We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land on which we meet and gather, and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. The Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples have one of the oldest continuing cultures in human history, and we acknowledge that they have shared their knowledge and teachings on this land for many millennia before us. Sovereignty was never ceded.
Disclaimer
While all care has been taken to provide you with the latest and correct information, we acknowledge that this guidebook is only indicative of one of the many ways to approach your law degree. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian National University. The information provided in this handbook is subject to change without notice. Please follow the latest information provided by ANU. The publication is distributed free of charge. The author(s), editor(s), and relevant people are not responsible for any errors or omissions that may have occurred in the production of this publication.
vice-president (education): Lola Ogunbambi
education directors: Mairead O’Connell-Lacy Ava Griffin
publications & it director: Oliver Wiencke
Academic Information
Academic Information How to Prepare for Law School
Check your course structure
Even though you will have enrolled in your courses by now, it is still helpful to see what your degree will consist of over the next few years.
Scan to view the Programs and Courses website.
After searching for your degree, you will find its ‘Study Plan and Program Details’. Click on the ‘Study’ tab and scroll to the bottom of the page to find an outline of your course structure:
Year 1 for LLB (Honours) Students
S1 laws1201 Foundations of Australian Law laws1203 Torts
2 x non-law first-year electives
S2 laws1202 Lawyers, Justice and Ethics laws1204 Contracts
2 x non-law first-year electives
note: All Year 1 courses are six units each.
Year 1 for JD Students
S1 laws6101 Foundations of Australian Law laws6103 Torts laws6104 Contracts Full-time students undertake three compulsory courses in the first semester. An additional six-unit law elective will need to be taken in a later year, during an intensive session or semester, to complete the degree in three years.
S2 laws6102 Lawyers, Justice and Ethics laws6105 Australian Public Law laws6249 Legal Theory laws6250 International Law
note: All Year 1 courses are six units each.
Check your course page
Before beginning your classes, it is prudent to check your Wattle course page for general information.
This information includes:
1. Your convenor’s name and email address
2. Prescribed readings
3. The structure of the course
4. Assessments
There is another way to find this information:
1. Go to the ANU Programs and Courses webpage
2. Search and select the course you are taking (e.g., laws1201)
3. Look through the ‘Overview’ and ‘Study’ tabs
4. Click on the ‘Class’ tab
5. View the Class Summary for the current semester
Get your textbooks accordingly
Before class starts, it is essential to have access to a copy of the prescribed textbook(s). Generally, law courses have a prescribed textbook, which can be found by checking the Class Summary, Wattle course page, or Program Course List.
There are five principal ways you can get textbooks:
1. Attend the LSS Textbook Buy, Swap, and Sell event at 2:00pm, Friday 14 February, on the Law Lawns
2. Buy them from Harry Hartog on campus in Kambri
3. Buy them online, either in hardcopy or digital form
4. Join the ANU Law Textbook Exchange page on Facebook to purchase a second-hand copy from a later-year student
5. Borrow them from a library
You can’t bring a library textbook into an exam.
Log in to MyTimetable
MyTimetable is a website that you will use to choose the times for your classes at the beginning of every semester. This will only work if you have already enrolled in your courses on ISIS.
Scan to view your timetable on MyTimetable.
1. Click ‘MyTimetable for Students (2025)’
2. Select ‘All Weeks’ in the top-right corner
Check your ANU email and Wattle regularly
Throughout your studies, it is essential to check your ANU email frequently. This ensures you are receiving all updates about your courses. Your convenors and tutors use this as a form of communication about specific things related to course content and assessments.
It is crucial to check Wattle before your classes start, because lecturers may have assigned pre-readings. It is a good idea to enable Wattle notifications to be sent to your email, which allows you to stay up to date on questions your lecturers are answering in the course forum.
How to Study Law at ANU Attend classes
Your classes for your degree will include both lectures and tutorials/seminars.
Your lectures can be one to three hours long and are almost always recorded on Echo360, which can be accessed via the Wattle course page. However, it is effective to watch your lectures in person to ensure that you engage with the content and avoid letting unwatched lectures accumulate.
