UNSW Law Society Magazine
AUGUST 2015 COMMUNITY EDITION EDITOR & DESIGNER Proudly Supported By Editorialhaven’t already) the phenomenon of seeing Emily Haworth familiar faces, but knowing little beyond the fact that they’re recognisably a law student. SUB-EDITOR Sometimes the opportunity to make a life long university friend can be deceptively Grace Di Giorgio easy. If you’re feeling optimistically social you should check out our ‘8 Simple Rules COVER IMAGE for Making a New Law Friend’ (Page 10). Should our sage advice fail, you can always Roanize Kruger take solace in some community inspired tunes from ‘Rohan’s Recs’ (Page 14). WRITERS On Page 18 we have an interview with ach semester I’m surprised by both how international JD student Xuan Luo (Peter) Emily Haworth, Simon Ebig and how small our university really is. about his experiences as a part of the McNamara & Katerina Out of your 50,000 odd peers it’s safe to say UNSW law student community. While what Jovanovska, Natalie there’s a large portion you won’t ever meet. you can find in the support of the people Ho, Rohan Hora, Basil If the UNSW Confessions facebook page is around you differs from person to person, in Naimet. anything to go by, chances are you don’t the end it’s up to you to make the most of actually want to meet quite a few of them. being surrounded by this community of great VICE-PRESIDENT When you start looking within the law school people. (ADMINISTRATION) things start to get a little more insular. Even Emily Haworth | Editor of Voir Dire you wee firsties should soon notice (if you [email protected] Audrey Chan PRESIDENTS Law Meme of the Month Simon McNamara & Katerina Jovanovska
GRAPHICS Voir Dire is a not-for-profit Printed By educational publication. All images used within this publication are available under a creative commons license or with the express permision of the owner.
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Contents Communitythoughts on
Studying law at UNSW, we are very purpose than a line in a CV and a 3 | Editorial lucky. We have small classes, receive couple of new Facebook friends. the best education and get to meet The Editor writes some words. some of the most interesting peers The bigger purpose is really our 5 | PresidentsPODIUM and lecturers that we could possibly “community” – the law school What place does community play in law school imagine. But sometimes you also community. It could be helping and, more specifically, our law society? hear a lot of talk about cliques and students in that community to find a 10 | 8 Simple Rules for Making a those groups that always seem to starting point for their dream career in New Law Friend be on your social media feed doing intellectual property, educating those Feeling a little lonely in your law lecture? Need 8 something interesting. They seem to interested in addressing gender pay some help in approaching that friendly face? be an alienating group and are often conditions or subsidising international We got you covered. criticised for not being particularly trips for students to compete in world 14 | Rohan’s Recs welcoming. renowned competitions. Each of Some songs about community. these things really comes down to 15 | Youtube Study Music Recs One of the biggest criticisms you a law school community giving a leg 18 | International Student hear about any society at UNSW up to its members. As part of a Law is that it is basically just run by one Society, I don’t see it as existing as its Experience small group of friends. It’s a hobby for own community. I see it as a way to We chat with international JD student Xuan mates who really just want to organise supplement the community provided Luo (Peter) about his time at UNSW. 14 great parties for themselves and keep by the law school, as it exists. Engage everything within the fraternity, so to with that community as best you can speak. “They’re just doing it for the and enjoy yourself. It’s a very simple CV” is a common one as well. purpose, but have a good time. Take what you can, give a bit back and When you hear those throwaway keep on reading the passionate work Law Society Blog lines, they can sting a bit but they’re of the editor and contributors of Voir What’s new? easy to say and rarely come from Dire! click me! those who have seen both sides of the coin. The law school we have is Inside the Blog | Stephen Klimis and Yenee Saw Simon McNamara & incredibly friendly, the events run are All about the UNSW LawSoc Blog and the people behind it. Katerina Jovanovska | so diverse that they couldn’t possibly Taylor Swift: The Law Student | Sami Joshi Law Society Co-Presidents be run to suit one small group. The The greatest exposé of the hidden #LawStudentLyf messages in Taylor Swift’s lyrics. time commitment involved by each Faculty Reps Wrap | Tina Zhou and Mark Watts volunteer is huge and invaluable, and An exclusive wrap from your Undergraduate Law Faculty Representatives. they do it as part of a much larger
Check out these articles and more at http://www.unswlawsoc.org/blog 5 | Voir Dire make your presence felt
Contributors Wanted You’ve worked hard. You have ambitions. You want to make your presence felt Ashurst is a premier global law firm, with premium clients, premium work Are you a law student with a lot to say? Do you want to share your and outstanding people. artistic talents with UNSW? Are you looking to gain some practical Working at Ashurst will allow you to encounter a wide range of challenges, to writing experience? get close to different types of business and to experience different cultures. A truly international firm where you can make your presence felt.
