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General Handbook


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Faculty Information and Assistance

For Undergraduate Students

students
Who Can Help?
If you require advice about enrolment, degree requirements, progression within programs or information about course content and requirements, contact the School of Law Student Services Office.
 
Please refer to the School of Law homepage for timetables and general information: www.law.unsw.edu.au

Advanced Standing

The policy of the School of Law is to grant credit (up to 48 units of credit) for courses which have been successfully completed in another School of Law where those courses, in the opinion of the School, are equivalent in content and depth to comparable courses at UNSW. Applicants who have completed a full law degree in another country are normally granted credit equivalent to one third of the UNSW degree. All matters regarding credit are at the discretion of the School.

Computing Information

The School of Law manages 2 multimedia computer laboratories equipped with around 30 computers each. A third lab comprising 20 computers is set aside for the exclusive use of postgraduate students. For printing, smart-card controlled laser printers are available to all Law students. Postgraduate research students receive their own dedicated workstations, equipped with multimedia computers and printing facilities.

All students have access to a range of research tools from the computer desktops including email, www, national and international legal databases and library catalogues. For more information, please refer to www.law.unsw.edu.au/Current_Students/it/index.asp

Course Descriptions

Descriptions of courses offered can be found in the Online Handbook at legacy.handbook.unsw.edu.au

Enrolment Procedures

Continuing Students
Continuing students should follow the procedures publicised at the end of the year.

New Students
New students are informed of enrolment procedures at the time of offer.

Full-time Status
The majority of Law programs are full-time and require attendance at classes four days per week. Students are reminded that a full-time program is intended for students who devote the principal part of their available time to their program. Any additional commitment, in the form of paid work, training for sport at a significant level of achievement or voluntary work in community organisations, is bound to have an effect on a student's work. Past experience shows that additional commitments beyond 10–15 hours per week almost invariably have an adverse effect on student performance and in some cases have led directly to failure. Students are strongly advised that, if an outside commitment of this order is likely to be maintained consistently over a semester, the commitment should be discussed in advance with the Associate Dean (Undergraduate). It should be noted, however, that it is the individual teachers who determine whether outside commitments should constitute grounds for consideration in meeting the requirements of particular courses.

Part-time Status
Students undertaking the part-time program for Bachelor of Laws are expected to attend classes on two afternoons per week during the academic year, usually between 2pm and 8pm on Day 1 and 2pm and 6pm on Day 2.

General Education Requirements

Law students enrolled in the Bachelor of Jurisprudence/Bachelor of Laws program must complete General Education requirements. All other law students are deemed to have satisfied the General Education requirement. For detailed information about General Education courses, please see the General Education page.

Guidelines for Maximum Workload

The sequence of study for each program is set out under the individual Program entries in this Online Handbook.

Any student wishing to vary their program (law or non-law) by enrolling in a reduced program or in courses which do not conform to the normal sequence, must seek approval from the Co-ordinator of Undergraduate Education.

Undergraduate students wishing to overload must submit an 'Overload Request' form at the Student Services Office. Permission can only be given on the basis of a written application in advance of the relevant semester.

Rules for Progression

The School of Law uses a range of assessment methods to assess students. These vary from course to course and include formal examinations, takehome examinations, research projects, class participation, essays and moots (mock trials).

Progression in programs is generally dependent on the successful completion of prerequisites and corequisites for courses as listed in the schedules of courses for each program. Students are required to have completed 84 units of credit of core Law courses before enrolling in any elective course.

Where the academic record of students is not of a satisfactory standard, the Co-ordinator of Undergraduate Education may recommend a restricted program. This applies to all undergraduate programs offered by the Faculty.

Cross-Institutional Studies and Exchange Programs

Students enrolled at UNSW may be permitted to undertake some studies at overseas (exchange) or interstate institutions (cross-institutional studies) provided that they are equivalent in content and depth to comparable courses at UNSW.

Courses which have been successfully completed at another law school (either in Australia or overseas) may be credited to the student's degree up to a maximum of 48 UOC.

The School participates in several overseas exchange programs, and encourages students to take advantage of these. Information regarding these programs can be obtained from the International Exchange Office.

Students should discuss their plans for cross-institutional studies with the appropriate student advisor in order to determine both their eligibility to undertake such studies and the 'creditability' of the courses under consideration.

Financial Assistance to Students

students
Full-time students in need of temporary financial assistance should be aware of the existence of certain grants and loans sponsored by some Sydney law firms. Students who feel they may need assistance of this type are invited to discuss their requirements on a strictly confidential basis with the Dean.

Professional Associates

In addition to full-time teaching staff in the School of Law, each year there are a small number of distinguished members of the legal profession in NSW who work in close association with full-time teachers. They participate in all aspects of the presentation of programs covered by their professional specialisation.

Student Representatives

Each year in October a certain number of students are elected to membership of the Faculty for the following year. All students enrolled in the Faculty are eligible to stand for election and to vote. Student Members attend School meetings and sit on various Faculty and School Committees.

The Law Society

The UNSW Law Society is the peak representative body for all students in the Faculty of Law. It represents the University at the Australian Law Students' Association and is considered to be one of the largest and most respected student-run law organizations in the region. Its key objectives are to maintain strong relationships between the student body and the Law Faculty, Legal profession and Community.

The Law Society Executives are elected annually. The body consists of a Managing Executive and various Committees led by two Co-Presidents (male and female).The responsibilities of the Law Society fall into four main portfolios:
  1. Academic: This includes Publications (First Year Survival Guide, Innominate, Law Annual, Alternative Law Careers Guide, Poetic Justice); Competitions (Mooting, Client Counselling, Witness Examination and Negotiations); Policy Development (Curriculum Reviews and Speakers' Forum);
  2. Internal Activities: This includes Social Events ( e.g. Orientation Law Camp, Law Ball, Intervarsity Sporting Competitions, Intervarsity Parties, Regular Law Drinks, Trivia Quizes and informal social events); Information Technology; and Member Services;
  3. Careers: This portfolio strives to enhance the opportunities available to students by hosting a series of events in conjunction with International and National Legal and Non-legal firms. These include Firm and Student 'Connect' Events, Headstart Mentoring Program, Asia Law Careers Fairs and a range of Firm presentations and workshops throughout the year. A series of Careers Guides are also released annually.
  4. Equity and Community: This portfolio ensures that the interests of Graduate, Indigenous, International, Female and Queer students are represented. In addition, there are a range of events such as the Social Justice Advocacy Project and forums are organised. They also publish the bi-annual "Court of Conscience" a social justice focused publication.
Membership in the Law Society is automatic for all students enrolled in an LLB program.

Law Society contact details - Room 305, website: www.unswlawsoc.org

Undergraduate Information

Home | A Message from the Dean
School of Law - Faculty Information and Assistance | Summary of Programs
Australian School of Taxation - Faculty Information and Assistance | Summary of Programs

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.