Stay Thirsty
Words To The Wise
Written by BRYCE CRAIG
Written by RACHAEL MILLANTA
During your time at law school you will invariably stumble upon the most virtuous of social titles, that of the ‘thirsty firstie’. It was Law Camp which first introduced me to the term, where it was honourably bestowed upon a fellow first year who proved that their proverbial ‘thirst’ was a cut above the rest whilst partying the night before. And while the title is no more than a playful reminder of the predictable drinking habits championed by first year students, the idea of ‘thirst’ becomes rather pertinent when reflecting on what made my first year of law so enjoyable. A thirst for involvement, new people and new experiences, will make your time at law school easier and more worthwhile. Whether you’re a school leaver or transfer student, the first weeks of Uni can be daunting. You’ll find yourself in lectures with people of different ages and backgrounds. While these differences may initially seem isolating, it quickly becomes the shared experience that brings students together. Luckily for you, a lot of these strangers won’t be that strange at all, and soon enough you’ll find yourself sharing a bev, talking about the latest episode of Suits, or the latest Game of Thrones casualty. When you find yourself drowning in readings and assignments, your newfound friendships become collegiate networks for study sessions, note sharing, and delirious 3:00am cramming. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of reaching out to new people during this time, so put yourself out there. One great way to meet new people is to attend the amazing events organised by the UTS LSS. The first and most epic of all first year events is First Year Law Camp. Forget everything from your high school camps, this long weekend is an action packed, thirst-fest from the future (legit). As well as introducing you to a group of amazingly helpful students from years above, making friends at Camp will significantly ease your first weeks at Uni. Other events, such as First Year Law Drinks, are also sure-fire stops for any thirsty firstie looking to mingle with their cohort alongside the infamous UTS LSS bar tab (beware). Be sure that you regularly satiate your social thirst throughout the year; however if you’re playing hard, you best be working hard, too.
The academic environment of Uni is a huge departure from what most firsties will be used to, but the benefits certainly outweigh the concessions. While you may lose the cosiness of high school, you’ll gain unprecedented independence in your education. For the most part, how you schedule you’re semester will be up to you, allowing for an improved control over study, work, and other commitments. It will be important to devote enough time each week to your studies; a ‘P’s get degrees’ attitude won’t get you very far. You may also need to adjust your academic standards slightly. Coming off the back of presumably excellent HSC results, even receiving a credit may send you into an existential crisis. Make sure learning curves like this only serve to motivate future improvement, and not negative thinking. If you do ever feel overcome by your thirst for achievement, I strongly encourage you to reach out to those around you, as well as the professional support offered at UTS; your wellbeing is more important than your GPA. Once you’ve found your footing, having a go at some extra-curricular activities is also highly advised. The UTS LSS offers a range of initiatives and opportunities to keep you busy and strengthen your CV. Take a leap of faith and sign up for mooting with a friend, attend one of the Speaker Series events, or volunteer with one of our many social justice activities. These are a great way to advance your legal knowledge, and equally provide opportunities to network with people from both the university and industry. Just like anything that is worth doing, law school isn’t always going to be easy, and it isn’t always going to be fun. However, if you get involved with the people and opportunities around you, you’ll find that your first year flies by, having taught you a lot more than how to write a case note. Stay thirsty, firstie.
I am in my second year of my JD, and in 2015 I am both the postgraduate representative on the UTS LSS and the postgraduate representative on the Faculty Board in Law. I completed my undergraduate business degree via distance education at Southern Cross University, so although a postgraduate student, I had actually never attended a university before (and I was really nervous). During my first year at UTS, I very quickly realised why this university is considered to be one of Australia’s best law schools. The whole university is full of amazing lecturers and tutors, and I am yet to come across one who isn’t prepared to help you in every way possible. On top of that, the law faculty, especially the UTS LSS, is incredibly welcoming and supportive, as well as understanding of the struggles associated with returning to university and juggling both study and work. Whether undergrad or postgrad, every new law student is in the same boat. You and the vast majority of incoming students will spend your first few weeks looking for classes and struggling to navigate your way around campus (which I honestly still battle with). Conveniently, you’re not in highschool anymore, so most of the students will actually give you the correct directions if you ask them (try to look all innocent and scared and you got this). So, as a proud first-year law graduate, I offer some essential tips to make your JD study as enjoyable and stress-free as possible: 1.
Start your assignments early. They won’t be due for six weeks when you get them, so you will decide that it’s ‘future you’s problem’, but then 5 minutes later they’re due in 3 hours and you’ll find yourself crying in the library print room.
2.
Talk to everyone! Since coming to UTS, I have been surprised by the amount of people I have met with the same interests and passions as me, and I’ve made some amazing friends. That person sitting next to you could become the world’s greatest study buddy. Your friends and study partners will get you through your degree, and you will get them through theirs.
3.
Make sure you go to the all the UTS LSS events, as they are the best way to make friends and generally network with the rest of the faculty. Not only are they fun, but the relationships you make with other students (both postgrads and undergrads) will almost certainly help you when it comes to study groups and exam notes.
4. If you need to have a mid-study nap (and let’s face it, we’ve all been there), do it ANYWHERE but at a library computer. There are pillows under the stairs, and I’m even partial to a nice nap on a writing desk, but computer desks are a no-no. There is ALWAYS a line-up to use them, and reserving one for a sleep is a really good way to find yourself on the business end of a stressed-out student’s hissy fit. 5.
Make sure you enjoy the amazing social scene of UTS. Don’t bury your head in a book and forget to come up for air – the events run by the UTS LSS and other societies are brilliant to not only help you relax, but it’s also amazing how much better you can study after a few hours of refreshment and fun.
Good luck in your first semester and the beginning of your fabulous postgraduate university career! Make sure you ‘like’ the ‘UTS Law Students’ Society’ facebook page to keep up-to-date with all the upcoming events and general news. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact me at postgrad@utslss.com. I hope to see you around campus soon!
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