The four WA law schools have proposed standardised recruitment dates for law firms who are taking on vacation clerks and graduates in 2012. These dates have been compiled as a guidelines – for information specific to a firm, you should contact that firm directly.

Summer / Winter Vacation Clerkships 2012/2013
Summer 2012/2013 and Winter 2013

Applications open: Monday 23 July 2012
Applications close: Friday 17 August 2012

Review and interview: Monday 20 August 2012 to Friday 21 September 2012

Offers: Wednesday 26 September 2012
(open for 2 hours)

Graduate Recruitment 2013 – 1st round offers

First rounds offers made: Friday 27 July 2012 (9am)
First round offers held open til: Tuesday 31 July 2012 (5pm)

Graduate Recruitment 2013 – standard offers

Applications open: Recommended date Monday 2 July 2012
Applications close: Friday 17 August 2012

Review and interview: Monday 20 August 2012 to Friday 14 September 2012

Offers made: Wednesday 19 September 2012 (9am)
Offers held open to: Thursday 20 September 2012 (5pm)

Former High Court Justice The Hon. Michael Kirby will be speaking at two events in the week preceding CHOGM.

Community forum - Commonwealth LGBTI Human Rights Forum: a public meeting with Michael Kirby. October 25, 5-7pm, Mallesons Stephen Jaques (Level 10, Central Park, 152 St Georges Terrace Perth). Space is limited so please RSVP: email hidden; JavaScript is required

Pre-CHOGM lecture - The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG: “Commonwealth Reform Package: A Human Rights Preview”. October 27, 6-7:30pm, Law Lecture Theatre, UWA School of Law.

Update: tickets are still available for the 2011 Freehills Final Year Dinner! Online ticket sales were exceptionally popular and hit a predefined ticket limit, however we have confirmed that places are still available and raised the ticket limit. Please continue to order tickets at trybooking.com/XGK!

The 2011 Freehills Final Year Dinner is on October 27 at the University Club, starting from 6pm in the Courtyard. Check out the Facebook event for further details. You can also order tickets online!

After ordering tickets, please ensure you download and complete the table form.

This session is designed to take the students through drafting business letters and emails.  It will give them a clear understanding on formatting, writing style and importance of getting the communication right.  As there has been a tendency in the legal market to move toward writing in plain English, the Writing and Drafting workshop would also concentrate on writing clearly and concisely.  The main focus being the use of plain business language to ensure documents are easier to read and comprehend.  It will also cover some of the most common (and embarrassing) grammatical errors and how to avoid them.  The session will be delivered by Carine Cruse, Special Counsel in the Construction department.  After the event there will be an opportunity to network with Clayton Utz staff members.

Date:           Thursday 29 September 2011
Time:           4.30 – 6.00pm
Venue:          Clayton Utz offices, QV1 Building, Level 27

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Sarah Orifici on email hidden; JavaScript is required as soon as possible.

The IHL Mooting Grand Final will take place at the Federal Court on Monday 19 September. Please arrive from 6.30pm for a 7pm start and make your way to Courtroom 1. Refreshments will be served after the moot.

Come down to the E-Moot Court at 1pm on Monday 10^th October for a presentation from Clifford Chance on graduate careers and legal services in Australia. Lunch will be provided.

Please note – the date and venue have recently changed.

The grand final round of the competition will be held on Tuesday, 18th October. The location will be announced closer to the date. For further details, visit the first year mooting information page.

A sports law specialist from Middletons will deliver a lecture to give you a taste of what it might be like to practice sports law.  The lecture will be held at 1pm on Tuesday 6th September.

Blackstone’s night of nights will be held on Friday 7th October at the Burswood Astral Ballroom.

If you want to get involved or would like more information please contact Monika Plattner at email hidden; JavaScript is required

The Norton Rose Amazing Race will be held on Friday 16th September.  More details will be released soon.  If you have any questions or would like to assist in running the event please email Ben Tomasi at email hidden; JavaScript is required

To be held at Maya Masala on Thursday 8th September.  For full details see the fb group: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=252909948077111

JOIN THE FIRM THAT IS TRULY GOING PLACES

DLA PIPER IS RECRUITING NOW FOR SUMMER CLERKS

DLA Piper is the truly local, truly global business law firm where everything matters. With offices in 30 countries around the world, including five offices in Australia, we believe the quality of our services is defined by the quality of our people.

As one of our Seasonal Clerks you will do real legal work with great clients and gain first-hand experience in the practice of law. You will be guided by partners and senior legal staff who are some of the most approachable, experienced lawyers in their fields.

