Edition 3, 2015 | 1

Macquarie University Law Society magazineEdition 3, 2015 (Volume 21)

anniversary

MULS

Mac

quar

ie University Law Society40

years ofMac

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ie

University Law Society

1975 - 2015

6 MULS at 40 - Margaret Kelly

8 The Brief History

23 MULS Alumni Memory Lane

28 ALSA and MULS

32 MULS Executive 2015

34 MULS Competitions

36 MULS Law Revue

88 MULS Law Cruise

41 MULS President’s Report

CONTENTSEDITOR Patrick Barkachi

DEPUTY EDITORS Sarah Li Yee Lien, Lucy Wu

DESIGNER Nathan Li

WRITERS

Macquarie Law Students Alistair Booth, Baheej Sheikh, David Yao, Eda Ince, Edwin Nee, Lauren Roberts, Megan McKenna, Nick Owczarek, Samantha Bodell, Sammuel Dobbie-Smitham, Sarah Li Yee Lien, Sharan Kandola, Valiant Warzecha.

AlumniAndrew Clark, Eli Ball, Jessica Tasso, Kathy Molla-Abbasi, Luke Salem, Sebastian Hartford Davis

Macquarie Law Staff and AcademicsDr Margaret Kelly, Senior Lecturer; Professor Natalie Klein, Dean of Macquarie Law School.

COPY EDITORSDusan Djukic, Elyse O-Sullivan, Emma Breislin, Gabriel Joseph, Hannah Bell, Laura Muir, Lisa Barca, Lucy Wu, Natalie Morton, Nick Owczarek, Paulina Sukari, Sahana Nava, Tanya Thomas, William Lam, Yi Wong.

EDITORIAL REVIEWRobert EphraumsTeam Leader, Campus Engagement

Emma GrimleyDirector (Publications), Macquarie University Law Society

IMAGE CREDITSMacquarie University Law Society unless otherwise specified.

THE BRIEF ONLINEThe Brief's editions and online content can be found at http://muls.org/brief/ or through our Facebook page.

DISCLAIMERAll views expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not reflect, in any way, the attitude of the Macquarie University Law Society. The Macquarie University Law Society does not accept any responsibility for the losses flowing from the publication of material in The Brief.

Volume 21 Edition 3, September 2015

2 | The Brief

Each semester, I do a welcome address for our new first year students. It always makes me feel a bit nostalgic for when I started out studying Law and I end up reflecting on my time as a Law student. As such, I always make a point of listing out some of things that I wish I had known when I started my Law degree – but, unfortunately, only figured out by the time I got to the end of my Law degree.

One of those key points of advice is to get involved with MULS, and particularly to try the student competitions along the way. We teach a range of skills and knowledge in the classroom, but the competitions organized through MULS can take those skills and knowledge to a new level. Beyond the learning that is inevitably involved in the process, there is also that interaction with your peers. The networks you form in Law School can and should last you throughout your professional,

and personal, life. MULS provides a diverse number of activities – well beyond the competitions – that provide students with the opportunity to make connections and form friendships. A small amount of effort to get involved can reap considerable returns.

Throughout my time teaching at Macquarie, MULS has been a bedrock institution for student experiences at Macquarie Law School. As the MULS leadership has changed over the years, there have always been new initiatives—some that have flown, and others that were at least worth a try! At the core, the commitment to improving student lives has been central to MULS in its endeavours. This commitment has established its enduring legacy and will no doubt continue to be the guiding motivation into the future.

Dean’s Perspective on MULSDean of Macquarie University Law School - Professor Natalie Klein

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Dear Members and Friends of MULS,Forty years ago, MULS was created to

facilitate the Macquarie Law Degree. Things were different at Macquarie, wrote Stuart Clark (graduated 1979): ‘while students at other law schools sat in lectures focusing on black letter law, we were talking about the operation of law in society, the effect it had on peoples lives, and, more often than not, how it could be reformed.’

Forty years ago, some criticised this bold and new approach to legal education, claiming that success from it would be a coincidence or fluke. Yet when we, the current students, look back at our forty-year history, we see the amazing success story that is Macquarie Law School and MULS is not a coincidence, but rather a result of hard work and a strong commitment to contributing to the legal profession.

After all, it was commitment that saw MULS Members start the Macquarie Legal Centre; a fine centre that continues to provide access to justice for low income earners in Western Sydney today. It was hard work that saw former MULS Members Peter Berman, Patricia Bergin, Brian Preston and countless others appointed Justices of Australian Law Courts. It was commitment that has seen Tony Blacksheild and so many other Law School Professors inspire Macquarie Law Students to make their contribution ‘profound for our politics and for our society’ wrote Margaret Kelly, a senior lecturer and former PhD Student.

It is clear to us that the great success story of Macquarie Law School and MULS is not a coincidence or fluke, but rather is a result of

the hard work and commitment of those who came before us. We take great pride in all of the things that have been achieved by MULS Members. We, the current students, are on the eve of entering a competitive legal profession, and at times feel uncertain of what the future will bring. There is no GPA mark, no single trait and no secret formula that can answer this or determine our happiness in the years ahead. We may ask how our experiences as MULS Members will contribute to our future?

The answer is the understanding and hope we derive from our experiences at Macquarie. Our experiences together as MULS Members have helped us understand that while we are not always right and often make mistakes, through hard work and by hoping for and treasuring the success of each other we are strengthened. With this strength, we, the current students, just like thousands of MULS Members before us, can push into the next chapters of our lives with conviction and a strong commitment to the profession, all the result of what we have learned at Macquarie Law School, as Members of the great Macquarie University Law Society.

I thank our many sponsors for their continued commitment to the personal and professional development of MULS Members. I congratulate our MULS Executive Officer (The Brief), Patrick Barkachi, for this picture-perfect Publication. It is an honour to welcome you to this Publication, and celebrate with you the forty year history of the Macquarie University Law Society.

Tim Grellman | MULS President

President’s Welcome

4 | The Brief

Editor’s Welcome

This edition of The Brief is a celebration of MULS – 40 years of operation, 40 years of added value and 40 years of community – for all Macquarie Law students.

In creating this edition, I had the opportunity to work with MULS Alumni who are excelling in their chosen career paths; hearing from them has confirmed and strengthened my appreciation, for the value and opportunity MULS creates. I’d like to thank all contributing Alumni for their time.

I’d also like to thank Macquarie Law Academics and staff; whose support for MULS is invaluable. As well as, my law student colleagues on the MULS Executive and The Brief Committee, who give up their time for the benefit of all MULS members.

Each year a new Executive team takes over and builds upon the hard work of their predecessors; this edition explores this history and the progress of MULS. Summed up excellently by Tim Grellman in the President’s report, also by Honorary MULS life Member Dr Margaret Rll Kelly; and Professor Natalie Klein, Dean of Macquarie Law School; in their perspectives on MULS.

Further, ‘A Brief History’ explores past editions of everyone’s favourite publication. MULS Alumni will then take a trip down memory lane and reminisce on their

experiences and achievements. As well, to show the progress and continued work of MULS built upon the successes of our past; Directors of our most popular initiatives, will discuss MULS’ achievements in 2015 and the events forthcoming.

Finally, MULS members; ALSA President Alistair Booth and MULS Secretary Valiant Warzecha will explore the long running relationship of MULS and ALSA. This edition is polished off by the 2015 MULS Executive, Yearbook Portraits; accompanied by mandatory corny quotes.

As the final edition for the year, this also marks my last edition as Editor. In 2015 The Brief team founded ‘The Brief Online’, created three excellent editions and more than doubled online readership. This would not have been possible without the great work of willing writers and copy-editors, as well as the management help of Deputy Editor Lucy Wu.

The Brief 2016 will be left in competent hands, whom I am positive will build upon and exceed our achievements. It has been a pleasure.

Patrick Barkachi | Brief Editor

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Macquarie University Law Society for students (MULS) turns 40 this year but is forever young…

Every year, new young bright-eyed and bushy-tailed

students commit themselves to assisting and enhancing all Macquarie Law students’ experience of the law and legal study, to promoting Macquarie Law in the wider academic and professional community, and thereby also girding their loins for the future. They join MULS.

From memory, I first became acquainted with MULS as a casual tutor in 2000: MULS’ office-holders’ agitated for a Macquarie Law Journal (it became a reality in 2001); that year also some decided off their own bats to compete (with their own money and initiative and no support from the University) in the Jessup International Law Moot competition, representing Macquarie Law for the first time in Canberra. Their prodigious and selfless effort was recognised by the instigation of

the Australian ‘Spirit of Jessup’ award at the national level, which continues to this day. Thereafter, Macquarie Law competed in Jessup continually; and, significantly, Jessup was also later added as a Unit for credit (LAW480).

Macquarie Law School owes a great debt to the fore-sightedness, commitment and agitation of past MULS students who were determined upon engaging Macquarie Law with the wider student and academic community. Now also, of course, MULS hosts (with the support of firms and government) careers’, clerkships’, and firms’ guides and many important skills competitions, together with Open Days to assist students in thinking about their futures. And MULS is always omnipresent on campus for all Advising Days for potential students and Enrolling Days for current students.

Without MULS, the Law School would, in my opinion, be bereft of real and committed student input, and also of the selfless MULS contributions on Advising Days, so important in persuading potential students that Macquarie Law is the place to be. The

40Dr Margaret Kelly, Senior Lecturer, Macquarie Law School

MULS at

6 | The Brief

fact that MULS has always believed that Macquarie Law is the place to be, is an asset never to be underestimated.

