Obiter 2026

2

UT

obiter S

LSS

026

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PEOPLE AND COUNTRY THE UTS LSS ACKNOWLEDGES THE GADIGAL PEOPLE OF THE EORA NATION, THE BOOROOBERONGAL PEOPLE OF THE DHARUG NATION, THE BIDIAGAL PEOPLE AND THE GAMAYGAL PEOPLE UPON WHOSE ANCESTRAL LANDS OUR UNIVERSITY STANDS. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PAY RESPECT TO THE ELDERS BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, ACKNOWLEDGING THEM AS THE TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF KNOWLEDGE FOR THESE LANDS.

PUBLICATION DETAILS OBITER IS PUBLISHED BY THE UTS LAW STUDENTS' SOCIETY EDITOR IN CHIEF

SIYA KHATRI

DESIGNER

ANANYA SHARMA UTS LSS EXECUTIVE TEAM AND REPRESENTATIVES

SPECIAL THANKS

61 BROADWAY, ULTIMO NSW 2007 UTS CENTRAL, LEVEL 14, ROOM 104 PH (02) 9514 3448 FAX (02) 9514 3427 WWW.UTSLSS.COM

COPYRIGHT This publication is copyright. Except where permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this publication may form or by any means (electronic or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any process without specific written consent of the UTS Law Students’ Society. Enquiries are to be addressed to the publishers.

IMAGES & ILLUSTRATIONS Unless provided by the designers or commissioned specifically for the purpose of this publication, uncredited photographs have been sourced from royalty-free distributors, licensed under Creative Commons Zero.

1

TABLE OF Contents 04 05 07 17 33 40

President’s Foreword An introduction to the purpose of this publication from our president Siya Khatri.

Semester One Overview An insight into statistics and information regarding everything that happened within the UTS LSS in Semester One.

Secretariat Addresses An address from our President, Secretary, Vice President (Sponsorships), and Treasurer.

Executive Addresses

An address from our Vice Presidents of Competitions, Social Justice, Education, Activities, Marketing, and Careers.

Representative Addresses An address from the Representatives of our First Nations community, Queer community, Women community, community of those who have disabilities, and community of first years.

Council

A list of our full council.

2

PRESIDENT’S Foreword This publication was introduced in 2022 as a mechanism to increase transparency and accountability about the successes and challenges faced by the UTS LSS. After a year of strong successes and some difficulties, the 2026 edition of Obiter will update our members on the progress of the UTS LSS since the publication’s last edition!

The aim of the 2026 edition of Obiter is to provide our members with a greater understanding of the internal workings behind the events and initiatives of the UTS LSS. Each of our Executive members, as well as our wonderful seven Representatives, will be exploring their visions for their respective Portfolios in 2026, their achievements, and any areas for improvement they have identified for the rest of the tenure.

We hope you enjoy reading about what we have been up to behind the scenes since our last publication!

3

SEMESTER ONE

Overview

As the largest student run organisation at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), the UTS Law Students’ Society (UTS LSS) aims to enrich the UTS Law student experience by catering to their educational, vocational and social needs.

So far in 2026, the UTS LSS has: sent 15 delegates to Adelaide for the ALSA National Conference; won the ALSA 2026 Best Careers Initiative Award for the First Generation Program; had 20 firms attend the Clerkship Networking Evening; received 160+ nominations for Director and Representative roles; launched the inaugral First Year Law Launch; introduced a new representative position; engaged over 30 new and old sponsors.

4

SECRETARIAT’S

Addresses 6

ri at

PRESIDENT’S President’s address ADDRESS

Siya Kh

My name is Siya Khatri and I am the President of the UTS Law Students’ Society (UTS LSS) for 2026! It brings me great pleasure to open this publication and reflect on the incredible achievements of our society throughout the first half of the year. Obiter provides an opportunity for our Executive team and Representatives to showcase the successes of their portfolios and outline their goals for the remainder of their tenure. It serves as a means of maintaining transparency and accountability to our members while highlighting the impact of the initiatives delivered by the UTS LSS. I am pleased to report that our society continues to grow, reaching an all-time high figure of 1170+ members!

Attendance at our events, across all five portfolios, has remained consistently strong, with several initiatives such as the Mooting Mentoring Program and Buddy Project achieving recordbreaking levels of engagement. We have also seen unprecedented growth within our sponsorship’s division with the return of longstanding sponsors and the newly forged partnerships, engaging more than 30 sponsors altogether this year!

and providing first-year students with a welcoming introduction to the UTS Law community.

The UTS LSS has also continued to maintain strong relationships within the broader law school community, where last week, we sent our largest-ever delegate group of 15 students to the Australian Law Students' Association Conference in Adelaide. The UTS LSS saw great success over the week winning the Best Career Initiative for our First Generation Program, Best Prosecution Submissions for the International Humanitarian Moot and Best Respondent Submissions for the Championship Moot! The conference was an invaluable opportunity for our delegates to represent UTS, build professional networks and strengthen the relationships cultivated with other law student societies nationwide.