Sometimes, lectures can clash with your tutorials/seminars. This will necessitate watching your lectures online.
While lectures are for everyone doing the relevant course, tutorials/seminars are much smaller classes. They are more interactive and encourage you to ask questions for clarification on certain topics. Your tutor is the first point of contact—for example, to mark practice response questions—and should be emailed before the convenor.
Attendance is taken for tutorials/seminars, such that too many unexplained absences can incur a penalty to your course grade.
Complete your readings/assigned work prior to class
Before your classes, you will generally be assigned readings which relate to that week’s topic. Readings provide you with contextual understanding about what will be discussed in your classes.
While they may seem long and daunting, readings give you important information on content that will be needed for your future assessments. Your readings can be accessed through your Wattle course page.
Make concise notes
Throughout the completion of your courses, making concise and effective notes is an indispensable skill. There are many ways to take notes, and everyone has their personal approach. Often, students note-take for each of their classes and compile these notes during exam preparation periods.
When compiling your notes, make sure to be judicious: extracting the important information from your classes is crucial for your understanding.
Success in open-book exams depends on you having a coherent set of notes that you can easily navigate.
Peer-Assisted Learning
A resource that first-year law students should definitely interact with is the Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) program.
Hosted by later-year students, PAL offers all undergraduate and postgraduate law students the opportunity to develop foundational legal reasoning skills, while also focusing on study skills and exam preparation tips.
Information about PAL sessions are generally included within your weekly ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy email updates. It also appears on your Wattle course page.
For instance, PAL sessions cover everything from legal research to how to make your exam summaries. Additionally, the sessions are a great place to ask questions and meet other law students. Each week’s session has a different topic, and students are welcome to attend regularly, or only when a particular topic they want guidance on is being covered. Every PAL session is recorded and uploaded to the PAL Wattle site—along with relevant resources—for those who could not attend.
For information about what topics PAL will cover, as well as session times and locations, you can follow PAL on Instagram (@peerassistedlearning_anu) or Facebook (@ANU Law Peer-Assisted Learning). You can also send an email containing your enquiry to pal.law@anu.edu.au.
PAL session times
• 2:00 – 3:00pm Monday
• 9:00 – 10:ooam Tuesday
• 2:00 – 3:00pm Tuesday (International Student Focus)
• 11:00am – 12:oopm Wednesday
• 10:00 – 11:00am Thursday
• 2:00 – 3:00pm Friday
The sessions run from Weeks 1 – 12 but do not run during the mid-semester break.
Academic Information
Assessment Information
Throughout your law degree, you will become very familiar with the structure, style, and preparation required to complete your exams and assignments. However, during your first year, this can seem daunting. There are resources to overcome this feeling and tackle your assessments as effectively as possible.
Generally, assessments in law courses include:
• research essays;
• problem questions assignments; and
• exams.
The College of Law, Governance and Policy Library staff are always happy to help you with research and aglc4 citations.
Research essays
Legal research essays are one component to your range of assessments within your law degree. Generally, you will be given a topic which requires a clear and concise argument. The ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy, the LSS, and the ANUSA College of Law, Governance and Policy Representatives host essay-writing workshops that students can attend to build on their skills.
Problem question assignments
Problem questions account for a significant proportion of the assessments you will receive within your law courses. Generally, they are in the format of a take-home assignment that is submitted through Wattle.
Problem questions will always have a factual scenario and may include a couple of stimulus questions that act as the structure for your response.
You will learn how to structure your responses with HIRAC (Heading, Issue, Rule, Application and Conclusion). This allows you to progress through your response concisely and address every aspect of the question.
Exams
Law degrees include mid-semester and final exams, which are in-person and written. They are often problem questions similar to the take-home assignments, but are required to be completed in exam conditions.
The ANU Examinations Office will email you in advance about the exams you have for each course, stating their date, time, duration, and location.
To succeed in these exams, completing practice responses is just as important as it was in high school. The LSS also runs tutorials prior to these exams, in which a qualified later-year student
walks through practice responses to exam questions that have previously been asked.
