First Year Guide 2019

first year guide 2019 prepared by the 2019 media and communication team, on behalf of

qut law society inc.

The QUT Law Society sincerely thanks the following for sponsoring the 2019 First Year Guide.

Ashurst l Clayton Utz l HopgoodGanim l QUT PLT l MinterEllison l King & Wood Mallesons l Herbert Smith Freehills l Allens Linklaters l Johnson Winter & Slattery l McCullough Robertson l Thomson Geer l Cover design by:

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Contents reconciliation............................................................................... 4 important contacts..................................................................... 5 about qut law society inc........................................................... 6 publications.................................................................................. 7 law school basics........................................................................ 8 law industry basics................................................................... 10 transitioning to university...................................................... 12 lectures & tutorials................................................................. 14 tips for successful study......................................................... 16 academic integrity..................................................................... 18 get connected............................................................................. 20 events & activites...................................................................... 22 competitions............................................................................... 24 sport and health ....................................................................... 26 moot club.................................................................................... 27 education..................................................................................... 28 eat, drink & shop......................................................................... 30 connect with us.......................................................................... 31

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Reconciliation The QUT Law Society respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land upon which it works, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pays its respects to Elders past and present.

We recognise the contributions that Indigenous people make to society, and celebrate Indigenous success. The QUT Law Society is committed to inclusion, reconciliation and consultation to ensure the future of Australia is one where Indigenous people are afforded equal opportunity.

The QUT Law Society demonstrates its commitment to reconciliation through numerous events and programs facilitated throughout the year, organised in partnership with a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Officer.

There are many upcoming opportunities to acknowledge Indigenous history, both within the QUT community and beyond. The annual Reconciliation Breakfast is one of the most highly regarded events hosted throughout the year. The event will be hold within Reconciliation Week and will host a variety of guest speakers. More information will be available in due course. The event is open to students and legal professionals.

In 2019, the QUT Law Society welcomes commencing Indigenous students, and wishes you every success in your studies and beyond.

If you have any queries do not hesitate to contact our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Officer at atsi.officer@qutlawsociety.com

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Important Contacts

Facuty Of Law

Location: Level 4, C Block Gardens Point 2 George St Brisbane QLD 4000

Phone: 3138 2707

Email: law_enquiries@qut.edu.au

International phone: +61 7 3138 2707

The Faculty of Law can assist you with administrative enquiries about various issues such as timetabling and enrolments. If you need assistance with the academic curriculum, you will need to contact your tutor or lecturer.

To find contact details for academic staff, visit www.qut.edu.au/about/contact to search by tutor name or Faculty area.

other important contacts QUT Law Library: (07) 3138 2842 Careers and Employment: (07) 3138 2649 careers@qut.edu.au

Study & General Enquiries: (07) 3138 2000 askqut@qut.edu.au Disability & Injury Support: (07) 3138 2699

IT Helpdesk: (07) 3138 4000 ithelpdesk@qut.edu.au

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About the qut law society inc.

The QUTLS is a volunteer student association which seeks to holistically enhance the tertiary experiences of all QUT Law students. The QUTLS is the largest law student association in Australia.

management committee President: Jack Bristed

president@qutlawsociety.com

Vice-President: Zane Jhetam

vicepresident@qutlawsociety.com

Secretary: Ebony-Lee Corbyn

secretary@qutlawsociety.com

Treasurer: Isaac Fisher

treasurer@qutlawsociety.com

directors Competitions: Ben Quick

director.competititions@qutlawsociety.com

Equity: Rebecca Nguyen Le

director.equity@qutlawsociety.com

Education: Chelsea Lee

director.education@qutlawsociety.com

Sport & Health: Bronte Jackson

director.sporthealth@qutlawsociety.com

Moot Club: Holly Vaughan

director.mootclub@qutlawsociety.com

Media & Communicaton: Anna Wilson

director.mediacommunication@qutlawsociety.com

Events: Alexandria Brown

director.events@qutlawsociety.com

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Publications The QUT Law Society creates other publications throughout the year, including:

‘springboard’ careers guide Springboard is our Members go-to resource when applying for clerkships and graduate positions. It provides a comprehensive overview of the different vacation and graduate programs on offer.

Springboard also includes profiles on numerous public and private sector firms, job applications and interview techniques, and a myriad of other useful tips and information to assist students navigate through their professional legal careers’.

torts illustrated Torts Illustrated is our student-interest magazine that fuctions as a creative outlet for our entire membership base, and a favourite talking point in the ‘Lawbrary’. Content ranges from important legal information to witty articles about surviving Law School (and the law in general).

