1 1LAW SCHOOL NEWS: FEBRUARY 2011

YOUR FIRST YEAR?

In 2011, first-year law courses are coordinated by Grant Morris (LAWS 121), Joanna Mossop (LAWS 122) and Māmari Stephens (LAWS 123).

Dr Morris consistently receives high ratings from students for his courses and is also the recipient of an award from the University for teaching excellence – so you are in good hands. He is the author of ‘Law Alive’, the set text for LAWS 121.

And what does Dr Morris prescribe for first-year students? “LAWS 121 is your introduction to the New Zealand legal system. It should be good fun. To ensure that it is good fun, make sure you turn up to lectures and tutorials. Do your reading before class. Ask questions if you’re not sure about something and try not to panic. First-year law will not be as scary as you may have heard, but you will need to work hard to do well.”

USING THE MYVICTORIA PORTAL

Each time you log into Blackboard, Student Records and your student email account, you will use the myVictoria portal. The portal is a useful tool, full of valuable information.

As a law student, join the Law Undergraduates group on the myVictoria portal. Portal groups are found by clicking ‘Groups’ in the top right-hand corner of the portal. The Law Undergraduates group is located under the ‘Academic’ folder. Sign up to receive information from the Faculty relevant to your degree.

THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION: What are the criteria for selection into second year law?

Students applying for a 200-level LAWS course (for the first time) must have passed LAWS 121,122 and 123, and have completed 70 non-Law

second-year students by giving them a weekend away to get to know each other, pick up a few hints on how to survive down on Pipitea, and hang out with some friendly senior students. Students can let their hair down with games, plenty of food and drink, and of course some mean parties.

Following Law Camp, the Chapman O-week once again promises to be brilliant. Warm into things with our welcome back BBQ on Monday 7 March, followed by a glass or two of Pimms and some social competition at the Thorndon Tennis Club on Tuesday the 8th. Show up with racquet in hand and a tight and white costume and you may even win a prize for best dressed. There will also be a cracker feed and some cheap drinks so make sure you don’t miss out. And of course Thursday the 10th sees the return of everyone’s favourite event – T-Shirt Night. Rock up to Bar Bodega in one of our shirts and receive five drinks and an inevitably huge night of mayhem. To help remember what happened at T-Shirt Night, come along to the recovery brunch on Friday to share stories and tuck into an amazing feed.

Get in quick for these events as tickets will sell out, and be on the lookout for other LSS events throughout the year. Keep checking our website (www.vuwlss.org.nz) and join the Facebook page to keep up to date with what we are doing.

NGĀ RANGAHAUTIRA INC THE MĀORI LAW STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Ki a koutou ngā tauira o te whare wānanga nei, Tēnā koutou katoa

Ngā Rangahautira Inc is the Māori Law Students’ Association and operates at Pipitea Campus to encourage and support Māori students studying law. Its over-arching aim is to manaaki students and make sure their experience at the Law School is positive and nurturing.

Also, there are some cool events, including: The National Māori Moot competition Te Hunga Rōia Māori – annual conference

for Māori law students and practitioners End-of-year Graduates’ Dinner

points. You must apply online before 10 December of the preceding year. A Grade Point Average (GPA) of B+ in your Law courses is normally sufficient to guarantee entry to 200-level courses.

We count the best attempts at first-year Law when calculating GPAs. However, note that you may only repeat a Law course once, whether you have passed or failed. Also, please be aware that once you are accepted into second-year Law you have to pass more than half of the 30-point LAWS courses (LAWS 211, 212, 213, 214) attempted in order to be re-accepted into Law.

Look on the new Law Faculty website for other FAQs – www.victoria.ac.nz/law – and read the Law Undergraduate Prospectus.

FROM THE LAW STUDENTS’ SOCIETY

Tena koutou and on behalf of the 2011 Law Students’ Society (VUWLSS), welcome to law school. VUWLSS is a group run solely by law students and is solely for law students.

VUWLSS has two major functions. The first is to advance and cultivate educational opportunities through student advocacy at all levels, and also by presenting opportunities for students to hone their legal skills through competitions, lectures and workshops.

The other very important function is to nurture the social atmosphere of law school through fantastic events ranging from the infamous T-Shirt Night to the Law Ball. Keep an eye out for a smorgasboard of opportunities like Quiz Night, Staff-Student Cricket, the Patron’s Lecture, Cocktail Night and much more.

Combining both of these functions, VUWLSS is running Law Camp for the second time between 25-27 February in the Akatarawa Valley. This is fantastic initiative designed to inaugurate new

Welcome to all law students and, in particular, our 2011 first-years

Orientation events Mid-year social events ‘Inspiration in Law’ evening

There is a room at the Law School for the use of Māori law students – Room 140C in Old Government Building. If you want to get involved, come on in and make yourself known! Otherwise, just stop and have a hot drink and a kōrero with other Māori students.

INFORMATION FOR MĀORI + PACIFIC STUDENTS

Tai Ahu is the Kaitakawaenga Ture/Māori Law Students’ Co-ordinator. Tai organises the support programmes for Māori students, including support tutorials, revision sessions, tuakena/teina mentoring programme, careers evenings, exam preparation and study skills seminars and one-on-one support. He can be found in GB 29 or email him at tai.ahu@vuw.ac.nz. You are encouraged to get to know Tai and the support services he offers. Tai will be visiting lectures at the beginning of the year, so make sure to look out for him!

Janice Ikiua is the Pacific Law Students’ Co-ordinator. Pacific students are invited to see her for student support. Her office is right next to Tai’s (G28, janice.ikiua@vuw.ac.nz)

SCHOLARSHIPS

There are various prizes and scholarships available to students.

