workload will be overwhelming. While it was challenging at first, it quickly became clear that the courseload is not only bearable but enjoyable and very diverse. The further you progress through your degree, the more your previous courses begin to pay dividends and it all pieces together.
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Natasha: I was very apprehensive of law school, having heard somewhat negative things about it. None of my family are lawyers and people I knew studying law only complained about the readings and how people aren’t the friendliest. What I’ve found, however, is quite the opposite of what I expected - everyone at UNSW Law has been so easy to get along with. I have met some of the kindest and most supportive people I have ever known at this law school and, whilst you might struggle through the readings, we all struggle together and grow closer for it.
What is your favourite thing about UNSW Law? Fletcher: The simple pleasure of being able to walk through the Law Building and almost certainly run into several like-minded peers who’ve become friends over the years. Natasha: The people make such a supportive, wild and wacky community - it wouldn’t be the same without them!
What do you need to know about Natasha? Fletcher: Tash loves her adventures and strong bevie to cap off a big week. Speaking of big weeks, this is every week as Tash swings from achievement to achievement :)
What do you need to know about Fletcher? Natasha: Fletch is a bit of a triple threat - he was in Law Revue cast in 2017 and absolutely smashed it (including a dance number dressed in a crop top and fishnets - if you’re going to Facebook stalk anyone, stalk him and start there)!
What is your favourite quote? Fletcher: “Do more.” - Casey Neistat Natasha: “This is life. Do your best and don’t be a d*ck.” - Russell Howard Lawkipedia 2019
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What should I expect? Arriving as a High School Student When I first entered UNSW Law, I was terrified and didn’t know how I was meant to make friends. On the morning of my first class, I was over an hour early so I could find my class, and when I arrived I met another anxiously early student. We both tried to open the door, but couldn’t, so we started chatting outside the room. As more students began to arrive we gathered outside the door - as we had promptly told everyone the door was locked. Then, five minutes before the class, an older student breezed past us and through the door that we had proclaimed was locked. The room was half full with our other classmates, who had watched us through the glass window try and fail to open the door. That embarrassment became the foundation of a friendship, and we’re still best friends two years later. First lesson of law school - the doors in the law building are heavy! Sarah Rose McKenzie Third year Arts/Law
Arriving as a Rural Student Moving from the small country town of Bathurst to the big city was intimidating. I wasn’t sure if my daggy shorts and thongs were going to fit in with the cool, urban kids of Sydney. When I first arrived at UNSW, I found that a lot of people had come in groups from high school and I felt awkward coming into a pre-established group. Luckily, I was able to find an amazing group of people in my first Private Laws class who were just as goofy and clueless as I was. We bonded over our mutual misunderstandings of readings and assignments and eventually have become a group I’d easily call my home away from home. For people coming into UNSW from the country, my piece of advice is to be open to people in your law class. They will become your best of friends throughout your degree and you’ll rely on them to help you with work, eat burritos at Guzman y Gomez and to take squad photos at law ball.
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Melanie Lo Commerce/Law
Arriving as a Transfer Student Congratulations on making the leap to UNSW Law! What lies ahead is an exciting, challenging and rewarding few years. It may seem daunting and difficult to adjust to at first, however you’ll soon find that the people here are incredibly welcoming and there are countless people willing to lend a hand. Coming in as a transfer student presents new challenges in itself; meeting a new cohort, adjusting to the increased reading load, getting those class participation marks, etc. However, it is also a great opportunity, with those first-year jitters out of the way, to really put yourself out there - so get involved! UNSW Law offers so many great opportunities from testing your mettle in skills competitions or social sport to volunteering with LawSoc Crew or partying away at one of our socials, there really is something for everyone. The best advice I received when I transferred is that at UNSW Law you really do get out what you put in. So of course, keep working hard, but while you’re here, push yourself and you’ll get so much more from this experience! James Lamberton Fourth year Commerce/Law So you’ve spent a while in university, and you’ve attained the grades to enter law school as a transfer student. Congratulations on all your hard work up to this point, and on your decision to study law at UNSW! There are countless things to look forward to. Law school operates on a seminar-style system wherein students can connect and discuss the material with their tutor and each other more closely and easily. This gives you an opportunity to get to know your classmates and possibly meet some friends for life. Law school also provides you with plenty of opportunities to read riveting articles, learn how to conduct legal research and participate in workshops to hone your skills as a budding lawyer. In summary, law school is an amazing opportunity to learn more about the world around you, meet new people and grow as a person. Enjoy every moment of it! Von Bacani Fourth year
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Arriving as an International Student When you first enter the classroom, you will be greeted by a sea of new faces, a foreign environment, an echo of shyness or more likely than not, a chorus of chatter. You face two choices – to talk to your neighbour or wait for someone to befriend you. Choose the former. Introduce yourself and initiate conversations; friendships offer that boost of encouragement to make the most of law school and enjoy the journey of learning together. The legal jargon can be overwhelming and the concepts confusing – a shared experience for many law students. Reading cases, grasping principles, penning good arguments and making succinct notes are skills you hone throughout your degree. Therefore, do not be discouraged if you struggle at the start. Practice makes perfect and seek help or tips when you need them. You will discover that others readily empathise and ultimately benefit from your questions too. Huey Nin Woon Third year Arts/Law
Arriving as a Juris Doctor Student “What are you studying?” “JD.” The reaction might be “WOW.” Enjoy it, because it could be one of the few things you enjoy in your first JD semester. Most JDs come to UNSW Law with their own pride and wisdom. They might be top students from global universities of CEOs. Some may already have two or more Master’s degrees in other fields. Arriving as one of them, the most important thing is to never give up. Everyone suffers from mountains of reading and brutal feedback compared with our past shining academic results. As a JD, we’re used to performing well, but the JD program itself is a challenge and we start from zero. Doing law, we have a lot of self-denial. However, as time goes by, you will be strong enough to get yourself together till the end. Take the time to learn. Enjoy the “wows” from people and live with your new pride and wisdom. Chujing (Charlene) Cai Graduate Juris Doctor 11
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Excelling at Uni Plan Ahead • • • • • •
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Check the UNSW Library website before trimester begins to see which textbooks you need to buy for your subjects. You can get a headstart on readings by having a look at the reading guides which are uploaded to Moodle about a week before classes begin. Set weekly reminders for when your assignments are due so you don’t end up doing a last-minute scramble. You can do readings in advance if you know that a particular part of the trimester will be particularly busy. Time management is key! Start on assignments as soon as they are released. Invest your time and effort proportionate to the weighting of the assessment task. For example, it may be tempting to spend many hours on the Introducing Law and Justice Court Report as it is your very first assignment in Law School and you want to do well. However, it is simply not worth pouring fastidiously over every tiny detail of your ILJ Court Report since it is only worth 10%. You would be better off spending more time on making good notes in preparation for your final exam, which is worth much more of your grade. Try to reference as you go for assignments. It’s much less stressful than spending an entire day doing referencing at the end of writing, especially if you do your assignments last minute.
Find a Support Network •
Forming a study group can help to lighten the voluminous load of readings. Study groups are also very helpful for sharing ideas about assignments and final exam topics. • Don’t be afraid to ask lecturers questions. Although you may be intimidated at first, most of them are actually very friendly and more than willing to help. Lawkipedia 2019
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Leading a Balanced Lifestyle Balancing uni, work and maintaining a social life is a challenge and it can take some time finding the right balance that works for you. Although getting good grades is important and something that we should strive for, devoting all your time to study is definitely not the right answer. University is a time to learn, grow and have new experiences. I hope that these few tips will help make uni life a lot more enjoyable for you!