We want people to write short articles about their life as a law student, Find out more their thoughts and opinions of world events, their professional Margot Kindley Level 36, Grosvenor Place Senior HR Manager 225 George Street, experiences and their favourite fictional lawyers. We also want people T 61 2 9258 6000 Sydney NSW 2000 Australia [email protected] T 61 2 9258 6000 F 61 2 9258 6999 who can help make Voir Dire the best looking publication out there. www.ashurst.com/graduates Connect with us on If you are interested in contributing send an email to [email protected] Australia Belgium China France Germany Hong Kong SAR Indonesia (associated office) Italy Japan Papua New Guinea Saudi Arabia Singapore Spain Sweden United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America
6 | Voir Dire [1] Bond over your [4] Get involved with readings. social activities run by the UNSW Law Society. Split the readings in half, with one person doing one What better way to be half and the other doing the socially active than to join other half. Summarise what a sport team, do a fitness you’ve read in 5 mins, switch training session or attend turns and spend the next a social event run by our 50 minutes watching Suits. own Law Society? Oh, and You’ve just completed 1 hour did I mention, a bonus of of study. becoming a member is that you get 15% off all drinks and [2] Go out to cocktail food at Coco Cubano? Well, evenings or events run all drinks excluding alcohol. by law firms. [5] Participate in any These are great events to law competitions. not only socialise with other students but also network Mooting, client interviewing with wonderful law firms. and witness examination With complimentary cocktails are just some of the very and canapés, why say no to many competitions you can such an opportunity? participate in. Why not partner up with someone 8 Simple Rules who you’ve never You never know. You might be met before? You never know. You mooting with the next future might be mooting for Making a Honourable Michael Kirby. with the next future Honourable Michael Kirby. New Law Friend [3] Make friends in Legal Research classes [6] Spend time in as part of completing the law library and ILJ. anywhere law students hang out. While this class is very enjoyable, it is also a great Even though there are a lot of Law school can often be daunting, especially when it comes to making new friends. While opportunity to bond over commerce students studying some people have the perception that all law students just simply study, those of us who technology and appreciate in the law library, why not try know this isn’t true try and make new friends in law school. Below are some simple rules the significance of the AGLC. to bond with someone by you can follow to meet new wonderful lawyers. reading a book? Perhaps,
8 | Voir Dire 9 | Voir Dire there’s something that you and someone in your class doesn’t understand? That’s where reading a good book might help!
[7] Try and get to know people in your tutorials in your other complementary degree.
I’ve met some of my easy. Unless you overuse the wonderful law friends #lawlyf hashtag. That’s a deal through my tutorials in my breaker for me.” Law school Arts Degree. might sound intimidating Thinkahead but really, it’s just a friendly [8] Just smile. environment where people are allowed to aspire and do Diane Lane believes that what they want to do. anybody that smiles automatically looks better. Natalie Ho | 1st Year So show everyone those Arts/Law nice looking pearly whites! You never know, you might get someone flashing their teeth back at you. Before you know it, a simple hello might mean you make a new friend.
honestly, finding good friends in law is easy. Unless you overuse the #lawlyf hashtag. That’s a deal breaker for me
So, there you have it! Above are 8 ways to make a new buddy in law school. First Fast-track your career with Australia’s most year law student Bronte progressive law firm. Sevil explains “honestly, finding good friends in law is To find out more visit us at me.gtlaw.com.au Download the Gilbert + Tobin Careers App TM from the App Store or the Google Play Store Google Play is a trademark of Google Inc.
10 | Voir Dire A day in the life of a Minter Ellison Clerk
Pat Ritchie – Two week secondment to Hong Kong, July 2013 ABOUT MINTER ELLISON My second day in the office kicked off with a presentation from the visiting We’re an Australian-based international Dean of the Monash University Law School. Professor Horrigan gave an insightful view about the importance of a nuanced understanding of good law firm offering a full range of legal faith when conducting business in the Asia-Pacific region. He highlighted services to an impressive list of clients that good faith means different things to different parties, to different judges, at different times and contexts. One of the lawyers made the point across Australia, in Asia and globally. to me that these considerations now apply to relatively small businesses Recognised for our clear thinking, our enjoying new access to international opportunities. This paradigm shift strong technicalMinter skills and ability to makesEllison for an exciting time to be starting a career Adin commercial law. deliver practical solutions have led to our Much of today was spent completing research for the construction task involvement in the Asia Pacific’s most I received yesterday. I was also asked to assist a Dispute Resolution innovative and high-profile transactions. Partner regarding a pleadings issue and a disclosure issue. Both of these tasks have required me to look at a range of international sources of legal information – something quite new for me.