Our partners and senior legal staff are always on hand to guide you through exciting and challenging projects. You’ll also have the chance to work alongside lawyers who are involved in international, multi-jurisdictional deals.

We are seeking people from a diverse range of backgrounds who are as engaged and dedicated as they are inventive, balanced and friendly. We value curiosity, commitment, ambition, commercial and client awareness, smart thinking, team skills and leadership potential, communications skills and experiences outside of academic life.

We run two seasonal clerkship intakes in November/December 2011 and in January/February 2012. Both intakes are three weeks in duration and each clerk will be placed in one of the Firm’s practice groups during in this time.

Applications close: 19 August 2011

For further information on how to apply, please refer to the careers section of our website.

Venue: Forrest Centre: 221 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000 (Walk straight through to the outdoor area of Rigby’s bar)
Dress Code: Professional/ Business
Refreshments provided

All law students are welcome to attend the annual Humanitarian Law Perspectives 2011 Lecture on Wednesday 17 August 2011. Please arrive at Central Park Theatrette at 5.30pm for light refreshments and a 6pm start to the lecture. Geoff Skillen will speak on the modern history of international criminal law and Magda Karagiannakis will discuss the current case against General Ratko Mladic.

Entry is free but bookings are essential. Please RSVP to Vivienne Ryan at email hidden; JavaScript is required or (08) 9225 1928.

See the flyer for more detail.

The Oxford University Society of Western Australia Inc. invites you to an evening at Clayton Utz which will provide information on applying to Oxford University and the Rhodes Scholarship. View the event poster for further details.

RSVP to Aimee Lailey – email hidden; JavaScript is required – or tel: (08) 9426 8520. Note: places are limited.

This Wednesday, please join us at Blake Dawson’s offices to enjoy the paper presentations of 5 of the Law School’s brightest! Visit the Facebook event page for more details.

Click here for more details.

Click here for more details.

Click here for more details.

Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) is the native title representative body for the Traditional Owners of the Pilbara, Murchison, Gascoyne and Mid-West regions of Western Australia.

YMAC would like to make you aware of the vacation clerkship opportunities offered this year.

Read more…

The Perth Law Careers Fair will be held on the 6th of May, from 11am to 4pm, at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. This is an event that is simply not to be missed for any Law student, no matter what kind of job you are seeking.

A joint initiative between the Law Students’ Societies of the University of Western Australia, Notre Dame University and Murdoch University, the Perth Law Careers Fair has been providing students with information about their many career options and giving them the opportunity to meet potential employers in a variety of fields since 2003. The first Careers Fair attracted over 500 students, and at the 2009 and 2010 Careers Fairs there were over 1000 students in attendance.

The 2011 Perth Law Careers Fair will bring together 70 different employers under 1 roof at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre and presents a goldmine of information and opportunities to law students.

The 2011 Careers team has made a huge effort to make this Careers Fair the most broad-ranging one yet! In recognising that whilst some of us have wanted to be a lawyer since birth, a large number of students undertaking a Law degree will seek employment in non-legal positions.

In light of this, we have teed up a large selection of finance and accounting firms, government and NGOs to add to the usual range of law firms.

In summary, this years Perth Law Careers Fair has it all. Don’t miss out on finding out about YOUR FUTURE!

If you plan on attending ALSA as a general delegate, we need to register you by April 24! Click here for more details.

Super Thursday this year bring a seven-a-side mixed soccer competition to determine who reigns supreme over the sporting landscape amongst the three law schools. Everyone is more than welcome to pull on a shirt and play, or just come and sit on the sidelines and cheer. There will be complimentary gourmet tapas and French champagne (aka UDLs and sausages) afterwards on the foreshore for those who want to hang around for a spot rehydration and socialising.

See you there, Ben and Anna

On Friday 13 May, it’s a clash of the titans in the 2011 Blake Dawson Law Dinner Debate!

The Argyle Ballroom at the Parmelia Hilton will become a battlefield as a team of students tackle the giants of the legal profession on the topic “That the law is better on TV than in real life.”

Representing the profession will be the Hon. Wayne Martin, Chief Justice of Western Australia, Joseph McGrath, WA Director of Public Prosecutions, and Peter Ward, special counsel at Blake Dawson.

Fighting for the student view will be Andrew Gannon, Olivia Loxley and Ben Willesee.

Good food, good wine, good company and good laughs. The 2011 Blake Dawson Law Dinner Debate is a showdown not to be missed.

