The UTS Law Students Society, better known as the UTS LSS, successfully hosted the Australian Law Student Society conference in July. This annual conference is an opportunity for law schools from across Australia and New Zealand to participate in a range of competitions: mooting, negotiation, witness examination, client interview and paper presentation. Over 250 students from 35 law schools across Australia and New Zealand travelled to UTS to take part in the conference.
We have worked hard this year to look inwards and improve the way we run our events and initiatives, with the aim of improving inclusion and diversity across the Society.
- Georgina Hedge, LSS President
As well as hosting the annual conference, the LSS received two awards for excellence and two UTS students were acknowledged as the champions of the Negotiation competition. The UTS LSS Women’s Collective was awarded the Best Advocacy Award, and the Society received the Spirit of Leadership Award for its effective work in advocating for law students.
LSS President, Georgina Hedge, proudly commented:
“The UTS LSS’ receipt of the ALSA Best Advocacy and Spirit of Leadership Awards is an exciting achievement for the 2023 LSS Council. We have worked hard this year to look inwards and improve the way we run our events and initiatives, with the aim of improving inclusion and diversity across the Society. The Council has worked so hard all year to ensure our initiatives are catered directly to the needs of UTS Law students, and we are proud that these ALSA Awards recognise the 2023 Council’s efforts.”
Georgina Hedge (President, LSS)
Natasha Lloyd (Secretary, LSS)
The Best Advocacy Award recognises the UTS LSS Women’s Collective. The Women’s Collective is a new initiative introduced in 2023 by the UTS LSS Women’s Representative, Eliza Lo Russo. The group looks to create a safe space for female identifying UTS Law students by providing them with networking, social and educational opportunities, aimed at amplifying the voices of diverse women within the UTS Law network.
The Spirit of Leadership Award acknowledges the amazing initiatives and work undertaken by the LSS. The UTS LSS is the peak representative body for UTS Law Students. As the largest student-run organisation at UTS, the LSS aims to elevate the standard of the student experience for all law students to enable students to reach their full potential. By meeting and supporting students’ educational, social and career needs, the LSS is a valued partner with the Law Faculty.
Emma Gaston and Chandra Renouf
The Negotiations team of fourth year students Emma Gaston and Chandra Renouf received the Champions of the National Negotiation Competition award. Emma is studying a Bachelor of Law/Communications (Social and Political Science) and Chandra is completing her Bachelor of Law/Business (Finance).
Emma and Chandra are thrilled to win the negotiation competition, which saw 15 teams from Australia and New Zealand compete for the championship. Emma and Chandra have been competing together since second year, including in the 2021 UTS LSS Hearsay Podcast Junior Negotiation Competition and the 2022 UTS LSS Gilbert + Tobin Open Negotiation Competition. They are now aiming to represent Australia next year in the International Negotiation Competition.
Several UTS Law academics and alumni judged the competitions, agreeing that the standard was of an exceptional quality with all competitors being well prepared, professional and highly skilled.
I was impressed by the competitors’ passion for their chosen topics and appreciated the opportunity to discuss their interesting ideas, critiques, and recommendations.
- Brandon Stewart, Lecturer
Lecturer Brandon Stewart judged the written and oral paper competition. He noted:
“The papers and presentations covered important and emerging legal and policy issues – from the implications of the “brave new world” of data legislation, to modernising family law in New Zealand, to the impact of the Waitangi Tribunal on the status of Tikanga Māori in New Zealand law. I was impressed by the competitors’ passion for their chosen topics and appreciated the opportunity to discuss their interesting ideas, critiques, and recommendations."
In congratulating the LSS and the Negotiation team, UTS Law Dean, Professor Anita Stuhmcke, acknowledged the leadership of President Georgina Hedge and the Society, their hard work and courage in hosting the conference and achieving significant recognition for their service and advocacy.
The Law Faculty is extremely proud of the contribution of the LSS and its executive to the student experience. These national awards are evidence of their professional skills and commitment to ensuring law students have diverse opportunities to develop as lawyers with a sense of justice and fairness.
- Professor Anita Stuhmcke, UTS Law Dean
Congratulations to the UTS LSS for the successful hosting of the conference and for an outstanding achievement as skilled advocates and negotiators. These students are the hallmark of UTS as a Law Faculty committed to the public good.
Find out more about the UTS Law Students Society