2. Be organised with your schedule Knowing what your commitments are and staying on top of them is an important skill to have when balancing uni with other key areas of your life. For me this meant making sure that in a week, I was devoting enough time to each key area. For example, I would devote three days to uni, two days for work and keep the weekends free. Having a thoughtful schedule is extremely important in the long run as it keeps you on track.
3. Get enough sleep I cannot overstress the importance of getting enough enough sleep as a student. It not only makes a huge difference to the quality of learning, but the more focused you are in class, the less time you need to spend at home going over the material again. Doing your readings and actively learning in class takes a lot of energy so make sure you get enough hours of sleep!
4. Talk to someone when you are struggling What’s great about learning in a group environment is that you get to meet people who are often going through the same things as you. Work with your friends, work as a team and help each other get through uni together. Not only does that make uni more bearable, but also a lot more enjoyable. Hannah Choi Fourth year International Studies/ Law 13
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Top 10 Law Hacks
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Keep up-to-date with readings
Although doing readings can be tedious and time-consuming, you will thank yourself for keeping up with readings when the stress fest of the final exam period rolls around. It’s also almost impossible to gather those Class Participation marks if you don’t do your readings.
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Write your own notes
You will consolidate your knowledge of the content much better if you summarise the articles and case law yourself. Your notes should be organised in a way that makes sense to you. Don’t feel pressured to write your notes in a particular way.
Form a study group
Law lecturers constantly encourage students to collaborate with each other when learning content and discussing ideas for assignments. You can divide readings between group members to ensure that you finish all the readings on time. Just remember to reword and rearrange others’ notes so that you make sure that you understand the content.
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Join Law Peer Tutoring
Peer Tutoring is a free service which pairs first year students with older students who scored highly in first year subjects. The small group setting is intimate and effective, allowing you to ask questions freely. Sign up ASAP via Moodle - spots fill up quickly!
Join Law Plus Peer Mentoring
LawPLUS is the perfect way to meet new people and make new friends outside of your law classes. You will also be guided by wonderful mentors in the older years who will help you settle into law school. Lawkipedia 2019 14
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Join the UNSW Law Society Facebook Discussion Forum and Textbook Exchange
Keep up to date with everything LawSoc has to offer by joining the Facebook Discussion Forum at: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/unswlawsociety/ . Find cheap(er) secondhand textbooks at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/154972171333330/ .
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Try out a LawSoc Competition
Mooting. Negotiations. Client interviewing. Witness examination. Mediation. There’s something to interest everyone! The competitions will extend you beyond your class work and expose you to more facets of the legal profession than you ever knew about. They also provide opportunities to bond with fellow competitors over late nights spent in preparation.
Attend a LawSoc Event
LawSoc has no shortage of events throughout the year; from the Social Justice Conference and Mental Health Day to Law Journal Launches and Legal Skills Workshops, attending LawSoc events is a great way to meet new people and learn important things about the law and beyond.
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Attend End-of-Semester Exam Workshops
Organised by LawSoc, these workshops are run by older students who have scored highly in the subjects, and will provide tips and tricks to get those elusive HDs. You will have the opportunity to discuss problem questions and past exams, which is a great way to test your knowledge.
Organise your exam folder well
Since law exams are open-book, you don’t want to waste time flipping through pages and pages of unsorted, untabbed and uncolour-coded notes. Keep your exam notes short and sweet. Anything that will help you locate information more quickly in the exam is highly recommended!
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Meet the LawSoc Cabinet
The Cabinet is the student-elected body which oversees the day-to-day operations of LawSoc. Led by Co-Presidents, Fletcher and Natasha, the team consists of 10 Vice-Presidents leading various portfolios; the Secretary; and the Treasurer. Check out each Cabinet member’s profile to get to know them a bit better and to glean more information on the exciting initiatives you can get involved in! • • • • •
Activities Administration Education International Juris Doctor/Post Graduate
• Mooting
• • • • • •
Private Law Careers Public Interest Careers Skills Social Justice Secretary Treasurer Lawkipedia 2019
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Activities
Nicola Ray activities@unswlawsoc.org
What is the Activities Portfolio? The Activities Portfolio is the primary social arm of the Law Society. We are responsible for ensuring all law students have an enjoyable, well-rounded university experience. The Portfolio goes to great lengths to ensure first year and transfer students have a smooth transition into their new life as a UNSW Law student. We are responsible for organising large and small scale social events such as the annual Law Ball and First Year Law Camp, as well as running social sports, the Law Band, and our peer mentoring program, LawPLUS.
What vision do you have for the portfolio in 2019? To keep the drinks pouring and the good times rolling. In all seriousness though, I’m extremely passionate about the way the Activities Portfolio brings together our beautiful, diverse Law School. I want to build upon the work of past VPs by running varied, engaging programs that appeal to the broadest range of people possible. If my initiatives help one person forge a lifelong friendship, I’ll consider that a great personal achievement.
Key Events & How to Get Involved T1: LawPLUS - all those in First Year are encouraged to apply as mentees T1: First Year Law Camp - all those in First Year are encouraged to attend T1: LawSoc Launch Party - a great post-camp rendez-vous T3: The annual Law Ball T3: End of Year Party - a post-exam party like no other! Law Band - under the guidance of our wonderful band directors, James and Leslie, we are looking forward to another year of breathtaking musical performances at major events such as Law Ball and Lawlapalooza. Stay tuned for auditions! LawSoc Social Sports - a great way to flex those first XI sportsmanship skills. 17
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Favourite Quote “Either this wallpaper goes or I do.” – Oscar Wilde (on his deathbed)
Administration
Justin Song administration@unswlawsoc.org
What is the Administration Portfolio? The Administration Portfolio is the bridge that connects students to the Law Society. We are responsible for both the internal functioning of LawSoc, and showcasing its professional image so that everything you see, hear and know about LawSoc is of top quality. We market all LawSoc initiatives through our very own website and on our various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and WeChat. The Administration Portfolio is also in charge of improving students’ wellbeing by providing entertaining video updates; delivering all useful information of upcoming events through The Brief; and supplying students with Law Society merchandise.
What vision do you have for the portfolio in 2019? To increase transparency within the Law Society to encourage wider student engagement. The Law Society website will be completely renovated so that it will be easier for students to read whilst also improving its aesthetic quality. The Administration Portfolio will also engage with the students by constructively working off all feedback provided in relation to Law Society merchandise.
Key Events & How to Get Involved T1: Applications for LawSoc merchandise will be open in early to mid-Trimester 1. Some examples of the Law Society Merchandise are our famous clothing, hats, keep-cups, etc. LawSoc Crew - becoming a member of the LawSoc Crew is a very rewarding experience as you will be you will be invited to assist any portfolio via e-mail on a volunteer basis. Make sure you sign up to be a member of the LawSoc Crew at our O-Week Stall!
Favourite Quote “I hate going to the kitchen and finding out I’m the only snack in the house.” – Ryan Harris
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Education
Aanika Matin education@unswlawsoc.org
What is the Education Portfolio? The Education portfolio aims to facilitate students’ academic development, professional skill development and personal wellbeing. We do this through a range initiatives and opportunities that complement the work of the Law Faculty to ensure that students make the most out of their Law degree at UNSW.
