Perception 2024

PERCEPTION 2024

The International Student’s Guide to Law School

Presidents’ Welcome

Co-Presidents

Congratulations on making it to UNSW Law! We are the co-presidents of UNSW Law Society in 2024 and we are thrilled to welcome you to the UNSW Law family. This stage of your education provides an invaluable opportunity to befriend some incredible people, learn more about yourself and plant the seeds for your future

The UNSW Law Society is the fountainhead of student life at UNSW Law, and exists to enrich your university experience. We offer many fantastic opportunities and initiatives to cater for the needs and interests of all our members.

While UNSW Law is renowned for its excellent career opportunities, you will soon realise that we are much more than just a platform where students can discover a career path At the heart of UNSW Law Society is a welcoming community, where you have the chance to make precious memories and meet life-long friends. We hope that you embrace everything our society has to offer and we invite you to step out of your comfort zone to try something new this year.

Register to become a UNSW Law Society member here and make sure to follow us on our socials to get plugged in.

We are so excited to get to know you during our upcoming activities and events in 2024, and are looking forward to helping you make the most of your time at UNSW.

We wish you all the very best!

Lihara Delungahawatte & Bhavik Aggarwal 2024 UNSW Law Society Co-Presidents

Messages from the International Portfolio

International Vice-President

UNSW! I am Nicholas, the Vice President (International) for 2024. On behalf of the UNSW Lawsoc International Portfolio, I extend to you a warm greeting. My team of directors and I have plotted out the most diverse and aspiring year to come. This extends from giving international students insight to Australia’s legal field to opening international initiatives to the wider UNSW Law student community.

To prepare you for what lies ahead, our Perception publication seeks to not only give you guidance on what UNSW Law is like as an international student but to provide you with tips on living in Sydney. Thanks to the efforts of our International Media Directors, what you are about to see is friendly advice and information; carefully collated to give you a headstart.

Together, the team has prepared careers, wellbeing and social initiatives to build you up not just for academics but as an active university student. If keen, look no further to the welcome messages from our Careers, Media, Student Development and Activities Directors for more!

I wish every one of you an amazing 2024. See you around on campus!

Nicholas Yuen

2024 Vice-President (International)

International Activities Directors

Hi there! We are Jamie and Sunny, your International Activities Directors this year. We would like to extend you a warm welcome in joining UNSW law and law society. We are sure great things and connections will unfold for you in the most positive way during your time here.

Throughout the year, we have planned activities each term for you to have fun, make good memories and meet interesting people. The Welcome Drinks kickstarts the year by drinking and socialising with friends on a chill Friday night Whether you prefer some exercises (such as badminton and bouldering) or just a relaxing walk along the beaches, we always have the activity you want to spice up your free times. Whether it’s the Kiama and Wollongong roadtrip and staycation or social barbeque, we always have the opportunity to hang out with mates. Whether it’s trying out new food markets or new cuisines, we can always bring out the “foodie” in you.

Keen to see each one of you at our events, stay tuned and enjoy!

Sunny Du and Jamie Chew 2024 International Activities Directors

International Student Development Directors

ahead. We understand that transitioning to university could be challenging, and we hope to provide you with support to make the transition easier. As student development directors, we focus on equipping international students with necessary skills and methods both academically and professionally.

In the beginning of the year, we will be holding the Law International Outreach Mentoring Program and Connect Program to provide opportunities for you to meet your peers and senior law students. Hearing their experiences will help you to get to know more about studying law at UNSW. Throughout the year, we will introduce more events such as Legal Writing Seminar and CV building workshops. They are designed to help you with developing some useful key skills in both studying law and looking for a job in the legal industry. Guest speakers will be invited to share their tips and experiences, so make sure you don’t miss out! We also plan to run a Legal Essay Competition and it is an opportunity for you to apply legal writing and research skills that you learnt in the classroom.

Once again, we warmly welcome you to UNSW and we wish you all the best for this academic year. We look forward to seeing you all at our events soon!