Tickets are $75 for members; $90 for non-members. The price includes a two course meal and a four-hour drinks package. Tickets are on sale outside the Blackstone Common Room from 12-2pm, Monday through Thursday.

The 2012 Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) Graduate Program is a ten month learning and development program offering placements in a diverse range of teams, giving exposure to the variety of programs and policies carried out within DEEWR.

Read more…

Check out our ALSA 2011 Conference page for more details. Note that if you plan on attending as a general delegate, we need to register you by April 24th! If you have any questions, get in touch with Nik Barron, Education Vice President (email educationvp at blackstone.asn.au).

ALSA’s National Essay Competition is open till 1 April 2011. See the poster or the ALSA website for further details.

Meet other graduate/mature students, members of the law faculty and reps from leading commercial law firm Clayton Utz.

The guest speaker will be Equity Lecturer, Peter Creighton who will reflect on his recent work in Fiji and discuss where your law degree can take you.

Details: 7pm, Friday, 25 March @ the Byrneleigh, 156 Hampden Rd, Nedlands.
Tickets: $10 for Blackstone members or $15. Tickets are on sale now. Get yours from the Law Courtyard each day from 12pm-2pm.

See also: the event page on Facebook.

Looking for a career where your ideas could really make a difference? UBS’s graduate and internship programs are a chance for you to experience for yourself what it’s like to be part of a global team that rewards your input and believes in succeeding together. Wherever you are in your academic career, make your future a part of ours by attending our campus presentation. You can meet some of our senior leaders and put your questions to our team.

For more details, click here to view the event poster.

Please note: this event is not being run by the Blackstone Society. The Blackstone Society will be running the Perth Law Careers Fair 2011 on 6 May 2011. This event is being externally run by the Australian Association of Graduate Employers.

Every year Australia’s leading employers travel the country looking for high quality graduates and undergraduates. The Big Meet is your opportunity to meet up to 100 of these organisations in one day, in one location.

You are invited to join many of Australia’s leading organisations at Perth’s most important careers event – The Big Meet.

The Big Meet is the ultimate careers fair for undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates from all disciplines. Whether you’re looking for graduate employment, a new job, vacation work, an international internship, a gap-year experience, voluntary work, travel, overseas opportunities, a teaching job or postgraduate education, The Big Meet can get you started. Don’t miss out!

Read more…

It’s time to get your game face on, because competition sign-ups begin in Week 1!

TUESDAY 1 MARCH

The Clayton Utz Trial Advocacy ‘How To’ Session is on Tuesday 1 March at 1pm in the Moot Court. Come down to hear Georgia Mortley, Senior Lawyer in Litigation at Clayton Utz, dish out advice on advocacy techniques, and James Marzec, half of last year’s winning team, give his insight on preparing for the competition. The sign-up sheet will go up straight afterwards and will fill up within the hour, so make sure you and your partner nab a spot!

WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH

The Freehills Client Interview ‘How To’ Session is on Wednesday 2 March at 1pm in the Moot Court. Raymond Chester-Wallis, half of last year’s winning team, will speak about his experience in the competition and offer tips and advice on effective interviewing techniques. Client Interview is one of the most popular competitions of the year, so make sure you come down to sign your team up!

This year, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in Blackstone sport, regardless of how good you are. Each Wednesday afternoon, Blackstone fields male, female and sometimes mixed teams in the University-wide interfaculty sports competition, which has a strong focus on participation, with a number of purely social divisions in most of the sports. We also have a number of ‘grudge matches’, and other sporting afternoons throughout the year. For more details, check out the Blackstone Sports page!

Blackstone’s Academic Mentoring Program is on again!

Students enrolled in Crim II, Contract II and Torts II are invited to come along to three sessions of Blackstone’s Academic Mentoring Program, to hear tips and advice from final year Honours Students.

Dates and details for Semester Two:

Monday 11 October (Week 11): 5-6pm
TOPIC: Preparing for Exams
- Crim II: Law Lecture Theatre
- Contract II and Torts II: Law LR 2

Monday 25 October (Week 13): 5-6pm
TOPIC: In the Exam Room
- Crim II: Law Lecture Theatre
- Contract II and Torts II: Law LR 2

Hope to see you there!

What: Blackstone v Notre Dame Law Students Society Footy Grudge Match
When: Friday 15 October, 2.00pm for a 2.30pm start
Where: Fremantle Oval

Blackstone needs boys who can play footy to help us reclaim the Footy Grudge Match trophy from our friends down in Fremantle.

