Our Director (Students) provides pastoral care to undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as academic advice on course progression.
Director (Students)
Hi, my name is Maria Abertos and I'm the Director of Students in the Faculty of Law.
I hope you are enjoying your law studies this session. However, life happens, and sometimes study is the last thing on your mind.
In this video, I want to briefly outline the ways that we -– the University and the Faculty – might be able to help you if you experience difficulties while studying at UTS Law. The links to the services I refer to will be made available.
If stress, more serious mental and/or physical health issues are impacting your academic performance, please reach out to UTS Counselling – it's free and it's confidential.
For on-going mental or physical health issues the UTS Accessibility service might be able to help you. This service assists you to access various university support services. It can help you make requests for assessment arrangements and reasonable adjustments to help you better participate in your studies. They can also help you with access to subject materials in alternative formats.
Also, sometimes it might be a good idea to reduce your study load. If you are struggling early in the session, consider dropping a subject.
However, you should note that to withdraw from a subject without financial or academic penalty, you must withdraw by the census date.
If you withdraw from a subject after the census date, you can apply for a remission of fees and no academic penalty, but you must establish special circumstances and provide supporting documentation.
The census date varies depending on the session in which you are enrolled. You can find the census date for sessions in the UTS Handbook or google "UTS Academic Dates".
Some of you might have significant carer responsibilities. The Faculty Academic Liaison Officer, Ellen Rock, can help you balance these responsibilities with your studies. Ellen can liaise with you and the subject coordinator in relation to any assessment adjustments that might be required.
Throughout the session, you should carefully monitor announcements via Canvas as well as your student email address. That is how teaching and administrative staff will communicate important information with you about your subjects.
Checking Canvas will be easier if you download the Canvas app and make sure that you do not turn off email notifications.
If you are struggling to meet the due date for an assessment task because of health difficulties such as Covid or other special circumstances, you might also be able to apply for an extension for the due date of an assessment task. Applications for less than one week are done at the faculty level; for extensions beyond one week follow the process for an application for special consideration. Make sure you apply for an extension before the assessment is due.
Information about extensions at the faculty level is available under the Current Students tab on the UTS Faculty of Law webpage. Read the requirements carefully and supply the supporting documentation requested.
Finally, there is me, The Director of Students. I look after coursework administration matters such as study progression, academic caution or exclusion, complaints, and appeals. In my role I am also here to help you with issues relating to your subjects or your course, or more general difficulties with your law studies.
If you want to talk about any of these services, how you are feeling, or perhaps seek study plan advice, contact me and we can meet. My email address is: Maria.Abertos@uts.edu.au.
There is a lot of important information in this video. However, my most important tip is: if things start going pear-shaped for you – it might be your physical or mental health, it might difficulties for people close to you, it could be unexpected caring responsibilities – reach out for help straightaway. Please don't suffer in silence.
And please don't wait until the end of session or when you have missed due dates for your assessment -- it could be too late. So please, if you are feeling stressed, perhaps overwhelmed, speak up and reach out. We will do our best to help you. If you don't know where to go, contact me and I will help you!
Working in close partnership with the Law Students’ Society, the Director also oversees our Mentoring Programs and provides input into the Buddy Programs. The DoS for Spring 2024 onwards is Maria Abertos.
Listen to the Law Student Society's The Bar podcast interview with previous DoS and now ADE Tracey Booth to hear about support for students at the Faculty of Law. You can also find out more about the Law Student's Society-led support initiatives such as peer mentoring, buddy projects and subject tutoring on their website.
Law Student Wellbeing Program
Each year, the Faculty of Law will host wellbeing workshops partnered with batyr, a mental health organisation. These workshops are designed to support students' mental health and wellbeing. That's because we know that a law degree is stressful, and we want you to enter the legal profession with sustainable tools to care for your mental health.
Explore what's on offer
Come along to either our Autumn or Spring workshop to learn how to:
- Look after your own mental health
- Look after the wellbeing of others, and
- Utilise additional UTS and Faculty of Law resources to support you on and off campus.
You'll also love that we've invited student speakers to share their mental health journeys with you. They will cover how they overcame the stigma of reaching out for support, and show you how to continue looking your mental health.
Batyr are brilliant. Every student - and every staff member - should go to at least one of their sessions, which are all about the crucial subject of mental well-being at university. Studying can be challenging, we all know that, but batyr can help, with sessions that include first-hand experiences from UTS students generous enough to share their inspiring stories. - Dr Sacha Molitorisz, UTS Faculty of Law Senior Lecturer
Melissa Dib, Bachelor of Business Bachelor of Laws, shares her experience.
