Inside this issue

Vice-President Address

A thank you to our semester 2 volunteers

A message from one of our volunteers as to why you should get involved with SLS!

An update of SLS activities in semester 2

A review of the SLS end of year dinner

Meet the 2015 committee

A list of our sponsors

Opening hours:

SLS will be closed over the summer break and will

reopen in February 2015.

Sorry for any inconveniences.

Please contact sls@law.utas.edu.au if you have any

inquiries.

NEWSLETTER.

About the Student Legal Service

The Student Legal Service (SLS) is a not-for-profit legal service based in Hobart. SLS provides free and confidential legal

advice to all members of the community. We also provide referrals to community legal centres, private practitioners

and other relevant legal and non-legal services. Our advice sessions are run by senior UTAS law students under the

supervision of practicing solicitors. SLS is privileged to have the support of supervising solicitors from Women’s Legal

Service, Tenants Union and the Environmental Defenders Office. SLS also provides migration advice to UTAS Students on

a weekly basis. The migration sessions are run by migration agents.

Semester 2 2014

Volunteering with SLS- A message from Anneliese

I think the overwhelming emotion I felt after finding out I got into the SLS program was one of absolute terror. I barely

remember what I eat for breakfast each morning, let alone remembering laws and how they apply. Advising real clients?

Writing up succinct, well thought out letters? IMPOSSIBLE, I thought. But somehow, we all managed to do it.

Of course as law students we are always keen to bolster the resume, but SLS is more than that. It is such a great opportunity

to get involved in both helping out the community, and consolidating your legal knowledge. There is a huge difference in

writing academic essays to actual practical advice. You have to think outside the box – a client may come in with a housing

issue, but it could be connected to family law because they’ve lived with a partner, or estate law – reminding the client to

update their will.

The lawyers are all really easy going, provide fantastic advice and guidance around both the client and your own career

options. Of course there are times that the client’s issue is beyond your knowledge, or beyond the subject you have studied.

But usually a quick revision (read: a quick Wikipedia), of the broad issue before your session can really help you think about

questions you need to ask.

For me, being a lawyer was never really going to be an option. But I am still so glad to have participated in SLS. It has

definitely improved my self confidence, helped me to develop a client interview style, connect the law together (and finally

understand it!), not to mention getting to know your fellow law students a little better.

So, moral of the story – it is okay to be terrified, but in the illustrious words of Michael Scott of The Office – you miss 100% of

the opportunities you don’t take. So get involved! The experience is well worth it.

A big thank you to our semester 2 volunteers!

From left back: Kate Elphinstone, Vicki Veldhuizen. From left front: Sarah Lucas, Nicolle Ang,

Luke Ogden, Anneliese Farmer, Claire Jago, Absent: Cassie Hayes.

Vice-President Address:

SLS enjoyed another busy semester helping students and members of the community! During semester two we continued with our endeavours to reach out to various members in the community to increase the awareness of SLS. We held a barbeque, and went to community events, including the National Student Volunteers week, and the Kingston Linc. SLS had a very successful annual dinner, which included an inspiring talk from the Hon Justice Helen Wood and a raffle. Congratulations again to the winners, and thank you to everyone who came along to help us thank those who have contributed to SLS this year! At the end of the semester we welcomed the new committee for 2015. The 2014 committee wish them luck for the year ahead.

SLS BBQ’s:

SLS held a free BBQ outside

Woolworths Moonah earlier

this semester to raise

awareness about the service.

Thanks to everyone who

helped organise and run the

BBQ’s throughout the year.

SLS semester 2 activities:

SLS in Kingston (left):

We spent a day at Kingston LINC as

part of our mission to become further

accessible to the community.

Volunteer Expo (right):

SLS had a stall at volunteer day to

raise awareness of our service.

SLS Raffle:

As part of our fundraising efforts,

SLS held a raffle. Thank you to

the business’s that sponsored us

by donating prizes. Additionally,

thank you to everyone who

entered the raffle and to our

volunteers and committee

members who organised the

prizes and sold the tickets.

Congratulations to the lucky

winners.

SLS Annual Fundraising and Thank you Dinner

Raffle prizes were announced, delicious pizza and pasta was inhaled, and ridiculously cheap beverages were poured…

where were we? At the annual SLS Thank You and Fundraising Dinner! Held on 22nd September, it was a fantastic night to

celebrate all of the hard work and dedication from the SLS committee members, volunteers, supervising solicitors and

everyone else that had helped out in 2014. We were lucky enough to have the Hon Justice Helen Wood give a

memorable speech on professionalism and integrity. While the Honourable Justice regretfully conceded how ‘we can’t all

work for the UN’, she offered thoughtful guidance on how to make a positive contribution in our legal careers, no matter

what area we end up working in. We all went home after a gooey chocolate calzone and with the idea that the smallest

of gestures can mean just as much as saving the whales.

Thank you to Solo Pasta & Pizza for having us and to Victor Huang for taking fantastic photos.

Meet the 2015 committee

We would like to thank our sponsors for their continued work and efforts supporting our cause!

Contact us: Email: sls@law.utas.edu.au, Phone: 62262847, Website: tasstudentlegalservice.com.

President: Jacob Skierka

Vice President: Emiel Hampel

Secretary: Saraswathy

Varatharajullu

Treasurer: Shelby Llewellyn

Publicity Officer: Hannah Grey

Social and Sponsorship

Representative: Emily Mahoney

IT General Representative: Patrick

Deayton

Third Year Representative: Lauren

Hargrave

From top left: The Law Society of Tasmania, Tasmanian University Union, Solo Pasta and Pizza, Women’s Legal Service

Tasmania, Environmental Defenders Office, Tenants Union.