What vision do you have for the portfolio in 2019? To ensure that we continue to meet students’ changing needs following the shift to the trimester system. I hope to collaborate with my team to provide well-executed and value-adding events and initiatives that cater to the needs of all law students LLB, JD, domestic and international.
Key Events & How to Get Involved Academic • Attend course revision workshops. (Alternatively, you can volunteer to present them.) Mentoring • Become a mentee for the Career Compass Program. Applications open early T1. Publications • Contribute to the various Education publications, such as the Education Guide. Expressions of Interest will be advertised on the Law Society Facebook Discussion Forum. Wellbeing • Volunteer with the Wellbeing Warriors. Applications are open now - see the LawSoc Facebook page. • Attend various wellbeing initiatives throughout the year. 19
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Favourite Quote “You live and you learn.”
International
Holly Yuan international@unswlawsoc.org
What is the International Portfolio? The International Portfolio aims to represent the interests of international students at UNSW Law and facilitate careers opportunities for those interested in pursuing international private law careers.
What vision do you have for the portfolio in 2019? To increase the inclusivity of international students into the wider law student community. I understand that sometimes LawSoc can seem domestic student-centric, so this year, we aim to better listen to and cater for international students’ needs.
Key Events & How to Get Involved T1, W5: Hong Kong Law Fair T1, W8: Social BBQ T2, W9: Trivia Night T2, TBA: International Firm Presentation T2, TBA: Study Skills Workshop T3, W3: Movie Night T3: International Firm Presentation T3: Study Skills Workshop
Favourite Quote “If everything seems under control, you’re not going fast enough.” – Mario Andretti
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Juris Doctor/Post Graduate
Emma McQuaid jdpg@unswlawsoc.org
What is the JD/PG Portfolio? The JD/PG Portfolio provides a community at UNSW Law for Juris Doctor and Postgraduate students. It can be daunting to return to uni, whether full time or part time, and we want to help make the transition as smooth and fun as possible. With our variety of events and programs throughout the year, JDs and PGs will be able to create long lasting bonds and learn how to excel at law school together.
What vision do you have for the portfolio in 2019? To be increasingly inclusive. The JD and PG programs have such diverse groups of students - domestic, international, full time, part time and working, Kensington campus, CBD campus, parents, and more! Our team has worked hard to ensure that we’ve got something for everyone planned this year.
Key Events & How to Get Involved T1: JD/PG Peer Mentoring Program - sign up to be a mentee on the UNSW Peer Mentoring website and the live facebook event open on Jan 10. TBA: Black Tie Dinner TBA: TGIF Drinks We have a lot of events so the best way to keep updated is by joining our Facebook group: “UNSW JD/Postgrad”.
Favourite Quote “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky
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Mooting
Leigh Gordon mooting@unswlawsoc.org
What is the Mooting Portfolio? The Mooting Portfolio directs, oversees and curates UNSW’s internal mooting competitions. The competitions are an opportunity for you to develop your skills of legal writing, legal research, advocacy and presentation. Mooting is a simulated court proceeding in which students must prepare written and oral submissions on a legal problem. It is one of the most important extracurricular activities we offer at UNSW. It is your first real opportunity to apply the new skills and techniques you have started to pick up in class, and it is an excellent way to challenge yourself to look and think beyond the theoretical principles in your textbooks. Participating in mooting not only improves how you approach assignments and exams during your degree, but it also leads to opportunities to represent UNSW at external competitions across Australia and overseas.
What vision do you have for the portfolio in 2019? To create a welcoming, inclusive and engaging mooting program for students of all skill levels. Our goal is to simultaneously encourage new students to get involved, and to help experienced competitors continue to develop their skills. Mooting is challenging but extremely worthwhile, and it is our goal to ensure that as many students as possible have a positive mooting experience.
Key Events & How to Get Involved T1, W3: Introductory workshop and demonstration moot T1, W4: Round 1 of the Beginners Mooting Competition T1, W6: Round 1 of the Intermediate Mooting Competition T1, W6: Round 1 of the Senior Mooting Competition
Favourite Quote “Apply yourself to [the law] continuously, as everything is in it. And in it should you look, and grow old and be worn in it; and from it do not move, as there is no characteristic greater than it.” – Pirkei Avot 5:22
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Private Law Careers
Stephanie Bian privatelawcareers@unswlawsoc.org
What is the PLC Portfolio? Private Law Careers aims to support and guide students in their career pursuits, by providing information, workshops for developing professional skills, and opportunities to speak to professionals in their field of interest.
What vision do you have for the portfolio in 2019? Whilst our events have been predominantly targeted at penultimate students, I’d like for our initiatives to become more inclusive this year. From past experience the same demographic attends these events every year. I want to ensure that younger students also feel comfortable attending private law careers events and feel they get something out of them. We are also looking at more ways we can support our penultimate students with a more personal approach.
Key Events & How to Get Involved T1 W6 - T2 W3: Firm Presentations & Skills Workshops Series T1, W7: Clerkship Buddy Program Launch & Clerkship Q&A T1, W8 (8 April): Private Law Careers Fair - you can volunteer T1, W10: Mock Interview Workshop T2, W2: Clerkship Cocktail Evening T3, W3: Practical Legal Training Presentations Publications Private Law Careers Guide
Favourite Quote “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there” – Will Rogers 23
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Public Interest Careers
Jim Tong publicinterestcareers@unswlawsoc.org
What is the PIC Portfolio? The Public Interest Careers Portfolio aims to provide guidance and support for law students interested in a career related to the Public Interest sector. This is achieved through workshops, information panels and networking events with professionals from the industry.
What vision do you have for the portfolio in 2019? Last year we experienced historic growth whilst also creating the inaugural Public Interest Careers Fair. In 2019, my vision for the Public Interest Careers Portfolio is to continue this trend of growth in order to spread awareness about the wide range of opportunities available in the public interest sector. Along with this, I wish to create engaging discussions surrounding contemporary issues. This includes the increasing role of innovation and technology in the legal sphere as well as the importance of criminal law in society.
Key Events & How to Get Involved T1, W4: Associates and Tipstaves T1, W 5: Introduction to Legal Tech T1, W7: NGO Networking Night T2, W4:Public Interest Careers Fair T2, W5: Criminal Laws Panel T2, W6: Pro-bono in Corporate T2, W7: Disrupt Hackathon T3, W2: Careers at the bar T3, W4: Careers in IP Panel T3, W6: Careers in government and politics Publications Public Interest Careers Guide
Favourite Quote “A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for.” – John A. Shedd.
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Skills
Leon Delnawaz skills@unswlawsoc.org
What is the Skills Portfolio? The Skills Portfolio is responsible for running four types of competitions each year. These competitions include: Negotiations, Witness Examination, Client Interviewing and Mediation. The purpose of running these competitions is to help you develop your problem solving, critical thinking and other practical legal skills. Not only will these skills help you while studying, but they will also prove to be of great value when moving into the legal profession.
What vision do you have for the portfolio in 2019? To put a greater emphasis student development. Through the use of comprehensive feedback to competitors and more targeted workshops and review sessions, competitors will be put in the best position to enhance their skills. I also want to create a more inclusive atmosphere by making competitions more accessible to any UNSW Law Student and encouraging newcomers to compete whilst still catering towards the more experienced competitors.