Tiffany Wang and Ivan Man

2024 International Student Development Directors

International Careers Directors

Hello and welcome! We are Regina and Rachel. As the International Careers Directors of the UNSW Law Society’s International Portfolio, we strive to provide domestic students with overseas career opportunities, and international law students with career opportunities within Australia. To achieve these two goals, we organise various events where you can gain insight into the legal field and connect with industry professionals

As such, our events for 2024 will feature international law firms and professionals sharing intercontinental work opportunities and career paths that people don’t hear much of. As with previous years, our flagship International Law Fair will feature multinational law firms in places like Hong Kong, the US and the UK, where attendees will get the invaluable opportunity to liaise with firm representatives and gain insight into what working at respective law firms entails

We have planned many other events designed to assist in getting you to where you want to be career-wise. For example, Breaking Into International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution - a workshop where practitioners from international arbitration centres speak about what a career as an arbitrator working in international law involves. Another event is called Alumni Talks, which will feature former students working at big law firms, such as King & Wood Mallesons, and judicial courts, including the High Court of Australia. We will facilitate any questions you have about their positions and give you an understanding of what it takes to be in their shoes if that is your goal

It is our privilege and joy to bring you these events throughout 2024. We trust you will find our events helpful to your career. So be sure to look out for our events, mark your calendars, and come along and say hi!

Regina Bao and Rachel Ng 2024 International Careers Directors

International Media Directors

Hey! We are Vivian and Alice, the International Media Directors for 2024, and we would like to welcome you all to law school at UNSW!

Perception is a yearly magazine that our team at Law Society creates to aid international students in the process of arriving in Australia. So our magazine includes valuable information on visa types, where and how to make friends to help foster a sense of belonging, accommodation and how you can reach out as International students.

In 2024, we have dedicated new active initiatives such as a Wechat group and posts on XiaoHongShu to involve International students. These platforms are informative and encourage student connections If it is successful, we would extend it to other platforms. For students who would like to join, the link is at the back of the perception guide.

In addition, we will continue to provide information through the newsletter called Connect, which will provide the most important information to international students such as student life, entertainment and academics.

Our goal would always be to support international students in this journey and we extend our warmest welcome to all students. Please look out for any updates on our social media and we look forward to seeing all of you on the campus!

Alice Shang and Vivian Zhang 2024 International Media Directors

Information about UNSW Law Information about UNSW Law

TRANSPORT TO LOWER CAMPUS & LAW BUILDING

UNSW has two light rail stops situated at both ends of the university UNSW High St is closest to the upper campus and UNSW Anzac Parade stop is closest to the lower campus. The Law Building is at the lower campus, so for optimal travel time, taking the L3 light rail to Anzac Parade will result in only a short walk along the University Mall until you see the Law Building on your left hand side!

Coming from the L2 light rail on High St is also an option because you will be able to walk through the entire University, and grab some food along the way.

HOWDOYOUAPPLY?

1

2 3

Make sure you have accepted and enrolled into your course for at least 48 hours before you apply for an ID You may apply for an ID card within 60 days before the commencement of your first term.

Before getting your ID, you must have an identification document For international students, this would be your passport

APPLYING FOR A

STUDENT ID AT NUCLEUS

It is important that you apply for a student ID because it allows the University to easily identify you, unlocks many discounts/ perks and gives you access to different facilities such as UNSW libraries and gyms

WHERETOAPPLY?

If you wish to get your ID between 2 January 2024 - 26 January 2024, then your appointment will be at ‘The Nucleus’. The link for appointment can be found here: Make an Appointment

If you wish to get your ID between 29 January 2024 - 16 February 2024, then your appointment will be at ‘The Morven Brown Building’. The link for appointment can be found here: Make an Appointment

Youwillbetakingaphoto,soplanaheadandgiveabigsmile!Welcome!

Information about UNSW Law Information about UNSW Law

TRIMESTER CALENDAR

One of the unique features of UNSW is our three semesters, which means we will have different holidays compared to other universities Our trimester system allows for more flexibility within your degree and more opportunities to engage in events at UNSW. Important dates can be found on our UNSW Academic Calendar

ENROLMENT COURSE GUIDES

FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

You can enrol into your courses and find out which courses you should register for all online and on your own. You will enrol into your classes on MyUNSW website under the title ‘Enrolment’, and the UNSW Handbook is where you can find which subjects you should enrol into. The Handbook will go into detail about exceptions and prerequisites for each course

Further, with your acceptance letter, a Personalised Offer Page will be delivered to you which will help you enrol in your first year. You may also check your Progression Plan for a clearer idea of what courses you should enrol in.