MULS has been fecund breeding ground for success. MULS representatives themselves have grown exponentially through the acquisition of political nous, administrative and organisational skills, and compassion and understanding in mentoring and assisting younger students. They have gone on to be Associates to High Court, Federal Court and Supreme Court judges; won scholarships to Universities in the UK and the US; been tipstaffs to judges; worked for NGOs; and obtained positions in legal firms, banks, companies, and government.

MULS’ commitment through the years to supporting and encouraging competitions has been a hallmark of its success: e.g., winning in 2015 the Sir John Peden Contract Law Moot against Sydney University; in 2010, our students were the best Mooters and Client Interviewers in Australia and New Zealand at the Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) Conference. Importantly, in 2007, Macquarie Law mooting students

won the Commonwealth Moot—one of the most prestigious moots amongst all Commonwealth countries. And even more significantly, given the history of MULS’ initial championship of Jessup, in 2014-15 our students reached the semi-finals of the Phillip C. Jessup International Law Moot, losing only to Sydney, the eventual national and international winner.

Over recent years, MULS championed Peer Assisted Learning in Law (LAWPAL), which saw great success; PAL continues to assist acquisition of skills by students. Moreover, as part of the LAWPAL endeavour, members of MULS were associated with the establishment of the Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation, a body dedicated to combatting the alarmingly high levels of depression and anxiety amongst law students and in the legal community.

MULS has always done its best to advance Macquarie Law School, and to assist students both skill-wise and mind-wise. It is to be congratulated on a fine record.

40MULS at

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A BRIEF HISTORY

Volume 11, Edition 3: Constitutional Law, presented by Editor-in-Chief Sam KafatarisIn keeping with an all-encompassing theme of human rights and their recognition in the Australian legal framework, this issue of The Brief continued the contentious debate on implementing a Bill of Rights, and outright criticised the legitimacy of section 51 of the Constitution. This article raised the question of whether the Constitution’s authority is gradually becoming undermined and whether a Bill of Rights is in fact needed to buffer against excessive government action, protect our civil rights and become a check and balance in our legal system. To the credit of the contributors, this issue went all-out, guns blazing to say the least, drawing research from the questionable legal paradigm advanced in the 1840 New Zealand Treaty of Waitangi in stepping towards cultural unity and extrapolating from the sentiments of Washington, Lincoln and the Civil War to understand the legitimacy of constitutional change. Fascinating/10.

This segment will explore the history of everyone’s favourite publication. Our writers have taken on past editions and highlighted

their favourite features

8 | The Brief

Volume 12, Edition 1, presented by Editor-in-Chief Tom Beamish Quite different to prior issues of The Brief, this issue endorsed the open-door approach to article submissions. The outcome of this bold move was a plethora of agendas that put the reader on a rollercoaster, from Law School survival guides and career advice from the Vice-President(s) to the problem of uber-patriotism inciting violence on our beaches back in 2005. Also good to see was a review of the Macquarie University team experience competing in Chicago in the 2005 John Marshall Law School IT and Privacy Law Moot, securing not only a fantastic result but also sharing the hysteria of the World Series (for a majority of the review in fact)! What really caught the eye, however, was the article titled, ‘How to Commit Genocide – and Get Away With It...’ a fully-fledged academic paper, illustrated with the story of the Stolen Generation and Australia’s acceptance of international responsibility. While not the prettiest picture, the sheer coverage and brilliance of it would surely impress any academic; and if not, the four pages of footnotes at the end would!

Volume 13, Edition 2: Law, Society, Politics, Culture, Religion, Art & Economics This edition was loud from page 1, confronting all the BIG issues from 2007 with a wide scope touching broader NSW, to scandals at our very own Macquarie University. This issue was all about controversy in politics: separating fact from fiction regarding Sydney’s water crisis; the Access Card proposal scheme threatening privacy; as well as fraud and corruption. In a time of great controversy blemishing student and state politics, The Brief’s analysis left no stone unturned and no story was more scandalous than the reign of embezzlement under Victor Ma (the CEO of SAM and chairman of MUSC) which finally came to an end. And if that wasn’t enough, for the main course we saw the 2007 state elections revamped in a three act satire with the Labor party as the cast of The Godfather and Liberals as the cast of Family Guy! Brilliant.

Volume 15, Edition 1: Social Justice, presented by Editor-in-Chief Liam Cavell The edition opens with an interesting interview with former solicitor and then-Sydney Morning Herald journalist David Marr, discussing the role of journalism as the ‘fourth estate’ and Marr’s curiosity of recurrent ‘moral panics’ in Australia’s political discourse. Other articles include Thomas Gaffney’s piece exploring the Bill Henson controversy regarding naked child models and the line between ‘artistic expression’ and ‘child pornography’, and Amy Van De Ruit’s research into Proposition 8; a Californian effort to redefine marriage in its constitution to the detriment of same-sex couples.

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Volume 15, Edition 3: Politics, presented by Editor-in-Chief Liam Cavell A thought-provoking interview with former NSW Premier Bob Carr, discussed the keys to success in politics, contrasting with then-Premier Nathan Rees’ lack of support. Other articles of note include Yang Li’s investigation regarding 457 Australian migration visas and solving Australia’s skills shortage, and Nick Brenner’s tongue-in-cheek explanation of how to play student politics to gain election into the MULS’ executive.

Volume 15, Edition 2: Careers, presented by Editor-in-Chief Liam CavellThis edition delved into career opportunities in law and featured accounts of the professional life. A particularly interesting article was “Should only Superwomen break the Glass Ceiling?” which highlights the institutional discrimination hindering female lawyers from reaching senior positions in the legal sector. Women must eventually choose between continuing work in the hopes of promotion or leaving to raise a family due to the lack of part-time employment and flexible hours in many firms. A fun account of Law Camp written by a first-year is topped off with pictures of attendees having a good time. The ‘Stupid Law’ segment analysed a section of Canada’s Criminal Code criminalising the publication of ‘crime comics’, which in effect would outlaw all things Batman.

Volume 15, Edition 4: War and the role of law in regulation, presented by Editor-in-Chief Liam Cavell The second opening article provided an interesting explanation of the protection of human rights in Australia while arguing the need for a bill of rights. Other equally commendable reads are Liam Cavell’s interview with former Justice of the High Court Michael Kirby, discussing how human rights were managed during historical conflicts, and Chandu Bhandari’s examination of piracy on the high seas and the role of international law in redressing conflict.

10 | The Brief

Volume 16, Edition 1: Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll: On laws related to censorship, drugs and illegal downloading, presented by Editor-in-Chief Amanda RichmanA segment that stood out was the debate on polygamous marriage in Australia. The argument for polygamy suggests that it legally protects women while allowing men to pursue other sexual fulfillment legitimately. Conversely, the argument against legalising polygamy highlights a sexist practice that inherently disadvantages women. Following this, even if women were afforded the same rights, polygamy would further complicate legal matters such as divorce. Another unique aspect was the ‘5 Questions’ section, which gave insight into life as a Macquarie Law Graduate. The theme of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll delved straight to the crux of youth culture.

Volume 16, Edition 2: The God Issue: Debating the acceptance of religion in society, presented by Editor-in-Chief Amanda RichmanA segment that struck immediate attention was the article, “To Tax or Not to Tax” which explains why religious organisations should be kept free from taxation. The case put forward draws attention to Australia’s deficient welfare system; in particular, the gaping holes in the “safety net”. Because of this, religion assists to remedy these flaws by acting as a source of charity. In turn, this contributes to restoring human dignity. The article also justified that as religious organisations were for the public good, like the government, it should therefore remain tax-free. Additionally, a valuable section (especially in this current job market) is Alternative Careers, which reflects the adaptability of a law degree. This edition therefore raised questions as to the role of religion and its effect on the legal system.

Volume 16, Edition 3: Crime and Punishment: Observing various methods of punishment to achieve justice, presented by Editor-in-Chief Amanda RichmanInterestingly, the article “That’s What She Said” presents a concerning growing trend of female violence in response to a misperception of feminism and gender equality. The topic is further explored by discussing the influences that have led 21st century women to alarmingly commit traditionally labelled ‘male’ crimes. These influences include alcohol drugs, Facebook and childhood obesity, all of which are preventable by proper education. Besides enhancing student CVs, the Extra-Curricular section also provided some ideas and inspiration for students. This compliments the skills gained from university and allows students to apply them in a practical context. The theme of this Edition focuses on the question ‘what is socially permissible behaviour?’ and the measures that society will take to protect its own values.

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Volume 16, Edition 4: Dangerous Ideas: Discussing radical concepts, presented by Editor-in-Chief Amanda RichmanA striking segment in the edition was ‘The New F-Word’ which examined the fate of feminism in contemporary Australia. The article notes a decline in support of the movement due to emergent feminist stereotypes. As a result, this defeats the purpose of achieving gender equality as women are scrutinised for their actions. To alleviate this tension, it is proposed that the role of men in society should be altered instead. For a different type of entertainment, the section ‘You Know What Really Grinds My Gears’ offers a hub where anonymous students vent their frustrations to the amusement of The Brief readers. With many things taken for granted today, Edition 4 serves as a reminder to appreciate the worth of our rights.

Volume 17, Edition 1: Wild West: Issues outside of the Western legal system, presented by Editor-in-Chief Michelle AitkinThe main themes of this edition are about problems that are typically outside of our Western legal system; in particular, ideas about Sharia law and the abuse of power in religions and law. The most interesting segment was about Sharia law being incorporated into Australian law. As Australians we should not immediately dismiss incorporating Sharia law into our own legal system; especially since many of our misconceptions stem from the media’s negative portrayal of it as a law that only punishes, when really that is not its main purpose. A unique segment was the article about women in the legal field, which led me to think about the importance of providing insights for both men and women; as to what potentially awaits them in their future legal career.