Key Events & How to Get Involved T1 W2: Negotiations Workshop T1 W3: Client Interviewing Workshop T1 W4: Witness Examination Workshop T1 W6 - W7: Beginner Witness Examination Practice Round T1 W7 - W8: Beginner and Intermediate Negotiations Practice Round T1 W9 - W10: Beginner Client Interviewing Practice Round Keep an eye out on the UNSW LawSoc Discussion forum and the LawSoc Brief for information about registering and the brand new Mediation Competition being run in Term 2!
Favourite Quote 25
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“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” – Albert Einstein
Social Justice
Sophie Berton socialjustice@unswlawsoc.org
What is the Social Justice Portfolio? The Social Justice Portfolio aims to create an inclusive environment where all students feel welcome and empowered to make positive change. We aim to improve awareness about social injustices and advocate for minority groups within our law school. We will achieve this through ‘hands-on’ initiatives, government submissions, awareness seminars and the Court of Conscience Publication.
What vision do you have for the portfolio in 2019? To be a supportive voice for minority and vulnerable law students. I am excited to have a range of new events and initiatives that will run in 2019 such as ‘What is Policy Submission?’, ‘Nura Gili vs Lawsoc Sports Event’, ‘#SH’ which focuses on Sexual Harassment through the medium of art, and many more!!
Key Events & How to Get Involved • • • • • • • •
Textbook drive, a Bra drive and the Social Justice Conference Contributors will be needed for submissions to the NSW Law Reform Commission and Government Inquiries Court of Conscience - you can be a member of the editing team Indigenous Welcome and End of year BBQs, NAIDOC week events and a Nura Gili vs LawSoc Sports event Ethno-cultural Diversity in the Workplace seminar, World Refugee Day and a mentoring scheme. LGBTQIA+ Roundtable event, Queer Beers, Big Queer Moot Herbert Smith Freehills Wom*n’s Mentoring, Wom*n in Public Law, Share the dignity drive and Sexual Harassment Art installations (ARTISTS NEEDED) Join Lawsoc Wom*n’s Collective on Facebook
Favourite Quote “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” – Winston Churchill
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Secretary
Ashton Cook secretary@unswlawsoc.org
What is the role of the Secretary? The Secretary oversees the governance, compliance and internal administration of the Law Society. On a day-to-day basis, the Secretary takes and publishes minutes, sets agendas and collates reports from VPs for Cabinet meetings. More broadly, the Secretary ensures that the Society acts in accordance with its Constitution and Regulations; complies with relevant statutory requirements; and liaises with external stakeholders such as NSW Fair Trading, the Australian Charities and Non-for-profit Commission, and Arc@UNSW
What is your favourite thing about UNSW Law? The wealth of extra-curricular activities and support services available to UNSW Law students. The student-run Law Society offers so many diverse and novel positions - there is really something for everyone. Additionally, the Law Faculty provides its students with valuable academic and career guidance services.
Favourite Quote “Start the way you aim to finish.” – John Weeks 27
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Treasurer
Matthew Shields treasurer@unswlawsoc.org
What is the role of the Treasurer? The Treasurer is responsible for arranging the society’s finances and ensuring we are able to fund all of our events. The Treasurer works closely with the Presidents at the start of the year to budget our money and keeps the portfolios in check regarding their spending throughout the year. Additionally, as LawSoc is an ACNC registered charity and has recently become incorporated, the Treasurer produces our financial reports and liaises with our accountants and external organisations to ensure we are meeting our obligations.
What is your favourite thing about UNSW Law? The people. No matter where you go in the law school, there will always be a smiling face to lend you advice and a helping hand on offer.
Favourite Quote “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower Lawkipedia 2019
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Law Camp
I don’t think you get a sense of how important law camp can be when you are there on the science lawn waiting nervously for the buses to arrive with your other equally nervous first years. At the time, for me at least, it felt like going to my first day of school again, itching to make new friends and going through all the different embarrassing situations I might subject myself to. In hindsight, law camp was one of the most formative experiences of my time at university. Apart from being really fun and exciting, you make a lot of connections which will stay with you for your time at uni and very likely for the rest of your life. Meeting so many like minded people that come from so many different walks of life really gives you a sense of community. A big part of that community is being able to talk to leaders and other mentors during the camp. Having very easily accessible information about the way university works is immensely beneficial for a first year student. Moreover, you are able to see people in the years above you flourish, make a name for themselves and be somewhat of an inspiration and a target for those new to the law society. Law camp also gives first years an opportunity to be exposed to all the different facets of LawSoc. From sports to mentoring programs such as LawPLUS to social events to even the social justice elements. Law camp provides an in depth introduction to the possibilities and paths that are offered in the law society and is one of the best opportunities for new students to begin to make the most of the university experience. 29
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Chetan Immidi Second year Arts/Law
Law Camp 2019 March 1-3 Broken Bay Sport and Recreation Centre Cost: $200+ (TBA) At LawSoc, we want to ensure that everyone can enjoy the full experience of law school. To see if you’re eligible for a Law Camp equity grant, email Nicola at activities@unswlawsoc.org. Keep an eye out for the release of Law Camp tickets via The Brief and Facebook!
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Transitioning from high school into uni can be a pretty daunting experience, especially when you’re faced with a shortage of familiar faces around campus. Law Camp is conveniently during the first weeks of uni and honestly, there’s no better way to make new friends than living with each other on an island for three days! Law Camp life can involve heaps of exciting activities like chilling at the beach or sharing hilarious banter and having a blast with your new mates! Not to mention that the law camp party is the most hyped and legendary rave from LawSoc that you’ll be talking about it for years! Being placed in a situation where you’re made to socialise is seriously one of the most incredible things to happen at uni, and it will keep happening if you put yourself out there. Camp is a great way to take that step and in doing so, you’re going to able to have D&Ms with strangers-turned-besties for years to come! I mean there’s no one better to share the pressures of managing readings you’ll never do and assignments you’ll be scrambling to submit at 3:59pm when they’re due at 4pm! It's an absolutely unforgettable experience! Lavanya Kumar Second year Criminology/Law
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LawPLUS The LawPLUS Peer Mentoring Program aims to help integrate first year students into university and the Law program. New students are put into groups and assigned mentors from older years with a scheduled meet-up time each week. A lot of students start their degree knowing only a few other people in their year, if any. The LawPLUS program provides a structured and supportive environment to meet other people in first year. Furthermore, mentors can provide a great source of advice, personal anecdotes and support. Having a student who has experienced what you are about to go through means they can relate to your problems and make sure that you aren’t making the same mistakes they made. All in all, the program offers a great opportunity to get yourself involved with the law program and we’d love to have you on board for 2019! Eli Hall LawPLUS Director 2019 lawplus@unswlawsoc.org
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Starting Law at University can seem like such a daunting prospect, especially in the first few days as you get acquainted with the wonderful world of readings and the rule of law. This is why LawPLUS is a such a great program, because not only do you get to interact with chill mentors who’ve gone through it all before, but it’s also a great chance to meet your fellow peers. Your peers truly help you get through your law degree, from freaking out over assessments together to celebrating post exams. I’ve been very lucky to have been both a mentee and mentor before, and I can honestly attest to how useful the program can be; from being able to get your bearings to asking all those crazy questions that you are too scared ask lecturers. Ganeshmoorthy Chandrasekaran Fourth year Commerce/Law
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JD/PG Impact Mentoring Program The JD/PG Impact Mentoring Program is a peer group mentoring program designed to assist new Juris Doctor and other postgraduate law students in adjusting to life at UNSW Law. Its aim is to provide an informal and comfortable environment through weekly group meetings with more experienced students. This allows new students to seek advice, interact and learn from their peers. Attend group meetings with mentors on a weekly basis (from Week One until Week Seven). The content of the meetings will be catered to your needs and you may also request for group meetings to be organised in the CBD campus. If you wish to sign up or have any questions, please email me at: jdpg.mentoring@unswlawsoc.org. Disha Mehta JD/PG Mentoring Director
My mentors shared their personal experiences with us as well as useful tips and resources on how to get through law school. It was nice to know there was someone who could relate with my problems and give advice. Also, that one hour’s meeting gave us a chance to unwind and make social connections, during a very busy first semester.