If you are unsure about which courses you should enrol in, UNSW’s Nucleus is available via the phone and in-person consultations where you can better discuss which courses are suited to you.

Information about UNSW Law Information about UNSW Law

LAW BUILDING FACILITIES INFORMATION ABOUT UNSW’S

LawBuilding

The Law Building is located at the lower campus of UNSW It has four levels and your law classes will primarily be held there. Our Law Society headquarters is also held in the building, along with lecturer’s offices and Moot court

The building also provides facilities such as microwaves, taps, and water refill stations

LawLibrary

The Law Library is located within the Law Building and is 2 levels tall The library has two entrances, one within the building and one exterior door for after hours access

The library is open 24/7 for UNSW students and will require an ID card swipe to gain access

The library has facilities such as printing (needs an ID card), study rooms, study booths (which will need to be booked on Study Spaces).

The Law Library may also hold classes, and for first years this may include LAWS1052 The law library is a good place to study as it is also near the lower campus food court with options such as GYG, Stellini and Share Tea.

First-hand

WHERE TO GET TEXTBOOKS

Second-hand

UNSW has their very own Bookstore which contains various fiction and nonfiction books, as well as your textbooks. You may visit it on campus near the science theatres, or online here

If you are looking for second hand options, there is a Facebook page dedicated to students who want to exchange or purchase textbooks. The Facebook page is named “UNSW Textbook Exchange (LAW)”

Other options may include Ebay, StudentVIP, and Gumtree.

Information about UNSW Law Information about UNSW Law

PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING (PLT) COURSE

In order to practise law in Australia, you must sit the Practical Legal Training Course (PLT). You will sit the PLT after you complete your law degree.

It is a crucial component in the journey to becoming a practising lawyer The program will take you through practical and hands-on training, designed to bridge the gap between theoretical legal knowledge gained in law school and the practical skills required in the legal profession. PLT programs vary by jurisdiction, but they generally involve activities such as legal research, client interviews, drafting legal documents, and courtroom simulations

If you are successful in the PLT, you will receive a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) which makes you eligible to apply for admission as a legal practitioner in your jurisdiction.

In New South Wales, PLT consists of two components: structured and supervised training and workplace experience The training takes approximately three months full-time or eight months part-time. Workplace experience requires around 75 working days of supervised experience in delivering legal services. There are many organisations that provide PLT programs, including UNSW.

The university provides one-on-one consultation with UNSW PLT If you would like to know more information about PLT, feel free to make an appointment with Vidna Jivan She is able to give advice on those seeking the PLT.

For more information, visit Law Society’s website on PLT

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Student Accommodation

To find accommodation in Australia, there are two main applications: Domain and RealEstate. The applications will usually notify you of new listings as well.

An application process usually will be like this:

Booking appointment/ inspection

After finding an accommodation that interests you, you will need to book an appointment th a real estate agent to inspect the property

These inspections are open to everyone a specific time and would be available weekly or fortn o contact the agents and make an individual inspection

The tenancy application form

After inspection, if you decide to continue with the ac submit the rental application form that the agents wou application will need to include various documents (e.g p you will need to note down in the form Each documen amount of points The more documents you provide, th applicant is required to produce 100 points for identificat

Signing the contract

The agents will assess your application and compare with other candidates

After some time, you will be notified of the result of the application. If it is successful then congratulations, you can sign the contract

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Public Transport to Uni

When taking public transport in NSW, you will need an system that is used to pay for all travel fares You can bu convenience stores such as 7 Eleven or any newsagents (t station)

As an use co directl debit c

If you card a card, single t

BUT always remember to tap on and off. If you forg assume you are travelling the furthest distance with th you will automatically be charged the maximum defaul

To see more, please visit

https://transportnsw in

As an International student, you are able to purchase an o and train stations

1.

To find your nearest Opal Card retailer: https://www.o execution=e4s1

2.

When you have purchased an Opal Card you can either top up manually or register for auto-top up. You need to create an account through this website:

https://transportnsw info/tickets-opal/opal/top-up-your-opal-card#/login

For domestic students, there is a concession card that you can apply online for. Benefits of a concession card includes a cap of $8 4 per day regardless of number of trips, and that there is a 30% discount during weekends, public holidays and off-peak season However, this does not apply towards International students.

