D-Brief
News from the Deakin School of Law Volume 5, Issue 1, Jan 2012
D-Brief is the electronic newsletter, providing law students with current information.
Please note you may need your student username and password to enter some websites.
From the Head of School
Dear Students
Happy New Year for 2012. I hope you had an enjoyable break if you were not studying over T3. Even if you were, I hope you managed to balance some hard work with some rest and relaxation.
I know that some of you have spent a good deal of the break working as seasonal clerks with the law firms. I trust that you have been acquitting yourself well. Seasonal clerkships are a vital step towards future employment especially with the major law firms. With priority offers for graduate positions going to students who have been successful clerks, securing a clerkship and then doing well may be the first step towards your future career.
It is never too early in law school to begin to work towards securing a clerkship. Major law firms are interested in people with very good results. It is no use waiting until the year that you will be applying to begin to study. You need to think about it from first year. But also think about the whole picture. Firms look for people who are hard working, will be good colleagues and will be good with clients. It is important to have some outside interests, eg sport or music, to have a record of employment and, if you can, to demonstrate leadership ability or service through school or university student positions. Remember you are competing against the best and brightest law students of your generation when you apply for these positions.
The Deakin Law Students Society publishes a careers guide and holds careers seminars each year. You can also find out more about seasonal clerkships on the Law Institute of Victoria website.
This edition of D-Brief also has details of the China Study Tour for 2012. If last year is anything to go by, if you are interested, you need to get in early. There is a cap on numbers. The 2012 tour will be going to Shanghai rather than Beijing. I had the privilege of being in Shanghai during 2010. It is an amazing city. Any visit there reveals why China is the economic powerhouse that it is. I am sure those who go on the study tour will be left with very lasting impressions.
Best wishes for the remainder of your break, or if you are studying, for success in your T3 examinations.
Professor Anne Rees
Head of School
Click on a hyperlink below to skip directly to the article you are interested in.
General News
Applications NOW OPEN for 2012 China Study Tour
Your Invitation to hear The Hon Professor Michael Kirby speak
$500 available towards your textbooks- Geelong Law Association Scholarships
Attention graduating students! VLF Chief Justice's Medal for Excellence and Community Service 2012
Applications are now open for MLL351 Law Clinic for Trimesters 1-3 2012
FINAL REMINDER for graduating students in March/April 2012. Make sure your Professional Experience is complete!
International Masters in Sociology of Law 2012-13
$5000 scholarship available for junior lawyer
An invitation to Deakin Law Students to publish your story on the School's website
Events
March 2012
DLSS Burwood, O-Week Activities, 27 February- 2 March, Burwood Campus
International Justice Conference, 8-11 March 2012, Perth, WA
Employment & Placement Opportunities
2012 Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia CLE Legal Studies Externship Program
Professional Experience Placements available at Victoria Legal Aid in Trimester 1, 2 and 3, 2012
School of Law Employment & Professional Experience placement and Internships opportunities web page
General Information
Key information for current students
Critical dates for 2012
IT and computing
The Library
Support for off-campus students
Course Structure examples
Assessment information
Your course progression
Receiving important information from the School
Professional Experience
Course/Student Advisors
Online University Handbook
School of Law website
Law Essentials
DUSA
Deakin Law Students' Societies
Deakin Law Students Society (DLSS) Burwood
Deakin Law Students Society (DLSS) Geelong
Deakin University Commerce & Law Society (DUCLS) - Warrnambool
General News
Applications now accepted for 2012 Chinese Commercial Law Study Tour
16 June to 3 July
Limited places available!
The Chinese Commercial Law Study Tour is now in its sixteenth year and continues to provide students with an amazing international study experience. This year's tour will be held in Shanghai, with Shanghai University of Finance & Economics (SHUFE) to be the host university.
During the 17-day tour students will attend lectures covering topics such as China's legal history and current legal system, law of contract, foreign investment law, labour and employment issues in foreign investment enterprises and Chinese Mediation & Arbitration.