What is the biggest benefit you have experienced to taking part in batyr mental health workshops
The most beneficial thing to come out of the batyr Mental Health Workshops are hearing the real, raw and emotional stories of other people’s mental health struggles. To a student, it is extremely beneficial to hear the real, human experiences of other individuals. Each story that is shared through this way can resonate with students and other individuals; whether it be one's support person, the emotions associated with one's lived experiences, or the fear and worry that can accumulate when we don’t reach out for help. Hearing these stories has helped really ‘smash the stigma’ associated with mental ill-health. The batyr Mental Health Workshops is one of the most beneficial sessions a student can listen in on and get involved in, from being able to identify signs within myself and others, knowing where and how to reach out, and remembering that we are not alone, the benefits of these workshop are endless.
Why do you think it is important to take proactive steps in managing mental health as a student studying law
Law can be extremely overwhelming - copious amounts of readings, trying to be active in class, participating in extracurriculars, attending networking events and trying to maintain adequate fitness regimes and a social calendar. It is essential that law students know when, and how to take proactive steps in managing their mental health. This includes, identifying the early stages of burnout, ensuring that they say yes to opportunities that will be personally fulfilling, setting goals and importantly, not comparing themselves to everyone else. Each student works at their own pace, has their own goals and aspirations and achieves things at different points of their law school journeys. Law can be daunting, but extremely exciting and rewarding and it is important to take care of yourself so that you can really enjoy everything law school has to offer (which is a LOT!).
Perhaps one top tip for Law students in managing their mental health
Be proactive in reaching out to your friends, tutors and family. Everyone is trying to navigate law school and is stressed about the same university things - am I smart enough to do this? Is this career really for me? Can I make it? Am I doing enough? Reach out to people you know and talk to them about how you're feeling, you will be surprised with just how many people share the same thoughts and feelings you do. You’re never alone!
batyr x Faculty of Law: Law Student Wellbeing Program - Spring Thursday 31 July, 2025, 5:30 - 7:00pm Register via CareerHub |
Academic Liaison Officer
Our Academic Liaison Officer (ALO) is a contact for special need students, where students have experienced misadventure that has affected them for the duration of a session. ALOs are responsible for determining alternatives for assessment arrangements and providing pastoral care.
Legal Career Support
We work closely with the Careers Service to provide regular career seminars and information sessions for our students, including resume writing and application workshops, and careers in law information sessions.
Mentoring programs
- First Year Peer Mentoring Program*
- The LSS Buddy Program
- High Achievers Mentoring Program*
The Faculty of Law offers comprehensive mentoring programs designed to support the various needs of UTS Law students. It is comprised of several discrete programs which target different student groups.
First Year Peer Mentoring Program*
Run in conjunction with the UTS Law Students' Society, this program is tailored to ease your transition into UTS Law. It provides a great medium for you to connect with your peers and senior law students, as well as an opportunity to develop your legal study skills.
Each mentor group is led by senior year UTS Law students who volunteer their time to share their experiences and offer helpful advice to new students settling into the study of law. All mentors receive training provided by the Faculty of Law. Mentors work in pairs and run hour-long sessions over the first six weeks of each session. Follow the First Year Peer Mentoring Program on Facebook for the latest events and digital materials. Not on Facebook? Email the LSS Education team to stay in the loop.
This program is available to all first-year undergraduate and Juris Doctor students, including part-time and international students.
UTS Law Students' Society Buddy Project
Whether you are a new international student, a continuing student, or an exchange student, the Buddy Project is an excellent way to meet, connect with and learn from local and international students studying law. The Buddy Project is run by the UTS Law Students' Society and matches junior Law students with senior buddies who will provide valuable first-hand insight into the day-to-day life of UTS Law and generally help the transition of living and studying in a new country. You can find out further information on the UTS LSS website under their Education portfolio. The program opens early each year and expressions of interest close in March for senior buddies.
High Achievers Mentoring Program*
This program matches top-performing students identified by the Faculty with influential members of the legal profession. Mentors include The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, Tony McAvoy SC and Judge Ann Ainslie-Wallace.