In 2019, Torts Illustrated will be published once each Semester. Articles that do not make it into these editions will be featured on our brand new blog!

blog

2019 marks the beginning of QUTLS’ very own blog! The QUTLS blog will touch on news, topical legal issues and QUT law student’s opinions. This will provide our Members with easily accessible information and (much needed) comic relief by documenting current affairs from QUT and beyond in a satirical way, using a unique blend of legal humour and pure wit.

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law school basics Congratulations on your first step in choosing to study Law at QUT! We cannot wait to have you on board our Law Society and provide you with the wide range of support and opportunities that are only going to benefit you in your journey ahead.

We were once in your shoes too, and today we want to tell you the things we needed to hear as Law Freshers at QUT. There’s a lot to know when you first start out. Here are a few of the most important things!

CLASSES: LECTURES & TUTORIALS

For every subject you enrol into (also called a ‘unit’) you’ll have a few different types of classes: Lectures – Formal instruction on course content. Lectures are usually available as a combination of face-to-face classes and online recordings; Tutorials – Less formal instruction, typically delivered in a smaller classroom setting. You will have set tasks to complete before each tutorial, usually involving the application of principles from lectures and weekly readings, which your tutor will discuss thoroughly with the class; Workshops – Some units combine lectures and tutorials into a single workshop, sometimes called a ‘lectorial’.

External students do not typically have tutorials. Instead, there is a compulsory ‘External Attendance School’ held during the mid-semester break.

RESOURCE MATERIALS

A variety of resource materials will come in handy for study: Textbooks – Each unit has a list of textbooks. Some are compulsory (the ‘main’ textbook) and others only recommended. The compulsory text is usually enough to provide you with all necessary and relevant information; Study Guides – Available from the ‘Blackboard’ website for each unit, some are written like a mini-textbook, others provide a basic outline and tutorial questions; And More – There are a lot of other useful resources at your disposal, including legal data-bases and encyclopaedia. Peruse through the multitde of resources that the Library can provide you with (both in-person and online).

Pro Tip: ‘Q&A’ textbooks are available for most subjects, with practice exam questions and model answers. Many are written by your lecturers, and these lecturers set your exams. Not every Q&A book is useful, but paying close attention can give you an inside edge.

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ASSESSMENT

Different units will have different assessments. The main types of assessment are: Assignments – Many different assignment formats are used in the Law School. Most assignments involve analysis of a legal problem, providing advice regarding parties’ legal positions in response to a fact-based scenario (usually 30-40%); Exams – End of semester exams are usually worth 50-60% of your total grade. Most exam questions will be scenario-based legal problems, with short essay questions occasionally thrown in for variety.

There are no ‘fail’ marks for individual assessment items. Your final grade is cumulative, so if you get below 50% for an assessment you may still pass that subject overall (with a bit of work). Being cumulative means that every mark counts!

Pro Tip: Practise for exams by completing hand-written responses to past exam questions (which you usually find on the Blackboard site for each unit). Identifying legal issues arising from a set of facts can be deceptively difficult. Exams won’t identify a particular topic area like in tutorials and often include multiple topics from different areas, so practice identifying issues, too!

NOTES

A majority of QUT Law exams are open book. You can bring in any written material you’d like, and it’s generally advisable to compile a set of notes to bring along. Notes are helpful in three ways: Writing notes is a very effective way of studying course content; Organising content in your preferred way provides a personalised reference tool; and personalised notes are invaluable in an exam.

You’ll eventually find your preferred method of structuring and compiling notes; Try outlining a structure for your response and then a step-by-step procedure for analysing each sub-issue.

Some students post their exam notes online; Approach these notes with caution – they have not been vetted by content experts (i.e. lecturers) and often contain errors.

Lecturers also set exam questions to exploit known errors in online notes, and markers can pick when you’ve used them.

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Law Industry Basics Now that you’ve achieved the first step on your journey to becoming a legal professional, it’s important to start becoming familiar with the legal industry.

Legal industry terminology can often take a long time to come to grips with, so here are a few basics to start with:

TYPES OF LAWYERS

In Queensland (and most other jurisdictions), there are two types of ‘lawyers’: solicitors and barristers.