My mentors not only became my friends but also helped me learn how to handle the stress and made me feel confident. Most importantly, I knew someone had my back. Zheng Liu Second year
Juris Doctor
Penseng Wang First year Juris Doctor
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Law Revue Singing. Acting. Dancing. Comedy. Designing. Publishing. Nurturing. Marketing.
If any of those words caught your eye, congratulations! You may just be crazy enough to join the life-shaping experience that is Law Revue, a show created and performed by students annually. Revue has always been one of the more unique aspects to the law school community and has been a quintessential part of the UNSW Law student experience for many since 1976. From the bravado of performing in the spotlight with cast or band, to the stealthy maneuvering of props or dazzling with stage lights in the tech crew. From sharpening your culinary skills in the wellbeing team, to being a welcoming, ushering face in the front of house. With boundless opportunities for creative, personal, and professional development, there’s a place for everyone and anyone. Do not be fooled by the name, Law Revue is not limited by degree, graduate level or even university. With such a diverse community, there’s no better way to immerse yourself in the ultimate university experience, while making lifelong friends. It’s a great way to bond further with your fellow law students while extending friendships to students university-wide. Some final advice: your comfort zone is not something that is constant. It shrinks and expands like a muscle. Flex that muscle and you will be pleasantly surprised how well it goes. Test that muscle a bit and you will find a liking to it. Train it with an incredible team and you will be amazed at what you can achieve in a few weeks and the lasting gains you will make.
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Law Revue Executives 2019 Eezu Tan, Lachlan Smith, Mika Rosewarne (Directors) Joshua Everett, Jack Wheatstone, Chelsea Wu (Producers)
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What started off as mindlessly filling out what felt like my hundredth expression of interest form at the Law Revue booth during the chaos that is O-Week, quite easily became one of the best decisions of my life. Going into law school, I was filled with nervous anticipation. I was excited to “start a new chapter of my life” as they say, but the thought of making new friends outside of those I had in high school was enough to make my stomach churn. While it was possible to form friendships with those in my lectures and tutorials, it wasn’t until I joined Law Revue where I found a genuine community of life-long friends and mentors from various different backgrounds and degrees. As someone who was an avid audience member of my high school theatre productions but never thought I was good enough to be on stage, Law Revue helped boost my confidence and show me that that was not the case. Not only did it illuminate strengths that I was completely unaware of, but it challenged me to venture out of my comfort zone and try things that high school me would never have dreamed of doing. From the gruelling seven-week process of rehearsals to the roaring applause at the end of our final show, words are truly not enough to describe what an incredible experience Law Revue was and how much I loved every second of it. If you’ve ever wanted to be part of a show, even if it isn’t on stage as a cast member, there are so many other portfolios with varying levels of commitment that you can get yourself involved in. I guarantee you will not regret it! Sharon Zhang Second year Economics/Law
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I came to Law Revue late in my degree – my final semester, to be exact. Of course, I’d heard about Law Revue before from friends, and even gone and watched it a few times. But I’d never really seen myself as a ‘Law Revue person’ – that is, until I took a leap of faith in my final semester and had one of the most memorable and positive experiences of my time at UNSW. There’s nothing quite like watching the curtains open, seeing the bright lights and the audience, standing on stage with new and old friends with whom you’ve worked so hard and made so many memories, and putting on an awesome show together. Law Revue was the adventure of a lifetime that I didn’t know I was missing until I experienced it – in a few short weeks, I had made friendships for life, discovered myself expressing creativity and my own personality in ways I’d never contemplated, and relished the warmth of being accepted into an incredibly inclusive family. I still feel the adrenaline and the chills when I think about the mashup songs we played on stage, the hilarious banter I had with everyone on show, and that feeling of waiting backstage every night before the show – it was truly something special. I was privileged to experience many things during my time at university, but nothing quite like revue – it gave me the confidence to be someone I didn’t think I could be and inspired me to chase dreams I’d always dismissed as unachievable. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my experience with Law Revue, it’s that there isn’t really a ‘Revue-type’ mould of person. Whoever you are, whatever you’re interested in, whether you’ve ever done anything creative before or not – you’ll have an incredible and unforgettable experience as part of Law Revue. Sam Lee Graduate
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Law Ball
Already having withdrawals from formal season? Need an excuse to dress up in fancy clothes? Well Law Ball is the event for you! Law Ball happens at a surprise venue filled with dining, drinking and dancing. This is one of LawSoc’s biggest events of the year and most definitely cannot be missed as we dance the night away listening to a privately hired DJ as well as LawSoc’s amazingly talented band. A date is definitely not essential as you can come with your friends from your ILJ class or meet new people from all different cohorts. And if that wasn’t enough to entice you, there is also an exclusive after party for Law Ball guests that includes transportation and a bar tab to keep you partying through the night. So make sure you avoid FOMO and keep an eye out for Law Ball tickets in 2019 as they have been known to sell out very fast! Jess Lasky Fourth year
Commerce/Law
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Sport with LawSoc Sport with UNSW’s Law Society gives students an opportunity to gain experiences outside of the academic sphere of university, allowing for both social and personal develpoment. LawSoc has alwaus been an inclusive place that offers a wide range of activities to students, and this year’s sports portfolio will try toemulate this idea. As always, we will be running the inter-faculty and inter-university matches in football and rugby. These matches give students the opportunity to compete for their university and play against quality opposition while also getting to know people in other universities with similar interests and career paths. We will also be running social sports this year, which involve competing with fellow LawSoc members in a variety of sports from touch football to netball and basketball. This year, we will be running several socials to try and boost the social aspect sport can offer. This includes a rock climbing social and a pub crawl. Furthermore, we will be organising a running, walking dinner club. A variation on the classic running club where people can run, walk or jog but no matter what, at the end we will all join and get a meal. Chetan Immidi Sports Director 2019
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Wellbeing at Law School Whether you’re new to law school or you’ve been walking through these purple halls for years, you’ll be familiar with the idea that stress is an inherent part of being a law student. You’ll also come to learn that there are high rates of mental illness in law, particularly depression and anxiety. A lot of people explain this by saying that law students are all “type A people who work themselves over the edge” but this isn’t the truth. Although there are a lot of high achieving perfectionists in law school, there are just as many procrastinators who cram an entire course in the night before their exam. Contrary to popular belief, law students are people too! You don’t have to work yourself to extremes, nor worry that you should be doing so to fit in. Law can be hard, but it’s not that different from any other degree in the sense that the more effort you put in the better you’re going to do. The most important thing is that feel like you’re in the right place and that you enjoy your time here. Striking a healthy balance between work and play is hard, but that’s where we come in. Wellbeing Portfolio We’re dedicated to promoting general wellbeing, transparent discussions about mental health and making support systems more accessible to everyone – ultimately helping you feel like you’re part of a community as we take on 2019 together. We’ll be organising some fun events and light-hearted stuff throughout the year to break up the trimesters, and to encourage healthy dialogue about mental health to remind you that we’re all in this together. Keep an eye out on the Law Society Discussion Facebook page for posts about our upcoming events and for regular (and hopefully funny) videos addressing a variety of topics relevant to all of you during your time here.