Lunch time saw more chopstick lessons with my fellow Hong Kong clerks and OUR BUSINESS UNITS some lessons in Cantonese. By the end of my time in Hong Kong I hope to improve both. Starting from a low base, hopefully that goal shouldn’t be AND DIVISIONS too difficult to achieve! Commercial & Regulatory Dispute Resolution Financial Institutions Group Human Resources & Industrial Relations Insurance & Corporate Risk Mergers & Acquisitions Projects, Infrastructure & Construction Real Estate, Environment & Planning Tax Real people achieving excellence
For more information on vacation clerkships or the Minter Ellison graduate program please go to www.minterellison.com/careers Careers at Get connected to the rest of the world Allen & Overy Visit us at www.allenovery.com/careers Be part of something exciting
Allen & Overy means Allen & Overy LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings
CS1407_CDD-39678_ADD-49539_A4 portrait.indd 1 20/01/2015 01:56 Wonderland by Taylor Swift Together by Calvin Harris Give Your Heart A Break We Used To Be Friends feat. Gwen Stefani by Demi Lovato by The Dandy Warhols I really wanted to just include this song in my Recs for the months mainly I never actually realized whether this Coming into a scary atmosphere The astute of you may remember because I’ve had it stuck in my head was a single I heard on the radio or like a Law School can be pretty this song from the cult classic TV for a really really really long time! But whether this was just something I was a tough! For first year students I show Veronica Mars (if you do… you here’s my attempt at explaining why keen bean with and heard on his album. can totally relate! But you’d be know… we’re probably gonna be it’s about community! Taylor addresses Whatever the situation is, I really love surprised how easy it is to start best friends and stuff…). This song the subject in her song by using the how lovely and sweet and hopeful this fitting into communities, although perfectly sums up those badass word “we”… so it’s about more than song actually is! If we wanna talk about I will admit it’s easy for us to be feelings when you vengefully dump one person… community! But in all songs that inspire both a party mood hard on ourselves when things those negative people in your life! seriousness, this song is so lovely and AND a spirit of community we need aren’t going our way! So I think Let me give you all this piece of heartwarming and it shows how easy look no further than Calvin Harris’ jam it’s important for us all to give Advice (#AdviceWithRo), the key to it is to be find wonderland and “get together! It’s also quite heartwarming our hearts a break… our heart a having a supportive community is lost in it” when you find a supportive when, if you’re like me and a crazy break... a heart a break… yeah eliminating the negative influences community! shipper, you think to yourself “maybe… yeah. in your life! When you have the just maybe he wrote this song about strength to do that, you can be Taylor…” *cue 20 minutes of straight truly happy! fangirling*
Rohan’s Recs Songs about Community
The Mother We Share by we all have supportive communities CHVRCHES around us to help! We truly can be in Youtube Study Music Recs misery sometimes but our friends and This has been one of my favourite songs from your friendly neighbourhood editor family can “make it easy on us”… yes for the last few years. to the extent okay I got cheesy for a second! So where it was my ringtone for an entire PostmodernJukebox sue me! Actually please don’t I forgot year! While we wait in anticipation for the for a second this is a law student Brooklyn Duo glorious sound of the new CHVRCHES publication… album dropping later this year, we can click me! ThePianoGuys appreciate how amazing this Scottish 2CELLOS electronica band really is! It’s important at this point in the year when we’re By Rohan Hora | Law Society Music Director starting to get flooded by new subjects and new work that we can realize
14 | Voir Dire 15 | Voir Dire DISCOUNTS for(the law sticker Soc has members!a purpose!) M.J. Bale Coco Cubano @ UNSW Your journey 20% discount on all full-priced M.J. Bale 15% discount off the full food menu and all merchandise. beverages excluding alcohol. BAKER & Offer is redeemed on the presentation of a Offer is redeemed on the presentation of a UNSW Law Society membership sticker. UNSW Law Society membership sticker.Offer to a world-class Excluding sale and multi-buy offers, Napoli is not valid in conjunction with any other offer shirts, Collection suits and custom suits or discount. career begins here Oporto Kingsford Yummba @ UNSW 10% discount on all purchases. $1 off any ‘pita pocket’ from the menu. Offer is redeemed on the presentation of a Offer is redeemed on the presentation of a UNSW Law Society membership sticker. Offer UNSW Law Society membership sticker. Offer MCKENZIE AD is not valid in conjunction with any other offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer Baker & McKenzie is Australia’s first global law or discount. or discount. firm. We’ve been developing global lawyers in Sushi Roll Satay Delight Australia for more than 50 years – each started Free miso soup with purchases of $10 or 10% discount on all purchases, excluding out as a law student, just like you. over. drink or cake purchases. Offer is redeemed on the presentation of a Offer is redeemed on the presentation of a Become a world-class lawyer. UNSW Law Society membership sticker.Offer UNSW Law Society membership sticker.Offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer Join the firm that was born global. or discount. or discount.