Scan for more information on Writing Skills for your assessments.
Referencing
Referencing in law is very different to what you will have been accustomed to in high school. Within your law degree, you will use the referencing format of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation 4th edition (aglc4).
Within the law field, referencing is very important and should be done precisely and accurately, particularly because there are marks awarded for it in the assessment rubrics of take-home assignments and research essays. Referencing correctly takes time to master. However, you will get used to it as you progress through your degree.
Scan for a copy of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation 4th edition.
Academic integrity
Maintaining academic integrity throughout the completion of your assessments is something that the ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy takes very seriously.
This means that all students agree to conduct themselves in honestly and responsibly in scholarly practice, which includes not committing plagiarism.
To determine whether a student has maintained their academic integrity, ANU uses the Turnitin platform within Wattle, which acts as an online text matching tool. There are practice Turnitin pages, which you can use to generate a predictive result before you submit your actual assessment.
ANU acknowledges that if an individual does plagiarise, there are penalties such as being awarded a mark of zero or having misconduct recorded on your academic transcript.
Social Events
At a Glance
Finding a supportive and fun community is an ideal way of improving your university experience. Coming to social events are a great way to meet other law students and establish connections!
Joining the ANU Law Students’ Society Facebook page is the best way to stay up to date on all LSS events. Details will be shared closer to each event date. We look forward to seeing you there!
LLB First-Year Welcome Drinks
laws1001 Event
First-Year BBQ & Smoking Ceremony
Pub Crawl
First-Year Law Camp
LLB End of Semester Drinks
Law Ball
disclaimer: These planned events for 2025 may be subject to change.
Social Events
O-Week Events
Orientation Week (O-Week) runs from 10 – 14 February. During the week, there will be a mixture of in-person and online events, giving everyone the opportunity to get involved. It is a great idea to check the ANU website so you know when events are happening, and you can register for the ones that particularly interest you.
Scan for additional information about O-Week Events.
Additionally, ANU hosts informative events such as Course Introduction Sessions. These are extremely useful sessions and it’s a good idea to attend.
The ANU Law School O-Week Induction is in Building 188: China in the World (CIW) Auditorium and Foyer on Tuesday 11 February, 11:30am – 1:00pm.
Law Library Tours and Information Sessions are from 11:00am – 12:00pm and 2:00 – 3:00pm on Monday 10, Wednesday 12, Thursday 13, and Friday 14 February.
There will be an ANU Law MomentuM Mentoring Event on the Law lawns from 12:00 – 1:00pm on Thursday 13 February.
PAL will be running Law School tours on Tuesday 11 February at 2:15pm and on Thursday 13 February at 10:00am.
If you live in a residential hall, they will have an O-Week calendar.
If you don’t live in a residential hall, talk to a Griffin Hall representative on Market Day about becoming a member.
During O-Week, the LSS will host the First-Year Welcome Drinks event. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow students and get some free food and drinks!
laws1001 Event
This event is for first-year undergraduate and postgraduate law students and focuses on giving you the right start to your law school journey.
It features a panel comprising faculty members and alumni from the College of Law, Governance, and Policy, along with later-year students and industry professionals. The panel will discuss topics relevant to the first-year law experience, such as good study practices, support networks and resources, how to balance life at ANU, academic enrichment opportunities, and career endeavours.
The panel’s knowledge on these topics and the chance to meet fellow students represents a fantastic head start to your journey, so monitor the LSS Facebook page for more details.
First-Year Law Camp
First-Year Law Camp is back in 2025, bigger and better, ready to knock your socks off! As one of the biggest first-year events on any university law society calendar, this really is the one that you don’t want to miss. It provides you with the chance to meet individuals who will accompany you on your law journey for the next five years and who may become your lifelong friends.
Brace yourself for two nights of ceaseless revelry with an open bar and the beats of our exclusive on-site DJ. As the sun rises, the party will continue, seamlessly transitioning into a schedule packed with engaging activities, challenges, scavenger hunts, and much more, which
offer ample opportunity to connect with fellow law students. Don’t delay— hurry up and secure your tickets promptly, because they are limited and in high demand!