For more information, visit the Scholarships Office website: www.victoria.ac.nz/home/studying/scholarships prizes.html

The Law Faculty contacts for scholarships are Paul Scott or Administrator Rachel Gregory.

BE PREPARED

Summer internships are very competitive. Your applications and CVs must be carefully prepared. Vic Careers offer CV preparation workshops every week. During March, workshops will be facilitated by law firms. Get advice and hot tips directly from the HR representatives of leading law firms. Don’t miss out! Have your draft CV and application letter checked by one of our professional Careers Consultants. Dates, times, and booking available on CareerHub (under Events) http://careerhub.vuw.ac.nz

For drop-in hours at the Pipitea or Kelburn campuses, see www.victoria.ac.nz/st services/careers/About us/hours.aspx, or phone the Vic Careers Reception on 04-463 5393, email careers-service@vuw.ac.nz or call in at the Vic Careers Office at 14 Kelburn Parade.

NEED A JOB NOW?

Log in to Victoria CareerHub for immediate vacancies – full-time, part-time, summer and voluntary work: http://careerhub.vuw.ac.nz (use your Student Computing Account login).

CONTACTS

Law Undergraduate AdministratorSharon Watkins, GB 108, phone 04-463 6433

Student Administration ManagerAlison Munro, GB 109, phone 04-463 6975

School/Faculty Office AdministratorsPauline Castle, G31, phone 04-463-6412Elizabeth Cherry, G31, phone 04-463-6366

Course Assessment Administrator Macey Liang, GB 210, phone 04-463 6342

CAREERS EVENTS

SUMMER LAW CLERK PROGRAMME AND CAREERS UPDATE – FOR THIRD-YEAR STUDENTS ONWARDS

Application packs for major law firms will be distributed from 10am Thursday 10 to 4pm Friday 11 March in the Law School Student Common Room. Applications close on 24 March.

Interviews are held 12 April to 7 May. Offers and acceptance dates are 12–23 May.

OTHER CAREERS EVENTS – FOR ALL STUDENTS

Law and Commerce Careers Expo11am-2pm Tuesday 15 March Rutherford House foyer This is a must-do! It’s the best place to meet employers who will be recruiting law and commerce students. Law firms, representatives from government departments and legal professional institutes will be present, along with accountancy and commercial firms, to talk to law students about summer intern and graduate positions in 2011/2012.

Careers in Focus Seminars Wednesdays 9 and 16 March – 5.30-7.30pmSalmond RoomTwo Careers in Focus sessions to help law students explore career and further study opportunities – the first for law graduates working in small to medium-sized firms and the second for law graduates working in the public sector. Recent graduates will share their experience and provide tips about job hunting at both seminars.

For details and bookings go to CareerHub (under Events) http://careerhub.vuw.ac.nz

21-25 FEBRUARYNew students’ Orientation week

23 FEBRUARYMeet in Cotton ‘Street’

To chat to law staff and students 1.45–2.30pm

Law orientation sessions 2.30-4pm MCLT101 + MCLT103

25 FEBRUARYFees must be paid by this date

25-27 FEBRUARYVUWLSS second-year Law Camp

28 FEBRUARYFirst day of lectures, Trimester 1

7 MARCHWelcome Back BBQ and start of

Chapman Tripp O-Week

8 MARCHTennis Evening: Thorndon Tennis Club

9 MARCHCareers in Focus seminar,

Law Graduates working in small and medium-sized firms 5.30 –7.30pm, Salmond Room

10 MARCHT-Shirt Night, Bar Bodega

11 MARCHLast day for withdrawing from a first-trimester or full-year course with refund of tuition fees

Recovery Brunch and end of Chapman Tripp O-week

13 MARCHBell Gully staff-student cricket Kelburn Park

15 MARCHLaw and Commerce Careers Expo 11am-2pm, Rutherford House foyer

16 MARCHCareers in Focus seminar, Law Graduates working in the Public Sector 5.30-7.30pm, Salmond Room

17 MARCHBell Gully Mooting Competition starts

22 MARCHKensington Swan First-year Mentoring Programme launch

24 MARCHApplications close for the Summer and Law Clerk Programme

Bell Gully Mooting semifinals

30 MARCHBell Gully Mooting final

4 APRILRussell McVeagh Client Interviewing

Competition begins

8 APRILRussell McVeagh Client Interviewing

Competition ends

15 APRILVUWLSS half-term drinks

The Waterloo

18 APRILMid-trimester (Easter) break

2 MAYTrimester one continues

9 MAYBuddle Findlay Negotiation

Competition begins

13 MAYAssociate Dean’s approval required for withdrawal from first-trimester

courses after this date

Buddle Findlay Negotiation Competition ends

16 MAYMinter Ellison Rudd Watts Witness Examination Competition starts

19 MAYLaw graduation ceremony – 1.30pm

VUWLSS 200-Level Social Event

20 MAYMinter Ellison Rudd Watts Witness Examination Competition ends

2 JUNETrimester one teaching ends

VUWLSS Cocktail Night

19 MAYLaw graduation ceremony

2 JUNETrimester one teaching ends

10-29 JUNEFirst-trimester examination period

30 JUNE Mid-year break begins

9 JULYTrimester 2 begins

IMPORTANT DATES – TRIMESTER 1: 2011

10-26 APRIL25 APRIL27 APRIL

First trimester continues15 MAY

Students withdrawing from a first-trimester course after this date are regarded as having failed that course unless the Associate Dean

gives approval to withdraw

6-10 JULY

Enrolment and Orientation for new international students

Second trimester begins