Solicitors, while appearing in court from time-to-time, spend most of their time in an office working with clients to provide legal advice. Solicitors are often a client’s first point of contact in any legal matter. As there are so many different areas of law, you’ll often find that solicitors will have a specialised area that they practice in, such as property or family law. You can choose electives at university if you have an idea of an area you’d like to specialise in, but you will study all core law units, called the ‘Priestley 11’ as part of your degree. Most lawyers practice as solicitors.

Barristers are the lawyers you will probably be most familiar with (think white wig and long robes).

Barristers spend most of their time in a courtroom setting, advocating for their client. Additionally, barristers often work with an instructing solicitor on a matter to provide targeted, specialised advice.

Many barristers will often also specialise in ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution’ (‘ADR’), which is a blanket term for negotiation. In Queensland, barristers are self-employed, but often work from premises shared with other barristers called ‘chambers.’ Becoming a barrister involves completing further study and Bar examinations after completing your Law Degree.

LAW FIRMS

A ‘law firm’ is essentially a group of lawyers working collectively for one business. Law firms are commonly divided into three different categories – boutique (very small), mid-tier and top-tier. While this division is fairly arbitrary, law firms are often ranked according to their number of ‘fee earners’ – the number of partners and lawyers employed by the business.

You’ll sometimes hear people refer to the ‘big six’ law firms. These are the top six law firms by size, historically being Herbert Smith Freehills, King & Wood Mallesons, Clayton Utz, MinterEllison, Ashurst and Allens Linklaters. With more competition in the legal service market, these distinctions matter less over time and many more lawyers work in mid-tier or boutique firms than in the ‘big six.’

A growing practice are ‘in-house lawyers’, who work outside the firm system, employed directly by companies to perform day-to-day legal work and assist with common legal matters. In-house counsel positions are often available at a whole range of businesses, from airlines to banks.

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ORGANISATION STRUCTURES

In its most basic form, a law firm is a partnership of one or more legal practitioners. Like every business, different firms work differently and have different ways of doing business.

There are several common legal roles which you’ll find in most law firms. Smaller businesses will have a more limited range of role types, while larger businesses will often have very targeted role classifications.

Firms tend to be very hierarchical, generally in the order of: 1. Partner; 2. Senior/Special Counsel; 3. Senior Lawyer/Associate; 4. Lawyer/Associate; 5. Junior Lawyer/Trainee/Graduate; 6. Paralegal; 7. Vacation Clerks.

The main difference between these roles is the type and complexity of work, as well as the level of remuneration. You may be able to find work as a ‘paralegal’ while you study – paralegals perform basic legal and administrative tasks, which is invaluable experience when applying for jobs.

CLERKSHIPS & GRADUATE POSITIONS

Clerkships are a big deal for both students and firms. A clerkship can be the first step in working for a major firm. Firms recruit in February – March for the following year, and generally want penultimate students, but some firms open clerkships roles to second-year students. That’s next year, so keep your eyes peeled for such an opportunity!

Firms will often place successful clerks into graduate recruitment programs, using clerkships as an opportunity to understand how you work and see if you are a good fit for their business, with a view to employing you! A clerkship can be an important opportunity to get your foot in the door at a major firm, and gives you a chance to experience real legal work and the culture of a firm, all the while seeing which practice area(s) you’re best suited to.

Though a lot of emphasis is placed on receiving a clerkship, don’t stress too much if it doesn’t happen for you – it’s an amazing opportunity if you get one, but lots of very successful lawyers don’t clerk.

For more information, keep an eye out for the QUT Law Society Careers Guide in March! Also keep your eyes on the QUT Law Students FaceBook page, as lots of clerkship preparation workshops are run each year!

OTHER WAYS TO USE A Law Degree

While we’ve given you a run-down of the basics of the legal industry, being a solicitor or barrister isn’t the end of the road with a Law Degree. A law degree can open up many doors to other careers if you discover that practicing law isn’t for you.

Possible career outcomes include but are not limited to: policy and government, diplomacy, legal technology, politics, legal academia and, media and journalism. The legal industry, as well as society, is constantly changing - so the world is your oyster!

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Transitioning to university QUT’s Bachelor of Laws attracts a wide range of students; some have just finished school, while others have completed another degree, travelled overseas, or worked for many years. Some students live at home, some work, some have children and a mortgage.

Each of these scenarios present different challenges and your personal circumstances will impact your transition into law school. No matter what your personal circumstances are, there are a few things that it pays to keep in mind when you’re starting out your Law Degree.

ATTENDANCE

Here’s the thing: it’s hard to find the time for everything you’re supposed to do. You’ll have lectures, tutorials and assignments to keep you busy, but things like extracurricular activities and having a life are really important, too.