Contact email hidden; JavaScript is required if you’re keen to play.

Spectators welcome. Free sausage sizzle and drinks for players and supporters!

What: Prez’s Keg
When: Friday 15 October, 5.30pm – 8.30pm
Where: Claremont Hotel
Cost: Free!

Come and celebrate the end of the 2010 Blackstone Year and find out who will comprise the 2011 Blackstone Committee.

Generous bar tab will be on.

NB: Venue has been changed from Captain Stirling to the Claremont Hotel.

What: Blackstone DLA Phillips Fox Sports Dinner
When: Wednesday 20 October, 7.00pm – late
Where: Hans Northbridge
Cost: $20 members/ $25 non-members

Join Blackstone for a night of cheap Asian food and even cheaper wine to celebrate the Society’s success in the 2010 Interfaculty Sports Competitions. Dress black tie. Arrive on time so as not to miss the Boozelow Medal count and the awarding of the Players Player Award.

Tickets on sale this week!

What: Blackstone Society Final Year Dinner
When: Thursday 21 October, 6.00pm – late
Where: UWA University Club
Cost: $80 members/ $85 non-members

What a night we have planned for you!

6.00pm: Your evening will begin at the natural stomping ground of the law student: the Law Courtyard. It is tradition to take a Leavers Photo… and where better to do so than the site of many a stolen kiss and drunken dancing? We’ll provide the bubbly.

7.00pm: You will make your way across to the UniClub for the main event. Join us in?the Banquet Hall for a sumptuous 3-course meal and 4 hours of wine/beer/soft drinks. Hey, we’ll be graduates soon, we may as well size upthis joint!

11.00pm: At the conclusion of the dinner, you are invited to join us at Bar 1907 for the official FYD after-party. Use your ticket for priority entry, $10 cocktails all night and access to our VIP area (and perhaps a bar tab…TBC).

Tickets on sale this week!

What: End of Year Courtyard Show
When: Friday 29 October, 7pm – midnight
Where: Law Courtyard
Cost: $10 members/ $15 non-members

Tickets on sale soon

Watch this space.

What: Women in the Law Mentor Scheme Breakfast
When: 7 am, 23 September 2010
Where: Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Riverview Room
Cost: $25 member/$30 non-member

The First Year Mooting Competition involves a simulated hearing before an appellate court in which individual counsel argue particular points of law. The Competition is open only to students enrolled in Legal Process, Contract, Criminal Law or Torts. A simplified version of the Open Mooting Competition, the focus of the competition is the research and preparation of a List of Authorities and the presentation of oral argument. First Year Mooting is the only competition tailored specifically to first year students, and as such is an excellent introduction to Blackstone competitions as well as a chance to meet fellow students in the early stages of their legal studies. Experiencing the air of solidarity and mutual apprehension in the library in the days leading up to Round 1 is a must!

Given the significant degree of familiarity with the law required, mooters tend to devote themselves to preparation for the three days before the moot. The problems, set before the Full Supreme Court or the Court of Criminal Appeal, concern only topics studied in First Year and are designed to promote argument in areas of the law that are unsettled or subject to recent developments. The competition aims to provide students with an introduction to mooting, as well as the opportunity to develop their research and analytical and advocacy skills, in the formal environment of an appellate court.

Questions regarding this competition can be directed to our Mooting Competitions Officer Jessie Smith at email hidden; JavaScript is required" target="_blank">email hidden; JavaScript is required

Competition Dates

Round 1A: 30th and 31st August 2010

Round 1B: 6th and 7th September 2010

Quarter-Finals: 20th September 2010

Semi-Final: 11th October 2010

Grand Final: 18th October 2010

Competition Materials

• Assessment Sheet
• Information for Associates
• Information for Competitors
• Information for Judges
• Problem Guidelines
• Sample list of Authorities
• Rules

GRAND FINAL THIS WEEK!!

International Humanitarian Law is the body of law that regulates conduct between opposing sides during times of war or armed conflict. The International Humanitarian Law Mooting Competition involves a simulated trial before the International Criminal Court, in which teams of two counsel represent the prosecution or the defence. The focus of the competition is the preparation of an Outline of Submissions and the presentation of oral argument.

Given the basic knowledge of international humanitarian law required, there is a generous preparation period before the moot and teams are provided with a case list suggesting relevant authorities. The problems concern alleged breaches of international humanitarian law and are designed to reflect actual criminal prosecutions, as well as address emerging issues in the law of armed conflict. The competition aims to provide students with an opportunity to explore the area of international humanitarian law, as well develop their research analytical and advocacy skills in a formal environment.