The year began with the successful introduction of our inaugural First Year Law Launch, which welcomed more than 80 attendees. This initiative was introduced to replace our previous overnight camp model, reimagining the experience through a series of activities held across various locations in Sydney

7

One of my key goals for this tenure has been to foster a more inclusive and united society. I am particularly excited to share that, in May, the UTS LSS council voted in favour of introducing the motion to introduce a new Representative position within our Social Justice Portfolio: the International Students Representative. This role was created in recognition of the unique experiences and challenges faced by international students and reflects our commitment to ensuring that all students feel represented within the society.

Through collaboration with the Faculty of Law and the broader international student community, we hope this position will help create stronger pathways for engagement and encourage greater participation in UTS LSS initiatives for this growing community. We look forward to welcoming the new Representative to Council following our upcoming By-Election next week.

Policy, with the aim of creating a more inclusive framework for students seeking to represent UTS at external competitions.

Looking ahead to the remainder of 2026, my focus remains on continuing to build upon the strong foundations established during the first half of the year. We are excited to deliver new initiatives and continue providing meaningful experiences that enrich student life in all aspects of university. Above all, I hope to ensure that every member feels welcomed and empowered to engage with the UTS LSS community in any way.

The pages that follow provide a closer look at the achievements of each portfolio and the goals our Councillors have set for the remainder of their tenure. I hope this publication offers valuable insight into the hard work of the people behind the UTS LSS and inspires you to become involved in the many opportunities still to come this year.

Alongside this, we have continued to refine our internal governance processes to ensure that opportunities remain accessible and equitable.

This has included updates to our Intervarsity Selection

Thank you for your continued support of our events, and I look forward to seeing you at our numerous upcoming events throughout Semester 2!

8

a ap

SECRETARY’S Sectretary’s address ADDRESS

Joseph P

Governance is a lot like plumbing, in that while most don’t give it much thought, everyone notices when it stops working. The UTS LSS is happy to report that our administration has gone entirely unnoticed this tenure.

No news, as they say, is good news. Although there is some news. But that news is also good news. The point is there’s no bad news, as governance and administration have kept the Society's events and initiatives running smoothly.

The Council has emerged from the semester both intact and, dare I say, better than ever. We hit the ground running by continuing the same appointment process for directors and representatives used for the last two tenures. The UTS LSS received yet another outstanding level of engagement from applicants for director and representative positions.

The resulting Council has produced some monumental efforts, no doubt highlighted in the following pages.

with accessibility needs. This effort was led by our Accessibility Representative, Sophie GallagherHorne, who also informed how we revised the General Councillor responsibilities to expressly incorporate relevant university accessibility policies.

This tenure also saw the creation of an entirely new representative position: the International Student Representative. Recognising the distinct barriers our international cohort faces, the Society drafted and adopted by-laws establishing the role within the Social Justice portfolio, reporting to the President and Vice-President (Social Justice).

Modelled on our existing representative framework, the role carries a clear mandate to advocate for international UTS Law Students and run dedicated initiatives.

For instance, we successfully updated our Accessibility Representative role to better align with the needs of the accessibility community and the policies of UTS and ActivateUTS. Over a rigorous two-meeting process, the Council clarified the role's responsibilities to ensure the position is equipped to advocate for UTS Law Students

9

AUSTRALIAN LAW STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION Our ties with the Australian Law Students' Association (ALSA) remain as healthy as ever, and we continue to see real value in the relationship. The UTS LSS is proud to be sending 15 delegates to Adelaide, where this year’s ALSA Annual Conference is being held to compete in every conference competition being offered.

POSTGRADUATE REPRESENTATIVE Postgraduate Representative Mario Gallo has been remarkably involved, bringing genuine energy to the role. Through consistent liaising with both the UTS Law Faculty and the postgraduate cohort itself, he has worked to build a tight-knit community among our postgraduate members. These efforts are set to culminate in a postgraduate end of session dinner in the coming weeks, a fitting reflection of the community he has fostered.

FIRST YEAR REPRESENTATIVES First Year Representatives Mikaela Medina and Sean Athanasopoulos have been excellent additions to the Council.

They threw themselves into the role from the outset, rallying the first-year cohort and fostering a real sense of involvement and community among them. While their own flagship event is still to come, the groundwork they have laid this semester has been impressive, and the engagement they have generated bodes very well for what they will deliver in semester two.

That, in essence, is the state of our plumbing. Here’s to another wonderfully uneventful semester of governance.

10

S ber ta

TREASURER’S Treasurer’s address ADDRESS

William

With the turn of another semester, the treasury is extraordinarily proud to report that the LSS has continued to move from strength to strength so far in 2026.

portfolio is positioned for growth, and where opportunities have arisen through the semester to adjust the budget for better, those have been taken.

Once the society was reaffiliated, things moved quickly.

The secretariat worked hard to develop a budget that was both financially sensible and allowed for growth in the areas that make our society successful.

From one of the best competitions programmes available at any law school, to student cruises, networking opportunities, charity events, powerful publications, panels, podcasts and Facebook posts… The treasury has been proud to continue facilitating the amazing work of every portfolio in our society.

Investment into marquee events and initiatives has been increased wherever appropriate while the budget ensures future tenures have a secure financial future tenures have a secure financial position to inherit. Every

Sponsor and collaborator involvement has been very strong in 2026 and the LSS is extremely grateful to all of the wonderful partners that continue to encourage the valuable work of our society.