Unlike work or school, at university you’ll be expected to make your own choices when it comes to attendance. Some students find this freedom tempting, but if you want to perform at your best (and/ or pass) you’ll need to attend classes.

Non-attendance of even a few classes can put you in a difficult position. Everyone misses a class here and there – just don’t make it a habit and have a plan to catch-up! You’ll start to feel more comfortable with what you’re doing by second semester, too – this is a good thing, but it can breed complacency and not turning up to classes is often a recipe for disaster.

Turning up to your tutorial having done your tutorial work is the best and easiest thing you can do to get decent grades!

GET ORGANISED

So you don’t end up a quivering mess by the end of semester: Schedule time for readings, tutorial work, assignments, study and end of semester revision, not just lectures and tutorials; Keep up with lectures, go to tutorials and do your tutorial work; and Start your assignments early!

HIGH SCHOOL TO LAW SCHOOL

At school, you have a teacher who is responsible for your learning. At university that responsibility rests with you. Lecturers and tutors are a really great learning resource, but they won’t be chasing you for your homework.

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Each academic staff member will place different demands on you and have different expectations of the work they’d like to see. It’s up to you to work out how to exact the best grade from them and the easiest way of doing this is to ask! Don’t be afraid to approach your lecturers and tutors with questions – they’re here to help!

At uni, you’re expected to be self-directed when it comes to your learning. You’ll be told what you have to read, but a big part of studying law is to read as widely as possible to gain an in-depth understanding of the subject matter.

With a whole library just for law, you’re never going to be able to read it all. How do you know what is enough? Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer: some students read every prescribed and optional textbook reading and every legal case in full, others will do nothing all semester and spend study week holed-up in the Law Library being swallowed by their swarm of empty coffee cups.

Option A is probably better and definitely a good way of improving your grades, but won’t be feasible for everyone. Try to find a balance and, most importantly, find an approach that works for you.

Good results and having a life don’t need to be mutually exclusive.

REAL SKILLS

While content knowledge is important, your degree is really about acquiring practical legal skills. The QUT School of Law is all about practical skills and your assessments are based on what real lawyers do.

The law changes all the time; taking an effective approach to resolving a legal problem is far more important than knowing the state of the law.

Life experience and knowledge of topics outside the law are also invaluable. They help you think practically and creatively about the law. You’ll never be asked to read unrelated materials, but pursuing your non-legal interests and learning new things is surprisingly useful.

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Lectures & Tutorials If you haven’t studied at uni before, finding your feet with lectures and tutorials can be difficult. Just turning up isn’t usually enough – they’re the heart and soul of your degree, so it pays to get them right!

LECTURES

Lectures go for two hours and may be face-to-face and/or online. Either way, a recording will be made available via the Blackboard site. They provide the basis of what you should know about the topic, using slides that you can acquire prior to the lecture.

Different students approach lectures differently and no one method is necessarily better than another. Some students: Write down what the lecturer says word-for-word; Listen to the lecturer and jot down an occasional note; or Acquire the slides before the lecture, use these in conjunction with the study guide and only write down the information that is not already provided.

All of these are fine. Do whatever works for you, but always read the lecture and study guide materials beforehand. Start with a general understanding of the material and the lecture will help you place everything in proper context.

It can be difficult to maintain your concentration in lectures. Some students have even been known to fall asleep... If this happens, ask yourself questions as the lecturer talks and try to answer them before they do. If you are really finding it difficult to concentrate, begin to write what the lecturer has stated word for word until you regain concentration. If all else fails, grab a coffee during the break.

Be mindful that if you’re not physically attending the lecture at a set time, you’ll need to schedule time to listen to the online recording. Schedule this well in advance and remember that while it can be tough to stick to a set time, it’s easier than skimming over dozens of hours of lecture recordings in the week before exams! It’s a good idea to schedule more time than the length of the recording as you’ll regularly need to pause to take notes or re-listen to something you missed.

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TUTORIALS

Unless you study externally, every unit has a tutorial component and tutorial ‘homework’ to complete in the time between the lecture and your tutorial. You’ll be asked to use the principles discussed in lectures and in your readings, applying those principles to ‘solve’ a legal problem.

Tutorials are the core element of your studies. You learn how to apply the law to practical situations (which is what you’ll have to do in the exam) and you have an opportunity to clarify any questions you have about a topic. Different tutors have different approaches, but generally they will walk the class through that week’s tutorial questions asking for input from the class.