Volume 17, Edition 2: New Frontier: The Law is Constantly Evolving, presented by Editor-in-Chief Michelle AitkinThis edition’s Editor-in-Chief pulled together an astounding yet controversial edition of The Brief. Although diverse in the areas explored, fundamentally, this edition maintained a uniform notion: “the law is constantly changing and evolving, that’s why it’s so interesting to study”. This edition of The Brief covered a considerable range of issues from genetically modified food and the likes of the “big boys of the biochemistry GM world” to forced medication and Community Treatment Orders” for those suffering from serious mental illnesses. An article that is still relevant four years on, surrounds the issues in the mental health system, written by Malcolm Chan. This article highlighted the way in which those suffering from serious mental illnesses are given Community Treatment Orders, this aims to ensure patients are taking their medication. On a lighter note, one of the most interesting and amusing part of this edition is the 2011 Law Camp ‘photo album’ , which made visual how “some of the University’s finest minds come together… to make bad choices and lifelong friendships”.

12 | The Brief

Volume 17, Edition 3: The Hangover: Where the law fails, presented by Editor-in-Chief Michelle AitkinIn this edition, The Brief team made a darker and heavier contribution to readers. “The Hangover” explored examples of when the law had failed, and continues to do so. it covered a wide range of pressing matters and the way in which the law has been inadequate in rectifying the issue. This edition included Melissa Barnwell discussing the political fallouts that have occurred due to the proposed carbon tax on page 4, to “the Dark Side of the Circus” by Ash Knox which uncovered the unsatisfactory animal laws that NSW has in protecting the safety and security of circus animals. However, one article stood out for me; remembering the impact Meagher J has had in common law and equity in NSW. “Judges, famous barristers and legal academics are figures barely mentioned in history books but become significant in our conception of history”. Meagher J has indisputably left a memorable mark on our legal system.

Volume 18, Edition 1: The Green Issue, presented by Editor-in-Chief Luke SalemAt the time, the Government’s policy focus was on the Environment and the Carbon Tax, that had just passed the Senate in November 2011. This edition included an enlightening interview with Environmental Sustainability Professor Tim Flannery, about climate change: he asserted that nuclear power was safer than coal, with reference to the fact that tens of thousands of people die each year from coal-burning related lung diseases and coal mining accidents; whilst the Fukushima meltdown, the only nuclear catastrophe apart from Chernobyl, claimed zero lives. Flannery also iterated that society would be in a better position to protect the environment if the next generation of lawyers are passionate about the future of our environment. Glamorous photos of Law Revue and Law Ball splashed near the end of this Brief edition reminding us that there is lots of fun to be had despite doing a law degree!

Volume 18, Edition 3: The Holy Grail, presented by Editor-in-Chief Luke SalemThis edition’s theme centred on contemporary legal issues and urged readers to question the status quo. An entertaining piece by Jack Oakley points out that the Monarchy has no legitimate right to wield executive power and derives its mandate solely from a “moistened bint”. Andrew Clark’s article ‘The Greatest Moral Dilemma of our Time?’ explores whether cigarette plain packaging laws infringe upon the intellectual property rights of tobacco companies and arrives at the conclusion that the new law merely hinders the marketing of tobacco rather than taking away property rights and individual autonomy; smoking uptake on the other hand will reduce and individuals are therefore better protected from the ill effects of second hand smoke. This edition is topped off with a ‘Judicial Banter’ section featuring humorous excerpts from legal cases, the funniest of which included Justice Kirby asking “what is a wuss” to which Justice McHugh replied “it is when you drink only one glass of beer”.

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1The Brief | Volume 19, Edition 2

Our FuturesRocking

Macquarie University Law Society Official Magazine

Senator. Larrisa Waters, Valiant Warzecha, Emma Grimley Tim Wilson, Kat Lam, Tom Platt, Joanna Irving, Steven Canton, Tom Craven

Volume 19, Edition 2: Rocking Our Future, presented by Editor-in-Chief Tom CravenAn interesting segment was the profile on High Court Judge appointments. In this edition, articles from a Senator and an employee of the Policy Institute were featured, increasing The Brief’s distinction. The segment, ‘You Know You Are a Law Student When’ provided much needed comic relief on an issue with a predominantly serious tone. ‘Environmental Laws that Work’ discussed how pro-environment policy could be implemented into law and why Environmental Law and considerations should be a priority issue for Australia. The article titled; ‘Covering the Field: the Lack of National Surrogacy Laws’ covered lacking law in addressing commercial surrogacy, it also examined the current state of surrogacy laws in Australia and the expected increase of reproductive tourism which could occur if reform does not occur. Further, the article - ‘The Cost of the Generation Above’ was policy-driven, highlighting the desperate need for changes to the welfare system of Australia, due to the poor economic outlook for Australia’s Baby Boomer generation.

Volume 19, Edition 1: Final Frontiers: Discussing Human Rights, presented by Editor-in-Chief Tom CravenThe distinct theme of this edition was Human Rights, with the cover story addressing the recognition of same sex marriage. Valiant Warzecha’s feature story explored the issue of same sex marriage with the counsel of the Hon. Michael Kirby who ‘believes it is wrong for personal views to impact legislation at the detriment of the constituency’s perspective’. Other interesting reads tackled the issues of rehabilitation and reform of prisoners and human trafficking. The edition finished off on a light-hearted note with Judicial Banter and the regular segment of ‘Stuff Law Students Like’. 2013 was a new year and a new MULS. The Brief celebrated the ‘entire brand and image makeover’ of MULS through the then- president Jessica Tasso’s welcome address where she assured us that traditional aspects of MULS were to be combined with new initiatives and events.

1The Brief | Volume 19, Edition 3

Macquarie University Law Society Magazine

Emma Grimely , Laura Webster, Satyajeet Marar, Jiao Li, Michal Solecki, Patrick Barakachi, Nava Monstajabi, Hannah Robinson, Jennifer Tridgell

Volume 19, Edition 3: Finding the Way, presented by Editor-in-Chief Tom CravenA segment that stood out was the MUSCLE (Macquarie University Students for Community Legal Engagement) introduction. This was a good editorial decision as it provided readers with an opportunity to participate in social justice programs. This issue featured a number of short articles that allowed for an introduction to numerous social justice issues. The article titled - ‘Brodie’s Law for all’ discussed anti-bullying laws in Australia and highlighted necessary reform if anti-bullying laws are to be successful. Further, the article - ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind’ focused on Australia’s obligations to asylum seekers on an international level and argues that Australia must recognize and act on such obligations. Finally, the article - ‘The Glass Cliff’ discussed the barriers to political success that females still face due to their gender, using the career of Julia Gillard as a case example.

14 | The Brief

Volume 20, Edition 1: Advocating for Change, presented by Editor-in-Chief Emma GrimleyThis first edition for the year came with no distinct theme. The Editor-in-Chief at the time, Emma Grimley, stated that the articles shared the common idea of advocating for change. Valiant Warzecha’s cover story analysed the ‘king hit’ issue and recent legislative measures. He came to the conclusion that this issue cannot be controlled by a ‘quick-fix solution’ and that the mandatory sentencing period is arbitrary as it undermined the wisdom of the sentencing judge. Other notable articles from this edition include ‘TPP: The Secretive Negotiations’ written by Nava Mostajabi and ‘Our Right to Digital Privacy’ written by Patrick Barkachi. A regular favourite, ‘Stuff Law Students Like’ along with the introduction of new feature segments such as ‘What’s New in the Law’ and ‘Social Justice Corner’ finished off the edition with the latter segment; written by Carolyn Bond AO and arguing in favour of the need for Legal Justice Centres.

Volume 20, Edition 2: Contemporary issues in law, presented by Editor-in-Chief Emma GrimleyThis edition focused on many contemporary issues. The edition exhibited many interesting articles, especially ‘Sex and Gender Diversity: A fight for those who fall between’ where writer Nava Mostajabi explored the legally valid alternative to male and female gender dichotomy. Luke Richards wrote ‘Two Anniversaries and a Funeral’ which looks at multiculturalism, Australia and creating a pluralistic legal system. There were two special feature segments of this edition; an insight into PACE International and Australian Volunteers International internships and an interview with Dr Mehreen Faruqi about her political career, work in public advocacy and growing up in Saudi Arabia. Regular features such as ‘What’s New in the Law’, ‘Social Justice Corner’ and ‘Stuff Law Students Like’ made a wanted appearance in this issue of The Brief.

Volume 20, Edition 3: Contemporary issues in Australian Law, presented by Editor-in-Chief Emma Grimley This edition of The Brief explored and expanded upon the issues that were facing Australia at the time. The edition challenged and extrapolated on controversial topics such as; gene patenting, deregulation of university fees and net neutrality. Here, commentary was focussed on whether these ideas conformed with or compromised the country’s current ideologies and approaches. Despite these incredible topics, the segment that stood most was the article regarding the deregulation of university fees and the creative short articles on less serious topics. It was hilarious to read “What Law Students Like” (drinking to get through your degree)… Many have appreciated the creative commentary behind it.

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I was the MULS Secretary in 2012.

I would say my favorite events were the competition grand finals. The grand finals night really captured what was great about MULS - we would spend some time honing our skills and developing our legal professional networks - then we would have a fantastic party in great company (the party was even better if you won).