11

Collaborations with law firms, ActivateUTS and other societies has allowed for wonderful initiatives such as the First Generations Program, the Buddy Project Program, Charity Trivia Night, the Speaker Series, the Clerkship Seminar Program and so much more. These initiatives and events are truly the lifeblood of our society and to the significant benefit of all studying law at UTS.

Throughout the Semester we have worked closely with ActivateUTS and will continue to do so. We are focused on ensuring that we remain compliant with our obligations and position the society positively for long-run success. Our revenues and expenditures will continue to be monitored and forecasting done to ensure we operate responsibly, ethically and with UTS Law students front of mind.

The Council’s financial procedures have been reviewed and continue working flexibly and successfully. A focus on avoiding rigidity has meant that from a treasury perspective, positive and beneficial changes have been made in real-time to our initiatives by way of a flexible approach.

I cannot thank this outstanding Council enough for their constant diligence, perseverance and care for their positions. I have no doubt that the society will continue to grow, evolve and better itself throughout 2026 and the tenures to come.

12

Chloe F e

(SPONSORSHIP)

Vice President (Sponsorship) address

ira rre

VICE PRESIDENT ADDRESS

In 2026, the Sponsorships Portfolio continued to build on the strong foundations established by previous tenures, delivering another successful year of industry engagement, strategic partnership development, and meaningful support for student initiatives. As at 5 June 2026, the Portfolio had secured sponsorship commitments totalling approximately $109,955, representing a significant achievement and reflecting the strength of the Society's longstanding and growing relationships with both legal and non-legal partners.

Throughout 2026, the Portfolio worked closely with sponsors to ensure that partnerships delivered value not only to firms and organisations, but also to students across all areas of the Society.

This year saw the engagement of over 34 unique sponsors, including seven new sponsors who partnered with the Society for the first time.

The continued willingness of firms to invest in Society initiatives demonstrates the strong reputation the UTS Law Students' Society has developed within the profession and the confidence sponsors place in our

ability to deliver high-quality events and opportunities for students.

The year commenced with the circulation of the Sponsorship Prospectus, which showcased more than 60 initiatives across all the Society's portfolios. Early engagement with sponsors enabled productive discussions regarding partnership opportunities and ensured strong support for the Society’s calendar from the outset of the year.

Through a combination of proactive outreach and ongoing management, the Portfolio secured sponsorship across a diverse range of careers, competitions, education, social justice, social, and wellbeing initiatives.

Several flagship events were particularly successful throughout the year. The Clerkship Seminar Series brought together students and representatives from leading firms across 11 seminars, providing valuable professional development opportunities while strengthening sponsor engagement with the student body. The Clerkship Networking

13

Evening once again served as one of the Society's premier events, attracting representatives from 20 firms—the highest level of firm participation in the event's history.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback received from students and sponsors alike highlighted the importance of these initiatives and reinforced their status as cornerstone events within the Society's calendar.

The Portfolio was also proud to support a range of innovative and newly expanded initiatives throughout the year. Sponsorship was secured across 21 competitions, including the Bail Competition and Criminal Law Moots, as well as initiatives such as the Smile Project and First Generation Program.

These partnerships demonstrate sponsors' enthusiasm for engaging with a broad range of student experiences beyond traditional careers programming.

The success of these initiatives reflects the collaborative efforts of councillors across all portfolios and the willingness of sponsors to support diverse opportunities for student engagement.

Beyond direct financial sponsorship, the Portfolio facilitated the provision of merchandise, vouchers, promotional materials, and other

resources that enhanced the Orientation day experience.

Highlights included the highly popular Subway thongs and Yo-Chi vouchers, which were enthusiatically received by students and contributed to increasing the visibility of the Society among current and prospective members.

The success of the Sponsorships Portfolio would not have been possible without the dedication of councillors across all portfolios who worked tirelessly to deliver sponsored initiatives throughout the year. Their professionalism, responsiveness, and commitment to excellence have ensured that sponsors continue to view the Society as a valuable and trusted partner.

Looking ahead, the Sponsorships Portfolio remains focused on deepening existing relationships, exploring new sponsorship opportunities throughout the second semester, and identifying innovative ways to deliver value to both sponsors and students. With a strong foundation established in 2026 and several exciting opportunities already emerging for the future, the Society is well positioned to continue strengthening its industry partnerships and enhancing the student experience in the years to come.

14

EXECUTIVE Addresses

16

(ACTIVITIES)

u lW

VICE PRESIDENT

Annab e

Vice President (Activities) address

ADDRESS

Across social and sport events, the Activities portfolio has brought our community together in ways that have made this semester one to remember – and I could not be prouder of everything we have achieved.

LAW LAUNCH Kicking off the semester, First-Year Law Launch set the tone for everything that followed. It was a new take on a beloved tradition – sixty First-Year Law students, seventeen leaders, three days in three different locations, and three days of fun! For an inaugural event, it was amazing to see so many eager and excited First-Year attendees showing up and making the most of the weekend. It gave our newest members their first taste of the LSS community – a warm, energetic welcome into what it truly means to be a UTS law student. Seeing firstyears arrive nervous and leave with new friends, memories and connections is exactly why we do what we do. It was an event that reminded everyone why community matters.