Law Ball
The annual Law Ball will be held in August this year. This event includes a three-course meal, unlimited drinks, an incredible iconic Canberra location as the venue, and an afterparty with a generous bar tab. It is definitely worth purchasing tickets for one of the highlights of the LSS social calendar!
Get Involved with ANU Law
Competitions
The LSS holds four competitions throughout the year: Mooting, Negotiations, Witness Examinations, and Client Interview. The novice competitions, intended for those who have never competed before (from any year level), will run during Semester 2. These are the first opportunities for first-years to get involved with LSS competitions.
Competitions provide a friendly and inclusive environment for students to develop practical legal skills and try a new way of applying their knowledge. Novice competitions run in Weeks 4 – 5 of Semester 2, with introduction sessions for all four occurring in Weeks 2 – 3.
In Semester 2, the LSS will publish a Competitions Guide, which outlines each competition and provides helpful tips from previous competitors. To get involved or find out more, monitor the LSS Facebook page for this guide, or email Eloise Rudge, the Vice-President (Competitions), at lsscompetitions@anu.edu.au.
Law Reform and Social Justice
Law Reform and Social Justice (LRSJ) projects provide a practical outlet for students to use their research skills, engage with the community, and better understand how law operates in society. LRSJ projects aim to foster a commitment to social justice and law reform through volunteer activities.
Examples of existing projects include GreenLaw (climate and environmental justice), the Indigenous Reconciliation Project, and the Human Rights Project. Through LRSJ, you have the opportunity to interact with academic staff outside the classroom and work with later-year students. LRSJ also hosts events that allow you to learn more about law reform and social justice issues.
Scan to find out more on the LRSJ website, or visit the LRSJ Facebook page.
Get Involved with ANU Law
Law Revue
The ANU Law Revue is an annual student-run sketch comedy production. The show’s content ranges from current affairs to abstract legal theory, everyday student life to pop culture, and legal issues to funny puns.
Auditions are held in the early weeks of Semester 1 and are open to all ANU students (not just those studying law). Whether you are a seasoned singer, musician or dancer, or an absolute novice, ANU Law Revue has a part for you!
If you are interested, scan to view ANU Law Revue on YouTube.
Mental Health
First
Aid Training
Across their career, members of the legal profession may encounter clients and colleagues impacted by mental health challenges. Mental Health First Aid Training equips students to support those dealing with these challenges. It is available to all LSS members, and provides them with an internationallyrecognised accreditation that is valid for three years.
International Law Society
The ANU International Law Society (ILS) provides students with opportunities to further their study and enjoyment of international law. ILS initiatives include careers events, mentoring programs, and panel discussions on issues in international law.
Throughout these initiatives, the ILS has collaborated with experts such as Gillian Triggs, The Hon. Julie Bishop, The Hon. Michael Kirby ac cmg, Professor The Hon. Gareth Evans, and The Hon. Hilary Charlesworth.
You can learn more about the ILS by visiting its Facebook page or emailing ils@anu.edu.au.
Course Representatives
In the first weeks of the course, your convenor will seek course representatives, a group of students who function as a point of contact for other students by communicating their queries or concerns with the convenor. This is a great way to get to know members of the law faculty.
Law Students’ Society
The Law Students’ Society (LSS) consists of the President, nine Vice-Presidents (each with a different portfolio), and 45 committee members (who hold roles within those portfolios). Additionally, four First-Year Representatives are elected in Week 3 or 4. Participating in the LSS is a great way to meet law students in other cohorts, connect with those in the legal profession, and be involved in organising lots of the events featured in this guide.
Peppercorn Magazine
Peppercorn is the LSS’ official magazine, edited by students, for students. It is published biannually, but content is regularly released the Peppercorn website.
Accepting submissions from all ANU students, staff, and alumni, Peppercorn is committed to bringing thought-provoking and relevant content to ANU law students and the ANU law community, through a variety of mediums.
Scan to view Peppercorn’s website.