I gained a great deal from my involvement at skills. On the serious side of things, I was able to develop some practical skills through the legal skills competitions that were attractive to employers when I entered the job market. I also learned a great deal about the practicalities of entering the legal sector from the older students in MULS who passed through the Summer Clerkship process before me - their insight was invaluable. Equally importantly, my involvement in MULS meant I developed a wonderful network of friends. University activities are a wonderful

opportunity to make lasting friendships that will continue long past graduation. I met many different people in diverse situations ranging from board meetings to inter-varsity sports days - the opportunity to meet new people and have fun arises far less frequently once you leave university.

My involvement in MULS has yielded substantial benefits for my career and other pursuits. The skills I learned as the Secretary of MULS have opened several opportunities where the ability to work as part of a team in a formal setting for the benefit of others is valued. A prime example is my current position as a Governor of Youth Action which is the peak advisory body to the NSW State Government on the subjects of youth services and youth affairs. Developing professional skills in the context of a youth organisation meant I was qualified to take on this role.

A Macquarie Law degree will teach you a lot about black letter law and a great deal about critical thinking. Whilst valuable, these

Andrew ClarkGraduated 2015. Lawyer at Allens Linklaters.

I held the position of Brief Editor in 2012, and Director (Publications) in 2013. In this time, I was able to collaborate with other MULS members to undertake a rebrand of the society, which continued into 2014. We introduced the current MULS logo at the start of 2014.

The greatest thing to be gained from any involvement with MULS, whether as an executive or ordinary member, is the support

Luke Salem

MULS Alumni reminisce on their time with MULS and its influence on their lives inside and out of University.

MEMORY LANE

16 | The Brief

Andrew ClarkGraduated 2015. Lawyer at Allens Linklaters.

things will not prepare you for a career in law nor help you land your first job. When you get involved in MULS you develop a range of soft skills including the ability to build a professional network, communicate eloquently with experienced members of the legal profession and diversify the range of experiences you can record on your resume and reflect upon in a job interview. Although I am still in the early stages of my career, I am certain that my involvement in MULS has played a substantial role in opening the opportunities I have enjoyed thus far.

The number one piece of advice I would give to MULS members is that you get out of MULS what you put in. Therefore, you should put your hand up to assist on committees, attend events, participate in competitions and always strive to meet new people. You never know what opportunities this will open up for you!

A follow on from the above piece of advice is that you should persevere with your involvement in MULS activities even if

at first you don't get the outcome you desire. In my experience this meant continuing to participate in MULS competitions even after I managed to lose three consecutive MULS grand finals! Fortunately my results took a turn for the better from that point onward and I managed to set the record for the most MULS Grand Final wins - even though my friends only ever recall that I also set the record for most MULS Grand Final losses!

My final piece of advice is to keep the traditions alive - whether you win or lose or are simply there to spectate - make sure you have a sip of champagne from the MULS Competition Trophy Cups (or do a Shot on the Shield) after the Final!

I was also involved in ALSA. Highlights for me included serving as the inaugural ALSA Alumni and Scholarships Officer and making the National Client Interview Championship Semi-Finals. I have many funny ALSA memories, but I don't think any of them are publishable!!!!

Luke Salem

network of friends and classmates. I am grateful to MULS for giving me the opportunity to develop such my network.

MULS has had a direct impact on my career. When I was Brief Editor in 2012, I landed my first job at a leading commercial law firm after presenting the latest edition of The Brief in the interview. No kidding!

Over my time at Macquarie University, the value of MULS was called into question many

times. But in reality, its value is undeniable. The wide-ranging events and initiatives organised by MULS provides unrivalled opportunities for students to enhance their career prospects and, more importantly, to develop the friendships that make studying law at Macquarie so enjoyable!

Graduated 2015. Commencing as Graduate, Ashurst 2016.

Edition 3, 2015 | 17

Dr Eli Ball Graduated 2006. Lawyer, Ashurst.

Last year I returned to Sydney from

Oxford, where I completed my doctorate and two masters degrees. I was VP (Competitions) in 2004 and Treasurer in 2006. I think I also hold the honour of being the first person ever to contest a MULS Presidential Election … and lose.

I ran competitions during my second and third years, as well as competing in mooting. I think negotiations and client interview grew by about 400% during my tenure, which I recall being quite chuffed about. I also started the tradition of inviting a High Court judge to preside over the Senior Mooting Grand Final, which was convenient for me because I won that moot the same year!

I did a lot of mooting while at Macquarie. A. Lot. That would not have been possible without MULS, and that experience probably had a great deal to do with my successes at and following my undergraduate degree.

Mooting is a fantastic way to focus the mind, become intimate with legal principles and argument, and generally expand one's legal knowledge. All of that helped to further my career after Macquarie.

I owe as much to the Macquarie Law Faculty itself as I do to MULS. The value of

one is closely linked to the other. Mooting (both with the Faculty and with MULS) gave me the opportunity to expand the horizons of my legal studies beyond the walls of the set curriculum.

Have I mentioned that I did a lot of mooting?. I was involved in a lot of yelling matches. Some I won. Some I lost. Some are ongoing.

I was part of the Macquarie moot team at ALSA in my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years – during which we broke every time and made the semi-finals twice. Mooters who progress at ALSA, however, don't really get to have a lot of "fun" at the conference (besides mooting, of course), so I gave it a miss in my 5th year and won the Paper Presentation competition instead – and had way more fun!

I remember lots of yelling. That, and having to perform emergency first aid on the first speaker of the Senior Mooting Grand Final the year after I graduated.

Questions from Gummow J can be quite tough, and floored the speaker on this occasion … literally.

Don’t take yourselves too seriously.

18 | The Brief

MULS President 2013, MULS Socials

Officer 2012, MULS Marketing Officer 2011. My favourite thing about MULS was how it positively enhanced my experience at Macquarie from the very beginning of my degree, until the very end. I started by going to law camp and meeting a huge amount of the people that I was going to spend my five year degree with, and ending it with Law Ball, my favourite event of the year! Furthermore, I also thoroughly enjoyed my experience with ALSA, including the ALSA Conference in Perth, which was something I was able to experience through my involvement with the MULS Board.

There are probably three main things that I gained from my involvement with MULS. Firstly, I learnt and developed skills within my positions and completed tasks that I didn’t think I ever would do. For example, running board meetings, organising an ALSA Council, restructuring the MULS Executive and MULS Elections, preparing a sponsorship prospectus, and organising a law ball with 500+ people. Secondly, I met a number of important people within the profession, which was beneficial both from a networking point of view and personally. These people included members of NSW Young Lawyers, ALSA, law society members from other universities, Macquarie Law and

Macquarie University staff, and a large amount of students who integrated with MULS on a regular basis.

Other than adding a few lines to my CV, I don’t think it really had much benefit on my career and pursuits outside of MULS. More importantly however, by meeting the people I did, I was able to talk about and understand the career experiences of other legal professions and the best ways to get where you want to be. I was also fortunate enough to realise quickly that the big corporate firm life was not for me, and that came from my involvement with firms in my final role with MULS.

I honestly couldn’t imagine my law degree without MULS. It played such a huge part of the five years I studied at Macquarie and I am very grateful for all the memories and experiences it gave me. There are a million ways in which MULS has added value to my law degree, but it’s mainly through the activities they organise and the people you meet. Whether it’s getting involved in competitions (which of course compliments your studies), writing something up for the Brief, or simply attending the many social functions on offer during the year, MULS adds the fun side to your law degree, and getting to experience it with all your peers makes it invaluable.

Jessica TassoGraduated April 2015. Practising Family Law.

Edition 3, 2015 | 19

I still remember sitting in my first Jurisprudence lecture, trying to get my head around the difference between black and white swans, when a painfully cheerful group of students came to the podium chatting enthusiastically about their student society and Law Camp (the only antidote to “social suicide”).

It had been a tough first week at university, and, despite the offer of a welcome BBQ, I chose the more comfortable option of going home to cry about my first week of university in front of the TV.

Law Camp was a weekend of standing awkwardly to one side while newly minted law students soaked themselves in Rumba, complained about Jurisprudence and compared HSC marks.

By Semester Two, I realised that I should make more of an effort to get involved and took up the role of coordinating the Negotiations competition. I blinked, and spent two years as Competitions Director. Blinked again, and I was President of MULS.

When you’re on the MULS Executive, you feel like what you’re doing is useful and relevant to shaping somebody’s law degree. And it can be. Handled the right way, being on the MULS Executive puts you in a position where you are helping law students build skills that will help them during and beyond their law degrees.

In thinking about the value of MULS to a law degree and what can be gained from it, I think about who I would be if I hadn’t become involved with MULS.

I certainly would have had more time for myself—but I also get the impression that I would have had a very dull five and a half years of study. My time on MULS gave me

the chance the make a valuable contribution to something, and made me truly understand that projects have a better chance of taking off when you’re working as a team rather than on your own.

I think that many people were (and perhaps still are) quick to dismiss MULS as an alcohol-fuelled frat party made up of an unchanging group of executives looking to pad their resume. But there is another side to MULS which often goes unnoticed if that first impression is strong enough.

MULS gives students the ability to plan their options after completing their studies. It’s certainly the best way to learn about careers in commercial law, and, with the introduction of great initiatives like MUSCLE and an appreciation that not everyone wants to be a commercial lawyer, MULS gives students a broader understanding of the career opportunities that come with a law degree.

The competitions on offer are fantastic ways for students to develop a strong skill set that will come in handy regardless of what they end up doing with their law degrees. The sports and equity portfolios give valuable opportunities for students to develop good habits with health and wellbeing—something that is fundamentally important in the working world. It’s also an ideal way to meet like-minded people and make long term friends.

