Footnotes (by the Sydney University Law Society‪)‬ SULS Publications

Whether you've only just entered your law degree, or are a few years in, it is guaranteed you have come across clerkships one way or the other. So what exactly are they? Are they the right thing for you? What do they mean for your career beyond law school?

Join us as we sit down with ex-clerks and USYD alumni Bru Hammer and Ammellia Fu from White & Case as they discuss their clerkship journey and how they eventually transitioned into a graduate role at the international law firm.

And if you're feeling inspired, applications for White & Case's Winter Clerkship are open 4 March - 7 April 2024! See more at https://www.whitecase.com/careers/locations/australia/students/our-offer/vacation-clerkships.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Acknowledgement of Country

(0:29) Introduction to Episode

(0:59) Bru and Ammellia Personal Introductions

(2:30) What is a clerkship?

(6:19) The Application Process

(9:37) Do you need to be interested in commercial law?

(12:57) The firm's university to work transition

(16:58) Work as a Graduate

(20:58) Possible International Experiences

(26:45) Working in international jurisdictions

(28:49) General advice for post-university

(33:39) Law School vs Working in Law

(35:50) Thinking about the future

(38:05) Parting Advice

(39:29) Outro

Featuring: Bru Hammer and Ammellia Fu

Hosts: Tamsyn Bellew, Jacinda Yang

Producers: Tamsyn Bellew, Betty Huang

Executive Producer: Jacinda Yang

Footnotes (SULS) is based on the unceded land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and pay respects to the
Elders past, present and emerging.

The Australian jury is known as a quintessential part of our legal system, as it provides a way to enable the general public to participate in and access the law. This tenant of the Australian court has been touted as essential to a fair trial, and ensuring the transparency of the legal process. Yet, as with any part of the legal process, the jury system has its own discourses. So, join us as we take the jury system to trial, as we discuss things from the media's effect on our jury system, to the importance of judge directions, to the nuances of the preremptory challenge. 

Timestamps:

(0:00) Acknowledgement of Country

(00:20) Introduction

(01:45) The Empanelling Process

(17:30) The Trial Itself

(24:44) Deliberation and Post-Trial

(31:36) An Alternate Jury System?

(38:16) Outro

Additional Sources:

ALRC Aboriginal Peoples and the Jury: https://www.alrc.gov.au/publication/recognition-of-aboriginal-customary-laws-alrc-report-31/23-general-issues-of-evidence-and-procedure/aborigines-and-juries/ 

NSWLRC on Jury Selection: https://www.lawreform.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Publications/Reports/Report-117.pdf

Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book on Liberato Direction: https://www.judcom.nsw.gov.au/publications/benchbks/criminal/onus_and_standard_of_proof.html#:~:text=%5D%3B%20%5B129%5D.-,%5B3%2D605%5D%20The%20Liberato%20direction%20%E2%80%94%20when%20a%20case,1.

Bilal Skaf Retrial: https://www.theage.com.au/national/jurors-blunder-wins-gang-rape-retrial-20040506-gdxsug.html

Study on American vs Australian Juries: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub/1100/

Footnotes (SULS) is based on the unceded land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and pay respects to the Elders past, present and emerging.

In June 2022, the NSW Parliament passed the Bail Amendment Act 2022, introducing new reforms, specificially requiring bail to be "refused following conviction and prior to sentencing where the offender will be sentenced to full-time detention, unless special or exceptional circumstances can be established". We sit down with The Honourable Justice Bellew as we discuss his experience with judging one of the first bail application under the reforms, and the potential effects these reforms can have on the future of Australian law.

(0:00) Introduction of Bail Act Changes

(4:27) Interview with Bellew J Begins

(5:50) Bail Applications since Reforms

(6:25) The Neil Duncan Case

(9:36) The Reforms

(11:46) The word "will"

(12:39) Role of the Media

(14:07) The Connection of Sex Offences

(15:01) Retrospectivity (and the lack thereof) in the Duncan Case

(19:25) Retrospective Cases

(20:24) Effect of Reforms on Court Resources

(23:14) Effect on Early Appropriate Guilty Pleas

(26:15) "Infelicity of Drafting"

(27:38) Presumption of Innocence

(30:00) Show-Cause Inconsistencies

(30:50) Final Advice

(31:40) Outro

Featuring: The Hon. Justice Geoffrey Bellew

Hosts: Tamsyn Bellew, Brandon Velleley

Producers: Nick Leavenworth, Tamsyn Bellew, Veronica Lenard, Brandon Velleley

Executive Producer: Jacinda Yang

Footnotes (SULS) is based on the unceded land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and pay respects to the Elders past, present and emerging.

