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Tertiary and Continuing The Law Thread

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2nd year Law/ Arts at ANU in Canberra. Going back down to Melbourne next year, doing a year of cross-institutional at Uni Melb then hopefully transferring to La Trobe or somewhere closer to home.

What's La Trobe law like? Lots of people seem to be doing it.
 
2nd year Law/ Arts at ANU in Canberra. Going back down to Melbourne next year, doing a year of cross-institutional at Uni Melb then hopefully transferring to La Trobe or somewhere closer to home.

What's La Trobe law like? Lots of people seem to be doing it.

It's reasonable.

Having come from Melbourne Uni first, La Trobe was a little bit a change. But in terms of its teaching, I think it is pretty good.

It has its issues (like most unis) with class numbers (i.e. too many students in tutorials) but I found it to be a pretty good environment.

They were moving the law school into the city - to the old Argus building on Elizabeth Street - not sure where that one is at. I liked it out at Bundoora and hope they don't move it out.
 
It's reasonable.

Having come from Melbourne Uni first, La Trobe was a little bit a change. But in terms of its teaching, I think it is pretty good.

It has its issues (like most unis) with class numbers (i.e. too many students in tutorials) but I found it to be a pretty good environment.

They were moving the law school into the city - to the old Argus building on Elizabeth Street - not sure where that one is at. I liked it out at Bundoora and hope they don't move it out.

Are they still moving it into the city or has it stalled? Couldn't find anything on it.
 

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Got myself all enrolled in law at QUT. Roll on O-Week.

Lectures start three weeks after our new child arrives and smack dab in the middle of the NAB Cup.

Interesting times.
 
2nd year Law/ Arts at ANU in Canberra. Going back down to Melbourne next year, doing a year of cross-institutional at Uni Melb then hopefully transferring to La Trobe or somewhere closer to home.

What's La Trobe law like? Lots of people seem to be doing it.

Who will I watch the footy and soccer with now?
 
1) What are seasonals?

2) Chose classes online yesterday - jeez they go quick. I was on right on the bell and within 6 minutes the 'good' spots were taken. I got all but 1 of my preferred spots, but a tute on Tuesday means an extra trip in to campus. Bleh...

Still, Thursdays off and finish at 2 on Friday so not all bad. Monday is a 10AM to 6PM monster though.
 
I got all but 1 of my preferred spots, but a tute on Tuesday means an extra trip in to campus. Bleh...

My general advice would be don't go.

Seb said:
Is anyone applying for seasonals in a month's time?

Nah I got a permanent gig in a smaller place so cbf to go back to square 1 with a big place.
 
3rd year Law/AS at UWA. Have a two-hour Constitutional Law lecture 4-6 on Wednesdays this semester. I hope they don't take attendance.
 
So what subjects is everyone doing this year?

In First Semmester I've got Criminal Law & Procedure and Constitutional Law and in Second I've got Admin and Torts 2 (finally)
 
My general advice would be don't go.

Nah, gotta do the time. It's a two-hour job and there are no lectures, so the work is in the tute it seems - plus it's a % of the grade for the subject. I spent my IT degree dodging tutes and I regret it.

Plus, being mature-age and with a family (plus new baby) I've got a good chance of getting the co-ordinator to swap me over to Wednesday so I have the extra free day for family duties.
 

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What are seasonals?

Paid block of work experience during uni holidays of 3 - 4 weeks understaken in penultimate or final year.

Most graduate offers at larger firms are filled with 'priority' offers, which are just offers to people that have undertaken a seasonal clerkship at their firm in the last year. In fact, the top tier firms nearly entirely filled their grad roles with priority offers. Needless to say, if you want a top commercial firm, then you should apply for a seasonal clerkship or paralegal work.

That said, you'll find that only a few mid and small tier firms are taking seasonal applications in March/Feb this year due to the LIV guidelines changing. The majority of applications will be in July, but check on each firm's site well in advance.
 
What's some of the work that a first year law student can get over next summer? I'll be studying at La Trobe which isn't as reputable as Monash and Melbourne so I want to build up a nifty CV over time in order to enhance my employability.