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Support available: • Special Consideration: if you can’t meet a deadline or perform your best because of something unexpected and out of your control– physical or mental illness, injury etc. – applying for special consideration from your lecturer to grant an extension or other remedy is an easy process. https:// student.unsw.edu.au/special-consideration • Disability Support Services: if you have an ongoing issue that impedes your studies – e.g. a chronic physical or mental illness – registering with disability services can help you with deadline extensions, adjusting attendance requirements and exam conditions to meet your needs. https://student.unsw.edu.au/disability • CAPS: UNSW’s Counselling and Psychological Services are free and here for you if you ever feel like you need to talk to a professional psychologist or counsellor on campus, or if you feel lost and don’t know where to start. https://student.unsw.edu.au/counselling • The Learning Centre: located on upper campus, the Learning Centre offers a bunch of great programs and strategies for keeping on top of your work and making the most of your time at uni. http://www.lc.unsw. edu.au/ Don’t be afraid to message Adarsh or Hannah through the UNSW Lawsoc Student Wellbeing Page for any questions about these services or any of the Wellbeing events coming up, we’re more than happy to help! (There are no dumb questions) If this all sounds good to you and you want to get involved, applications to become a part of our team as a Wellbeing Warrior open during O week! We’re looking for 20 people dedicated to student wellbeing, this means: • Helping us organise and run fun wellbeing events. • Learning about how UNSW’s support services work so you can help the student body navigate the system. • Creating cool content to spread the good word of wellbeing. • Monthly social meet ups with Adarsh, Hannah and the rest of the team you’ll be working with. Applications are open to everyone – from first years to 10th years who really, really messed up their progression. They open in O-Week 2019 and close in Week Three - you’ll find all the relevant info in our posts on the discussion forum. We can’t wait to hear from you!
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Adarsh Jeggannagari & Hannah Quinn Wellbeing Directors 2019
UNSW Law Journal The UNSW Law Journal is one of Australia’s leading academic legal journals, and one of the few to be produced entirely by a voluntary student board. It is the flagship publication of the UNSW Faculty of Law and one of the most widely cited legal reviews in Australia. The Journal publishes four issues annually. Each issue contains a General component, made up of articles on a broad range of legal topics, with some issues also featuring a Thematic component, which focuses and brings together a range of perspectives on a single subject. Journals are launched in a public event at the premises of one of our Premier Sponsors, including top-tier law firms Allens, Herbert Smith Freehills, and King & Wood Mallesons. Launch events are widely attended and feature a keynote address by a leading member of the legal profession. Previous keynote speakers have included Sir Anthony Mason AC QC, former Chief Justice of the High Court, The Hon Michael Kirby, former Justice of the High Court and Julian Burnside AO QC. How to get involved The Editorial Board is the body of students responsible for the production of the UNSW Law Journal. The responsibilities of General Members of the Editorial Board include: • Editing articles from leading legal academics, practitioners and judicial officers that are selected for publication in the Journal • Attending Journal Issue launches, dinners and other social events • After serving as a General Member of the Board, students also have the opportunity to stand for election to the Executive Committee and assume editorial responsibility for the publication of the Journal. Course credit is awarded for these elected positions. Recruitment to the Editorial Board is conducted each year. In 2019, applications will open in Trimester One. While a strong interest in editing academic articles is essential, prior editing experience is not. For more information, please visit: http://www.unswlawjournal.unsw.edu.au/. Anne Yang UNSW Law Journal Executive Editor Lawkipedia 2019
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Law Faculty Board The Faculty Board is the key governance body of the UNSW Law Faculty, and is responsible for making decisions relating to degree structure, research priorities, admission requirements and any other changes that may affect UNSW Law students. The Faculty Board is comprised of key staff and leadership personnel of the UNSW Law Faculty as well as a number of elected student representatives. The student representatives on the Faculty Board facilitate two-way communication between law students and the faculty leadership. They represent students’ views and interests on the Faculty Board, providing input into decision-making to ensure that the wellbeing of students is achieved in the administration of Law School. The 2019 student representatives are: Piero Craney - Undergraduate representative Joshua Kan - Postgraduate representative Joshua Gibson - Higher degree research representative
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Exchange Going on exchange will be one of the most defining and memorable moments in your university career. It will grow you both personally and professionally, and you will have the time of your life. Law exchange is available for students in their fourth or fifth year once certain subjects have been completed, however the application process with the International Office begins a year before departing. Of the countless partner universities available across many countries, you must nominate six potential choices. Information on each university, testimonials from past students and exchange advisors for each region are available to help you make your decision. Studying abroad for a semester is an amazing opportunity to experience a new culture, study interesting law electives and try out a new lifestyle. Immersion in a foreign country (especially a non-English speaking one) will allow you to grow and change uniquely. It is also the best chance to travel independently, learn new skills and make lifelong friends along the way. I chose to study at Bocconi University in Milan to satisfy my love for all things Italian (the food especially). Meeting students from around the world was fascinating, and I chose subjects that were stimulating (not just easy), so I got a lot out of each lesson, which continues to aid me professionally. The student activities and nightlife were buzzing, travelling around Europe was incredible, and I enjoyed the independence and freedom of being on exchange. Scholarships and financial support are available, so look out for information sessions ahead of time. It would be a shame to miss out on such an incredible opportunity, which I cannot recommend more highly. Cameron Graf Graduate Commerce/Law
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Mooting
Mooting is a ‘mock trial’-like activity where you play the role of a barrister presenting their case before a panel of appellate court judges. The case is based on a fictional scenario that you receive several days prior and will need to research case law to come up with the best legal arguments. The scenario is usually related to topics covered in the mandatory units such as Torts, Private Law and Criminal Law. On the day of your moot, you will have 20 minutes of oral submissions to present compelling arguments and win the judges over to your side! Mooting is a fun and challenging activity, a great way to experience law school and get ahead on your coursework at the same time. The legal scenarios challenge you to think outside the box and contemplate counter-arguments to strengthen the weak points of your case. It is a great way to build confidence in both your public speaking skills and legal knowledge, and a great opportunity to meet with both your peers and older student judges. Mooting also offers students the chance to participate in inter-university and international competitions, allowing you to travel overseas and moot in prestigious institutions like the Hague. Whether you’re aiming for the international Jessup Moot or simply to better understand the course content, I highly recommend giving mooting a go! Kimberly Yoon Sixth year Arts/Law