Questions regarding this competition may be directed to our Mooting Competitions Officer Jessie Smith at email hidden; JavaScript is required" target="_blank">email hidden; JavaScript is required

Competition Dates

Round 1: Monday 16th August & Tuesday 17th August 2010

Round 2: Monday 23rd August 2010

Semi-Final: Monday 30th August 2010

Grand Final: Wednesday 8th September 2010

Competition Materials

• Assessment Sheet
• Information for Competitors
• Information for Judges
• Rules
• Sample Submissions

What: Blake Dawson “Queen of Hearts” Law Ball
When: Friday 20 August 2010, 7pm – Midnight
Where: Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
Cost: $115 Members/$125 Non-Members

The mother of all Blackstone events is approaching and this year promises to be the biggest and best Law Ball to date!

Girls book your hair appointments, buy a fabulous dress, do your nails, bronze up your bodies, wax your legs, tweeze your brows, gloss your lips, glue on your lashes, whiten your teeth and botox your faces. Boys, dust off last year?s suit and shampoo your hair.

Blake Dawson and Blackstone present a Queen of Hearts inspired Alice in Wonderland Ball. That is all we can say, the rest shall be revealed on August 20.

Tickets $115 members/ $125 non-members, on sale from Wednesday 28 July at midday

What: Quad Law Show
When: Friday 13 August 2010, 7pm till late
Where: Club Bay View
Cost: $10 Members/$15 Non-Members

Join your future colleagues from UWA, Murdoch, Notre Dame and ECU Law Schools for a night of fun and frivolity at our favourite, and fittingly scary, haunt Clubba.

Cheap drink specials from 7:30-9:30pm

Tickets $10 members/ $15 non-members, tickets on sale from Wednesday 28 July at Midday

What: Norton Rose Amazing Race
When: Friday 13 August, midday – 4.00pm
Where: Starts at the Esplanade, Perth
Cost: $20 per team of 4

The Norton Rose Amazing Race is a scavenger hunt with a twist, run through Perths CBD.

This year’s Race is going to be the most intense and most outrageous Amazing Race yet! So find three mates and sign up your team of four at the Blackstone ticket selling table this week and next.

Entry is only $5 per person with great prizes on offer and a few drinks at the end of the day! You will need a digital camera and make sure you are wearing underwear…

What: Blackstone Penultimate Students Cocktail Party
When: Thursday August 4 2010, 6.30-10.30
Where: Etro Bar on King St in the City
Cost: $30 Members/ $35 Non-members

Forget the 3rd Year Dinner at Hans… this year Blackstone is going slightly more up market.

The Penultimate Students Cocktail Party – for students doing Admin and Evidence, and those of us who are slightly in between 3rd year and final year.

Guest speakers as well!

Includes canapes and a bar tab – get there early before it runs out!

Tickets on sale in the Law Courtyard Monday – Thursday – 12pm – 2pm

Sponsored by Clayton Utz

Join the Facebook group here!

The How-To session for the 2010 Allens Arthur Robinson Negotiation and Mediation Competition will be held on Tuesday 27th July at 1 pm in the Moot Court.

For anyone thinking about signing up for this competition, guest speaker Jackson Allen from AAR will be coming along to give some points on what the judges will be looking for.

For anyone thinking that they would like to get involved in Blackstone competitions generally, there …will be some other speakers introducing the competition and sharing their experiences.

It shouldnt go for any longer than 45 minutes and the sign-up sheets will be distributed at the end-make sure you’re there because they will fill up fast!!

Sponsored by Allens Arthur Robinson

Clients of law firms increasingly want to settle disputes without the time and expense involved in proceeding to court action. Therefore, skills in dispute resolution are essential for lawyers in all practice areas, not merely litigation. The Blackstone Society is keen to encourage students to keep alternative career paths in mind during their studies, and skills learned from competing in Negotiation will be of value to everyone, not matter what profession they plan to pursue after graduating from Law School.

The Allens Arthur Robinson Negotiation Competition involves a simulated negotiation of a legal issue in which teams of two negotiators represent different parties to the dispute. The focus of the competition is the achievement of a negotiation outcome that satisfies the goals and expectations of each team’s client. Given this objective, no knowledge of the substantive law is necessary, and only limited pre-negotiation preparation is required. The competition aims to expose students to a form of consensual resolution of disputes that is increasingly prevalent in the community, while developing their skills of negotiation, perception and communication.