Mentees in this program are selected and invited to participate. Students are selected for the program based on a few variables such as the number of mentors and the student’s academic ranking (by WAM). You can check your WAM on the UTS website. Upon graduation, the UTS Law High Achievers Mentoring Program appears on your AHEG statement.
Outside this program, there are a number of brilliant mentoring programs at UTS and run by the UTS Law Students Society that we strongly recommend students take advantage of which can be found on the UTS LSS website and the UTS Professional Mentoring Platform webpage.
Being involved in the High Achievers Mentoring Program has enabled me to gain a unique and broad understanding of the legal profession and opportunities for young lawyers. My mentor has encouraged me to pursue a range of opportunities. We have discussed both experiences of success and of failure which has been an incredibly insightful part of being involved in the program.
– Hwei-See Kay (Bachelor of Communications (Social Inquiry)/Bachelor of Laws), who was paired with The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG
Meet some of our previous mentees:
Eliza Saville
Law Graduate, King & Wood Mallesons
Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Laws
"Richard [Potok] and I had a flexible arrangement, which worked well for both of us. For some months we would talk every Sunday, for others we would catch up once every couple of weeks. I found that when I was most in need of advice and guidance Richard was always there for a chat."
"For a long time, I just wanted to get my degrees done and start my career. Undertaking an honours project let alone pursuing post-graduate education was not remotely on my radar. However, my time under Richard’s mentorship completely reshaped my approach. I’m now planning to undergo an honours project here at UTS before commencing a grad program. I actually had to defer my grad offer to make the time for this and was pretty nervous to ask my employer. Turns out I had nothing to worry about and they have been nothing but supportive of my decision to defer. Sometimes all you need to do is ask!
Richard (amongst many other things) has dedicated a large portion of his career to furthering Indigenous academic excellence. His passion for further education definitely inspired me to push myself academically and to seek out new learning opportunities!
[My advice is to] trust your mentor and don’t be afraid to talk with them about your academic or career insecurities. I know it can be hard opening up to a stranger, but they’ve been through what you’re going through, they’ve had to make similar decisions to the ones your making, and they’ve clearly done pretty well for themselves! So take advantage of this opportunity to get some well-informed advice."
Vicky Kuo
Law Graduate, King & Wood Mallesons
Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) Bachelor of Laws
"My mentoring experience broadened my knowledge of the opportunities and pathways open to me as a future lawyer."
"I was mentored by Elizabeth Tydd, the Information Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Information and Privacy Commission NSW. Her impressive career and extensive experience in her field brought a wealth of knowledge and insight to my mentoring experience. She was a beacon of knowledge in all areas, but particularly in government practice and administrative law, which was an area I had not previously considered.
'D[uring my mentorship] I received a summer clerkship offer with King & Wood Maellsons in 2021-22. Liz helped me prepare for my summer clerkship interviews by running mock interviews and reviewing my application material, which was incredibly helpful. I will be returning to KWM as a graduate lawyer after graduation.
My advice [for new mentees] would be to be transparent with your mentor and let them know what would be most helpful to you at this stage of your life, whether that be encouragement, advice or even a reality check! Setting clear expectations together at the start of the program will allow you to make the most of the mentoring relationship."
I am now up to my 12th mentee in the UTS Law High Achievers Mentorship Program. All of them have been outstanding. It is a mutual relationship. When I think of my own mentors, I repay in kin and with enthusiasm.
- Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, past justice of the High Court of Australia (1996-2009)
Maximilien Saker
Cyber Security Analyst, ParaFlare
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Bachelor of Laws
"Make the most of your time with your mentor and ensure a balance between pure focus on advice and more general conversations on your mentor's own path, beliefs, and opinions. These conversations can often assist in broadening your own worldview. Unpredicted insights can often occur when a conversation is allowed to evolve naturally."
"The Faculty of Law, through the High Achievers Mentoring Program, put me in touch with the Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG. He, having an illustrious legal career and as a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, has had a lifetime of experience and deep insights to share. [We met] ... fortnightly/monthly... [and] often discuss[ed] a range of areas including: the development of the law, upcoming issues in the regulation of technology, social justice, world politics and other current news, his own path through the law, and advice on how I should proceed. It is always very interesting getting his perspective on things and having great discussions with him.
An important piece of advice that resonated with me was ‘not to get stuck on a railway siding’. It can be deceivingly easy to get overly comfortable with what is familiar to us, where we are no longer challenged to move out of our comfort zones. Therefore, we must not get stuck on this ‘siding’ in many aspects of our lives, including our careers. We must continue to challenge ourselves and develop our careers and knowledge instead of safely remaining on a railway siding we may grow accustomed to instead of the main tracks.