In addition to covering all the necessary commercial law subjects in the classroom and visiting the court, a Chinese law firm, a foreign law firm, the Arbitration Commission and the Australian Consulate General in Shanghai, we will have opportunities to experience new activities such as visiting the Shanghai Stock Exchange, a Night Cruise on Yangzhi River and a visit to the China Pavilion of the World Expo. We will also get the chance to visit the nearby beautiful cities of Hangzhou (with West Lake) and Suzhou.
Tour dates:16 June - 3 July 2012
Applications now open: Apply using the China Study Tour Online Application Form.
Applications close: Friday 23 March (or when tour is full - places are very limited!)
For more information: Visit the China Study Tour website and download the China Study Tour Information Pack [??KB PDF]
Academic questions: Contact the Unit chair- Kui Hua Wang
Other questions: Contact the Tour Coordinator- Nerida Coghill.
Your Invitation to hear The Hon Professor Michael Kirby speak
The Hon Professor Michael Kirby will be visiting the Burwood campus on Thursday 1 March at 3pm. While this lecture will be part of the scheduled lectures for in-coming Law students in O-Week, all law students are warmly invited to attend.
Adjunct Professor Hon Michael Kirby is always an engaging and inspiring speaker, so we encourage you to attend this lecture.
Date: Thursday 1 March at 3pm sharp. (Doors close 2.45pm)
Venue: LT3 (B1.177), Burwood Campus
$500 available towards your textbooks- Geelong Law Association Scholarships
Geelong Law Association Scholarships are available to help Deakin law students who, because of some hardship, disability or disadvantage, may not otherwise enjoy the benefits that flow from participation in higher education.
The Geelong Law Association Scholarships are provided annually and are valued at $500 each. Each year the Geelong Law Association awards:
- Two $500 Books4U bookshop vouchers for commencing students
- Two $500 Books4U bookshop vouchers for continuing students
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria. The applicant must be a full-time student who:
- is an Australian citizen, or holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa
- is a commencing student at Deakin University in undergraduate Law or a Law combined course of study in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or continuing CSP enrolled existing student in Law or a Law combined course
- receives one of the following Centrelink benefits - Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy. (A certified copy of your Centrelink income statement must be provided with application)
- resides in the G21 footprint and is enrolled on the Geelong campus at Waurn Ponds
- is not the recipient of any other Deakin University scholarship.
Selection Criteria
After meeting the eligibility criteria (above) the scholarship will be awarded to applicants with outstanding academic merit based on ATAR or grade point average (GPA) from previous/current higher education studies.
How to apply
Applicants must complete: The scholarship application form [114KB PDF] and include a cover letter and a certified copy of your Centrelink income statement. For more information please visit the Geelong Law Association Scholarships webpage.
Applications for 2012: Open Monday 5 March and close COB Friday 16 March 2012.
Attention graduating students! Victoria Law Foundation Chief Justice's Medal for Excellence and Community Service 2012
The Chief Justice offers a medal each year through the Victoria Law Foundation to acknowledge a graduating law student with an excellent academic record and a record of community service - particularly in relation to community service in the legal context (but all community service is considered).
If you have a strong academic record and a good record of community service please contact the Head of School to discuss a possible nomination.
Closing date for nominations: 8 February 2012. The School can make only one nomination.
Applications are still open for MLL351 Law Clinic for Trimesters 1, 2 and 3 in 2012
MLL351 Law Clinic counts for 12 days towards the Professional Experience compulsory requirement of the LLB course and is worth one credit point. If you have competed 16 units of Law, have a Law elective available and a course WAM of 65 you are eligible to apply.
Places are available at many centres across Melbourne, Geelong and the Western Suburbs for Trimester 1-3 in 2012.
To apply: Complete the Application form [87KB PDF] and return to the LLB Program Coordinator.
Applications close: Trimester 1 applications close Friday 10 February 2012. Successful applicants will be notified soon after this date.
FINAL REMINDER - Planning on graduating in April 2012? You MUST make sure your Professional Experience is complete!
If you are nearing the completion of your course, and you are planning to graduate in April 2012, you will need to ensure that the compulsory Professional Experience requirement of your LLB degree is complete. To be eligible to graduate will need to complete your Professional Experience requirements and lodge all associated paperwork by Friday 27 January 2012. If you miss this deadline, you will be ineligible to graduate in April 2012.