FIRST-YEAR LAW DRINKS START-OF-SEMESTER PARTY

&

Our First-Year Law Drinks kicked off a night of fun to celebrate the start of semester! Kicking off at a perfectly retro venue to match our Dancing Through the Decades theme, it brought together familiar faces from First-Year Law Launch and new faces from across the UTS LSS First-Year Law community. As the night continued, we took the party with us!

Our Start-of-Semester Party brought the whole LSS community together under one roof – with 200 attendees turning up, the dance floor was alive and the energy was high!

17

LAW CRUISE Building on the success of last year, our annual Law Cruise was an exciting ride! Building off the success of last year’s Cruise, the LSS and UTS Business Society collaborated again for an epic sail around Sydney Harbour that two communities together and delivered an electric atmosphere with great company.

PILATES DAY This semester, we were proud to provide an updated model of Pilates Day. This year, we ran Reformer Pilates at OnePlayground around the corner from campus! Tickets sold out within minutes, which led to us adding a second class and it was amazing to see so many students get involved, some even trying it for the first time!

Pilates Day was a chance to move, reset and connect outside the classroom. We ended each session with lunch on the Alumni Green which was great quality time to debrief the pilates session. Due to the success of this event, we hope to offer it again next semester, and for many more to come.

SOCIAL SPORT Throughout the semester, our social sport competitions gave students a weekly reason to step away from the books and have fun. Held on campus, the games offered a mental break, healthy competition and long-lasting comradery. A huge congratulations to everyone who participated and made it such a vibrant part of our semester.

Even those who didn’t play, still showed up, cheered loudly and made each week a ton of fun!

18

(CAREERS)

inh Tr

VICE PRESIDENT

Jessic a

Vice President (Careers) address

ADDRESS

The Careers Portfolio exists to connect student members with opportunities in the legal profession, wherever you are in your journey. Whether you're a first year still exploring your options or a finalist preparing to take your next step, we're here to help you get there.

We work to close the gap between students and the profession through events and resources that offer real insight and genuine access. Our flagship Clerkship Networking Evening, Beyond Corporate Mentoring Program, panels, networking events, and publications are all designed with one purpose in mind: supporting students at every stage of their legal education and career.

LINKEDIN PHOTOSHOOT WORKSHOP

AND

Our annual LinkedIn Photoshoot and Workshop was sponsored by Clayton Utz this year which drew over 100 students to register and

attend our event. This event allows students to come and receive a free professional photoshoot in their best corporate attire, whilst also gaining tips on networking and using LinkedIn from Clayton Utz representatives.

BEYOND CORPORATE PROGRAM The Beyond Corporate Mentoring Program pairs students with industry professionals outside of corporate law, matched to their career interests and aspirations. As one of the most competitive mentoring programs the UTS LSS offers, it provides students with meaningful mentorship beyond the university environment. This year, 8 successful applicants were paired with mentors from across the profession.

19

CLERKSHIP SEMINAR SERIES

CLERKSHIP GUIDE

This year's Clerkship Seminar Series ran over four weeks in a hybrid format, combining in-person and virtual sessions. We were grateful to have a majority of our sponsors open their offices to host their respective seminars, drawing strong attendance from penultimate and graduate students eager to learn more about the firms’ clerkship opportunities.

The Clerkship Guide is our flagship publication for penultimate and graduate students navigating the clerkship process.

It brings together practical advice from firms on their application processes, clerkship programs, and graduate opportunities, alongside general guidance on crafting a strong CV and cover letter, and preparing for interviews.

The Careers Publications Team has once again delivered a polished, high-quality guide, reflected in both its design and content.

CLERKSHIP EVENING

NETWORKING

This year's Clerkship Networking Evening was our largest to date, welcoming over 175 students and firm representatives at the Aerial Function Centre, including a record 20 firms in attendance. As our flagship initiative for penultimate and graduate students, CNE provides unparalleled access to top commercial firms in Australia and remains one of the most valuable networking opportunities we offer.

We look forward to building on this year's success in future tenures.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN SPRING? First Generation Program Breaking Into Law Panel Careers Guide Careers Blog

20

A

Vice Presidents (Comps) address

ADDRESS

Looking back on our progress, we are pleased to say that we are advancing our core objectives for this tenure, with increased opportunities for members across both internal and intervarsity mooting and skills competitions, more initiatives focused on development increase accessibility and help our competitions community grow, and importantly, delivering a number of quality of life changes to maximise the effectiveness of our team.

ll

With 2026 well underway, the Competitions Portfolio is proud to look back on what was a rewarding and productive semester. With a calendar full of internal and intervarsity mooting and skills competitions, workshops, and panels throughout the Autumn Semester, the Competitions Portfolio has been hard at work preparing for the offerings in the Winter Break and the many more initiatives coming in the Spring Semester.

hary B o s Zac we

(COMPS)

&

VICE PRESIDENTS

der Marin n a os lex

WRITTEN SKILLS This year, we have been committed to growing and strengthening our existing Written Skills Competitions, marked by the return of the UTS LSS Paper Presentation Competition, sponsored by Clayton Utz. We saw high submissions of papers, followed by an engaging presentation evening of the top papers. Further, the UTS LSS Sparke Helmore Advice Writing Competition was highly successful, and the UTS LSS Sparke Helmore Affidavit Drafting Competition is currently underway.

