Law students association
La Trobe Law Students’ Association is one of the most dynamic and active student run organisations on campus. Our dedicated team aims to ensure student life for law students is exciting, memorable and rewarding. Not only do we have an active social calendar, we are committed to the professional development of our students through seminars, workshops, competitions and publications. Please visit our external website.
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President: Annabelle Walker |
Vice President: Christopher Henderson E: vicepresident@latrobelsa.com T: (03) 9479 3881 |
The LSA committee
The committee comprises of a 10-member executive headed by the President. Each member of the executive (except the President and Vice President) heads a portfolio. Committee members are organised into the following portfolios:
Activities
Our Activities portfolio aims to ensure there is never a dull moment on the La Trobe Law social calendar. Upcoming events for 2013 include:
- Law Camp: 22 – 24 March at Golden Valleys Lodge, Flinders
- Maritime Cruise: 18 April on the Victoria Star, Docklands
- Law Ball: 15 August at San Remo Ballroom, Carlton
- BBQs: held throughout the year on campus
Director – Brianna Kenna
Contact - activities@latrobelsa.com
Committee Members- Georgia Smith and Tessa Mead
Careers
Working closely with the career development team and careers and placement officer Madeline Organero, the careers team organise workshops, networking evenings, careers weeks and a host of other events to give law students all the information they need to kick off a fantastic career.
Notable events are:
- Careers Week (Seasonal/Clerkship Week) - Semester 1, 2013
- Careers Cocktail Evening - Semester 1, 2013
- Practical Legal Training Workshops - Semester 2, 2013
- Career Connect Sessions
Director of Careers - Jasmin Dhillon
Contact - careers@latrobelsa.com
Committee Members - Freya Yang and Farrah Abdul
Competitions
We believe that competitions enhance legal education. Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of Moots the LSA run throughout the year. The ultimate prize is to win at the Grand Final Evening held in semester one at the Federal Court.
The LSA run the following competitions for students:
Junior and Senior Moot
A moot is a simulated appellant (or higher) court where the competitors are barristers who need to win their case uniquely using legal arguments.
2012 Senior Moot Winners
Nico Baarlink, Erik Dober & Stephanie Sutcliffe
BEST SPEAKER AWARD: Nico Baarlink
2012 Junior Moot Winners
Patrick Dacaya, Tyson Manicolo & Annie Kent
BEST SPEAKER AWARD: Patrick Moffatt-Stokes
Client Interviewing
This competition gives students the opportunity to perfect their communication and client interviewing skills. Competitors are solicitors who receive a mystery client, and within a given time frame must learn about the client’s problem and begin to advise them.
2012 Winners
Amy Goricanec & Georgia Neilsen
Negotiation Competition
Teams of two solicitors representing parties to a dispute are given a set amount of time to negotiate an agreement. Teams must keep in mind the need to make an agreement, the interests of their own respective clients and ethics.
2012 Winners
Simone Karmis & Karina Plan
Witness Examination
This competition gives our students the chance to live out their Boston legal fantasies. The competitors are barristers and must establish or disprove a particular charge or fact situation through the questions they ask the witnesses.
2012 Winner
Martin Stirling
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot
This is again a simulated court, but instead of a domestic appellant court, this competition takes place is an international tribunal. One of the most challenging yet rewarding competitions, the IHL Moot is a must for all those with an interest in international law.
2012 Winners
Lauren Burke, Alana Thompson and Louisa Verrillo
La Trobe always sends competitors to the Australian Law Students’ Association Competitions held in conjunction with its annual conference.
For those interested in other external Moots such as Vis Moot or Maritime Law Moot, please contact the Law School’s Mooting Co-ordinator Magda via her email address: M.Karagiannakis@latrobe.edu.au.
Director – Nicole Shackleton
Contact: competitions@latrobelsa.com
Committee Members – Stephanie Sutcliffe and Stephanie D'Rozario
Education
It is important for students to feel supported and comfortable throughout their academic studies. The Education Portfolio liaise with the Law Faculty to provide feedback relating to course concerns.
We are the 'go to' for fun-filled fitness, exam study-tips, exam freak-out problems and exam notes.We also organise large scale meet-and-greet sessions with some of the biggest names in the law world, such as High Court Justice Hayne (the Malaysian Solution Case judge!), County Court Judge Gaynor (formerly the most amazing barrister) and Gary Sullivan (Director of the West Heidelberg Legal Centre, the best place for law students to volunteer in the southern hemisphere).
Director: Chrissy Becker
Contact: education@latrobelsa.com
Committee Members: Anastasios Mallis (Graduate and Equality) Sai Ramayanam and Dzenana Vucic (External Affairs)
Publications
Orientation Week Guide – As orientation is the first gateway into a student’s time at university, this Guide is designed to help assist new law students through your transition into university life. Whether they are coming straight from secondary school, have taken a gap year or enrolling into post graduate study, this Guide will be their map into the life of La Trobe University.
Inter Alia – published every 3 weeks and provides law students with information about current events, job opportunities and events that the LSA are running.
Careers Guide and Seasonal Clerkship Guide (Joint Guide) – A complete Guide to Law Firm profiles, information on admission to legal practice, practical legal training, closing dates for applications, cover letters, key selection criterias, etc. It is essentially a one stop publication for legal careers
Director of Publications – Caroline Vong
Contact: publications@latrobelsa.com,
Committee Members – Kate Coen, Karina Plain, James Leggo, Isabella Fu
Careers Coordinator: Louisa Verillo
Marketing
The La Trobe Law Students’ Association values the partnerships and links we have with the wider legal and professional community. The marketing portfolio’s role is to be the point of contact for our external partners. For more information about opportunities for your firm, business or organisation to be involved with the La Trobe LSA please contact Tara Winney via marketing@latrobelsa.com.
Director – Tara Winney
Contact - marketing@latrobelsa.com
Finance
The Director of Finance is responsible for maintaining the LSA funds throughout the year and budgeting for all of the LSA’s activities, events, publications and competitions. Furthermore, the Director of Finance lodges quarterly Business Activity Statements, acts as the LSA's Public Officer for legislative purposes and creates the annual report.Director of Finance - James Paolucci
Contact: finance@latrobelsa.com
Administration
The backbone of our organisation, the Administration team oversees internal publicity, website and IT management as well as the collation and dissemination of organizational documents such as the Rules and Regulations of the Association as well as meeting agendas and minutes.
Director of Administration: Travis Johnson
Contact: administration@latrobelsa.com
Other Organisations
The La Trobe LSA is a member of the Australian Law Students’ Association.
The LSA also encourages students to participate in the wider community by joining professional organisations, and participating in their events. There are a number of professional legal bodies that offer student membership and services. Some of which include:
- Law Institute of Victoria
- Australian Lawyers Alliances
- LIV Young Lawyers
- Victorian Woman Lawyers
- Liberty Victoria
