Shaking up the Sydney University Law Society

In 2018, the Sydney University Law Society (SULS) continued the hard work of previous executives and introduced a series of new initiatives to enrich the law student experience.

The social agenda started off with the O-week law party, bringing together new and old students before classes officially started. But even with classes going, we’ve hosted drinks, first-year law camp, trivia, informals and an interfaculty pub crawl.

Ensuring the social program caters to a broad range of interests and groups, this year the society introduced the ‘SULS does culture’ series, focused on non-alcohol-centred events such as film screenings at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and comedy nights.

We’ve been especially proactive in engaging a diverse range of students. For starters, all SULS social events and textbook schemes are supported by equity grants, so students can join and get the most out of their university experience regardless of socioeconomic status.

Further, our Women’s Portfolio, Queer Portfolio, First Nations Portfolio, International Portfolio and Ethnocultural Portfolio have continued to advocate for less advantaged students. We have continued to build female professional networks, strengthened LGBTIQ+ support in firms and the bar, donated to First Nations community projects, welcomed international students and launched a SULS race journal and panel.

Student wellbeing has also been a major focus for the society this year. We’ve created plenty of opportunities for students to get involved in social and competitive sport and provided free bouldering, yoga and running sessions for members to help combat stress and fatigue, especially during exams.

Those who aren’t members might not know that SULS works closely with the University of Sydney Law School to develop a strong curriculum and improve the learning experience of its students. We do this by getting involved in the student and staff curriculum boards, the education guide and annual student survey.

Significant work has also gone into our Careers Portfolio, which provides students with insight into the public and private sectors, academia and research, international and domestic practice, and access to the annual Careers Guide which explains the ins and outs of applying, qualifying and practising in a range of legal sectors.

We are especially proud of our mooting successes this year as quarter-finalists, semi-finalists, runners-up and winners in a number of intervarsity and international competitions. 2018 saw the launch of the Sydney Law School and SULS inaugural Women’s Mooting Program, to encourage and develop women in mooting. This was organised by 2017 Jessup winner and alumna, Alyssa Glass, embodying the spirit of mentorship that is central to law at Sydney.

SULS is grateful for the thriving Sydney Law School alumni community and optimistic about future generations. It has been a privilege serving and celebrating the Sydney law community this year.