University of Queensland Law Society (UQLS)
Justice and the Law Society (JATL)
Australian Legal Philosophy Students Association (ALPSA)
University of Queensland Law Society (UQLS)
Since 1937, the UQLS, an organisation run by law students, has fostered and promoted the interests of law students. It achieves this through a number of mediums:
- Social Functions
The UQLS organises a wide variety of social functions throughout the year. These include the Law Ball, the Tri-Uni Cocktail Party and the Law Dinner. Keynote speakers at previous Law Dinners include The Hon Justice Michael Kirby, The Hon Gough Whitlam and The Hon Malcolm Fraser. The UQLS also hosts regular ‘End of Term' functions. Functions such as these help to promote an enjoyable and inclusive university experience.
The UQLS also produces ‘The L Card' which is provided to all members. The L Card provides students with discounted entry to night clubs, as well as discounts at food and retail stores all over Brisbane. Visit www.thelcard.com to see the full list of discounts.
- Teaching and Learning
A key objective of the UQLS is to promote excellence in both teaching and learning. Two Education Officers are available to represent the concerns of law students. A number of study skills seminars are held throughout the year, in addition to a Teaching and Learning Conference held annually to provide student feedback to the staff on current teaching and assessment methods.
- Cultural and Sporting Events
A number of cultural and educational events are hosted by the UQLS. The Law Revue is a sketch comedy show that allows the theatrically inclined to display their talents, whilst the Mooting, Paper Presentation and Witness Examination Competitions are strongly contested. The Client Interviewing and Negotiation Competition gives students a chance to escape the casebooks for a practical insight into the workings of a solicitor-client relationship.
In the sporting arena, the Annual Law Cup provides a day of friendly competition between law students and practitioners and the UQ Law vs QUT Law Rugby Match provides some light relief mid-way through the second semester. Additional sporting activities have included the UQLS Pool Competition, Golf Day and more recently the UQLS Bowling Night.
- Careers Day and Professional Breakfast
To assist students in learning about and gaining employment with their law qualifications, the UQLS organises an annual Careers Day where students can talk to and gain information from a wide range of employers. In addition the UQLS hosts an annual Professional Breakfast where students and practitioners get a chance to meet and mingle whilst enjoying a delicious breakfast and entertaining speeches from members of the legal community.
- Publications
The UQLS produces three major publications each year. Legal Directions provides valuable careers information, the always popular Obiter is a bi-annual magazine that takes a humorous look at the Law School and life in general, whilst Res Ipsa is the UQLS Annual, chronicling the year that has passed. The UQLS also provides a notepool which produces typed lecture transcripts and notes for many courses, downloadable from the UQLS website.
- Membership
Membership of the UQLS is open to all students and entitles members to substantial discounts and input into the running of the Society. It is hoped that new students will view membership of the UQLS as an essential and enjoyable part of the law program.
- Contacts
The UQLS Office is located in Room W227 of the Forgan Smith Building. The Executive of the UQLS can be contacted during business hours at the UQLS Office, and can also be contacted on ph: +61 7 3365 1491, email: mail@uqls.com or visit www.uqls.com.
Justice and the Law Society (JATL)
Justice and The Law Society (JATL) is a productive and vital organisation within the TC Beirne School of Law. An active organisation with diverse membership, JATL performs an important role in promoting awareness of women's issues, general legal issues and social justice issues and also provides a forum for members to raise concerns. Membership includes females and males, law and non-law students and professionals within the law and in other fields.
JATL's aims and objectives are to:
- Expose gender inequality within the legal profession, the administration of the law and the wider community and to work for its elimination
- Investigate, publicise and provide information about social justice issues affecting the community
- Increase awareness of social implications of laws and policies and to ensure that legal education is situated within a social context
- Provide networks among members, students, the legal profession and professional women's networks (locally, nationally and internationally)
- Celebrate women's achievements in the law and other areas
- Represent, address and improve women's issues and concerns
- Be a forum for members and others to raise concerns, whether these be directly related to educational matters or to broader community issues
- Maintain a dynamic relationship between JATL and its members, the Law School, staff, sponsors and the profession
- Advocate on behalf of UQ law students for a high quality, fair and equitable legal education
- Be an inclusive and accessible society
JATL achieves these goals by hosting professional networking functions, social and sporting functions and educative seminars, by organising an academic paper competition and by publishing an annual academic journal and quarterly newsletters.
JATL's office is located in Room W209 of the Forgan Smith Building. JATL can be contacted on ph: +61 7 3365 7997, email: jatl@law.uq.edu.au or visit http://jatl.org.
Australian Legal Philosophy Students Association (ALPSA)
The Australian Legal Philosophy Students Association (ALPSA) exists to encourage and reward the study of legal philosophy in Australian law schools and is currently managed by students of the TC Beirne School of Law.
To find out more please visit www.alpsa.net.