NEGOTIATION The Autumn Semester saw the successful running of the UTS LSS Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer (‘HSFK’) Open Negotiation Competition, with a mix of both new and returning competitors. In the Spring Semester, we will be running the UTS LSS HSFK Junior Negotiation Competition, which aims to provide our first and second

21

year law students with an introduction to the fundamentals of effective negotiation and strategy.

It is also a featured competition in the first-year Gauntlet Competition, available in the Winter Break.

NEGOTIATIONS GRAND FINAL

WITNESS EXAMINATION The final Skills Competition in the Autumn Semester was the UTS LSS Open Witness Examination Competition, with an engaged and competitive cohort. The Spring Semester will feature the UTS LSS King & Wood Mallesons (now Mallesons) Junior Witness Examination Competition, allowing junior competitors to develop their courtroom advocacy skills in realtime. Witness Examination is the final competition featured in the first-year Gauntlet.

CLIENT INTERVIEW Additionally, the UTS LSS Open Allens Client Interview Competition took place in the Autumn Semester.

Looking ahead, the UTS LSS Junior Allens Client Interview Competition will be running in the Spring Semester, focused on equipping junior students with foundational skills in client interview through structured feedback and a welcoming competition environment. It is also featured in the Gauntlet.

CLIENT INTERVIEW GRAND FINAL

WITNESS EXAMINATION GRAND FINAL

MOOTING On the Mooting front, the Autumn Semester marked an exciting time for our competitors. Our Subject Mooting Directors successfully ran three Open moots, being the UTS LSS HSFK Open Torts Law Moot, UTS LSS Ashurst Open Commercial Law Moot, and the UTS LSS O’Brien Solicitors Open Criminal Moot. Each of these moots saw record engagement, with each Grand-Final featuring an esteemed

22

Judge from the NSW Supreme and District Courts. The highstandard of competition across is a testament to both the commitment of our student competitors, as well as the strength of our competitions community. Our Subject Mooting Directors are currently preparing for our next set of Open Moots, those being the UTS LSS Mallesons Open Contract Law Moot, UTS LSS Open Constitutional Law Moot, and UTS LSS International Humanitarian Law Moot.

TORTS LAW MOOT

MOOTING DEVELOPMENT We have seen unprecedented engagement in our developmentfocused initiatives, with the Autumn Semester bringing the UTS LSS Gilbert + Tobin Mooting Mentoring Program, followed by the Gilbert + Tobin Pathway to Practice Panel event, as well as the return of the GIlbert + Tobin Beginner Moot Intensive. We also saw the inaugural UTS LSS Mallesons Junior Contract Law Moot, with all events having active participation from students interested in appellate advocacy. The Spring Semester will continue to offer a number of events designed to help foster the advocacy skills of our junior competitors, with the inaugural UTS LSS Mallesons Junior Torts Law Moot, and UTS LSS O’Brien Solicitors Junior Criminal Law Moot.

COMMERCIAL LAW MOOT

MOOTING MENTORING PROGRAM

INTERVARSITY SKILLS The Autumn Semester saw the return of our flagship intervarsity skills event, the UTS LSS Maddocks Intervarsity Negotiation

CRIMINAL LAW MOOT

23

Competition, which has continued to see high engagement from universities across Australia. In the Spring Semester, we look forward to the UTS LSS x MULS Margaret Cunneen SC Intervarsity Witness Examination Competition, and continuing our long-standing engagement with other universities in the HSFK-NLU Delhi International Negotiation Competition, and the UNSW Intervarsity Skills Competition.

preparing for the Nicholas Cowdery AO KC Criminal Law Moot with SULS, the Bilateral Contract Law Moot with MULS, and our flagship Ashurst Legal Technology Moot. In the Spring Semester, we look forward to participating in the inaugural UNSW Contracts Cup, another junior intervarsity offering, as well as the Deakin International Commercial Arbitration Moot. These opportunities will provide UTS students with access to a wider array of intervarsity moots as we continue to develop and support high-quality external mooting pathways.

THE TIMES AHEAD

INTERVARSITY NEGOTIATION

INTERVARSITY MOOTING This year, we’ve aimed to provide further intervarsity mooting opportunities for our skilled cohort of mooters, at both the junior and senior levels. In the Autumn Semester we participated in the SULS x UOWLS Multilateral Novice Criminal Advocacy Moot, which allowed junior mooters to challenge their understanding of criminal law whilst developing foundational advocacy skills in a supportive setting, and continued our involvement in the UNSW Private Law Moot. Teams are currently

We are incredibly proud of the strong engagement, diversity of opportunities, and supportive culture of inclusion that the 2026 Competitions Portfolio has fostered in the first half of our tenure. The competitions community is nothing short of amazing, and with Spring Semester just around the corner, we are committed to continuing to ensure that any and all students interested in furthering their written, research, and advocacy skills, are able to do so in a supportive, educational and challenging environment. We look forward to continuing to build this community, and are eager to see you all soon!

24

VICE PRESIDENT

Mat th

ew

ADDRESS

What a semester it has been. From record-breaking events to the quieter wins behind the scenes, the Education Portfolio has spent the first half of 2026 creating genuine opportunities for law students to learn, connect, and feel supported throughout their degree. We have broken records, published ambitiously, and watched a real community grow around almost everything we run. It has been chaotic, it has been rewarding, and above all, it has been a privilege to lead.