Would a seasonal clerkship be on the cards or is that something limited to the 3rd, 4th and 5th year law students?
 
What's some of the work that a first year law student can get over next summer? I'll be studying at La Trobe which isn't as reputable as Monash and Melbourne so I want to build up a nifty CV over time in order to enhance my employability.

Would a seasonal clerkship be on the cards or is that something limited to the 3rd, 4th and 5th year law students?

If you're doing a 5 year course, you can apply, but you will not get seasonals until your 4th year most likely. If your marks are amazing (i.e - averaging above 85, etc.) then you perhaps may get an interview or two after completing two years of study. Around a quarter of law firms specifically state on their websites that they are only interested in penultimate or final year students.

In the meantime there are options for you.

In terms of legal experience, locate your nearest few community legal centres and apply online (usually a waiting list) and drop in a resume in person also to the recruitment and volunteer coordinator. LaTrobe take part in the Willem C. Vis Moot, an international legal competition taking place in Austria & Hong Kong every year before Easter. Applications would probably open around September for your uni (check your law portal for specifics and applicability). Enter all law comps at your uni and national variants if you can be bothered. Winning these (esp. a national comp.) will boost your resume also.

In terms of non-legal opportunities to build your CV, look into charity, community and other volunteer work. It demonstrates leadership, communication and initiative. Use google for other ideas, anything along the lines of tutoring, mentoring, etc. will not do any harm.

As a bottom line though, the trend in the coming years is for seasonal applications to open around the mid-way part of the year. Penultimate year students are the true target of these applications. I'd advise that you apply to a select group of maybe 5 firms in your ante-penultimate year of study. For example, there are firms I know from personal experience which will consider non-penultimate year students and/or offering special mentoring/information sessions for ante-penultimate year students that take the initiative to apply early. PM or email me when the time draws closer for you and I'd be happy to help you out a little more. One example that comes to mind is the Mallesons Insight Program:

http://www.mulss.com/story/mallesons-insight-program

Hope that clears it up for you. My adivce to 1st & 2nd year students, in addition to the above, is to get good marks. It sounds stupid, but your average for law units will play a massive role in securing an interview. As you progress through your degree, the subjects get harder. The first two years are the best time to get marks which hold your average in good stead for the later years. Drink and go nuts, but make good notes a couple weeks before exam day
 
^^
Wow, thanks a lot for the informative post. :):thumbsu:

I'm coupling my Law degree with an International Relations degree, so I'm going to study abroad at some point. That would probably look good on my a CV as well I'd imagine.

Really looking forward to starting this degree.
 
Really looking forward to starting this degree.

That'll pass relatively quickly;)

The other best advice that can be given is network like hell. This is particularly true in Adelaide, a smaller market, but holds true for most of the world in that it's not what you know but who you know. If you have any high ranking legal contacts see how much you can hang around them and see whether they have further contacts. If not, make them!
 
3rd year Law/AS at UWA. Have a two-hour Constitutional Law lecture 4-6 on Wednesdays this semester. I hope they don't take attendance.

Haha, I was down for con law but was talked out of it by others. Equity and property enough for me this semester.
 

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12 days until start of term. Better go buy some books... QUT online book shop has free postage until the 19th, I see.

Got out of the Tuesday tute, moved it to Monday. Silly people had set one of the Monday tutes to "0" vacancies, the coordinator only worked it out after telling me there were 'plenty' of openings on Monday... which I couldn't see on the allocation page.

Too easy.
 
12 days until start of term. Better go buy some books... QUT online book shop has free postage until the 19th, I see.

Got out of the Tuesday tute, moved it to Monday. Silly people had set one of the Monday tutes to "0" vacancies, the coordinator only worked it out after telling me there were 'plenty' of openings on Monday... which I couldn't see on the allocation page.

Too easy.
I've checked my uni bookstore and Law books are going to cost me $450 this semester alone. Then there's the politics books as well. :eek:

Crazy stuff.
 

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