JD Information
Planning Ahead
While there are many similarities between the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Bachelor of Laws (Honours)[LLB (Hons.)], there are a few notable differences that first-year JD students should be aware of when commencing their studies at ANU.
The most important thing to consider is that the JD is a condensed program in comparison to the undergraduate course. With the JD being three years instead of the usual four to six, first-year JD students are advised to begin planning earlier rather than later. That way, you can make the most of your three years and not miss out on opportunities. Here are two practical examples:
Clerkships
Applications for summer clerkships start in the penultimate year of the JD and happen over the summer before you begin your final year. Clerkships give you a taste of what it is like to work in commercial law and often act as a pathway into graduate employment. Start thinking about optimising your application, so you’re not caught off guard in your second year.
The ANU LSS runs a Clerkship Information Evening each year in Semester 1 that you are welcome to attend even as a first-year student so you can learn more about the opportunities available and how to best prepare. The LSS also publishes a Clerkship Guide, so watch out for this once it becomes available.
Competitions
You can participate in novice competitions in your first year and senior competitions in your second year. Participating in these competitions is a great way to develop practical skills.
Courses
Although JD students often have the same assessments and course requirements as LLB (Hons.) students, there are a few differences you should be aware of if you are commencing your JD. It is advisable to select tutorials later in the afternoon if you are juggling work and study.
The amount and type of assessments in JD courses can differ extensively from those in LLB (Hons.) courses. JD students sometimes have fewer or more assessments with different weightings, and the word limit is usually higher for JD students.
When searching for information on your courses, make sure you look at the right course guide (e.g., Torts has a course code laws1203 for LLB (Hons.) students and laws6103 for JD students).
Social Events
The LSS runs a couple of JD-specific events throughout the year. Monitor the LSS Facebook page for upcoming events, and purchase an LSS membership for discounted JD event ticket prices.
Health and Wellbeing
LSS Wellbeing
The LSS is committed to prioritising the wellbeing of its members. Starting and finishing your law degree is hard, and almost certainly stressful at times. The LSS is concious of this, and invests extensively in a range of events, resources, and initiatives throughout the year, which promote both the physical and mental health of its members.
The LSS Mental Health Week is an important week, which includes various workshops, guest talks, yoga, meditation sessions, and more. Keep a look out for our Weekly Wellbeing posts on Facebook!
If you have any questions, concerns, or conflicts of interest throughout the year, please contact our Vice-President (Equity) Mei Gethen at lssequity@anu.edu.au
ANU Medical Services
ANU offers free and confidential health services at the ANU Medical Centre, which is located on levels 2 and 3 of the Health and Wellbeing Centre, Building 156 (in Kambri, next to Club Lime).
Also, don’t forget to get your flu shots there—they’re free! ANU students should bring their Medicare card and Student ID, or an international health card, if relevant. It is easiest to book through Hotdoc— or ring up: they might have a last-minute appointment available.
Scan for additional information on ANU Medical Services.
Telephone: (02) 6178 0400
ANU Counselling
The ANU offers free non-diagnostic counselling to all current students. The service is also provided in the Health and Wellbeing Centre in Kambri. No referral or Mental Health Treatment Plan from a GP is required.
Scan for additional information on ANU Counselling services.
Telephone: (02) 6178 0455
ANU Wellbeing and Support Line
The ANU Wellbeing and Support Line is a phone service for all current students who are experiencing situational stress, emotional difficulties, and mental health concerns. The service can also be used to provide debriefing support and assistance for student leaders. The ANU Wellbeing and Support Line works with ANU Counselling but is operational 24 hours a day.
Telephone: 1300 050 327 SMS: 0488 884 170
Health and Wellbeing
Respectful Relationships Unit
The Respectful Relationships Unit provides information, support, case coordination, and referral for those impacted by sexual assault or sexual harassment, including those supporting someone who has experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment.
You can also disclose an incidence of sexual misconduct using the ANU Sexual Misconduct Disclosure Form.
Scan for additional information on the Respectful Relationships Unit.