For details of Professional Experience requirement please visit the Professional Experience section of the website or contact Kylie Wiffen.
International Master's in Sociology of Law 2012-13
The International Institute of Sociology of Law is the home of the international socio-legal community. The Institute offers a 12 month MA programme consisting of a six-month period of intensive seminars and an individual research project. The Masters programme offers a unique opportunity to develop close personal contacts with eminent scholars in the field of socio-legal studies and sociology of law.
Leading international specialists travel to Onati in order to teach the intensive seminars and are also available to provide individual supervision.
The programme is taught entirely in English, with the class size limited to a maximum of 20.
The Institute is located in the beautiful Universidad Antigua, built in 1543, and student accommodation is in the 18th century Palacio Antia.
For information and application forms:
- Contact Susana Arrese Murguzur via email or phone on + 34 943 71 88 85 / + 34 943 78 30 64, or
- View the application procedures on the International Institute of Sociology of Law application website.
Deadline for applications: 19 February 2012
$5000 scholarship available for junior lawyer
The Gaire Blunt scholarship is offered by the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. This $5000 scholarship is aimed at persons at a junior stage of their career in Australia, whether as a practising lawyer, academic or member of the public service or corporate sector.
How to apply: Lawyers will need to submit a paper on a competition law topic no more than 10,000 words. Applications MUST be submitted on an official application form obtained from Carol O'Sullivan, Phone: 07 5450 1127.
Applications due: 31 May 2012.
For more information: Visit the Law Council of Australia website
Spotlight on Students - publish your story on our website
The School of Law website now includes Spotlight on Students, an area which celebrates the diverse range of activities, events and programs that Deakin School of Law students are involved in, as well as awards and nominations they receive.
If you (or someone you know) have done something interesting that you think other law students would like to hear about, please send the details to Nerida Coghill who will guide you through the process for getting this published.
Events
Deakin Law Students' Society Burwood- Orientation Week Activities
27 February- 2 March, Burwood Campus
During O-Week students can look forward to the following offerings from DLSS Burwood:
- The DLSS stall on Mutant Way- visit the stall, meet the committee members, purchase a DLSS membership as well as tickets to events such as First Year Camp.
- A showbag- with assorted freebies upon purchase of a membership!
- Guided campus tours- meet other commencing law students and members of the committee. Tours will be guided in cooperation with DUSA and undergraduate/postgraduate student mentors.
- A FREE BBQ on Friday 2 February
- FUN activities planned throughout the whole week - where students can meet other commencing students.
More information: Visit the DLSS Burwood website or DLSS Facebook page.
International Justice Conference, 8-11 March 2012, Perth, WA
This conference brings together international and national experts in justice, forensic science, law, law enforcement, criminal psychology and criminology.
You will learn valuable insights into the processes and technology used to examine and solve a range of high profile cases, including:
- the September 11 attacks
- the Bali bombings
- the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales
- the crimes of Joseph Fritzl and Armin Meiwes in Austria and Ivan Milat in Australia.
Hear firsthand from those whose terrible ordeals as victims of injustice have been portrayed in Hollywood movies, including:
- Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton (Australia)
- Dr Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter (USA)
- Betty Anne Waters (USA)
- David Bain (New Zealand).
Date: 8-12 Mach 2012
Venue: Burswood Entertainment Complex, Perth, WA
Registration:
Standard conc.=$1760, Late conc.=$2200
Standard full=$2090, Late full=$2200
For more information: Visit the conference website or view the registration brochure [1.4 MB PDF].
Employment & Placement Opportunities
2012 Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia CLE Legal Studies Externship Program
Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia Community Legal Education Initiative (BABSEA CLE) is currently accepting applications for its 2012 Legal Studies Externship Program. Since 2004, BABSEA CLE Interns have been doing "hands-on" social justice work in Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos,Indonesia and Malaysia! The BABSEA CLE Legal Studies Externship Program offers an opportunity to make a real contribution to fighting the hardships and legal inequity in Southeast Asia while being involved in a remarkable experience of living and working in the region.