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NSW Photo ID Card

In Australia when you purchase alcohol or go into bars or clubs, you must present your photo identification You can apply for a NSW Photo ID Card which is accepted as identification in most places which will be much better than carrying around your passport and risk. Just follow these few simple steps.

Application process:

Download and complete the NSW Photo Card Application Form.

Gather the necessary identity documents, including proof of identity documents and your proof of signature.

Visit a service centre to have your photo taken and submit your application

Your Photo ID will be delivered to your registered address in 5-10 working days

(Note: A fee will incur when applying a Photo ID)

For more information regarding photo ID cards, please visit:

https://www service nsw gov au/transaction/apply-nsw-photo-card

Student Visa Requirements

As an international student, you must ensure you hold a valid and current visa which entitles you to study for the duration of your degree and remain in Australia This is typically a subclass 500 student visa. The visa is subjected to conditions which you must ensure you comply with at all times.

The conditions, can include but not limited to:

Working restriction: You can only work up to 48 hours in a fortnight A fortnight means the period of 14 days starting on a Monday However, there is an exception, where a work experience/work placement that is a mandatory course requirement or in the period required in the course registration is not included in a student’s work restriction of 48 hours per fortnight.

If you are a masters/ JD student you can work more than 48 hours a fortnight

Balancing work and study requirements: Students must maintain their course enrolment, ensure satisfactory attendance and ensure they have satisfactory course progression

More information on student visa options and conditions can be found at the Department of Home Affairs website

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ApplyingforaTaxFileNumber

While this is not compulsory for international students, it is highly advisable to apply for a TFN. it is your personal reference number in the tax and superannuation systems in Australia, especially if you are planning to work.

According to the ATO (Australian Taxation Office), “if you're enrolled to study in Australia in a course that lasts for six months or more, you may be regarded as an Australian resident for tax purposes”, meaning that you pay tax on your earnings at the same rate as other residents but are also entitled to the benefits of the Australian tax system If you do not have a TFN, the government will withhold more tax (46 5%) from your wages and you may pay more bank interest than necessary

To apply for a TFN, please visit: https://www ato gov au/individuals/tax-filenumber/apply-for-a-tfn/foreign-passport-holders,-permanent-migrants-andtemporary-visitors---tfn-application/.

After your online application, the ATO will post your TFN notification letter through mail within 28 days (note to not submit again within this timeframe and only contact them after the 28 days)

Financial Help

If international students who would like to be advised on general financial literacy and management, student support advisors provide financial advice, such as fixing spending leaks and setting financial goals You can book an appointment through

https://www student unsw edu au/finance/management

International students can apply for UNSW scholarships, student loans(accessible to all UNSW international students who meet eligibility requirements), support grants and fee payment plans Payment Plans refer to short-term instalment plans designed to assist you to meet your financial obligations, which are available in cases of unforeseen or exceptional circumstances.

Citizens of Denmark, India, Norway, Sweden or the United Kingdom may access their country’s loan program US students may apply for US Federal Direct Loan and private loans

Internationalstudentsmayapplyforscholarshipsthrough https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/scholarships

Forinformationforloansandmorewaystoobtainfinancialaidforinternational students:https://www.unsw.edu.au/study/how-to-apply/fees/financial-aid

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AustralianPublicHolidays

Australia has a few main public holidays:

New Year’s Day on the 1st of January, Australia Day on the 26th of January,

Good Friday on the Friday before Easter (April 15th this year), Easter on the first Sunday following the full Moon that occurs on or just after the spring equinox (Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday on the 16th, 17th, and 18th of April this year),

The Queen’s Birthday on the second Monday in June (June 13th this year), Labour Day on the first Monday of October (October 3rd this year), Christmas Day, and Boxing Day on the 25th and 26th of December (December 27th is an additional public holiday for Christmas Day this year)

You may be familiar with a few of these public holidays, but some holidays may not have been celebrated in your home country (e.g., Queen’s Birthday). In particular, Australia Day is a largely controversial holiday, recognised by many as ‘Invasion Day’, ‘Survival Day’ or ‘Day of Mourning’ as it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet in Port Jackson, and serves to mourn the history of massacres, land theft, stolen children, lost culture, and widespread oppression suffered by Indigenous Australians at the hands of the colonising forces.