Email: respect@anu.edu.au
Access and Inclusion
Access and Inclusion (A&I) is aimed at supporting students within the ANU
community whose participation in academic studies is impacted by physical and learning disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic medical conditions, and short-term illnesses/conditions, as well as carers, international under-18 students, and elite athletes.
A&I aims to raise awareness and understanding of disability issues amongst the broader ANU community and to enable students with disability to participate fully in university life.
A&I helps students to participate fully in their program of study, be academically successful, and achieve their personal best through the development of an Education Access Plan. Students are required to register with A&I before services can be provided.
This process will require verification of the disability or medical condition through the provision of appropriate documentation and discussion of student’s needs. The office will then assess the nature and extent of the disability or medical condition and facilitate the provision of support.
This may include the use of equipment, note-taking support, and the reviewing of exams and assessments.
Scan for additional information on Access and Inclusion.
Telephone: (02) 6125 5036
Email: access.inclusion@anu.edu.au
Education Access Plans (EAPs)
Education Access Plans (EAPs) are plans which take into account a student’s circumstances and outline reasonable adjustments to ensure the student is supported in achieving their personal best and that any impacts on their academic studies are minimised.
The LSS encourages all students who think they may require an EAP to seek support from A&I as soon as possible, because leaving it too late may impact their capacity to implement an EAP in time to support their studies.
Students should begin collecting supporting documentation as soon as practicable as this will allow you to begin the registration process with A&I.
Scan for additional information on required medical documentation.
Students must then create a Student Access Portal Account, through which they can submit a Registration Form. Once registered, students may begin to add their supporting documentation. The final step is an appointment with the Disability and Equity Advisor (DEA) to develop a personalised EAP.
The appointment details can be organised and accessed through Student Access Portal.
Scan for additional information on the EAP registration process.
Remember that EAPs can be accessed by a range of people, so please get in touch with A&I if you are unsure about whether you are eligible. Please view the A&I website for more circumstancespecific information, such as guidance for elite athletes and carers.
Health and Wellbeing
Extensions and Adjustments
Extensions
Students may request an Assessment
Extension if they are unable to complete an assessment task (other than an exam) by the due date because of exceptional circumstances beyond their control.
The following QR codes provide specific information on Extensions and Adjustments:
Scan to view the ANU Extension Policy.
Scan to view the Extension request form.
Scan for ANUSA’s guide on assessment extensions.
Scan for information on distinguishing between extensions and extenuating circumstances.
Extenuating Circumstances Application (ECAs)
ECAs aim to offer support in cases where extenuating circumstances have had a demonstrable and significant impact on a student’s learning experience.
If a student fits into any of the following categories, they are encouraged to submit an ECA:
• if you require more than 10 days’ extension for an assessment item worth more than 20% of the final grade;
• if you require extenuating circumstances taken into consideration during the marking of an assessment item that is already submitted (i.e. special consideration); or
• if you need to apply for a deferred examination because you are unable to sit an examination due to extenuating circumstances.
Possible outcomes for an ECA are:
• approved: altered assessment due date;
• approved: deferred examination;
• approved: alternative assessment;
• approved: modified assessment weighting; or
• not approved.
Scan for more information on ECAs, such as who can access them and how to apply.
Contacts
LSS
Alex Bako (President)
Email: lss@anu.edu.au
Lola Ogunbambi (Vice-President Education)
Email: lsseducation@anu.edu.au
Scan to view the LSS website.
Facebook: facebook.com/ANULSS
ANUSA
Scan to view the ANUSA website.
Facebook: facebook.com/ ANUStudentsAssociation
Telephone: (02) 6125 2444
ANUSA College of Law, Governance and Policy Representatives
Undergraduate Representatives: Penelope Robson, William H. Chen
Postgraduate Representative: Nathan Akroyd
HDR Representative: Aman Kumar
Email: sa.col@anu.edu.au
College Student and Education Support Team
Telephone: (02) 6125 3483
Email: enquiries.law@anu.edu.au
Notes
A study guide for undergraduate and postgraduate law students commencing their degree in 2025