I won’t end this with a contrived encouragement for students to get involved with MULS; the above is just my own experience. But, given the number of years that you’ll be spending at university, it’s not the worst thing to consider MULS as a way to make your law degree just a little bit better.

Kathy Molla-AbbasiGraduated 2013. In-House Lawyer, Wesfarmers Group TeamCover.

20 | The Brief

I was secretary in 2006, and then President of MULS in 2007. Law balls were always a favourite event of mine. In terms of initiatives, I remember in 2007 we organised a 5-side soccer competition on the hard courts over by the sports centre.

I gained a huge amount from my involvement in MULS, for example: competitions, the experience of working with my peers in a representative and organisational capacity, interacting with the University and the legal profession both for and on behalf of law students, and the social experience. MULS was a central feature of my life at Macquarie University.

Were it not for the mooting and other extra-curricular competitions organised by MULS, I am not sure that I would have ended up becoming a Barrister. I believe that my involvement with the MULS executive assisted me to obtain a summer clerkship. But the most valuable experience was working with my peers and institutional figures in order to achieve outcomes for students. The organisational and people skills that were refined during the course of my involvement in the MULS Executive have assisted me in many different ways since leaving University - from event management, to understanding board room dynamics, and to dealing with institutional figures.

I believe that MULS is invaluable to the Macquarie law degree. Without MULS, its competitions, its sponsorship revenue, and its organising and social influence, the experience of Macquarie law students would be very much diminished.

I think we had a highly effective executive in 2007. We launched a new website together

with a new logo, letterhead, banners etc., Macquarie won three out of six national ALSA competition titles (which I believe reflected the quality of internal competitions), we achieved a significant increase in sponsorship revenue ($77,300), and I was very proud of our publication output: the Clerkship Guide, the Careers Guide, and the reinvigorated The Brief. I think it was an extremely successful year.

Tom O’Brien (11 Wentworth Chambers), Patrick Mahoney (APRA) and I travelled to Nairobi, Kenya in 2007 for the Commonwealth Law Moot. It was a great trip, with the exception of a frightening experience with a tax driver who drove us back to the National University of Kenya’s law campus (in a semi-rural area) and tripled his fare. Indignant, we refused to pay the increased fare, having argued over the agreed fare and then going to our rooms. After 15 minutes of this man stalking the corridors looking for us, we meekly paid him his extortion money.

There are many more funny stories, not a lot of them printable. At Law Ball 2008, I married my friend Vasyl Nair (CBA) – see attached photo. Earlier this year I was in the bridal party for his real wedding!

I remember in the early years of my degree, a friend of mine, who was a hot-headed Malaysian exchange student, was running for a position on the MULS Executive. Incensed by a tactic adopted by his opponent, he sent an email to the whole MULS distribution list grossly defaming his opponent including by calling him a “conniving dog”. He was promptly disqualified from the elections. Everyone was very good humoured about it afterwards.

Sebastian Hartford DavisGraduated 2008. Barrister, Banco Chambers.

Edition 3, 2015 | 21

ALSA, in a nutshell.Being a student can be very challenging; you have your tutorials, lectures, seminars, assignments, exams - this is just the beginning. Between all of your legal studies, there are the functions, events, extracurricular activities, clerkships, work experience placements and internships, just to name a few. This, of course, is folded into the mix of trying to hold down a job, get to the gym, have a social life, spend time with the family and somehow manage to sleep in between.

The law degree and the legal profession are both very demanding and dynamic. As a law student, you need to keep up to date with what’s happening in your profession, where the opportunities are, what trends are occurring, where to network, who to seek support and guidance from and how you can be the best. However, given the constant time pressure, you also don’t have time to be looking for all this information and support yourself.

Cue entrance: ALSA.The Australian Law Students Association

(ALSA) is a national, not for profit organisation, representing approximately 28,000 law students nationwide. As an Australian law student, you are automatically a member of ALSA. As the peak representative body, ALSA’s core goal is to continually assess and improve the experience of law students nationwide and help to relieve some of those many day to day pressures and challenges faced. This is achieved through ALSA’s two main roles: as an advocacy body and as a knowledge-sharing forum.

As an organisation, ALSA works very closely with its affiliated law student societies and associations, such as the Macquarie University Law Society (MULS). MULS’ aim is to work at a local level, ensuring that the day to day experience of law school is the

22 | The Brief

Edition 3, 2015 | 23

best it can be; this is in coordination with ALSA which works at a national level to ensure that the law student voice is being well represented as well as bringing together students from around the Asia-Pacific to network and workshop common problems.

The ALSA Committee is made up of 15 members - all elected law students from around the country - and they carry out the operational functions of the Association. Three times a year, representatives from law student societies nationwide come together to join the ALSA Committee and form ALSA Council, chaired by the ALSA President. Council gives different Law student society representatives the chance to share ideas to take back to their own Universities, be further informed of the legal world as well as form policy and direction for the ALSA Committee to adopt and advocate. The Australian Law Students’ Association aims to assist its members by forming guidance and advice in the following areas: education, advocacy; competitions; careers information, equity & scholarships and alumni opportunities.

As part of ALSA’s Education mandate, ALSA runs nationwide campaigns on behalf of law students to ensure their voices and concerns are heard. Some of these campaigns relate to higher education policy changes and reforms, mental health and wellbeing as well as undergoing a consultative process to address fundamental issues facing legal graduates.

To assist in providing information, ALSA produces a number of student guides,

including a Wellbeing Guide, Careers Guides, a Judges’ Associateship Guide, International Careers Guide, private and public sector Careers Guides and an Academic Journal.

The highlight for the ALSA calendar is the Annual Conference, where nearly 500 law students from around the Asia-Pacific come together for a week of Council, education forums, extravagant social events and to see the top law student competitors at the National Championships. This year, Conference was held in Sydney, with 2016 Conference to be held in Tasmania. Conference is an experience that every law student must have, whether you attend as a Councillor, competitor or as a General Delegate. The ALSA Conference 2015 Facebook page gives you a snapshot into the week and is definitely worth checking out.

With almost every Law School in the country conducting legal skills competitions at a university level, ALSA maintains banks of questions, produces a Competitions guide and shares information for organisers and competitors alike. Our annual Conference also sees national championships in a range of legal skill and advocacy competitions.

ALSA also maintains a database of alumni to ensure students don’t lose those valuable connections made throughout your involvement with ALSA. The alumni are also a great source of inspiration and advice for students moving through law school. If you haven’t already, sign up to the Alumni database through our website today.

Overall, ALSA seeks to ensure that law students are provided with every opportunity and advantage during their time at law school and as they enter the working world. To find out more about ALSA, Conference 2016 and ways that you can be involved, be sure to check out our Facebook and website, or get in touch directly at president@alsa.asn.au or administration@alsa.asn.au.

Alistair Booth | ALSA President

Alistair Booth

24 | The Brief

MULS & ALSA2015 been a remarkable year for MULS’ involvement with the Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA).

Each year MULS sends competitors, councillors, student judges and general delegates to the ALSA July Conference held in capital cities around Australia. Macquarie Law students were instrumental in the organisation of this year’s Conference, which was hosted in Sydney. Under the calm and efficient leadership of Fraser Browne, a team including Libby Goode, Jack McDonell, Corinne O’Sullivan, Sydney Abba and several Macquarie volunteers, contributed to what has been described as one of the best July Conferences in recent memory. The clear highlight of the week was a candid and moving speech by Justice Shane Marshall of the Federal Court of Australia, who spoke about his experiences with depression and the prevalence of mental health issues in the legal profession. The Closing Gala was also memorable for the haka-esque chanting of the New Zealand delegation heralding each Australasian title that they claimed – a sore point for the Australian teams.

Competitions are a major component of the July Conference, with the best teams from Australia and New Zealand converging to test their professional and legal research skills. In the past, MULS has enjoyed substantial success with Nicholas Ferrari and Reece Corbett-Wilkins winning the ALSA competition and placing second at the International Client Consultation Competition (ICCC) in 2011. At this year’s conference, the Macquarie Law tradition made a triumphant return with Nicola Amys and Stephanie Fehon valiantly fighting against Auckland University in the Norton Rose Fulbright Client Interview Grand Final. Though the New Zealand team prevailed, Nicola and Stephanie were crowned the Australian Champions and will go on to

represent Australia at the ICCC, which is to be held at the University of Windsor (Canada) in April 2016. We wish both Nicola and Stephanie the best of luck for the competition!

Several MULS teams also reached the Quarter Finals with Hannah Robinson placing as the Runner-Up Australian Champion for the Allens Witness Examination competition. Also, the King & Wood Mallesons Championship Moot team consisting of Samuel Voller, Dylan Heffernan and Laura Webster collectively displayed Macquarie’s mooting clout. The Law School was also strongly represented in the Clayton Utz Negotiation competition by Danielle Kroon and Sevanne McGarity.

As a representative body, ALSA has boldly moved into new territory by actively advocating for issues impacting law students and graduates. The 2014/15 Executive, consisting of Macquarie students Alistair Booth (President), Connor Hogg (IT Officer) and Sevanne McGarity (Scholarships and Alumni Officer), have illustrated consummate professionalism and unwavering leadership in this challenging direction. This year’s Council, a forum that facilitates knowledge sharing and the development of national policy, included vigorous discussions surrounding fee deregulation, graduate oversupply and provided stimulus for structural improvements to the MULS governance model.