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Find us at @BakersAUS International Student Experience An interview with Xuan Luo (Peter) Studying law in a foreign country can be a daunting experience. But it doesn’t have to be. Getting involved with the law faculty can expedite the process to make international students feel part of the law community.
Chinese student Xuan Luo (Peter) was “The students are competitive, no doubt about fascinated by two legal systems which brought that. I’ve experienced this and I would say to him to UNSW. international students to embrace that and be part of it as well.” “Even as a young boy, I always wondered what the difference between communist law and He is quick to point out that there is a healthy western society law was. I wanted to come dose of camaraderie at the law school too. to Australia to find out and I chose to come to UNSW to do that.” He said the small class sizes encourages class participation. Now in his second year, how does Peter find UNSW law school? “Having a class of say no more than 30 students promotes class discussion…that “It has a great community feel to it. I’ve been really helps.” treated well by our faculty. The teachers and classmates are friendly to international “The UNSW law faculty really takes international students seriously. There are initiatives to help There are two areas them survive academically. One example international students is extra examination time. I think this is fair need to focus on if they because English is not our first language.” want to succeed at law school. First is to What is your advice for international students adopt critical thinking. coming to UNSW law school? The other is being independent. “There are two areas international students need to focus on if they want to succeed at students. I must admit however, there are law school. First is to adopt critical thinking. some teachers who are friendlier than others, The other is being independent.” but generally they’re good to us.” He says thinking deeply about the legal issues, Whilst Peter’s experience has been positive and the law itself will help students with their at UNSW law, he has some advice for newly assessments. arrived students who want to fit in. “We have to co-operate with each other, but at
18 | Voir Dire 19 | Voir Dire the same time, be independent. [technique] of arguing with other That means doing your own people, but also appreciating research. Organise yourself and other people’s opinions. That’s not be affected by other people what law is. That’s what your life to get your work done. This will as a lawyer in the future is. allow international students to think for themselves and will “Many students here fall in the help them compete when they trap of thinking they’re right in need to. their own minds about an idea but they won’t share it with their “Be comfortable with your own fellow students. ideas, your research so that you can put your own arguments “My teacher told me that forward. fundamentally law is not about being right or wrong, “We are in a community here at it’s about how you organise law school, we need to be able your ideas, how you organise to contribute ideas, arguments the reasoning…ultimately and perspectives with other it’s the argument that has students.” an acceptable result for everybody.” He cites isolation as an issue for international students For Peter the two years at but something that can be UNSW law has helped him fit overcome. into that community.
“Only when you get involved in During semester one he a study group, exchange your was a JD mentor to four international students. An experience he says fundamentally law is not about was rewarding.
being right or wrong, it’s about By Basil Naimet | how you organise your ideas, 1st Year JD how you organise the reasoning
ideas with other students you can survive and get very good academic achievement (sic) because that’s also part of law. You have to accept the way
20 | Voir Dire aspire. contribute. thrive.
Contributors Wanted
Are you a law student with a lot to say? Do you want to share your artistic talents with UNSW? Are you looking to gain some practical writing experience?
We want people to write short articles about their life as a law student, summerclerks their thoughts and opinions of world events, their professional experiences and their favourite fictional lawyers. We also want people who can help make Voir Dire the best looking publication out there. aspire. what are your hopes and ambitions for the future? contribute. how will you make a difference to HDY, our profession and our community? If you are interested in contributing send an email to thrive. what do you need to reach your full potential? [email protected]
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