It is important to learn about the context of national holidays, but as international students, you are more than welcome to actively participate in celebrations in addition to your own home country’s As Australia is a multicultural country, many popular international holidays are also celebrated, although not recognised as national public holidays, such as the Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween

If you are a part-time or casual worker, you are most likely entitled to a penalty rate of pay for hours worked on a public holiday (up to 250% for popular awards such as retail and hospitality).

For more information and guidance for your pay on public holidays, please visit https://www fairwork gov au/pay-and-wages/penalty-rates-allowances-and-otherpayments/penalty-rates/public-holiday-penalty-rates

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PlacestovisitnearUNSW

Close to the university there are also many restaurants, cafes, and milk tea and yoghurt drink stores. Walking down Anzac Parade, or alternatively, taking the light rail (L2 line) to the next stop, Kingsford, you will find many more restaurants that are available around the university.

Another option is to take the light rail back to Central train station for even more options in the Central Business District, namely, in Central, Town Hall, Haymarket, and Darling Square You can also enjoy the nature at Coogee beach and Centennial Park (near UNSW) as well as the many sightseeing places such as Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, and The Rocks You can also visit museums, and art galleries such as the Powerhouse Museum, the Art Gallery of NSW, and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

To see more ideas, visit https://www sydney com/destinations/sy dney/sydney-city

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GroceryShopping

In Sydney there are a few main grocery chains where most people choose to buy all their groceries These include: Coles, Woolworths, IGA, Aldi and Costco (if you love bulk buying)

Coles and Woolworths are the two largest supermarkets in Australia and they have branches located in many neighbourhoods Most of their stores sell an extensive range of products and can cover most of your daily needs.

Both franchises have a rewards program that you can sign up to:

For Coles it is the ‘Flybuys’

For Woolworths it is the ‘Everyday Rewards’

These programs reward you points for every dollar you spend with them

Note: Other stores such as Costco, Aldi and IGA close earlier than Coles and Woolworths:

Costco (6pm)

Aldi (8pm)

IGA (7:30pm)

To learn more about the rewards and sign up, visit https://www coles com au/aboutcoles/flybuys#how and https://www.woolworthsrewards.com.au/.

Restaurantrecommendations/ FoodonCampus

The UNSW Campus offers different food options Popular choices include restaurants in the Matthews Food Court in upper campus, the newly renovated Quad Food Court, and food from the University Terraces in lower campus. This ranges from sushi to pita and kebab, there is a variety of food choices at UNSW. There are also a number of cafes on campus, as well as a bar at the Roundhouse, a milk tea shop situated in the University Terraces and the newly built Home Ground Kiosk, situated next to the Main Walkway

Visit https://www.estate.unsw.edu.au/food-retail/explore for a comprehensive list of choices.

Interview with a... UNSW Graduate

Introduction

Susan Su

My name is Yunshan Su, you can call me Susan I came from Guangdong, China I have two qualifications in law in both civil law and common law systems. I speak Mandarin, Cantonese, and English fluently and have experience working in both Australia and China During my bachelor's degree, I went to Taiwan and Poland as part of my legal studies, where I gained valuable crosscultural and linguistic skills. I finished my bachelor of law degree in China and came to Australia at the end of 2019

I graduated from the University of New South Wales with a Juris Doctor degree in September 2022 and completed the university's Practical Legal Training course in March 2023. I was admitted as a solicitor in April 2023.

During my period at UNSW, I participated actively in Mooting Competitions For the first time participating in the 2021 NSW International Commercial Arbitration Competition, I was the Semi-finalist. In 2022, I was selected to represent UNSW and compete in the Baker McKenzie Women’s National Moot Competition and SULS Client Interviewing Competition. Our team got the Best Written Submission Award in the former competition Based on those experiences, I have developed excellent communication (both oral and written), teamwork, problem-solving and strong attention to detail skills At the end of 2023, I was selected to be one of the CoArbitrator for the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Pre-Moot.

Q. What do you like doing in your spare time?

I usually play the violin and go to the gym in my spare time.