ENGAGEMENT Engagement is led by Alisha Pillay and Max Galanti, and they’ve truly engaged with large parts of the society. The Buddy Project, our flagship initiative, was reimagined from the ground up with a fresh style, a new launch location, and a wider range of activities. Over 300 applications grew into a program of roughly 400 participants, one of the largest the UTS LSS has ever run.

For the first time in the Society's history, we booked out the entire Alumni Green for the Launch event, where a sausage sizzle drew an exceptional crowd.

That momentum carried through to Sip and Sing 2026, our flagship karaoke night, which sold 82 tickets and delivered genuinely impressive performances.

offered provoking insights into Modern Slavery in Australia; our Peer Mentors delivered in-person workshops across core first-year subjects; and the Advocates Mentoring Program connected senior students with practising barristers for valuable professional development.

Alongside this, Speaker Series I, run with the Social Justice Portfolio,

25

Ham

(EDUCATION)

Vice President (Education) address

PUBLICATIONS Publications is led by Grace Ryan and Luis Clarke-Nguyen and they’ve set an outstanding standard. The Law School Manual, in the works since November, was brought to completion through extensive drafting and editing, with 350 copies printed and distributed, one of the most ambitious publications the UTS LSS has produced. The Bar podcast returned for its biggest season yet, with three new hosts selected through a genuinely entertaining audition process, and further episodes and a special guest still to come. And The Full Bench, our student-written academic journal built around this year's Rule of Law theme, saw Grace and Luis gather writers, set a design direction, and edit many thousands of words, supported by the Education Subcommittee, producing a cohesive, high-quality publication the whole Society can be proud of.

collaboration with the Social Justice Portfolio, bringing together contributors who spoke frankly about managing mental health while navigating the legal industry.

Charli moderated the full two-hour discussion with poise to excellent attendance. The Smile Project, in development since December, brought therapy dogs and dedicated sponsorship together for one of the most heartwarming events on the UTS LSS calendar, offering students a genuine moment of calm during a busy period.

LOOKING AHEAD The first half of 2026 has laid strong foundations, but we are far from done. It has been an incredibly rewarding and memorable first semester, and I could not be prouder of what this team has built together, so stay tuned for what the Education Portfolio will bring in Semester 2.

WELLBEING Wellbeing is led by Charli de Greenlaw and she’s delivered two genuine highlights. The Equity x Wellbeing Panel, our first off-site sponsored panel of the tenure, was hosted at Baker McKenzie in

26

VICE PRESIDENT

Anan ya arma Sh

(MARKETING)

Vice President (Marketing) address

ADDRESS

If there's one thing we've learned this year, it's that marketing never stops marketing. The Portfolio has spent this year fine-tuning ourselves into a well-oiled machine, one that's louder, more playful, and more visible than ever. Our focus has stayed the same: growing the exposure of the UTS LSS across all social platforms while boosting engagement from members and the wider UTS community. How we have gone about it, though, has changed a lot.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT To strengthen our online presence, the Marketing Team has continued to push the boundaries of creativity in our visual outputs.

Eye-catching graphics for events like the Start of Semester Party, Sip & Sing, and Law Ball have driven some of our best engagement yet. A highlight this year was adding music to our Instagram posts, which sparked a huge spike in engagement. We have also leaned into a more casual, playful tone across our platforms, reflecting the fact that

we are a student society first, which has further shown increased engagement throughout our posts.

Instagram stories now feature more animation, and competition grand finals were livestreamed and saved to our Instagram page so students can rewatch and catch up anytime.

Of course, while our organic content has embraced a lighter, more relatable voice, we've maintained a professional standard across all sponsored posts and partner content, ensuring we continue to represent the Society and our sponsors appropriately.

INTERNAL GROWTH NEW INITIATIVES

&

Behind the scenes, we have worked hard to keep things running smoothly, especially with several new initiatives launching this year. The team itself has grown too, with a new Marketing Director role bringing us to a strong team of five Marketing Directors and one IT Director, allowing us to take on more

27

ambitious projects without compromising on quality.

In collaboration with the Social Justice portfolio, we designed accessibility flyers that were handed out on O-Day, helping raise awareness from day one. Our website was also revamped under the IT Director's guidance to be more interactive, with better use of images throughout and a new Acknowledgment of Country popup, reflecting our commitment to respectfully recognising Country across all our platforms, not just our events.

LOOKING AHEAD We are incredibly proud of how far our socials have come this year, having grown our following

immensely alongside some of our most memorable graphics yet.

None of it would have been possible without the creativity and hard work of our Marketing Directors, who have shown time and time again just how much thought goes into every post, story, and graphic we put out.

Moving forward, we are excited to bring merch back into the mix, with plans for new designs as well as the return of some old favourites.

We encourage our members to reach out to vpm@utslss.com with any ideas for our team! Here's to keeping the machine running smoothly into next semester.