MULS members are strongly encouraged to attend the 2016 Conference in Hobart and continue to contribute to Macquarie Law’s growing role in the national law student community.

Congratulations to all members involved in the 2015 Conference!

Valiant Warzecha | MULS Secretary & ALSA Councillor 2015

Edition 3, 2015 | 25

26 | The Brief

Hi I’m Michael Fitzpatrick and I just completed a clerkship with Henry Davis York in the summer of 2014/15.

I had only positive experiences with HDY right from the beginning. The clerkship application process is undoubtedly stressful for all students, but HDY made the process as painless as possible. HDY was the first firm to respond to my application, the interviewing process was clearly set out, interviewers were professional yet friendly, and importantly, they were always in contact with me when they said they would be.

At the firms cocktail evening I had the chance to interact with a range of lawyers, senior associates, partners and people and development staff in a much more relaxed setting. It was the people I met, and the passion that they clearly had for the firm, that gave me the strongest feeling that HDY was the firm where I most wanted to clerk.

The first week of my clerkship was dedicated to training, where we learnt all about the firm – its people, its clients and its values – as well as about the programs and processes that we would be using once we hit the practice groups. HDY is unique in providing such a thorough induction for clerks, and I found the training hugely beneficial in

enhancing the contribution I was able to make throughout my rotations.

As a clerk at HDY I had the opportunity to rotate through 3 practice groups. Having an extra rotation is a hugely beneficial component of the HDY clerkship program as there is no better way to learn about the type of work each group does than by actually doing it. In each group I had the chance to work with lawyers, senior associates and partners, all of whom were willing to assist with my development in these early stages of my legal career. I had the opportunity to work on a huge range of tasks for an equally broad spectrum of clients – from top-tier corporations to pro bono organisations. I was provided with an amazing level of access to clients through my clerkship, exemplified when I was seconded to one of our clients – a big 4 bank.

The HDY clerkship was a truly enjoyable experience, which provided me with an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to matters involving top-tier clients within an extremely supportive, professional and importantly, a fun environment.

Michael FitzpatrickSummer Clerk - HDY 2015

…there is no better way to learn about the type

of work each group does than by actually doing it.

aspire. contribute. thrive.

Lena Ristevski Graduate Recruitment Officer

61 2 9947 6532 summerclerks@hdy.com.au

Satyajeet MararThe first step to rebirth is

a hangover.

Patrick Barkachi Any reasonable person could clearly see / That the lyrics could only be

hyperbole. It is therefore this Court’s ultimate

position / That Eminem is entitled to summary

disposition.

Matthew O’Connor Just do it - Shia LaBeouf

Phillip SiomosA society grows great

when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

Sidonie Grieg Fries before guys.

Baheej Sheikh The conventional wisdom is often wrong - Steven D.

Levitt

Valiant WarzechaSilence is more eloquent

than words.

Pavitra RajaThe best piece of

advice I got was: “Try to learn something about

everything and everything about something.” -

Thomas Huxle

2015MULS Executives

Edition 3, 2015 | 27

Hi I’m Michael Fitzpatrick and I just completed a clerkship with Henry Davis York in the summer of 2014/15.

I had only positive experiences with HDY right from the beginning. The clerkship application process is undoubtedly stressful for all students, but HDY made the process as painless as possible. HDY was the first firm to respond to my application, the interviewing process was clearly set out, interviewers were professional yet friendly, and importantly, they were always in contact with me when they said they would be.

At the firms cocktail evening I had the chance to interact with a range of lawyers, senior associates, partners and people and development staff in a much more relaxed setting. It was the people I met, and the passion that they clearly had for the firm, that gave me the strongest feeling that HDY was the firm where I most wanted to clerk.

The first week of my clerkship was dedicated to training, where we learnt all about the firm – its people, its clients and its values – as well as about the programs and processes that we would be using once we hit the practice groups. HDY is unique in providing such a thorough induction for clerks, and I found the training hugely beneficial in

enhancing the contribution I was able to make throughout my rotations.

As a clerk at HDY I had the opportunity to rotate through 3 practice groups. Having an extra rotation is a hugely beneficial component of the HDY clerkship program as there is no better way to learn about the type of work each group does than by actually doing it. In each group I had the chance to work with lawyers, senior associates and partners, all of whom were willing to assist with my development in these early stages of my legal career. I had the opportunity to work on a huge range of tasks for an equally broad spectrum of clients – from top-tier corporations to pro bono organisations. I was provided with an amazing level of access to clients through my clerkship, exemplified when I was seconded to one of our clients – a big 4 bank.

The HDY clerkship was a truly enjoyable experience, which provided me with an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to matters involving top-tier clients within an extremely supportive, professional and importantly, a fun environment.

Michael FitzpatrickSummer Clerk - HDY 2015

…there is no better way to learn about the type

of work each group does than by actually doing it.

aspire. contribute. thrive.

Lena Ristevski Graduate Recruitment Officer

61 2 9947 6532 summerclerks@hdy.com.au

Kristina TomasWhy get thinner when you

can get more dinner?

Maria TomaSometimes I use big

words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more

photosynthesis.

Deen RadMy childhood dream was to be a Pokémaster...the reality of growing up has meant I've had to settle for university studies.

Emma Grimley I feel comfortable using legal jargon in everyday

life. Mandamus.Sharan Kandola So i can just write

anything here, and it’ll be published in The Brief?

David Yao Law school: beats having

a real job.

Keerti SharmaLets just be who we are,

who we really are!Mikaela Heise#NO RAGRETS

Eleanor SandersonNever doubt that a small

group of thoughtful, committed citizens can

change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever

has. - Margaret Mead

28 | The Brief

2015MULS Executives

Tim GrellmanThrough hard work we

prosper.

Sheridan NewAll of humankind has one

thing in common: the sandwich. I believe that

all anyone really wants in this life is to sit in peace

and eat a sandwich.- Liz Lemon

Phillipa HodgsonFailure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.

- Og Mandino

Lachlan MackIt is our failures that

enable us to truly succeed.

Kristina HewetsonClear eyes, full hearts,

can't lose. - Coach Taylor

Mitchell Bazzana Be the change you want

to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi

Brendan LordI dissent. - Kirby

Edition 3, 2015 | 29

2015 Senior Mooting competition - sponsored by Clayton UtzThe 2015 Senior Mooting Competition involved over 40 competitors and a grand final judged by the Honourable Chief Justice Robert French AC of the High Court of Australia. The panel also included Professor Natalie Klein, Dean of the Macquarie Law School; Mr Stuart Clark AM, Partner at Clayton Utz; Ms Katrina Howard, Senior Counsel at Ninth Floor Selborne Chambers; and, Mr Sebastian Hartford Davis, Macquarie alumnus and Barrister at Banco Chambers.

In a tough moot examining a factual scenario analogous to Pape v Commissioner of Taxation, Samuel Voller, Dylan Heffernan and Danielle Kroon emerged victorious with Max Turner awarded best oralist for the moot. Congratulations to the 2015 Senior Mooting Champions as well as their worthy challengers Max Turner, Gabrielle Sheehan, Lauren Hawke and Laura Webster for an outstanding moot.

MULS Initiatives

COMPETITIONS

Senior Client Interview competition - sponsored by Herbert Smith FreehillsThe grand final of this year's Senior Client Interview competition was particularly challenging with competitors faced with two clients where it was unclear whether one client had capacity. Judged by Liam Cavell of Herbert Smith Freehills, Stephanie Fehon and Nicola Amys were awarded the win against their worthy competitors Rachel Murphy and Lauren Stables.

30 | The Brief

2015 Junior Mooting competition - sponsored by AshurstThe 2015 Junior Mooting competition again highlighted the immense talent in the younger years at Macquarie Law School. The Honourable Thomas Bathurst AC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, presided over the grand final along with Dr Margaret Kelly, Senior Lecturer at Macquarie Law School; Dr Eli Ball, Solicitor at Ashurst; Ms Penelope Wass SC, Senior Counsel at 6 Selborne Wentworth Chambers; and Mr Michal Solecki, Macquarie alumnus and member of the 2015 Macquarie Jessup Team.

Congratulations to the 2015 Junior Mooting Champions James Powell, Kristina Hewetson, Dana Halevi and Yi Wong and grand finalists, Sebastian Hanscombe, Katrina Woodforde and Marc Bosnic. Special congratulations to James Powell who was awarded best oralist for the moot.

Sir John Peden Contract MootThe Sir John Peden Contract Moot is an annual moot held between MULS and Sydney University Law Society (SULS) focusing on the area of contract law. Congratulations to our team of Samuel Voller, Max Turner and Laura Webster for bringing the prize back to Macquarie after a decade.

ALSA ConferenceCongratulations to Stephanie Fehon and Nicola Amys for reaching the grand finals of ALSA Client Interview Competition; Samuel Voller, Dylan Heffernan and Laura Webster for reaching the quarter finals of the ALSA Championship Moot; and, Hannah Robinson for reaching the quarter finals of ALSA Witness Examination Competition.

Edition 3, 2015 | 31

OVERVIEWIn this year’s Law Revue, titled ‘Clerks and Recreation’, we have a talented team of eighteen multitalented singers, dancers and actors. We are also lucky enough to have a brilliant ten-person band, complete with guitar, drums and keyboard, as well as a brass section with a hugely talented trumpeter and trombonist. Our cast and band is also supported by a dedicated and resourceful producer, theatre technician and stage manager. With their help we have been rehearsing since June, and were doing three rehearsals a week. It’s a lot of work, but the whole cast really enjoy it. It’s great to see everyone come out of their shells, show off their talents and really get into their roles. Law Revue is one of those shows that is really different every year. This year, our theme is ‘the making of law rev’, so we’ve got a few sketches poking fun at the idea of putting on a show, which in itself have been quite fun to both write and perform. The cast have also been very eager to contribute script ideas, which has been very helpful with writing content. Overall, we’re really happy with the show overall, the performance has been met with acclaim.