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Negotiations The Negotiations Competition is one of the most practical, ‘outside of the classroom’ learning experiences that I have been involved in. The competition involves two teams of two students who represent two clients and their respective interests. The aim is to resolve a legal dispute together without resorting to litigation. This requires incredibly strong communication, creativity and problem-solving skills that can be developed within a team. The Negotiations Competition is excellent for developing ways to think outside the box – a skill that is directly applicable and pragmatically useful in all areas of law or work. Negotiation skills are regarded highly and are transferrable across all disciplines. I’ve found that the internal competitions will open up many further opportunities as well. For example, you will have the valuable opportunity to meet judges, practising lawyers, and compete in intervarsity, national and international competitions across the globe. For myself, the most rewarding part of negotiations was learning methods to adopt in mediation when dealing with particular clients. Additionally, the breadth, variety and detail of the problem scenarios ensured that each negotiation was interesting and highly challenging. As one of the 2017 Herbert Smith Freehills Beginners Negotiations Competition Directors and a current Internal Skills Director, I can see how invaluable the competition is in developing students’ communication and teamwork skills. Another plus is that negotiations requires a much less rigorous time commitment – at the very least, a few hours would suffice in reading over the scenario, constructing a statement to present on behalf of the client and brainstorming potential solutions. The negotiation itself takes place over 50 minutes, at the conclusion of which highly valuable feedback is given to each team. This feedback from judges is often one of the most useful parts of the competition and allows competitors to reflect, progress and greatly improve in each round. To get involved, just look out for the online form that will be made available early in the semester via Facebook and email. Competitors may sign up individually or with a partner. Jessica Shao Skills Director (Internal)
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The negotiations competition is one of the most rewarding programs that I’ve ever been a part of. It is a great way to develop practical legal skills, and get to know more people throughout the law school. In your pair (which you can either pick going into the competition, or register on your own and be assigned with another solo competitor) you are given a scenario and two sets of facts- one general set of facts which both teams now, and one set of confidential information regarding your client. Negotiations then becomes a game of strategy, carefully identifying your clients key interests from the facts, and deciding which confidential facts to reveal to the other team, and which facts to keep to yourself. The negotiations competition has been invaluable in helping me develop my teamwork and communication skills, whilst also teaching me strategies to utilise in real life mediation in the future. The time commitment for negotiations is also much smaller than that of mooting. Reading through the fact scenario, establishing the key interests of your client, and developing a strategy with you partner shouldn’t take more than a few hours. Additionally the mediation itself is time restricted to 50 mins, and then in depth feedback is given at the end. The negotiations competition is an ideal way to meet new people in the law school, whilst still maintaining enough study time during the transition into uni. Sarah Rose McKenzie Third year Arts/Law
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Client Interviewing The Client Interviewing competition is one of the three alternative dispute resolution competitions open to students, apart from Negotiations and Mediation. Acting as an experienced lawyer, you will pair up with another student to interview (not interrogate!) the client with a fictitious legal problem. The aim is to identify the client’s situation and try to help them according to their needs. Client Interviewing is very different from any other competitions. It concerned more about the practical and day-to-day aspects of a lawyer. You will be the one who is responsible for asking the right questions, hoping to receive the desired responses (unfortunately, not always) and offer clients suitable legal advice. The competition has a real grounding in the practice of law. It is the best way to develop your interpersonal skills, learn more about the procedure in the lead-up-to trial and communicate effectively with your future clients. Most importantly, minimal preparation is needed before you compete. Competitors are provided with a short memo the day before each round. During the interview, they must aim to extract as much information as possible from the client in order to provide practical solutions. Remember knowing the law is not the most essential aspect but how you approach the interview. Thus, it requires students not merely to understand the relevant legal subject, but to employ effective interviewing techniques and give thought to areas which you would not deal with in your law books, like being aware of your client’s willingness to talk, his/her mood (yes he could be very furious at that time! Try calm him down). What’s more, at the end of the interview, you are given the time to reflect on yourself by explaining your approaches and discuss with the judges – and get more experienced each time! So, to get prepared to be the next top lawyer, don’t hesitate, join us and have some fun with your fellows! Cherry Tang Skills Director (Internal) Lawkipedia 2019
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With only a single, ambiguous line to guide you and a night to prepare, the pressure is on - but so too is the thrill of a challenge. The Client Interviewing Competition presents students with the ideal combination of teamwork, critical-thinking, realistic time constraints, client sensitivities, and problem-solving skills; all of which manifest in the perfect opportunity to expose yourself to work-like situations. This benefits of this are only furthered by the valuable, tailored feedback of the observing judge. You and your partner will undoubtedly develop and refine your knowledge of the law, but more significantly, you will quickly learn how to apply and adapt it to unpredictable and complex situations. Probing for answers to often-contradictory and incomplete recollections of events, you will need to strike a balance between your desire for immediate answers, and your need to elicit compassion. What’s more – you’re bound to realise that the law does not always pose the best solution for your client… and therein lies your challenge: to formulate a realistic and viable answer to your client’s queries, often found through the route of Alternative Dispute Resolution. You are to fill the shoes of a qualified lawyer for the hour – whether the shoe fits is partially dependant upon your preparation, but mostly on your ability to think fast, articulate well, and piece together a puzzle. For a moment, you may even feel as though you are dealing with real people and real problems, the solution lying solely in your hands. Enticed by the prospect of a challenge? Have a go at the Client Interviewing Competition in 2019! Alex Zoras Third year Commerce/Law 49 Lawkipedia 2019
Witness Examination A judge intently observing from the bench. Lawyers dramatically playing out their case in front of the courtroom. Loud cries of “Objection!” from the opposing bench. We’ve all seen these scenarios played out countless times whether in Alabama with Atticus Finch, or with Harvey Specter in New York. Witness Examination gives you the chance to step into the shoes of these great (fictional) lawyers and make your case! Working as a pair you and your partner will represent a client in a trial with a fictional but realistic scenario. You must build your client’s case by preparing an opening statement and questioning your own witness. This competition is made more complex by also requiring you to disprove and discredit the opposition’s case through the infamous cross-examination, before giving your closing statements and awaiting judgment. Beyond teaching the basic formalities of a trial, this competition will develop and test your ability to prepare convincing arguments around a legal scenario whilst also forcing you to think on your feet and adapt to new information. You will learn how to anticipate and counter opposing arguments, work as a cohesive counsel and of course to dramatically object to opposing statements. Witness Examination an excellent way to build your presentation, critical-thinking and communication skills as well as being loads of fun. With feedback coming from experienced judges, you’ll be surprised just how quickly your confidence in a trial setting will grow and your courtroom skills will improve. It is also a great way to make new friends and get to know the people that make up the cohort. Witness Examination is a challenging yet exciting and very rewarding experience open to all years. Make sure you keep an eye out for registration later in the year and take this opportunity to become the lawyer you’ve always wanted to be! James Lamberton Skills Director (Internal) Lawkipedia 2019
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Mediation Two teams of negotiators navigate a legal dispute as a mediator facilitates the process. The competition consists of a two hour face-to-face session followed by a two-day online session during which you will have the opportunity to use cutting-edge legal technology via an online mediation platform. If you choose to be a mediator, you will guide the parties to identify their mutual interests. Your role, as a neutral third party, will neither be to impose solutions nor to provide advice to the teams, but rather to assist them in making a decision. You can establish rapport with all parties and create a supportive and transparent environment. If you choose to be a negotiator, you can compete as a client or a lawyer. Lawyers will provide a legal perspective of the situation and aim to protect the client from risk. Clients will collaborate with their lawyers and present their views on the substantive issues. A fantastic facet of the mediation competition is its flexibility. Over the course of the two-day online session, how long you compete for and when you compete is completely up to you and the other competitors. It is open to all years and we will pair you with opponents with similar experience in legal competitions! So what are you waiting for? As an engaging and often challenging experience, we can guarantee that you’ll take away skills that you can use for the rest of your law degree and beyond! Lilian Wan Fourth year 51