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA

28

Ava Ke

(SOCIAL JUSTICE )

ers ev

VICE PRESIDENT

Vice President (Social Jusitice) address

ADDRESS

Equity, diversity and advocacy are the core pillars of the UTS LSS Social Justice Portfolio. Over the past six months, our incredible Social Justice team has worked tirelessly to champion these values through initiatives supporting our diverse student body. As Vice-President (Social Justice), I am incredibly proud to reflect on what we have achieved so far and share a glimpse of what is still to come this Spring.

Before diving into the highlights of the semester, I want to acknowledge the enormous amount of work that goes into bringing these initiatives to life.

For this reason, a huge thank you goes out to Ditsa, Melanie, Alexis, Taya, Tahlia, Julian and Sophie whose dedication and creativity has driven the portfolio's success.

I would also like to acknowledge our amazing Justice Action Committee (JAC); Marcus, Anna, Sienna, Georgia, Ivana and Stephanie. This team has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support our initiatives and ensure they remain relevant to student needs!

While the Social Justice Portfolio runs a number of flagship initiatives, the Directors and Representatives are given the freedom to create new initiatives that respond to the evolving needs of our student community.

Therefore, almost every event begins with brainstorming, consultation and planning before moving through proposal writing, budgeting, stakeholder engagement, marketing requests, logistics and event delivery.

29

WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED THIS AUTUMN? Charity Trivia Night raised $885 for the Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women's Legal Centre!

The Equity and Diversity Panel, hosted in collaboration with the Education Portfolio at Baker McKenzie, explored wellbeing, inclusion and diversity within the legal profession.

The Textbook Equity Scheme helped reduce financial barriers to legal education through the redistribution of donated textbooks.

Drag Me to the Bar attracted an incredible 262 attendees, bringing together queer students and allies to dance the night away!

Women in Law Intervarsity Conference, delivered alongside UNSW and USYD, featured engaging panels, networking opportunities and discussions on women in the legal profession.

The Women's Mentoring Program successfully connected 40 mentors and mentees!

Student Accessibility Guide launched at Faculty Orientation, marking the first major update to accessibility resources for UTS Law students in over a decade.

The Allen's Diverse-Abilities Blog published five new editions this semester!

Hall & Wilcox x UTSLSS Clean Up Australia Day Initiative combined social justice with community impact as students came together to protect the environment.

Brennan Talks and Discussion Groups, including a Justice Talk featuring the Honourable Justice Gleeson.

Advocacy and Representation remain at the heart of everything we do, with our representatives championing the interests of women, First Nations students, queer students and students with diverse abilities.

COMING UP IN SPRING! The return of the University Essentials Scheme!

Walk for WAGEC on 13 September!

Sunflower Week, including our inaugural Accessibility Panel and Bake Sale to raise awareness of hidden disabilities.

And, of course, plenty more opportunities to earn your Brennan points!

And this is only the beginning.

If you ever have ideas, feedback or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch vpsj@utslss.com. We would love to hear from you!

30

29

REPRESENTATIVES

Addresses

32

Tah lia e Le

WOMEN’S

REPRESENTATIVE

Women’s Representative Address

ADDRESS

2026 has been an incredibly exciting year for women in UTS LSS. Semester 1 has been filled with meaningful events that have empowered and connected women across the legal community.

The Women's Mentoring Program launched to an outstanding number of applicants, with a remarkable range of lawyers, academics and barristers joining the program. Our launch night was a great success, with mentors and mentees sharing invaluable insights into the legal profession.

Shortly after, UTS LSS cohosted the 2026 Clayton Utz SULS x UTS LSS x UNSW Intervarsity Women in Law Conference at USYD. This year's theme, Beyond the Brief: Women (Re)Defining Success in a Changing Legal Profession,

featured two panels and a networking session. In a Society first, proceeds were donated to the NSW Women's Legal Centre and the event sold out in record-breaking time.

Behind the scenes, both initiatives involved months of cross-institutional collaboration and logistics to ensure successful delivery.

Looking ahead, Semester 2 will bring inclusive study nights, a dress attire charity event, and participation in the Walk for WAGEC. Stay connected via the UTS LSS Women's Collective Facebook page and don't hesitate to reach out to me, women@utslss.com.

33

hie Ga Sop lla g

REPRESENTATIVE

Accessibility Representative Address

rne r-Ho he

ACCESSIBILITY

ADDRESS

This semester, we turned accessibility from a footnote into a headline.

As Accessibility Representative, I’ve focused on strengthening inclusion, amplifying student voices, and promoting a universal accessibility mindset that supports every law student, not just students with access needs.

I successfully passed two by‑law reform motions embedding UTS Events Accessibility Standards into all LSS initiatives, ensuring accessibility requirements are met across every portfolio and that consultation is enshrined into the role itself.

Collaboration with the UTS Accessibility Service has continued to be strong, helping ensure all students can access every opportunity the LSS has to offer. A highlight was creating the firstever ‘A Student’s Guide to Accessibility’ pamphlet, distributed across 300 O’Day bags, a resource designed to create awareness and educate students about how accessibility can help you!

encourage you to check them out on the LSS website and engage with the powerful stories shared by our community. Additionally, we have refreshed the language across the LSS website, implementing accessibility‑inclusive language.

Looking ahead, I’m excited for our Spring initiatives, including the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Charity Bake Sale, our Accessibility Advocacy Panel and ongoing collaboration with SULS Disabilities. Both events inspire discussions and create awareness surrounding the importance of accessibility in social justice. If you want to talk, please reach out to me anytime because I am here to support you!