[As a result of this program] I recently had the opportunity to network with Cybermindz, an organisation dedicated to dealing with stress and burnout within the Cybersecurity Industry, to ensure more resilient cyber defence and better health outcomes for those who work within the space. As a patron of Cybermindz, the Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG had asked me to assist him with research into the pressures facing those in Cybersecurity. Cybermindz valued my report, believing it to be a ‘very accurate representation of the issues and consequences (individual through to societal)’ within the space and have asked me to assist them."
Hwei-See Kay
Policy Officer, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Bachelor of Communications (Social Inquiry) Bachelor of Laws
"Keep an open mind to all aspects of your mentors’ lives and careers – you never know which part of it will be helpful or interesting to you."
My mentor was the Hon Justice Michael Kirby, and it was the international aspects of their career that made the mentoring experience unique. His engagement with international tribunals, issues of human rights both within and outside Australia and a global network of legal practitioners have influenced where I ended up going in my career. I [recently] joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a graduate in 2020 and am now preparing for a diplomatic posting to Thailand.
Justice Kirby’s top bit of advice for any student is ‘be a joiner’, getting involved and pursuing what you’re passionate about. Justice Kirby would organise lunch with previous participants of the mentoring program which was a really enjoyable and helpful opportunity to network with junior professionals. We [also] met for lunch once every two to three months in-person.
[This program made me] eager to pursue professional opportunities overseas and the interesting experiences Justice Kirby shared, whilst still always coming home to Sydney, is the main part of the mentoring program I’ve implemented in my career so far."
Sarah Avery
Lawyer, Maurice Blackburn
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Communications (Journalism)
"Through the mentoring program, I was paired with Cristina Cifuentes, the incumbent Commissioner of the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) on the basis of my expressed interest in a career focusing on consumer protection. From the first time I entered Ms Cifuentes’ office at the ACCC, I began to feel more comfortable in legal spaces and circles and through her thoughtful and encouraging advice, I was exposed to the variety of career paths that could fulfil my natural intellectual curiosity and passion for social and legal justice. Ms Cifuentes also assisted me with my CV and mock interview questions to learn the skill of how to present myself to a broad range of employers. That seems a simple task, but I often felt as though I was not good enough to “compete” with my peers.
I wrote to Ms Cifuentes at the conclusion of the program to thank her for her advice and encouragement. I said, “it has made a real difference in the way I frame myself to employers, but also (and more importantly) the way I think about myself and my capacity”. Her reply provides an insight into the valuable and personal advice provided by the mentors thoughtfully selected by the faculty: My true gift to you is not that I think you have capability and potential but highlighting the importance of you developing that awareness. . . You are part of that small group of people that do have the ability and potential to actualise something great. You have been gifted with a conscience as well as intelligence. Use them both and use them wisely.
This is just one of many tailored and immersive programs offered by the law faculty that overall contributes to the great sense of belonging and community I felt and continue to feel within its halls. I felt seen as a whole person by my mentor and the program’s coordinators. I was galvanised in my passions and, importantly, provided with much-needed direction and encouragement in how to practically pursue a career consistent with my values and interests. As is obvious from my current position, which often involves consumer and human rights matters, this initiative made a real-world impact on my career and my sense of professional and personal identity."
* The First Year Mentoring Program and High Achievers Mentoring Program is open to eligible undergraduate and Juris Doctor students.
Meet a mentor:
Betty Ivanoff
Chief Legal Officer, The Star Entertainment Group
“I am a UTS alumni and a practising lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in corporate legal roles in ASX listed companies in Australia, most recently Chief Legal Officer of The Star Entertainment Group Limited.
I have been involved in the Program since its inception in 2011 as a mentor.
I have observed many positive interactions and outcomes from the Program as it creates the foundation for the opening of opportunities, insights and introductions for mentees which they might not be otherwise exposed to. This includes the sharing of so many different pathways and career opportunities which mentees could take years to understand and find out for themselves and also assists them to consider the timing and benefits of ongoing study.
The exposure to a vast array of experiences and possibilities in a safe and personalised environment, which promotes growth and challenge, is an experience which is unparalleled and can impact some very big decisions for students at some very critical junctures.”
For further information contact Crystal Meikle, Student Programs Coordinator, at law.mentoring@uts.edu.au.