Q. Why did you choose to study law at UNSW?

My mom’s friend's daughter graduated from UNSW LLB before. She is now a prosecutor in Sydney. I contacted her and got to learn more information about UNSW She highly recommended UNSW Law School, including but not limited to its location, class sizes, lecturers, career opportunities, exchange programs etc Those kinds of things are very attractive to me. Additionally, UNSW is in Sydney and I love this city.

Q. Why did you choose to stay in Australia and become a lawyer? What attracted you the most?

My father is a judge in China and his words affected me a lot I finished my bachelor of law degree in China and also gained some legal experience in China as well, including Court and top-tier law firms in China. I am a person who likes challenges. As an international student and English is my second language, I think choosing to stay in Australia and become a lawyer is a challenging thing However, I finally made it I like this achievement and my English is improving

In addition, Australia is a multicultural country. It has a lot of people from different cultural backgrounds Before coming here, I stayed in Europe for a year as an exchange student Europe is very good, but not always friendly to people from different cultural backgrounds

Q. Did you imagine that you would be in the position that you are in now?

To be honest, I did not imagine that I would be in the position that I am in now I came to Sydney for travel in 2016. At that time, I am just a second-year LLB student in China. My uncle showed me around the Sydney CBD and told me that lawyers work here, their hourly rate is around $400, some of them maybe $700 It depends on whether they are solicitors or barristers and whether they are junior or senior as well At that time, I never thought that I would be one of them in the future

Q. What made you want to get into this area of law?

My experience in law is mainly in commercial litigation and construction litigation & dispute resolution. The reasons why I chose this area of law, are not only it is my interests, but also because I undertook a lot of Commercial Arbitration Competitions, Mediation, Negotiation and Mooting Competitions Those experiences developed my keen interest in this area of law Of course, this area of law chooses me as well

Q. Have there been times you wanted to give up?

Yes, I thought about this when I was a first-year JD student At that time, my English was very bad and I thought I could not achieve to proficiency level I felt very struggled in my first year. In addition, most of my time studying JD was covid-19 period. The city was locked down several times. I felt lonely as well. However, when I talked to my parents, they told me to stick to it and try to overcome all barriers To be a good lawyer, you not only need strong legal skills but also a strong heart You can not change the environment, but you can manage or change yourself

Q. How do you manage your work-life balance?

Actually, it is hard for lawyers to make a work-life balance, especially for a litigation lawyer. However, I still love my life. I like cooking and inviting friends to have lunch or dinner together. I try to wake up early and then I will feel like I do a lot of things except work Sometimes, I will sing songs or play the violin to reduce my stress and pressure

Q. If international students want to go down the same career path, what kind of preparations do they need to make?

First, I think each international student should think about whether they want to practice law in Australia Some of my classmates went back to their own countries and some of them went to Hong Kong It is important to think about which cities and which countries you would like to stay and work in.

Second, if you decide on the above, you have to prepare for it earlier As an international student, you need to learn all information about your future career paths You can chat with your seniors or legal representatives at career job fairs The most direct way is to work and get to know how law firms in this city or country are run and what legal skills you need to improve.

Third, it is important to know your keen interest in specific areas of law You need to identify which areas of law you want to practice in the future

Fourth, please enhance your English skills and also build up local connections with legal representatives.

Next, please prepare your resume and cover letter, illustrating your interests and all relevant experiences in law Please show your legal research skills, language skills and computer skills as well.

Finally, do not be afraid, just try. If you don’t try, you will never know.

Interview with a... Final Year Student

Tiffany Wang

Introduction

My name is Tiffany Wang, and I am a fifth-year student studying Arts and Law at UNSW As an international student, I was in last year’s perception too, and it is always a pleasure to share my experiences at UNSW Law School It has been a long journey to make it to the final year, but I truly appreciate the knowledge I learnt and all the great memories at UNSW over the years

Q. Why did you choose to study law at UNSW?

After graduating high school in Brisbane, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and move to Sydney UNSW is a renowned university in Australia and its law school is highly ranked. The double degree program allows me to build competence within the legal profession while pursuing my interests in language studies. The smaller class environment and innovative approach to law and justice education also appeals to me as it provides me with more opportunities to interact with lecturers and my peers Overall, I think these arrangements all show that UNSW pioneered a studentfocused approach in legal education.