We also published a record number of Allens Diverse‑Abilities blog posts this semester, and I

34

REPRESENTATIVE

First Nations Representative Address

ADDRESS

In my role as First Nations Representative, I have focused on creating safe and supportive networks for First Nations law students within the legal field. I accompanied a first-year First Nations law student to First Nations networking events and supported them in building confidence and connections.

I have also reached out to as many First Nations undergraduate and postgraduate law students at UTS as I can find, supporting them to build connections with First Nations law students at other universities. The

priority must be creating community and stronger networks across the legal profession.

I have also been in talks with senior First Nations lawyers about creating a First Nations Mentoring Program, pairing students with senior or experienced lawyers. Tony McAvoy SC, Professor Uncle Kevin Williams, several Crown Prosecutors and other practitioners have agreed to participate once established.

I am still reaching out to Indigenous Senior Counsel contacts to secure volunteers before planning and advertising events.

35

nte ora M

FIRST NATIONS

Tay a

My goal as Queer Representative has been to facilitate community connection and accessibility for queer law students at UTS, while raising awareness of the challenges and discrimination LGBTQIA+ students continue to face. In May we hosted an intervarsity social event ‘Drag Me to the Bar’, which was the largest intervarsity queer law student event ever hosted in NSW. This allowed queer law students across Sydney to connect in a social capacity, while this event was a huge success, there is always room for improvement by increasing the scope and capacity for events such as these.

There is also the potential to provide alternative means of socialisation that do not revolve around alcohol.

y Fo

QUEER Queer Representative Address REPRESENTATIVE ADDRESS

Juli an

hope to further develop initiatives that encourage discussion of the unique challenges faced by queer law students. I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to support and engage with the queer law student community.

Planning ‘Drag Me to the Bar’ required months of collaboration with representatives from other universities, venues, and performers, making its success especially rewarding. I look forward to continuing to advocate for and represent LGBTQIA+ law students throughout the remainder of my tenure.

Alongside fostering community engagement, we also raised funds in support of LGBTQIA+ advocacy. Looking ahead, I

36

na

Hey first years! I can’t even begin to stress how much becoming a member of the UTS Law Student’s Society has enriched my first chapter of University life.

By shadowing the activities team, I’ve been provided with insight into the organisational and interpersonal skills that being a member of the UTS LSS fosters and I’ve been provided with the opportunity to meet a number of amazing people, not to mention how exhilarating it is to see all the familiar first years at our events like the cruise!

Se

ikaela M e dM di an

FIRST YEAR First Year Representatives Address REPRESENTATIVES ADDRESS

thanasopoul A os an

I can’t express how much I appreciate every first year who has contributed to my experience and made the UTS LSS feel like home. I want to provide all the first year law students with an opportunity to meet new people and like minded individuals, and I will aim to achieve this goal in the second semester of this university year. I hope to meet and become friends with many more of you, and I hope you all stay keen for our upcoming first year events!

37

UTS LSS COUNCIL UTS LSS Council

SECRETARIAT

President - Siya Khatri Secretary - Joseph Papa Treasurer - William Staber Vice-President (Sponsorship) - Chloe Ferreira

ACTIVITIES

Vice-President (Activities) - Annabel Wu Socials Director - Ally Elles Socials Director - Stephanie Avgoustou Sports Director - Eden Levit

CAREERS

Vice-President (Careers) - Jessica Trinh Careers (Activities) Director - Riyonah Gonsalves Careers (Activities) Director - Chloe Mackay Careers (Publications) Director - Oishe Rahman

COMPETITIONS

Vice-President (Competitions) - Alexander Marinos Vice-President (Competitions) - Zachary Boswell Subject Mooting Director - Owen Prendergast Subject Mooting Director - Billy Long Intervarsity Mooting Director - Louise An Mooting Development Director - Luca Dondina Witex Director - Tahlia Minassian Client Interview Director - Max Fu Negotiations Director - Alessia Zofrea Intervarsity Skills Director - Diya Gauchan Written Skills Director - Ayesha Virk

39

EDUCATION

Vice-President (Education) - Matthew Ham Education Engagement Director - Max Galanti Education Engagement Director - Alisha Pillay Education (Publications) Director - Luis Clarke-Nguyen Education (Publications) Director - Grace Ryan Wellbeing Director - Charli De Greenlaw

MARKETING

Vice-President (Marketing) - Ananya Sharma Marketing Director - Anya Gupta Marketing Director - Matilda Markey-Smith Marketing Director - Jerome Abou-Antoun Marketing Director - Kate Nicholls Marketing Director - Maya Rengaswamy Information Technology Director - Daniel Rougon

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Vice-President (Social Justice) - Ava Keevers Equity Director - Ditsa Dey Brennan Director - Melanie Davis Brennan Director - Alexis De Zotti

REPRESENTATIVES

Women's Representative - Tahlia Lee First Nations Representative - Taya Morante Queer Representative - Julian Foy Accessibility Representative - Sophie Gallagher-Horne Postgraduate Representative - Mario Gallo First Year Representative - Sean Athanasopoulos First Year Representative - Mikaela Medina

40

41

42