Here some myths are unraveled and some answers found! Of course, if any of these don’t answer your questions, please feel free to contact Victor Perez, Blackstone’s 2009 Grad Rep at gradrep@blackstone.asn.au.

What’s a ‘Grad Student’?
A Grad student is a student who has completed a bachelor degree in another discipline before starting their law degree. A ‘fresher’ is someone who is coming to law school straight from high school. Grad students range in ages greatly – we have Grad’s who get seniors discounts, and other Grad’s who are in their early 20’s – variety is the spice of life.

How is a Grad student’s degree different to the Undergraduate degree?
Grad students generally complete their law degree in three years depending on their academic history. This requires them to overload and complete up to six law subjects a semester. Typically 30 law subjects are completed over the three-year program.

What if I’m a mature age student, but not a Grad?
We’d love to have you at our events – they’ve always been Grad/Mature Age events, except the “mature age” bit usually gets dropped off the end. It’s likely that given the age disparities, you’d fit in better in the Grad community anyway. A lot of the concerns of Grad students, such as combining work, family and study, are particularly pertinent to mature age students also.

Are there any ‘tricks’ to easing the Grad work-load?
Definitely – look to enroll in the law schools intensive subjects. Usually five various subjects are offered and can be completed intensively in one week for each topic – some are even pass/fail subjects. You might also look to any exemptions you can get for your previous studies. Also, start networking early and meet as many other Grads who are studying the same program as you, and form a study group to ease the load.

Can I do intensives anywhere else?
Other Unis offer intensive and correspondence courses. These include Murdoch, Notre Dame and some eastern states based Unis such as the University of New England. Be aware that you need to get approval from the Law Sub-Dean to complete these subjects, and often they are full fee paying subjects.

What if I am trying to balance work and study?
Most subject lectures are repeated at least twice over the course of a week, you can balance your roster to be able to attend one of the lectures. Also, core subjects are usually recorded on audio and can be accessed via the internet through Web-CT. Numerous tutorials are offered for each subject – check them out on the Law School web site. Keep in mind that some subjects are traditionally offered in later time slots during the week and are easier to attend for those working during the day.

How do I meet other Grad students?
The first key event is the Graduate Wine and Cheese evening, where other Grads and members of the faculty meet to sip wine, nibble on cheese and get to know one another.

Other great events are the Law Dinner/Debate, Law Ball and the Courtyard Shows, which always attract lots of Grads. We also usually organise a pre-show get-together to ensure that those who can’t attend the event due to family or work commitments can still catch up with everyone, as well as providing a sneaky kick start to the evening for those that can come along!

Is the Blackstone Society only for Undergrads?
No way! Blackstone caters for all ages and all backgrounds. Come on down and meet the crew at some stage – you’re always welcome to come and sit in on a committee meeting on Tuesday at 1pm in the Common Room, particularly if you’ve got a particular issue. Uni is not just about the books: many a law topic can be far better appreciated over a good beer or strong coffee, so pop in and say “Hi” at any time.

Can Grad’s compete in First Year Mooting?
Yes – any Grad student enrolled in Contract, Crim Law, Legal Process or Torts is eligible to enter the First Year Mooting Competition.

When do I apply for clerkships?
Law students typically apply for vacation clerkships when they are in their penultimate (second last) year of study. If you plan to complete your law degree in three years, you will need to apply at the beginning of your second year of the degree. This means your applications will be comprised of only your first year of marks, so make sure you pay attention in Legal Process or it could come back to hurt you! The cut off is usually in early March for the law firms in Perth.