PAST LAW REVUES• 2009’s theme was ‘Global Financial Cactus’.• 2012’s theme was ‘Love and other Punishable Offences’.

Based around Romeo and Juliet, it was a love story about two lawyers working at competing firms.

• 2013’s theme was ‘And all that jazz’.• 2014’s theme was ‘The Golden Robe Awards’.

MULS Initiatives

MULS 40TH ANNIVERSARY LAW REVUE

CAST LIST

DirectorsSammuel Dobbie-Smitham

Manny Kanellis

ProducerMaddy Whitworth

CastAlistair Booth

Sharan KandolaNib Oswald

Saed BatshonEmily Ward

Riana Head ToussantJessica SheridanDaphne Klianis

Midy BallerchandranMaddie Begg-Cotter

Jackie OllingNick Taylor

Satyajeet MararGenevieve Enright

Emma CroftVicky Ly

BandMatt Blundell

Edward OsbourneLibby GoodeImogen Abba

Alice ReinRay Sayah

David SayahAsh Blundell

John FitzpatrickLee McDermott

Dance CoordinatorGabrielle Hardy

Stage ManagerDavid Glen

Theatre TechnicianJack Goggin

32 | The Brief

Edition 3, 2015 | 33

MULS Initiatives

MULS CRUISELaw cruise started out as a humble idea. Beginning as a party on a boat with a few guests; it was another social event for law students from Macquarie to get together for a night off. Over the years, it has steadily gained popularity with MULS and non-MULS members alike to become the 700+ guest party that it is today. Each year the cruise is themed to add another layer of excitement (and to make the general public stare wide-eyed as we board the boat!). Over the last few years such themes have included ‘Circus and Side Shows’, ‘Noah’s Ark’, ‘Uniforms’ and ‘Around the World’. After the three hour journey around the harbour, attendees are dropped off to one of our loved favourites; the after party at Cargo Bar, where they can dance the night away.

All aboard the MULS Cruise!

34 | The Brief

Law Ball is the biggest and most popular event on the MULS Calendar. It has been the exciting annual event that students come from far and wide to enjoy; the night that everyone has the opportunity to glam up and don their best attire.

For decades, Law Ball has provided students with a brilliant way to end the year of study. The ball is often themed, to enhance the magic of the night. From the 1998 ‘Guys and Dolls’ jamboree at the Ritz Carlton, to the 1999 ‘Godfather’ social at the Ana Hotel, through to the 2002 ‘Adam and Eve’ fiesta at the Museum of Contemporary Art, last year saw our biggest ball EVER; a ‘Masquerade’ night at the beautiful Westin, with over 800 guests.

Being the intricate event that it is, the Events Team put in dozens of hours of work to ensure the night is perfect. Finding photographers,

choosing musical entertainment, a DJ and often jazz band, hiring and setting up decorations aligned with a chosen theme, sound technology arrangement, menu tasting for appropriate 3 course meal options, negotiating with hotels for discounts, organising an after party and organising guest table arrangements; these are just a few details that must be organised to ensure that each minute of the night is accounted for and the event runs smoothly.

Having gained a reputation for itself, the MULS Law Ball is now always a fight to get in. In the last couple of years, tickets have sold out in 3 minutes flat, leaving many disappointed and having to miss out. However, to avoid such disappointment, and to ensure that everyone is able to attend the ball, this year the Events Team have managed to secure the biggest venue to date; this venue will allow over 1100 guests to attend the ball for a magical night, as well as provide beautiful harbour views. It is definitely an event not to be missed.

MULS Initiatives

MULS CRUISEMULS Initiatives

LAW BALL

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36 | The Brief

Interested in practising family law but wondering whether you’ll cope with all that emotion?

Dealing with client’s emotions (and your own emotional reactions to your clients’ behaviour) is a central part of all areas of legal practice, but nowhere more so than in family law.

Yet learning about emotion is almost completely absent from legal education. At ANU Legal Workshop we’re doing something about that.

In the Family Law Practice elective, which forms part of the Admission to Practice qualification, we have an explicit, and substantial focus, on learning about emotion.

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You will be prompted to think, all along the way, about the emotions your clients are experiencing, and the emotional reactions you are having to your client’s behaviour. At the end of the course you will wrap up all that thinking in a reflective discussion where you share some of your thoughts with your

peers and hear how they have reacted to the same experiences. It’s amazing how much you will learn from hearing about the similarities and differences in other people’s thoughts and feelings.

At the same time as you’re doing all this thinking about emotion you’ll also be learning how to draft orders and affidavits and advocate for a client in the Family Law Courts. Just like in practice – the technical work will be completely interwoven with the human dimension of family law work.

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It’s about bringing the human element back into the practice of law.

Elizabeth (Liz) Keogh convenes the Family Law Practice elective in the ANU Legal Workshop’s Master of Legal Practice program.

Before joining the ANU, Liz worked as a lawyer in private practice, the Commonwealth public service and as a law reform advocate.

By Liz Keogh

ANU Legal WorkshopYour pathway to Legal PracticeAs one of Australia’s most recognised practical legal training programs, the ANU Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) provides the qualification to be admitted as a lawyer in Australia.

Through the ANU GDLP, you’ll gain the practical skills and professional understanding needed as a legal practitioner.

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At ANU Legal Workshop, you can:

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law.anu.edu.au/legalworkshop/mlpCRICOS #00120C | August 2015

ANU Legal Workshop

Macquarie University Law Society (MULS)

President’s ReportSession 1, 2015

Members and friends of the Macquarie University Law Society (“MULS”),

This report provides an insight into the internal operations of MULS. The report reveals both the Executive Council’s achievements and our room for improvement. It is a privilege to present this report on behalf of the 2015 Executive Council.

MULS has changed since the Society kicked off forty years ago. In 2015, the twenty-four member Executive Council consists of nine Board Members – the primary decision makers of the Executive – and fifteen Executive Officers who ‘execute’ the events and initiatives that the Board commits to.

MULS’ is in a strong position at present, largely due to the hard work of the Executive Councils of recent years. This year’s Executive Council has committed itself to building on this strong foundation. Our vision for 2015 has been to:• Continue successful MULS events and

initiatives without incurring the high deficit incurred in the previous few years (“Finances”);

• Offer new career initiatives to strengthen the link between Australian Law Firms and

Macquarie Law Students as well as new public interest career events (“Careers”);

• Make 2015 a great year for community engagement and social justice initiatives (“Community Engagement”);

• Offer bigger and better social events and sports initiatives to MULS members (“Events”);

• Offer great MULS Competitions (“Competitions”);

• Engage more students than ever (“Student Engagement”); and

• Ensure a strong MULS Publications Department in 2015 – without which the above initiatives would not be possible (“Publications”).

To attain this vision, I have encouraged this year’s Executive Council to always work in a respectful and supportive team, always viewing the President not as an enforcer of a rigid command hierarchy, but simply as the first among equals. This report will expand on how our team approach has influenced our ability to strengthen the above mentioned MULS Departments.

FINANCE

In 2014, MULS Members improved the MULS Constitution by prescribing that the MULS Treasurer is to be a Board member. This years Executive Council has been the beneficiary of this change and extends its appreciation to MULS Members assembled at the 2014 EGM.

Executive Council’s of recent years have at times incurred significant deficits in producing

great events and initiatives. This year’s Board aims to produce great events and initiatives without incurring a large deficit.

I can report that we are on track to achieving this. Under the watchful eye of our hard-working treasurer, Sidonie Greig, we have implemented our strong budget and are positioned to break-even in 2015 despite investing in several new MULS initiatives.

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CAREERS

2015 has been incredible year for MULS Careers. Comprising of the Executive (Corporate Careers), and, for the first time, the Executive (Public Interest Careers), the Careers Department has offered career initiatives to an exceptional standard.

Our corporate careers initiatives have included:• The largest ever MULS Clerkship Fair;• A fantastic Clerkship Week, including

our Networking and Interview Skills Workshop, Clerkship Q & A and Interview Roulette; and

• For the first time, Australian firms Gilbert & Tobin and Gadens visited Macquarie University to meet our students and give career advice.

Many MULS Members who aren’t looking for a career in commercial law have expressed a sense of disengagement as a result of our heavy focus on corporate careers. As a result, MULS careers has committed itself to offering a wide range of Career Initiatives. Sheridan New, our Executive Officer (Public Interest Careers) executed a fantastic inaugural MULS ‘Options with Law’ Careers Fair in

August, in which over 300 MULS Members met representatives from a broad range of organisations. We have more Public Interest Career initiatives planned for Semester Two.

None of this would be possible without our amazing MULS Director (Career Engagement), Matt O’Connor, with whom it has been a pleasure to work with. Equally, the Executive Officers of the Careers Department, Pavitra and Sheridan, have done a great job. We also thank Caitlin Polo, Jeremy Cassrels, Dean Zinn, Cassie Puah, Jake Giordano, Jade Toomey, Josh Wilson and Yi Wong of the important MULS Careers Sub-Committee.