Actuarial Studies/Law
Lawkipedia 2019
Introducing Law & Justice LAWS1052/JURD7152 This course is your introduction to learning the basic institutional functioning of the Australian legal system, and how Australia’s history as a colony has shaped this. For those without a legal studies or Australian background, it would be helpful to get a basic conceptual understanding of the Australian political and legal system, or you might feel a little lost in early classes. The course is often scattered between giving you a little taste of different parts of the Australian legal system, and it may help your revision to draw conceptual maps to help find the overarching themes in the course. This is reflected in the assessment methods, which is split between a court report, a case note, class participation and a final exam. As your first taste of law school, it may be tempting to pad your assignments with big words and abstract concepts you have learned in class. Be concise and clear as possible, and focus on advancing your argument, rather than how good the words sound. You may be surprised to find that the real challenge is keeping the words under the word limit! It is easy to feel intimidated by the class participation, but relax and remember everyone’s in the same boat. Ask if you are unsure, and good chances are that everyone else is thinking the same thing. Kirstyn Ho Third year Arts/Law)
Lawkipedia 2019
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Torts LAWS1061/JURD7161 Although the term ‘torts’ covers a wide range of legal issues, the first year course focuses on the key areas of nuisance and negligence. It is a great introductory course which challenges you to resolve complex legal scenarios and consider how legislation and social justice issues interrelate. Torts requires you to delve deep into the Civil Liability Act, meaning you should try to print out a copy of the Act, and annotate key sections as you go along. Make sure you read and understand the theoretical articles in the course, as these will be tested in both the midsemester assignment and the final exam. Torts cases provide some of the most entertaining and unique sets of facts in your entire law school career. Don’t be afraid to contemplate and ask questions about hypothetical scenarios in class, as this will strengthen your understanding of the law and make for some very interesting class discussions. Kimberly Yoon Sixth year Arts/Law
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Lawkipedia 2019
Principles of Public Law LAWS1141/JURD7141 Public Law is a true test to how much you love Australian law. You get into the foundations and details of the Australian legal system and how it operates. If you enjoy learning about the Constitution and how the three branches of power are integrated into the Constitution, you should ace Public Law! There are two questions that come to mind when someone brings up Public Law. “Who makes the law?” and “How can they be held accountable?” These were the two questions that my lecturer drilled into me every single lecture for 13 weeks. And I understand why: these questions can literally be applied to every topic you learn in Public Law. By the end of it, you will be sick of hearing and writing the words: separation of powers; legislature, executive and the judiciary; federalism; rule of law; and the ‘Washminster system’. Most important thing to do in Public Law is to of course, 1) keep up to date with your readings (if you can) and 2) understand how every concept you learn can interlink with one another. Oh, and you’d better start polishing up on those essay writing skills because you have two broad essay questions coming your way. Alicia Chea Fourth year
Commerce/Law
Lawkipedia 2019
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Principles of Private Law LAWS1150/JURD7150 Private Law provides a valuable introduction to contract and property law. I find the course’s content to be practical, and some concepts are genuinely interesting – for example, the idea of adverse possession is one that does not immediately appear logical but has a good rationale. Although three textbooks are prescribed for Private Law, they will actually be reused in future courses which makes it more affordable. All three are detailed and written in a way that is easy to process. A word of warning, however: while the readings are not particularly difficult, they are rather tedious. I agree that repetition can really help nail down a point, but the contracts casebook often felt excessive. I recommend skimming through the textbook readings first to gain a better understanding of the concepts before learning about the cases in depth. Having said that, it remains important to complete both sets of readings if possible. Monica Chen Third year Commerce/Law
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Lawkipedia 2019
Crime and the Criminal Process LAWS1021/JURD7121 Crime and the Criminal Process is an introductory course for the state of criminal laws in Australia, with a focus on understanding the reasons for criminalisation historically. The course is broadly split into two parts- a holistic overview to the theories of criminalisation, followed by looking at the actual elements of offences in practice. Don’t fret even if theoretical readings may appear daunting as they are often filled with statistics there is no need to take notes with such detail. Focus on understanding the broader arguments advanced, and picking up the essential elements of the offences. For the court report, make sure you keep a clear record of your visits and readings from the start to ensure you don’t get lost in your own notes in the writing stage. Keep your observations focused and you will be rewarded for depth over breadth. Overall, this course is an interesting introduction to criminal laws in Australia that is suited for those more historically and sociologically inclined. Keep an open mind to best enjoy and learn from the course, as there will be challenges to popular views of crime and the role of the criminal law. Kirstyn Ho Third year Arts/Law
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Enrolment Tips Enrolment is the law school’s equivalent to the Hunger Games. Your heart will palpitate violently as in a furious minute of clicking, you will either experience relief or despondence. Here are some tips that will help you survive the enrolment process.
1. Plan your timetable beforehand Check your course program outline to know exactly which courses you need to enrol in via the online UNSW Handbook. Plan your ideal timetable and a few backup timetables, just in case your internet browser freezes unexpectedly and you miss your first preference for time slots. Check out the website ‘Bojangles’, the unofficial timetable maker for UNSW courses.
2. Update your personal details on myUNSW before your enrolment appointment Log into myUNSW a day or two before your enrolment appointment and update your personal details by clicking ‘My Student Profile’ then ‘Update Your Enrolment’. You will need to confirm your home address, emergency contact details, etc. It is important to do this before your enrolment appointment because you don’t want to be stuck updating your personal details during your enrolment appointment when everyone else is snapping up classes.
3. Log into myUNSW at the exact time of your enrolment appointment Even one minute too early will be enough to bar you from enrolling until you re-login. Avoid this at all costs as it is highly likely that whilst you are re-logging in, your fellow classmates are filling up the spots in the class that you wanted.
4. Enrol in your law subjects first Generally, enrolment spaces for other subjects are much less competitive, so prioritise your law subjects.
5. If you miss out on the spot you wanted and the class is full, check Class Utilisation throughout the break It is likely that a spot will free up as it is not uncommon for students to change classes. You just have to be ready to grab that spot! 57
Lawkipedia 2019
Transport Guide To UNSW Express Bus from Central: 891 - Departs from Eddy Avenue Stand D. Has two stops - UNSW Gate Three (Lower Campus) and Gate Eight (Upper Campus).
Alternative buses from Central: 391, 393, 395, M50
Buses from Town Hall: 373, 376, 377, 392, 394, 396, 397, 399, L94
Buses from Bondi Junction: 314, 316, 317, 357, 359, 400, 410
Buses from Maroubra Beach: 376, 377, 395, 396
Buses from Maroubra Junction: 359, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 399, 400, 410, L94
From UNSW Express Buses to Central: 893 - Departs from UNSW Gate Three (Lower Campus). 898 - Departs from UNSW Gate Eight (Upper Campus).
Buses from Anzac Parade to Central: 391, 393, 395 Lost On Campus App This FREE app is a lifesaver! It’s basically Google Maps for UNSW. You can find the locations of all the buildings, lecture theatres, toilets, cafes, ATMs...the list goes on!
Parking Metered parking is available on campus. Street parking is also available, but fills up very quickly. Lawkipedia 2019 58
Important Dates Term One O-Week
11 Feb - 15 Feb
Teaching Period
18 Feb - 26 April
Study Period
2 May - 4 May
Exams
6 May - 18 May
Term Break
19 May - 2 June
Term Two Teaching Period
3 June - 12 Aug
Study Period
13 Aug - 15 Aug
Exams
16 Aug - 31 Aug
Term Break
1 Sep - 15 Sep
Term Three
59
O-Week
11 Sep - 13 Sep
Teaching Period
16 Sep - 25 Nov
Study Period
26 Nov - 28 Nov
Exams
29 Nov - 14 Dec
Lawkipedia 2019