The Legal Studies Internship Program is offered twice a year
- 21 May - 12 August 2012*
- 26 November - 10 February 2013*
*Dates may be flexible depending on the needs of the intern, BABSEA CLE and our partners who we work with.
Applications close: 1 March 2012 (for first Internship Program)
How to apply: You must complete and submit the application form, your current resume, statement of purpose, a writing sample, 2 personal references, the liability and waiver form, and a photocopy of your valid passport. See the BABSEA CLE website for more information about how to apply.
Professional Experience Placements available at Victoria Legal Aid in Trimester 1, 2 and 3, 2012
There are limited placements for law students with Victoria Legal Aid at either Geelong, Dandenong or Ringwood in T1, T2 or T3. Students will be required to attend one day per week for 12 weeks and will work directly with a duty lawyer at the local magistrates court and assist them with administrative tasks on the day and have the opportunity to see how the legal process works in the Magistrates Court.
To apply:
Please email Marlene Ebejer with your preferred trimester, preferred location and contact number and include a statement of commitment to attending the placement for 12 days over 12 weeks.
For more information: Visit the Placement Scheme webpage or email Marlene Ebejer.
School of Law Employment & Professional Experience placement and Internship opportunities web page
The School of Law has a regularly updated employment and professional experience webpage where we will post information about any job, Professional Experience placement or Internship opportunity as information becomes available.
Other employment opportunities listed on webpage include:
- Commercial Litigation Paralegal (3rd year + law student)
- Junior Legal Recruitment Consultants
Other Professional Experience Placements listed on webpage include:
- Volunteer Positions in the United States fighting the death penalty
- International Internships in India and Indonesia for legal interns
- Article clerks in Commercial, Property and Migration Law in Melbourne.
Key Information for current students
StudentConnect is where you can access your enrolment information including your course, unit and address details, track your assignments, check and pay your fees, view results and re-enrol online.
Current Students should be the first place you visit to find key resources, study support, IT and computing information, student services and groups, activities, and news.
Students may withdraw (in first trimester):
| Up to 31 March | WE |
Withdrawn Early (No Penalty) |
| Up to 6 May | WL |
Withdrawn Late (appears on transcript) |
| Up to 1 June | WN |
Withdrawn Fail (appears on transcript) |
Students may withdraw (in second trimester):
| Up to 15 August | WE |
Withdrawn Early (No Penalty) |
| Up to 9 September | WL |
Withdrawn Late (appears on transcript) |
| Up to 5 October | WN |
Withdrawn Fail (appears on transcript) |
Students may withdraw (in third trimester):
| Up to 15 December | WE |
Withdrawn Early (No Penalty) |
| Up to 13 Jan 2013 | WL |
Withdrawn Late (appears on transcript) |
| Up to 15 Feb 2013 | WN |
Withdrawn Fail (appears on transcript) |
You should familiarise yourself with the 2012 Important dates in the Student Handbook.
IT and Computing
The Deakin IT website contains essential IT information including how email works at Deakin (including your email address, webmail and email redirection) and internet access.
Key links on the IT and computing site are:
- Software
- Usernames and passwords
- IT service desk
The Library
The Library provides information resources and services that will form an integral part of your university experience.
Support for off-campus students
Learn about the support available to off-campus students
The School of Law recommends that students follow one of the model course structures when planning their studies.
The School of Law is committed to maintaining appropriate assessment standards. Please review the assessment expectations for more information.
All students should use the Course Structure provided when planning their course progression. The Course Structures are designed to ensure students have the acquired knowledge they need to undertake prescribed units throughout their course (including co-requisite and pre-requisite units) and to assist you to complete your course in a timely fashion.
Students can check their own course progression by logging in to StudentConnect and clicking on the ‘View course progress’ link.
Students can seek assistance from the Course Advisors on your home campus who are available to assist you with any course queries that you may have, or alternatively you might like to contact your home campus with any course enquiry.
Important information about staying in touch with the School of Law
Receiving important information from the School
Important information from the School of Law is distributed via D-Brief, the School's monthly newsletter, and also other occasional emails. These emails are ONLY sent to your DEAKIN EMAIL ADDRESS. If you want to have these email redirected to a different email address you can arrange this by using the email forwarding facility. Please set this up so you receive important updates from the School of Law.