The MULS Careers Department is also responsible for the MULS Sponsorship Drive which, while being successful in 2015, is an area in which the Society can improve. A few of the sponsorship items were created several years ago and have become outdated. MULS can improve by having a rigorous review of its sponsorship items. This is something I hope the 2016 Executive Council considers as it gets into its sponsorship drive over December and January.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

This year has marked the inaugural year of the MULS Community Engagement Department. Under the committed leadership of our hard-working MULS Director (Community Engagement), Ellie Sanderson, the Department has been a success throughout 2015.

In Semester One, MULS hosted a successful Social Justice Speaker’s night executed by our Executive Officer (Social Justice Advocacy), Keerti Sharma. From Keerti’s work, MULS Members had the chance to hear from prominent community leaders on the issue of Domestic Violence. Ellie and Keerti have exciting plans for Semester Two, including a Speaker’s night on the controversial issues within Australian overseas Detention Centre’s.

While Keerti handles the on-campus Community Engagement events, our Executive Officer (Community Outreach), Pip Hodgson, has been working hard on external initiatives. Pip has the MULS Trivia Night and other initiatives lined up for Semester Two and we look forward to seeing the results of her hard work.

The only problem the Community Engagement Department has experienced is differentiating between internal Social Justice, and, external Community Engagement initiatives. The MULS Constitution is not entirely clear on this, leaving the question; what happens if we have an on-campus event but are reaching out to external community organisations? This isn’t a fatal ambiguity, but is something that we have addressed in 2015

38 | The Brief

EVENTS

The 2015 MULS Events Department approached the year with the strategy of producing bigger, better and well-budgeted events. This fits well into our overall vision for the year. The Events Department can be split into socials and sports.

Our Socials events have included:• A fantastic First Year Law Camp;• MULS biggest ever Start of Semester

(“SOS”) Drinks in Semester One; and• A fantastic Law Cruise.

The Socials team have a great SOS II planned, as well as Law Ball to cap off a great year. All of this has been made possible by our Executive Officers (Socials), Maria Toma and Deen Rad. It is impossible to fault Maria and Deen. They have been fantastic in executing great MULS Events in 2015 under the committed directorship of our Director (Events), Sharan Kandola.

Similarly, MULS Sports has been a success this year under the leadership of our Executive Officer (Sports), Krissy Tomas.

MULS has put together more teams than ever in our Social Sports competitions. We have organized a great Intervarsity and Gala day, as well as running in the City2Surf. These great initiatives have been executed to an exceptional standard by Krissy.

A key challenge MULS faces is how it handles MULS Social Sport registration fee collection. In previous years the MULS subsidy for Social Sport registration far exceeded our Social Sport sponsorship revenue. This years Board decided to reduce the subsidy so that it matched the sports sponsorship revenue, meaning the individual registration price increased. While I believe this is a great move, I did feel for Krissy, who, despite having little say in the decision, was on the front line implementing the Boards changed direction for Sports. I also understand the frustration Social Sports players feel at the increased price. Nevertheless I believe this years Board has moved Social Sports in the right direction.

COMPETITIONS

MULS Competitions is a large department comprising of advocacy, professional skills and external competitions. Under the leadership of the MULS Director (Competitions), Baheej Sheikh, the Department has succeeded in 2015. Our competitions have been run to an exceptional standard. The pinnacle of this was seen when His Honour, Chief Justice French of the High Court of Australia, adjudicated the MULS Clayon Utz Senior Mooting Grand Final. The Chief Justice was joined by leaders of the Legal Profession, including Natalie Klein, the Macquarie Law Dean. Equally impressive was the Ashurst Junior Mooting Grand Final, where our competitors got the

chance to compete in front of His Honour, Chief Justice Bathurst of the New South Wales Supreme Court, also joined by other prominent figures. The chance to compete in front of such high profile names is an extremely exciting opportunity and would not be possible without the hard work of Baheej, Mitch, Lachlan and Kristi of the Competitions Department.

The great work of our Competitions Department paved the way for three of our four ALSA Competition teams to make the finals in Australasian Law Students Competitions. This is an incredible result for MULS and reflects the high standard of our

and I encourage the 2016 Executive Council to consider they when they take office.

We thank Brodie Purton, Tanya Thomas and Reynald Lim of the hard-working

Community Engagement Sub-Committee – without their help the Department’s success would not be possible.

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STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

This years Executive Council has been committed to engaging more students in MULS initiatives. As a result, MULS held its biggest ever First Years Lunch early in Semester One. This was the result of the hard work of our Director (Student Engagement), Satyajeet Marar, and the Executive Officer (Campus Experience), David Yao. Another successful event from Satyajeet and David was the “How to get a HD” seminar in Semester One that attracted approximately eighty MULS Members.

It has also been exciting to appoint Juris Doctor (“JD”) representatives for the first time. Our JD representatives have been important in publicizing our events and initiatives amongst our JD students. This has resulted in a strong turn out from JD students at MULS events and initiatives this year. Our

first year representatives have been equally valuable in the effort of student engagement.

Despite this, MULS continues to face the challenge of reaching out to more students. I have encouraged this years Executive Council to make MULS more inclusive in our attempt to meet this challenge. While I feel we have achieved this to a degree, there is still much we can do to engage law students for the remainder of 2015.

We thank our Student Engagement sub-committee; Matt Blundell, Sarah Roberts, Steven Parker, Libby Goode, Lachlan Greenburg, Felix Buddee, Jonathan Daniel, Nick Meyer, Claire Wilson, Buse Harper, Eryn Chapman and Sonika Karla. Their hard work is greatly appreciated by the Society.

competitions. All of this wouldn’t be possible without Joanna Xenikos, Lauren Stables, Marc Bosnic, Maurice Fung, Yi Wong, Will Bryan, Georgia Mills, Patrick McNally,

Rebecca Chapman, Jessica Srour, Sunny Spot and Shivani Gosai of our Competitions Sub-Committee.

A fantastic year for MULS Competitions.

PUBLICATIONS

Our MULS Publications Department plays a pivotal role in producing picture-perfect publications, as well as publicizing the initiatives prepared by the other MULS Departments. I have had the privilege of working closely with our MULS Director (Publications) Emma Grimley. Emma is extremely hard-working and directs her Department amazingly. Under Emma’s directorship, MULS Publications has succeeded in 2015.

This success has included a fantastic year for the MULS Magazine, The Brief, skillfully produced by our hard-working Executive Officer (Brief Editor), Patrick Barkachi. Patrick’s great strength, in preparing The Brief publication, has been to provide the reader with a broad range of ideas on the one topic. Furthermore, for the first time, law students have had the chance to write

articles online under Patrick’s guidance. As a frequent reader of these articles, I can attest to their outstanding quality.

Brendan Lord, our Executive Officer (Editor) has produced two picture-perfect publications. The First Year Students Survival Guide was incredibly well received – a testament to Brendan’s hard work on that publication. Furthermore, Brendan prepared the MULS Clerkship Guide, which is the point of reference for Macquarie Law Students seeking a summer clerkship. MULS Members can look forward to the Careers Guide that Brendan will be publishing in second semester.

Phil Siomos has been wonderful to work with as the Executive Officer (IT). Phil has restructured the MULS website, redesigned our email signature, been the photographer at many MULS events and done a whole lot

40 | The Brief

I thank the faithful sponsors of MULS for their continued support of our Society. Their sponsorship is vital to the success of our initiatives, and consequently to the personal and professional development of MULS members. I also thank the MULS Executive Council and Sub-Committee’s; your hard work is an inspiration to those around you. I offer a special thanks to Valiant Warzecha, our MULS Secretary. Valiant is one of the hardest working members of the Executive Council and someone I have immense respect for. Valiant has administered the Society to an exceptional standard in 2015 and can be proud of what he has achieved. Without him, MULS would not have seen the success this year that it has. I hope that Valiant always remembers the huge contribution that he has made to the Society.

I thank Natalie Klein, Shawkat Alam, Eleanor McGhee, Debbie Loo and others from Macquarie Law School, as well as Julie Doherty, Angela Voerman, Khris Kapunan, Robert Ephraums, Vicki George, Tania Currie, Melroy Rodrigues and others from Macquarie University. The assistance provided by these hard-working members of our University is

essential to the success of our Society and we thank them for their support to MULS. I also thank Andrew, Mohammed, Stacey and others from the University Security and Maintenance team who are always kind and accommodating to MULS at W3A, keeping us safe and secure.

It is important to say that while MULS has room for improvement, it is a wonderful Society. It provides its members opportunities that otherwise would not be available. It is open not closed. It publishes the minutes of its meetings on its website for all to see its operations rather than hiding them from its members. It is willing to accept its mistakes publicly and improve. I say to current students that as we are on the eve of elections for 2016, it is clear that the future of MULS is in your hands more than it is in mine. As President I have seen the great contribution all MULS members make to the law student experience. That’s why I am absolutely certain that in future years, in your hands, from your hard work, the Society will continue to prosper.

I wish all friends and members of MULS all the best for the second half of 2015.

CONCLUSION

Tim GrellmanPresident, Macquarie University Law Society

more to contribute this year. Phil’s contribution has gone far and beyond his Constitutional duties. At almost every MULS event, Phil is always there to offer a helping hand. It is this type of contribution that make people like Phil the true leaders of MULS.

Last but definitely not least in the Publications Department, our MULS Executive Officer (Publicity), Mikaela Heise, really has been the un-sung hero of

the Society. Mikaela has publicized every single event and initiative of the Society to an exceptional standard. She has been great to work with. Without her hard work our initiatives would not have reached the audience that they have. We thank Mikaela for her hard work throughout the year!

Overall, a fantastic year for the Publications department of MULS.

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42 | The Brief

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