In previous years, students were marked on their tutorial participation. This was to encourage students to attend classes and to provide input. Luckily, tutorial participation marks are no longer part of the assessment criteria. In saying that, it is highly recommended that students continue to attend classes to get the most out of their degree. You’re accumulating a HECS debt for a reason! Listening and asking questions in class will give you an edge over the students that don’t attend class.

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academIc IntegrIty

Theft, nowadays, can take place in various forms. It ranges from stealing goods to copying other people’s ideas or work. At QUT, academic dishonesty is taken very seriously and the rules and regulations are found in QUT’s policies and procedures (MOPP) C/5.3 that cover its definition and also govern the constituents of academic dishonesty.

Why are these academic regulations?

To be awarded a seat at the institution of your choosing is always great and it often brings to us a range of mixed emotions. More often than not, we do not know what is expected of us other than maintaining a high standard of work.

Becoming familiar with QUT’s academic policies is a way of ensuring that you are always on the right track and is indirectly a way of settling in at QUT. At QUT, we are committed to creating and fostering an environment that encourages and rewards academic honesty, and ensuring that you have clear guidance and assistance, in order to follow these principles. This means that both staff and students are expected to demonstrate a certain level of honesty, respect, fairness and trust, and act in a responsible manner when undertaking academic activities. Non-conformity with these principles of academic honesty results in what is known as academic dishonesty at QUT.

What are the principles at QUT?

As a QUT student, you are committed to maintaining and delivering a high academic standard of work to protect the values of QUT and to ensure that we remain at the top in the university league. In practice, this would translate into all assessment items being approached and completed with the highest standards of academic honesty. Any actions or practices that defeat the purpose of assessment is regarded as a failure to maintaining academic honesty. This can involve but is not l imited to: presenting another person’s ideas or work as your own (otherwise known as plagiarism), including the resubmission of your own work for another assessment item or cheating in examinations.

Why is detecting and penalising plagiarism important at QUT?

If you plagiarise any content, intentionally or otherwise in assessment items, you are not providing the appropriate evidence of the learnings undertaken in the degree. In other words, it would then be difficult for your lecturers or tutors to assess your understanding of the given topics. Members of an academic community that plagiarise also undermine the value of the knowledge generated by that

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same community. It not only makes the quality of learning and teaching questionable for other QUT students (and prospective students), but the acquisition of a law degree with plagiarised assessments would imply a defective quality of the University’s graduates, and would also undermine the value of the qualifications offered and the achievements of other students.

What does QUT consider to be dishonest?

1. Cheating in exams This includes any action or attempted action whereby someone may have gained an unfair advantage in the examination. Common methods of cheating include: bringing unauthorised material into the exam; having access to unauthorised written notes during the exam; communicating with others during the exam; copying or reading another student’s work during the exam.

2. Plagiarism This involves representing another person’s ideas or work as your own. It may also include resubmitting your own work for another assessment item. Common forms of plagiarism include: direct copying, summarising, or paraphrasing another person’s work without appropriate acknowledgement of the sources; using or developing an idea or hypothesis from another person’s work without appropriate acknowledgement; representing the work of another person as your own work; copying non-word based material (such as diagrams, plans or audio-visual materials) and presenting them as your own work; using another person’s experimental results as your own or without appropriate acknowledgement.

3. Other forms Other forms of failing to undertake your studies with academic honesty include: giving or providing your work for sale to someone else; misrepresenting, falsifying or fabricating data for an assessment; using assessment materials from someone else (whether purchased or taken); colluding (working very closely) with other people to produce an assignment and then submitting it as your own individual work; collaborating (working on an assignment) with others where it is not authorised in the assessment requirements.

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QUTLS MENTOR PROGRAM ‘BUDDY PROGRAM’ QUTLS Mentor Program partners you with an experienced law student who can help you during the transition to studying law. The Mentor Program pairs you with like minded law students who have been through it all before and can show you the ropes. Understanding how to take lecture notes, prepare for end of semester exams, cite correctly and take advantage of initiatives you may not even know existed goes a long way to improve your university experience and ultimately, getting that elusive grad job. The Mentor Program is open to all first year law students and is the easiest way to start law school off on the right foot.

Pro tip: Student Mentors will tell you things your lecturers won’t.

GET C ONNEC TED QUT LAW SOCIETY information evening Outside of your regular classes, QUT Law Society hosts must-attend workshops across the year, presented by industry representatives from top law firms. Our workshops cover everything from working at the courts, to working a room, insider’s advice from employers on getting that dream job, and more!

