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1. COMPETITION BANK - CALL FOR QUESTIONS

The ALSA Competitions Bank is a major resource, contained within the ALSA website, for LSS's across the country for sourcing quality problems and questions for use in internal Legal Skills Competitions. The Comps Bank relies on submissions from LSS's to remain current and provide new questions each year.

Access to the Comps Bank is regulated under ALSA By-law 06, and requires that each member LSS submits two problems to the Comps Bank each year to ensure continued access: One Moot problem and one other problem. The second problem may be another Moot problem, or it may be for Client Interview, Negotiation, or Witness Examination (IHL Moot Problems are not contained in the Comps Bank).

Problems are due to administration@alsa.asn.au by 5.00pm Friday 10 February. After this time, LSS's will have their passwords to the LSS Secure Section (and the Comps Bank) reset, and only those LSS's who have submitted problems will be granted access. Access can be given at any time after the cut-off once an LSS submits their problems. If an LSS is unable to submit problems (for instance, they do not run internal competitions) but would still like access to the Secure Section, please let me know in order to arrange access.

The following Criteria apply to problems submitted to the Comps Bank:

The problems must be complete - e.g. Negotiation must contain both sets of secret facts, Client Interview must contain both the memo and client script, Wit Ex must contain both witness statements, etc.
The problems must be of a standard that they are able to be used in internal competitions of any LSS - e.g. they mustn't be overly simple or too complex. They should be of a standard you would be happy to use in your own competitions.
Past problems are acceptable; new problems need not be produced specifically for the submission, however, the submissions must not already be contained in the Comps Bank.
Problems may be within any jurisdiction, including the High Court.
Problems must be within the areas of law outlined in the relevant ALSA Championship Rules.
Moot problems must specify if any legislation is permitted in argument, and specify which Acts may be referred to, if any.

If you have any questions, whether about the Comps Bank, the submission process, or the problems themselves, don't hesitate to contact Matthew Littlejohn (administration@alsa.asn.au). Please ensure your LSS contributes to the Comps Bank, to allow us to continue to provide such a valuable shared resource to Australian law students.

2. ALSA CONFERENCE 2012 - 'ADVANCING AUSTRALIA'S FUTURE LEADERS'

9 - 16 July

Championship Cup

The Conference team is pleased to announce the 2012 Championship Cup. Earn points for your law school through promotion of the Conference. Make sure you send photos or links to championship@alsaconference.com.au so that points are allocated. The winning law school will receive a $1000 grant!

Transport Passes

Want to make your trip to Conference that much easier? Keep an eye out for the new transport passes! But you will have to get in quick as we will be booking the flights early.

Registration

Gold (includes accommodation) $850, Silver (no accommodation) $500. Click https://docs.google.com/

spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEVUUzNyYzY2UUlMYXhHa0J5R05ybmc6MQ to register for an alert when rego opens.

Competitions

The Grand Final Schedule is up! Head over to the Facebook page for more information. We are pleased to announce that the Grand Finals will be held in the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Melbourne.

Sports Day

Want something to do on the day off during Conference? This year will be jam packed with a sports. Just like the London Olympics but far less serious and much more fun, the sports day will give you an opportunity to earn valuable Championship points. Whether you are on the field or merely cheering on your team, this will be a great opportunity to let your law school rivalry run wild.

Cocktail Fundraiser

Like cocktail functions? Care about law student mental health? Want an opportunity to network? The Mental Health Cocktail Fundraiser is just for you! Held on the second night of Conference, this optional extra will be the perfect opportunity to support a great cause. All profits will go to a mental health charity.

Want to keep track of all that is going on? Make sure you follow us on twitter @ALSAConference and 'like' us on Facebook www.facebook.com/alsa2012.

3. EDUCATION UPDATE

Aimee Riley - ALSA VP Education

Happy 2012! I hope everyone is enjoying their break and had a great Christmas and New Years.

In the past month...

Working Party

All four Working Parties have held successful teleconferences. Full agendas and minutes are to be made available for your perusal on the ALSA website very shortly. All enquires in regards to working parties should be directed to educationofficer@alsa.asn.au.

Upcoming Summary Report

ALSA was privy to a conference held in Melbourne to discuss the graduate qualifications and specifically the work experience components of the Diploma of Law. I am currently in the process of furnishing a Report in Summary for members which will be made available also on the website.

