Matters + Briefs

My University website for 2012

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:17:00 GMT

Prospective law students will soon be able to compare the quality of Australian universities on a new government website My University - following the success of the recently launched, My School website.

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Weighter brings skills to the table

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:56:00 GMT

Competing at world level in power-lifting and at national level in weightlifting provided the Law Society of NSW's fifth female president, Mary Macken, with the skills and experience needed to excel in her career.

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Student finalists ready for international rounds

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:49:00 GMT

The University of Western Australia has taken out the Jessup Cup after competing against The Australian National University (ANU) in the finals of the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.

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UK firms put international experience in our own backyard

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:41:00 GMT

Allen & Overy's arrival in Australia will provide numerous opportunities for young lawyers to enter the international arena without taking a step outside the country.

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Law exam stress must be eased: ALSA

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:37:00 GMT

Assessment practices in law schools might soon be reformed after the Australian Law Students' Association (ALSA) recently called for an investigation into the link between 100 per cent-weighted exams and high rates of law student depression.

The peak body for law students in Australia believes law faculties could be doing more to stop alarmingly high levels of mental health problems among law students.

Jonathan Augustus, ALSA president, said this week that there was plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that subjects weighted on a 100 per cent exam and 24-hour take-home exams were contributing to high levels of student depression.

"There is a common trend among law schools all around Australia and that is the impact of subjects which depend on a single 100 per cent exam on student mental health," he said.

"I have seen students stay awake all night; I have seen students crying. Students have certainly suffered trauma and anxiety because they were so stressed they actually couldn't continue studying. It's certainly not the sole reason students are getting depression, but it doesn't help. We see no real reason why a subject needs to have a 100 per cent exam or a take-home exam," added Augustus.

The Law Council of Australia, which does not have a formal position on exam assessment, also has serious concerns about the benefits of 100 per cent exams. Its editorial officer, Ben Caddaye, told Lawyers Weekly that the council's own research indicated 100 per cent exams were an unnecessary stressor on law students. He said he was also concerned because "skill development cannot be achieved through 100 per cent exams".

ALSA is meeting with the Australian Council of Law Deans in March to discuss the depression issue in light of both 100 per cent exam assessments and 24-hour take-home exams. Augustus believes there is a growing consensus that assessment within law schools needs to be more evenly balanced between two or more assessments, with more emphasis on practical tasks and less on examinations.

- Luke Williams, freelance writer for Lawyers Weekly

Check back with Lawyer2B next week for the full report on this story, or check out next week's hardcopy edition of Lawyers Weekly.

Students ready for international law bout

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:41:00 GMT

This week, 16 teams will take part in the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition at The Australian National University (ANU) College of Law in Canberra.

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Law firms brace for employee "mass exodus"

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:18:00 GMT

As the global economy improves, law firms will have to re-engage with frustrated employees if they want to avoid a walkout, writes Ben Abbott

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Law students awarded $5000 to promote animal rights

Lawyers Weekly — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:22:00 GMT

Animal rights group Voiceless has awarded a $5000 grant to the Australian Law Students' Association to help raise awareness of animal rights protection amongst law students at their 2010 conference.

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Modern diplomacy on agenda at Sydney University

Lawyers Weekly — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:52:00 GMT

One for the diary -- distinguished diplomat and academic Sir Ivor Roberts will be sharing his thought on the development of modern diplomacy in Sydney in mid-January.

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Doors open on Children's Law Awards

Lawyers Weekly — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:55:00 GMT

Nominations have opened for the 2010 Children's Law Awards, organised by the National Children's Youth and Law Centre and Mallesons Stephen Jaques.

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Sydney law graduate awarded Australia-At-Large Rhodes Scholarship

Lawyers Weekly — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:39:00 GMT

Sydney Law School graduate Andreas Heger has been awarded the 2010 Rhodes Australia-At-Large Scholarship, making him the school's 11th Rhodes Scholar in the last decade.

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WA advocate, 22, scoops Young People’s Human Rights Medal

Lawyers Weekly — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:13:00 GMT

A 22-year-old from Western Australia has been awarded the Young People's Human Rights Medal for 2009 by the Australian Human Rights Commission.

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High Court Justice Kiefel awarded UQ doctorate

Lawyers Weekly — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:29:00 GMT

High Court Justice Susan Kiefel is among a distinguished group of seven to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Queensland this year.

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HopgoodGanim lawyer wins “young lawyer” award

Lawyers Weekly — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:55:00 GMT

A senior associate from Queensland firm HopgoodGanim has taken out the "Outstanding Achievement by a Young Lawyer" award at the recent Queensland Law Society President's Awards.

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Legal experts debate issue of restorative justice

Lawyers Weekly — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:42:00 GMT

Legal experts will be converging on the University of Sydney this week to discuss language, law and social justice as part in as examination of restorative justice and legal-judicial practice in Australia.

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