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FIRST YEAR social

The First Year Social is a joint initiative between the Faculty of Law and QUT Law Society. The First Year Social is a great way to meet the rest of your cohort who you will be sharing the same struggles with over the next 4-6 years. Even if mass socialisation isn’t your thing, there will be free food and an opportunity, if you signed up the Mentor Program, to meet your Student Mentor for the first time!

Pro Tip: This is one of the first opportunities for you to mingle with your fellow cohorts and make friends. These friends may end up becoming part of your much needed study group!.

External Lunch Semester One and Two External Students play a significant role within QUT Law. We have decided to take an active step to recognise all that you do by hosting an official meet and great during the external attendance weeks in both semesters.

Both lunches will be catered for and will be a great way to meet the lecturers, whose voices you know all too well. We are planning to organise a special get together for external students pataking in the Mentor Program. Law firms will be invited to explain how you can get the most out of the clerkship and graduate process.

Please like and see the QUT Law Society’s Facebook page for confirmation of details. These lunches are open to both first year and later year law students and are a great way to get involved and help build collegiality amongst QUT’s growing external law student population.

se he ends t f i e o ke fr stry g a u ta an to m ind v s ith ls! ad ke nitie rk w iona a T rtu o o etw esss p op nd n prof a

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Events & Activities Every year, the QUT Law Society hosts lots of events; from formal dinners and networking opportunities, to parties and everything in-between – keep an eye out on our Facebook page and weekly email for all the latest events!

MEET THE PROFESSION

The most important networking event of the academic season, students are invited to attend the ‘QUT Law Society’s Meet the Profession’ evening in early March. This event offers you the chance to meet and network with representatives from top legal firms over drinks and canapés. This event is an incredible opportunity for those applying for clerkships and graduate positions.

Indigenous RECONCILIATION BREAKFAST

The QUT Law Society Reconciliation Breakfast brings together students from across the university to meet with prominent indigenous and business leaders.

In 2018, prominent Indigenous leader and Murri activist, Uncle Sam Watson attended as guest speaker and took the audience through a journey of all the societal battles that Indigenous Australian’s have had to face, including himself. He was also joined by Partner at Colin, Biggers & Paisley, Damien Butler, and QUTLS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Officer for 2018, Kathryn Dorante.

WOMEN IN LAW

The Women in Law cocktail evening highlights the contributions of women as members of the legal fraternity and celebrates the achievements of women in law, featuring cocktails, canapés and speeches from inspirational female leaders.

This evening acknowledges that there is a growing role for women in the legal industry, especially with women representing over 60% of law graduates. A great opportunity to support the standing of women in law and in leadership positions, this is an opportunity not to be missed!

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L CARD LAUNCH

The L Card is the best student discount card around! For just $10, L Card holders have access to awesome hospitality and retail discounts, and free entry and specials at dozens of venues.

If this isn’t already enough to convince you, this card pays you back immediately with free entry to the annual L Card launch, hosted jointly by QUT, UQ and Griffith Law Societies. If you miss us selling them at O Week, drop by the QUT Law Society Office to pick yours up! See www.thelcard.com for a full list of specials.

LAW BALL

The Law Ball is the social highlight of the year for QUT Law students. Held in May, the Law Ball gives you the chance to get dressed up and party! This is a sell-out event and this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever!

LAW DINNER

Held in Semester Two, the annual Law Dinner is the formal event of the year, featuring keynote addresses from highly accomplished members of the legal fraternity.

LAW REVUE

The annual Law Revue is a live, satirical, law-themed musical production, giving students the chance to let their hair down and express themselves creatively.

Law Revue is independently produced by a highly-motivated subcommittee, who are always looking for people to lend a hand – not only creative-types like writers, actors, singers, and musicians, but anyone who’s keen to help out in the production! If you’re interested in helping out, contact the production team at lawrevue@qutlawsociety.com.

Tickets will be available in the lead up to the performance. There may even be law firms coming along for a bit of post-performance networking, too!

#Letsgetrekt

#Letsgetrekt is an event whereby all law students are invited to celebrate the end of each semester. Traditionally held at Jade Buddha on Eagle Street, this night commemorates all the blood, sweat and tears that law students have shed.

COMpetItIons Competitions Portfolio:

The QUTLS Competitions portfolio provides students of all experience levels with the opportunity to not only develop their legal research and advocacy skills, but also expand their network and explore potential career paths. We offer seven competitions, six of which are open to first-years!