Q. What is your most memorable experience at uni?

My most memorable experience would definitely be joining UNSW Law Society and organising a range of events I was the International Activities Director for 2023, and I worked with my co-director to run different social events for international law students. I met a lot of people during the events, and it has been interesting to hear stories of people from different backgrounds. Seeing new students make friends through our events also gave me a sense of satisfaction as I always wanted to help other international students to transit into UNSW smoothly

Q. What are the biggest challenges with studying a law degree?

Being an international student, the biggest challenge for me was to engage in class

The class participation assessment was designed to encourage student contribution in class, but I personally struggled a lot at the beginning. I always worried that my English is not as good as others, and I was too shy to speak. It did take a long time to get used to the teaching style and feel more comfortable to raise my hand and express my opinions

Another challenge is balancing study and other commitments For me, it was difficult to stay on top of my readings and do assignments while organising events for societies. Time management and multitasking are important skills, so it is always a good idea to plan ahead.

Q. If you could write a letter to your first year self what would you say?

First, be brave and take the initiative to sign up for the events that interest you. Even if it is mooting, which might sound scary for a first year, it is still an opportunity for you to learn and experience

Second, try to talk to senior law students and learn from their experiences. They are the people who went through the same journey as you so don’t be afraid to ask for their advice.

Lastly, relax and enjoy uni life We all know that studying law can be very stressful, but don’t forget to look after yourself and have fun with your friends.

Advicefrom CurrentInternationalStudent

Ivan Man

Beginning your journey as an international law student at UNSW is an adventure that's both thrilling and a bit daunting. However, you're not alone in this. The UNSW Law Society is there to provide a lot of support and resources to help you navigate through this new phase.

Remember, it's crucial to find a good balance between your studies and personal life. Sydney is a fantastic city with so much to offer, so make sure to take some time to explore it and enjoy it. Participate in activities that make you happy and relaxed. This balance is not just nice to have; it's really important for keeping you healthy and happy

Meeting and connecting with other students is also very beneficial. Attend various university events and social gatherings. These new friends can become a great source of support and advice, especially on days when things seem overwhelming or confusing

As for careers, UNSW offers plenty of opportunities to get a real-world perspective on the law industry. Career fairs, seminars, and workshops are excellent ways to learn more about your future profession and network with professionals and alumni.

Enjoy every moment of your university experience and best of luck with your law studies at UNSW!

Advicefrom CurrentInternationalStudent

Jacqueline Ge

As a law student who is in her last year of this journey, there are some tips that I want to mention for helping first-year international students adapt to their lives and studies at UNSW as soon as possible

First, do not panic about coming into a new community you are unfamiliar with. When I came to Australia one year ago, I was so stressed about making friends or even speaking to others I was afraid of making mistakes and making others feel offended by my words or behaviours. And it was no surprise that these thoughts had made me more stressed in the end. So, I want to suggest to firstyear students that it is quite normal to feel panic about starting a new life in a new place; things will go better if you are not trapped yourselves in this situation for a longer time.

Second, do not make a judgement before talking to others. As an international student, I come from a country that has a totally different culture. I used to think lots of stuff before talking to others This suggestion is connected with the first one So, when you feel panic and want to make friends with other students in UNSW or somewhere in this country, just be brave. It is okay not to know some cultures well. The process of making friends is also a process of studying from others. People will not take some of your mistakes personally.

Thirdly, ask for help as soon as possible when you are in need There are lots of people who can help you out when you need help I used to be quite shy in classes and my life I usually did not want to bother people too much when I had just come to Australia But, after talking to some of my friends, I have changed my mind a little bit. What I want to suggest is that it is normal for people to ask for others’ help. Humans live in communities rather than on their own It is not a good solution to isolate yourself just because you do not know something well

Last but not least, enjoy your life while studying here. Some students might be under lots of pressure from themselves or their families to achieve some level of academic excellence Even it is good to set some goals to achieve during your studies But what I want to suggest is that you do not focus too much on your studies Sometimes, goals that are not achievable could make you feel so stressed As a law student who always has so many tasks to do, the most important thing is to make a balance between life and studies.

These are all my suggestions. Good luck to everyone who is a first-year law student.