Portfolio Review

I have now conducted a full review of the Education Portfolio as we near the midway point of my term. This review has drawn to my attention certain areas within the portfolio which I will be looking to amend and/or change to strengthen the policy drive and position of ALSA. Of particular note is the changes to the current working party structure. With the minimal attendance by students at the teleconferences and the cost of running such teleconferences alternative means of communication is preferred to best allocate the resources of ALSA. Accordingly I strongly encourage members and their LSS's members to join and participate in the online discussions on each of the respective Facebook pages. Furthermore email communication will be more forthcoming to those who have joined the membership lists. We encourage all LSS's to encourage students to join and remind you that membership does not entail an automatic workload membership can be for merely informative purposes and each individual drives their own involvement.

To sign up, please click on the following links:

Higher Education

Curriculum Review

or email Naomi to join Depression and Mental Health or Social Justice at educationofficer@alsa.asn.au.

Stay updated by following our facebook groups:

Higher Education: http://www.facebook.com/groups/214397688620203/

Curriculum Review: http://www.facebook.com/groups/270923942938171/

Depression & Mental Health: http://www.facebook.com/groups/172086102873956/

Social Justice: http://www.facebook.com/groups/181961745211268/

Media Release on Changes to HECS

A stronger focus needs to be placed on increasing the dissemination of information to students, LSS's, Law Schools and bodies affiliated with Education and the study of Law specifically such as the Law Council and DEEWR in preference to external newspaper sources. Accordingly please click here to the internal media release for dissemination to all students regarding important changes to HECS. I strongly urge you to email this to all students as it affects the vast majority and will help clear up any inconsistent advice they may have received regarding the 2012 changes.

ALSAtv

ALSAtv is an under utilised resource that is poorly received by LSS's and members. Accordingly I am seeking further feedback as to whether we continue this production or not. I am proposing to use ALSAtv as a vodcast series from Council. It is my belief that if we were to film and produce useful snippets from Council and Conference to be posted online universities that are affiliated but may not be able to attend may get great benefit. Furthermore it would be a resource that other members of your executives can constantly access for information and ideas that were unable to attend, or not the designated ALSA representative to share the benefits of ALSA Council.

Policy Submissions

Furthermore I will be placing a stronger emphasis on policy writing and submission for the remainder of my term. In this regard I would like each LSS to provide me the relevant details (including contact names and emails) of any law journals, student publications etc that I will be able to include in a mailing list to disseminate policy to as it is released. I am also calling for submissions from LSS's and students as to educational issues they believe should be at the forefront of ALSA's policy. The current issues I believe to be at the forefront in need of discussion are: 1. The AQF, 2. Base Funding and the cost of the study of law (inclusive of the new HECS changes), 3. The JD and FEE HELP, 4. Social Justice and law students - Incorporating RRR into academia. I would also like to prepare a report for your members to be released in O-week on What is ALSA Education? These are the topical issues I believe need to be addressed during my term. I am therefore calling for open submissions from students on previously submitted discussion papers, or merely information and perspective that can be considered by myself in preparing these documents during the remainder of my term. It is my goal to workshop policy at April Council and therefore this will be largely driven by the demand and interests of LSS's. I welcome all comments via email to vp_ed@alsa.asn.au.

Lastly, I am currently writing a presentation on the introduction of a capstone unit to the LLB degree which will be presented at a conference in Brisbane next month. Should any student/LSS wish to espouse views they would like to be considered to contribute to my presentation could they please be emailed to vp_ed@alsa.asn.au by no later than Friday 13 January 5pm.

I look forward to hearing from Council over the next few months in regards to the abovementioned matters.

Best,

Aimee Riley

4. ALSA REPORTER

ALSA Reporter is a biannual academic publication incorporating articles from leaders in the legal field and from students. The theme for the next edition is laws of conflict, including issues such as the use of drones, conventions of war, transition to democracy and constitutional change, especially in context of the Middle East Uprisings. If you or any students you know would like to contribute an article, please get in touch with the ALSA Publications Reporter at alsa_reporter@alsa.asn.au for further information.

5. YOUR LAW SOCIETY STORIES

Tell us the things that are happening at your law school over the holidays! Send us photos of your Law Society stall at O Week! Submit photos or updates within 200 words to Kelly at marketing@alsa.asn.au. Your submission may be featured in the next ALSA Monthly!

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