In the finale of our Careers miniseries, we sit down with the Dean of Sydney Law School, Professor Simon Bronitt, as we discuss legal opportunities outside clerkships and commercial law. Nick talks to Simon about his own academic career and those of the students he has seen come and go through Sydney Law School. Simon also offers some exceptional advice on how to standout and make the most of your time at university.

(0:00) Introduction

(1:48) Interview with Professor Simon Bronitt Begins

(3:35) Why Academia?

(9:20) What makes a successful student?

(13:35) Getting Ahead During Law School

(16:47) Options Outside of Clerkships

(22:36) Law Areas of the Future

(28:24) Working Internationally and Technology's Influence on the Workplace

(32:44) Careers Resource Recommendations

(38:03) Benefits of being a Research Assistant

(41:55) Common Pitfalls of Students

(44:25) Not Getting a Clerkship

(47:12) Conclusion

Featuring: Professor Simon Bronitt

Hosts: Nick Leavenworth, Tamsyn Bellew

Producers: Nick Leavenworth, Tamsyn Bellew, Veronica Lenard, Brandon Velleley

Executive Producer: Jacinda Yang

Footnotes (SULS) is based on the unceded land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and pay respects to the Elders past, present and emerging.

Welcome to episode 2 of our careers miniseries and this time we’re discussing the topic currently on every penultimate student’s mind: CLERKSHIPS, and possible alternatives.

Join Tamsyn and Nick as they sit down with Vivienne Davis, who completed a clerkship last year, and Bridget Dawson, who was a paralegal at the Crown Solicitor’s Office, as they discuss all the secret tips and tricks to nailing their application processes. Both our guests for this episode will share their experiences and advice, providing some great insights for the (hopefully) future clerks and paralegals listening!

This episode was produced in collaboration with SURG.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Intro

(2:42) Vivienne’s Interview Begins

(5:59) Vivienne’s law journey

(7:49) Research Process and Choosing the Right Firms

(18:47) The Application Process

(26:19) Interviews

(29:42) Balancing Work/Applications/Life

(35:10) Bridget’s Interview Begins

(37:00) Subverting the Expectation of Doing Clerkships

(43:05) Being a Paralegal at Crown Solicitor’s Office

(48:35) Benefits of being a Paralegal

(53:16) Skills from the Paralegal Position

(55:40) Advice for Students

(57:15) Outro

Featuring: Vivienne Davis and Bridget Dawson

Hosts: Nick Leavenworth, Tamsyn Bellew

Producers: Nick Leavenworth, Tamsyn Bellew, Veronica Lenard, Brandon Velleley

Executive Producer: Jacinda Yang

Footnotes (SULS) is based on the unceded land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and pay respects to the Elders past, present and emerging.

With clerkship season well and truly underway, this episode is the first of three in our careers miniseries, intended to help our fellow students with all things careers.

To kick things off, Nick sits down with the SULS Vice President (Careers), Thrishank Chintamaneni, to discuss the ins and outs of beginning your professional legal career during university. This episode discusses general careers information, ranging from law school advice to clerkship applications, for whether you are a seasoned penultimate student, or a fresh-faced first year just entering the professional scene.

This episode was produced in collaboration with SURG.



Timestamps:

(0:00) Acknowledgement of Country

(0:23) Introduction

(7:12) Interview with Thrishank

(7:33) Careers while Starting of Law School

(9:57) SULS and Other Resources

(11:24) Clerkships Advice

(19:45) General Careers Advice

(31:06) Outro - Coming Up Next



Featuring: Thrishank Chintamaneni - Vice President of SULS (Careers)

Hosts: Nick Leavenworth, Tamsyn Bellew

Producers: Nick Leavenworth, Tamsyn Bellew, Veronica Lenard, Brandon Velleley

Executive Producer: Jacinda Yang

Footnotes (SULS) is based on the unceded land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and pay respects to the Elders past, present and emerging.