The Competitions we run are: First Year Moot; Junior Moot; Online Moot; Open Moot; Client Interview; Negotiation; Paper Presentation.

For many students, participating in competitions is the highlight of their degree (and a rite of passage). It gives you the chance to put into practice the theoretical knowledge you gather throughout your degree in a real world setting. The competitions are judged by industry professionals and senior students who give you on-the-spot invaluable feedback and advice – a law student’s most precious commodity!

Competition winners and runners-up may also be invited to represent the QUTLS at a state or national level, providing further opportunities to enhance your skills and grow your networks. The internal competitions listed above provide the stomping ground for those students who go on to represent the university in competitions like the Jessup Moot in Washington D.C. and the International Criminal Court Moot held in the Netherlands (maybe this will be you in a couple of years!)

Registrations for competitions open about one month before the competition begins – keep an eye on the QUTLS Facebook page for announcements.

So, what is Mooting?

Essentially, you get to dress-up and argue like Harvey Spectre or Elle Woods. Mooting is a head-to-head contest of legal arguments in a mock courtroom setting, similar to debating but with a legal focus. Working in teams of two or three people, you’ll have the opportunity to research and formulate legal arguments by applying legal principles to the given facts. Competitors then battle it out in front of a bench of judges!

Get involved early!

It is highly recommended you start competing in your first year. Many later-year students regret missing the early opportunities. By getting involved from the get-go you, you maximise your potential and growth, and minimise your FOMO. QUT Law Society offers a number of internal mooting opportunities that are suited to first year students, as well as Negotiation and Client Interviewing competitions.

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Negotiation – Week 4 Sem 1 The Negotiation is suitable for students of all years and, for many, is their first legal competitive experience.

Teams of two face off as ‘solicitors’ advocating for their respective fake clients. Competitors are given secret facts that they must bring to light at the perfect moment. Just like in the real world, and subjects like Dispute Resolution, the purpose of the Negotiation is to represent your clients interests while coming to a mutually beneficial outcome for all parties. Students love this competition, as minimal preparation is required. It is open to students of all years.

First Year Moot – Week 10 Sem 1 As the name suggests this moot is open only to First Years. It focuses on what you will learn in Torts (as well as some extra topics to test your research skills). Previous students rate the First Year Moot as the most beneficial and valuable competition in the entire portfolio. As well as challenging yourself, you’ll likely forge friendships that last well after you graduate (even if you find yourselves on opposite sides of the case).

In 2019, the winning team will face off with UQ’s First Year Moot winners in the annual Grudge Moot held in the Supreme Court of Queensland (the Banco Court) and judged by a real life Judge and industry professionals.

Paper Presentation – Mid-year Break.

The Paper Presentation is open to students of all years and is a fantastic opportunity to explore a legal topic in-depth. Competitors submit an essay based on a newsworthy topic and finalists go on to present their essay in front of a small audience – usually at a law firm. In 2017, the essay focused on artificial intelligence in the legal industry!

Client Interview – Week 3 Sem 2 One of the most underrated - but incredibly important - skills in legal practice is the ability to interview clients effectively. Not only is it vital to build good rapport with a client, but it also can be difficult to determine the legal nature of the problem when the client does not know the problem themselves! The Client Interview allows competitors to work in teams of two to interview a client, asking them the right questions in order to draw out the important information, identify the problems associated and provide preliminary advice. The Client Interview competition is open to students of all years.

Junior Moot – Week 9 Sem 2 One of the more popular moots is the Junior Moot. The problem is more complex than the First Year Moot, but by no means out of reach! All students are welcome to participate, so long as they have not won the competition or competed at a national level. Many first year students find themselves competing against more senior students in this moot, and while a greater challenger, first year students have historically done quite well.

Keep an eye out for the Competitions Guide in Week 4, which will provide a step-by-step guide to competing in all of QUTLS’ competitions.

Have questions or just want more information? We’re always down for a chat! Email us at competitions@qutlawsociety.com

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SOCIAL SPORTS

SP RT and HEALTH

This year, the QUT Law Society will be fielding three difference social sports each semester.

These sports include: Netball, Soccer and Touch Rugby League.

Social sport is a great way to meet new people while keeping fit and healthy. Keep an eye on both the QUTLS and QUTLS Sport Facebook pages and your email for registration details, and be sure to get in quick. There are limited positions and teams fill up fast! Register at www.facebook.com/qutlssport/.

HEALTH & Wellbeing

The health and wellbeing of our members is one of our primary concerns.

