a) b) RMIT LSS c) Annual General Meeting Minutes March 17, 2017 Call to order Elise Steegstra called to order the annual general meeting of the RMIT LSS at 5:45pm on March 17, 2017 at 13.03.13. Attendance & Apologies Present: Elise Steegstra, Mieke Matimba, Martha Arkalis, Michael Redford, Kayla Sharp, Susie Alvarez-Vasquez, Nadia Nemra, Bronwyn Oakley, Mark Phillips, Johanna Planche, Paul Melican Proxies: None received

Quorum of 11 people for AGM. Quorum was met at 5:45pm

1. Presentation and approval of Reports from the 2016 Executive including the annual financial statement

1.1. President’s Report – Elise summarised her written President’s Report

1.2. Treasurer’s Report – Paul summarised Treasurers Report;

1.2.1. LSS is in a good financial position with a surplus at the end of the year. Sponsorship is increasing. Questioned on why ANU sponsorship hasn’t carried over this year. Response that ANU used to have a specialised student liaison person whose role has been taken on by an executive staff member who has been more difficult to liaise with. Also suspect they may be redirecting their funds to the ALSA conference close to them in Canberra this year.

1.3. Vice President’s Report – Written report

1.4. Secretary’s Report – Written report

MOTION: The reports from the 2016 Executive Committee be accepted. Motion passed unanimously

2. Portfolio Reports

2.1. Competitions Update:

2.1.1. Having issues with the Nowicki Carbone Moot as our alumni contact, Maren, has changed firms. May be able to cover funds and gain sponsorship through the contact’s new firm and maintain the personal injury moot.

2.1.2. Paul as outgoing Competitions Officer has an enduring RMIT LSS email, has offered to continue to help out with the LSS and specifically the Competitions still. Paul wished everyone all the best. 2.2. Publications Update:

2.2.1. Careers and clerkship guide update. Asked if anyone has any law alumni contacts who would be willing to share their stories of diverse post-law professions. Looking for pieces to add to the Careers and Clerkship Guide e.g. ‘A Day Working in VIC Legal Aid’

2.2.2. Careers and Clerkship Guide launch this year is aiming to be more structured this year than last. For example, including a key note speaker. Aiming to have more information about what a Clerkship is.

2.2.3. RMIT Journal to be released again at the RMIT JD 10th anniversary event. Should be able to get more faculty and alumni support for this. Will be including RMIT essays in the journal again. Nadia suggested we request lecturers lookout for any standout essays.

2.2.4. Intro Guide to be distributed at the second Intro to Law weekend drinks. Will include the AGLC Cheat Sheet.

2.2.5. First Year Mixer; would be nice to have a bunch of us go and represent the law society.

2.2.6. Intro weekend; can we look at getting more money to make this better? Would be good if not just first years present. To be on 2nd April 3pm onwards at the Asian Beer Café.

2.3. Events Update:

2.3.1. Summary of events from previous year;

2.3.1.1. Two events cancelled due to a lack of interest; trivia nights

2.3.1.2. Intro event in April and August, about 10 people in attendance, held at the Asian Beer Café, believed to be a good venue.

2.3.1.3. Careers Symposium in May had 50ish people in attendance

2.3.1.4. End of year Cocktail party had about 60 people in attendance

2.3.1.5. Last year we were well within our budget for events

2.3.1.6. Maybe could have a greater budget for the anniversary event

2.3.1.7. No mid-year event, no interest

2.3.1.8. Nadia said the cocktail event was good to have but also suggested more student-y less formal events that may garner more interest. Elise responded the 10th anniversary will probably be formal so our end of year party can be less so. Martha suggested we need a balance between the two. Mieke clarified Johanna had suggested ditching mid-year event in favour of just the Symposium.

2.3.1.9. Suggestion of an inter-varsity trivia competition. Further suggestion we get a table at one of ANU’s law trivia nights.

2.3.1.10. Kayla suggested a casual trivia night at the Fitzroy Beer Garden on Wednesday 29th March. Offered to follow up with marketing for the event and acquiring a RMIT sign for the table.

2.4. Vote for all reports to be accepted.

Motion unanimously approved

3. Election of the Club Executive

3.1. First year introducing electronic voting. Voting involvement has increased this year.

3.2. Four nominations for the executive committee have been received. As per the constitution, four executive committee members are required.

MOTION: The 4 nominations for the executive committee be accepted as the executive committee and approve the slated positions. Motion passed unanimously

Officer positions as elected:

President: Elise Steegstra Vice President: Mieke Matimba Secretary: Martha Arkalis Treasurer: Elise Steegstra Executive Events Officer: Johannah Planche

4. Announcement of Committee Positions Marketing Director: Kayla Sharp Education Director: Mark Phillips OUA Coordinator: Bron Oakley Equity Director and First Year Coordinator: Susie Alvarez-Vasquez Competitions Coordinator: Jordan Smyth General Committee: Nadia Lennon

5. Approval of the Club 12 month Activity Plan

5.1. Activity plan includes but is not limited to the activities detailed on the 2017 Events Calendar

5.2. Mieke: Careers Symposium on the 5 May needs to be pushed back for the Career’s Guide. Suggested 19th or earliest the 12th. Discussion of potential dates and venues for event. MOTION: The Club 12 month Activity plan for 2017 is approved. Motion passed unanimously

6. Approval of the Club annual budget

6.1. The Budget for 2017 was presented at the meeting. Looking much the same as the previous year. Sponsorship has gone up a little.

6.2. Question about role of sponsorship. Mieke explained exchange of sponsorship for advertising and promotion. Minster Ellison became premium sponsors this year so they are advertised throughout the Careers and Clerkship Guide. Discussion of Clerkship guide and numbers of RMIT graduates that receive clerkships. Numbers not possessed. Mieke stated there is a clerkship market for specifically RMIT students coming form a kind of boutique law school. Suggestion they also look for work and life experience. Suggestion we promote this aspect of RMIT and clerkships to students more.

6.3. Discussion of how little information in regards to clerkships is available to students. Martha suggested the LSS can only do so much but perhaps should chase the school to promote this information more? Nadia suggested we put the information out on a little card to hand out to students, same with drinks advertised and Careers and Clerkship event. Susie suggested free drinks events may not be as popular with academics and may exclude non-drinkers. Suggestion that we offer advice at events already planned for example could have T-shirts saying ‘Ask me about Clerkships’. Bronwyn suggested as an RMIT tag-line for a boutique law school approach; “RMIT – where everybody knows your name”.

6.4. MOTION: The Club Annual budget is approved Motion passed unanimously

7. Amendments to Constitution

7.1. Addition of the social membership category. This category can’t vote for executive but can vote on everything else.

7.2. Separated the grievance and dispute resolution processes from each other

7.3. Changed the process for electing executive positions and updated duties of the committee; term of 1 year with an automatic vacating of all positions prior to the election.

7.4. Now approved by RUSU

7.5. Will submit constitution to Consumer Affairs Victoria as well.

7.6. MOTION: Amendments to constitution is approved

Motion passed unanimously

8. General Business 8.1. Martha asked if Gala dinner had sponsorship? Elise responded Business and Law School should support that. Nadia asked if there were speakers? Elise confirmed there would be and she is hoping for the Governor of Victoria.

8.2. Johanna queried whether any particular staff members were heading up the Gala dinner. Elise responded it is the law society and that Martha and herself had formed a sub-committee to do this. Johanna said to let her know what they want her to do.

Adjournment Elise Steegstra adjourned the meeting at 6:45pm.

Minutes submitted by: Kayla Sharp Minutes approved by: Elise Steegstra