Queries regarding this competition can be forwarded to our Competitions Office Joey Leith at email hidden; JavaScript is required">email hidden; JavaScript is required

Competition Dates

Round 1: Tuesday 3rd August, Wednesday 4th August, Tuesday 10th August and Wednesday 11th August 2010

Round 2: Tuesday 24th August,  Wednesday 25th August 2010

Round 3:  Tuesday 7th September 2010

Semi-Final: Tuesday 14th September 2010

Grand Final: Tuesday 21st September 2010

Competition Materials

• Assessment Sheet
• Information for Competitors
• Information for Judges
• Rules
• Negotiation Guide
• Sample Problem

*** Grand Final THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT!

Wednesday 12 May, 6.45pm for a 7.00pm start, District Court of Western Australia (TBC). The Judge will be everyone’s favourite Torts Law lecturer, Dr Brenda McGivern.

The Grand Finalists are:

Hannah-Mei Andrews and Lauren Bourke

and

Andrea Bradley and Ilona Quahe.

Refreshments will be served afterwards.

Sponsored by Norton Rose

The 2010 Norton Rose First Year Trial Advocacy Competition involves a simulated trial in which teams of two counsel represent the prosecution/plaintiff or the defence. The focus of the competition is examination and cross-examination of witnesses to provide an answer to a particular legal problem, together with the presentation of brief opening and closing addresses. Given this fact-finding objective, no knowledge of the substantive law is necessary, and only limited pre-trial preparation is required.

The problems, set before the Magistrate’s Court, the District Court or the Supreme Court and heard by a single presiding judge or magistrate, are designed to reflect real court practice, and are often based on actual civil and criminal matters. The competition aims to provide students with a practical understanding of the rules of evidence and an insight into the operation of the court system, while developing their skills of persuasive argument in a formal environment.

Trial Advocacy is one of the most dynamic and exciting competitions that Blackstone organises; if you harbour secret ambitions of yourself in a starring role in Law and Order this is the competition for you. You can also indulge your theatrical fantasies by volunteering as a witness.

The Coordinator of the 2010 Norton Rose First Year Trial Advocacy Competition is Joey Leith. Please direct all queries to email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Competition Dates

Round 1: Monday 29^th and Tuesday 30^th March 2010

Round 2: Tuesday 13^th April 2010

Semi-Final: Tuesday 27^th April 2010

Grand Final: Wednesday 12^th May 2010

Competition Materials

-        Assessment Sheet
-        Information for Associates
-        Associate’s Timesheet
-        Information for Competitors
-        Information for Judges & Magistrates
-        Information for Witnesses
-        First Year Trial Advocacy Rules
-        Problem Guidelines
-        Sample Problem
-        First Year Trial Advocacy Guide

Sponsored by Norton Rose

The 2010 Norton Rose First Year Trial Advocacy Competition involves a simulated trial in which teams of two counsel represent the prosecution/plaintiff or the defence. The focus of the competition is examination and cross-examination of witnesses to provide an answer to a particular legal problem, together with the presentation of brief opening and closing addresses. Given this fact-finding objective, no knowledge of the substantive law is necessary, and only limited pre-trial preparation is required.

The problems, set before the Magistrate’s Court, the District Court or the Supreme Court and heard by a single presiding judge or magistrate, are designed to reflect real court practice, and are often based on actual civil and criminal matters. The competition aims to provide students with a practical understanding of the rules of evidence and an insight into the operation of the court system, while developing their skills of persuasive argument in a formal environment.

Trial Advocacy is one of the most dynamic and exciting competitions that Blackstone organises; if you harbour secret ambitions of yourself in a starring role in Law and Order this is the competition for you. You can also indulge your theatrical fantasies by volunteering as a witness.

The Coordinator of the 2010 Norton Rose First Year Trial Advocacy Competition is Joey Leith. Please direct all queries to email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Competition Dates

Round 1: Monday 29^th and Tuesday 30^th March 2010

Round 2: Tuesday 13^th April 2010

Semi-Final: Tuesday 27^th April 2010

Grand Final:  Tuesday 4^th May 2010

Competition Materials

-        Assessment Sheet
-        Information for Associates
-        Associate’s Timesheet
-        Information for Competitors
-        Information for Judges & Magistrates
-        Information for Witnesses
-        First Year Trial Advocacy Rules
-        Problem Guidelines
-        Sample Problem
-        First Year Trial Advocacy Guide