Please note: When communicating with the University it is very important to include ALL the relevant information in your email, phone message etc. Your full name, student ID, course name/code, unit code and title, campus are all relevant and assist us to help you more efficiently. Consider creating an email signature for your name, ID, course and campus that can be added to the bottom of your emails. Please view instructions on how to create a signature.
Requesting information
If you are seeking information about any aspect of your law studies you should:
1. Visit the Current Students area on the School of Law website.
2. Email or ring the appropriate staff member. You MUST include your full name and Student ID number in all correspondence.
Professional Experience Requirements
The practical legal skills you will learn throughout your study, combined with the professional experience and networks you will develop, will put you on the right path for achieving your future career goals.
Regular, compulsory practical experience placements throughout the course also offer you the opportunity to experience legal environments first-hand and develop useful workplace contacts.
Employers of law graduates have noted that many of the graduate positions or traineeships that are taken up annually are offered to graduates who have previously been employed at these organisations by way a seasonal clerkship, internship or professional experience placement or to graduates who have strong evidence of professional experience on their resume.
To facilitate this the School of Law requires that all LLB students undertake a minimum of 30 days Professional Experience placement (unless otherwise stated in their course rules) in a legal related field over the duration of their course (and prior to completion).
It is not possible to graduate without having satisfied this requirement. In line with Deakin University's policy, before commencing Professional Experience placements, students are required to obtain pre-approval from the School of Law.
To obtain pre-approval, download the Pre-Approval Application Form [169KB PDF] and complete and return to Kylie Wiffen.
It is a student’s responsibility to locate and formalise a Professional Experience placement. Work readiness is an extremely important aspect of you completing your degree and it is to your advantage to make the most of the resources available to you.
For more information please visit the Professional Experience webpage.
Contact your campus office to make an appointment with a Course Advisor.
Burwood Course Advisor
Phone: 03 9244 6555
Geelong Course Advisor
Phone: 03 5227 1277
Warrnambool Course Advisor
Phone: 03 5563 3510
The University Handbook is available online. Please refer to the online version for the most up-to-date information about units, pre-requisite unit changes and other enrolment information.
Avoid fees and missing due dates - check out important dates listed in the 2012 Student Handbook.
Make the Current Students section of the School of Law website your first stop if you have any questions.
Law Essentials is a great resource for all law learners, law graduates and for anyone thinking of studying law at Deakin University.
Need Help? Ask DUSA
DUSA offers a variety of support services to students in the following areas:
- Support
- Advice
- Representation
- Groups
- Advocacy
Contact DUSA today.
Deakin Law Students' Societies
The Deakin Law Students' Society offers students a wide ranging number of services as well as the opportunity to take part in competitions and activities with fellow students.
To find out more about events and services or to get in touch with the DLSS please visit the DLSS Burwood website or the Deakin Law Students' Society Facebook page.
The DLSS Burwood published My 2011 Career Guide Book [PDF 5.1MB], which aims to assist students to start planning for their futures. The Careers Guide includes:
- Current seasonal application dates
- Tips for applying for seasonals
- Suggestions for planning your studies to make application time less stressful, even if you are in your early years of study.
The DLSS Geelong 2012 aims to be a responsible body which provides strong academic support, opens the doors to a variety of career development opportunities and also offers a range of social functions for all law students.
For more information please contact your committee members:
- Lydia de Raad - President, phone: 0439974422
- Amber Colbourne - Secretary, phone: 0414 862 836
- James Turnbull - Treasurer, phone: 0403 313 656
The Geelong DLSS has published the Harwood Andrews Dossier so you can access information about:
- the Society
- its Committe
- seasonal clerkships
- competitions
- social functions
- educational assistance
- the ALSA conference
The DLSS Geelong membership card is on sale for $10 and will be available from the DLSS office or the Reception office of the Faculty of Business and Law.
In O'week we will be hosting the First Year Introduction Night on 8 March 2011, as well as a Free BBQ that week for First Year Law Students on the lawn outside the Business and Law building.
Deakin University Commerce & Law Society (DUCLS)
Visit the DUCLS (Warrnambool) website for more information on events and services.