We are offer a number of opportunities which encourage students to stay active, to promote physical and mental wellbeing, and help maintain a positive work/life/study balance. Some of these activites involve participating in the Bridge to Brisbane, River to Rooftop Walk and the LawRight Legal Right Walk. More information will be posted regarding these events, so keep an eye on our QUTLS Sport Facebook page for information on those upcoming events To encourage health and wellbeing, the QUT Law Society will be handing out goodie bags filled with firm merchandise, chocolate and lollies during exam block in semesters one and two.

Further, with World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10th October, the QUT Law Society will be hosting a catered breakfast with talks from notable guest speakers to discuss the interplay between studying law and mental health.

GRUDGE MATCHES

Annual football (aka ‘soccer’) and rugby Grudge Matches between the two universities take place in second semester. These are not ‘just’ games. These are the latest battles in a never-ending war. These are athletic adventures of such magnitude that the Olympics of Ancient Greece pale in comparison.

The cause of such an intense rivalry has been lost in the midsts of time, only to become the basis of university myths and legends. In a battle for university supremacy, the might of QUT Law is pitched against our old foe UQ. Here are the results from 2018: Soccer Grudge Match - Winner: QUTLS A Rugby Grudge Match will return in 2019!

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What is Moot club?

MOOT CLUB

QUTLS Moot Club is dedicated to helping students work on their advocacy skills in a friendly and relaxed environment. Running along-side the Competitions portfolio, Moot Club is a great segue into both internal and external mooting competitions.

Moot Club is held approximately 6 times a year. In order to find out more about mooting and how it can help you throughout your degree, come along to the Welcome to Moot Club Evening on Tuesday 5 March at 6:45pm to hear from experienced advocates.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Director of Moot Club at director.mootclub@qutlawsociety.com

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educa This year, the QUT Law Society is planning to run 12 education events. These events are designed to cater to students at all different stages of their degrees, from first to final year.

Education events are primarily informative and provide opportunities to network with professionals and other students. They deliver insight into areas of law through the experience of industry experts.

In this degree, you will quickly learn that who you know matters as much as what you know, so the earlier you get involved and network, the better! The events which are scheduled to run this year are:

Clerkship Symposium

Targeted to pre-penultimate and penultimate students (third and second last year students – you will become very familiar with this terminology), this event helps to prepare students for their clerkship applications.

Meet the Profession

A sophisticated night of networking, this event will provide students with the opportunity to dress in their best corporate wear and mingle with professionals from a range of firms.

This event is 18+.

Women in Law Breakfast

This event celebrates the achievements and acknowledges the difficulties that women face in the legal profession. Students of all genders are encouraged to attend.

IP, AI, Technology and the Law

This event delves into an upcoming and fascinating area of law, covering topics such as the privacy of the data our phones collect from us and the governing of self-driving cars.

Alternative Law Careers

This event provides an avenue for students to explore career options that don’t involve working in the corporate sector. It will be attended by not-for-profit and government organisations, providing an opportunity to learn where your law degree can take you other than Eagle Street.

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ation Banking and Finance Law Information Evening

This event is open to all students; however, law and business dual degree students may find this event to be of special interest. This event provides insight into how to enter the banking and finance sector within the legal industry.

Elective Expo

It can be hard choosing which electives to do with nothing but a short course outline and the comments of students on ‘Fellow Surviving Law Students’ (a popular law student Facebook group).

At this event, students who have completed the subjects, along with staff, will provide insight and tips into each elective to provide you with all the necessary information to choose electives that you’ll love.

Getting Your Foot in the Door

From day one, everyone will tell you to get as much experience as possible, as soon as possible. This is easier said than done. This event will provide tips from students and professionals about different ways you can break into the industry that don’t include trawling through SEEK, because that rarely works.

Environment, Planning and Resource law evening

This event will provide students with insight into the opportunities that are constantly being created in this sector. This broad area is often ambiguous to students, so this event allows students to have their questions answered and to learn more about the environment, planning and resource sector.

Criminal Law in Practice Information Evening

If you dream of one day being a prosecutor or criminal defence lawyer, this event cannot be skipped.

You will get the chance to learn about the struggles and joys of working in criminal law, as well as how to get started in this industry.

Litigation and Commercial Advocacy Information Evening

When most people think lawyer, they think of someone standing in front of a court arguing their client’s case. This event will explore what it is like to work in fields of law where advocacy is an everyday occurrence, and how you can get there.

Keep an eye out for these events in our newsletter and on the QUTLS Facebook and Instagram. We’d love to see you there!

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