Learn more about the trial of the century!Polina Kozlova briefs uson the facts, the law and the judgment of the South African trial.

What is life like outside of law school?

Check out somemovie reviews, good eats

and your horoscope.

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OUTLAW - AUT LAW STUDENTS’ SOCIETY MAGAZINE | ISSUE ONE | MARCH 2015

Summer LawFind out what some of your peers have

been up to over the summer. Clerkships,

as well as other legalpositions.

Pistorius: Lifestyle!

The AUT Law Student Society was established in 2009 to meet the needs of AUT Law students and acts as a link between them and both Faculty and the legal profession.

AUTLSS is 100% run for our students, by our students. Our mission is to represent the interests of AUT’s law students and to enhance their experience of law school, both academically and socially.

By putting on numerous social events throughout the year, organising the extra-curricular NZLSA law competitions, finding mentors for our second years, hosting speaker events which feature guests who are leaders in their field and so much more, AUTLSS assists students in all aspects of their law degree to meet these interests.

Although membership is not compulsory we do encourage it! Becoming a member gets you some great perks throughout the year and supports our Society.

autlawss.org.nz | facebook.com/autlss | @autlawss | info@autlawss.org.nz

AUT LAW STUDENTS SOCIETY

CONTENTSCOVER STORIES08 Pistorius14 Summer Law

PEOPLE4 Meet the AUTLSS Exec6 Who’s behind OUTLAW?

FEATURES18 Competitions22 Library

LIFESTYLE26 Horoscopes27 Brain Food28 Film & TV 30 Important Dates

KARL SCHWARZPRESIDENT

On behalf of AUT Law Students Society I would like to welcome all new students to AUT Law School, and welcome back all those returning. As your President I would like to wish every one the best year ahead and best of the luck for your studies in 2015.

2015 is set to be a huge year for AUTLSS and AUT Law School. Events are put in place for students by students, so I encourage everyone to attend as many of these as possible. A few highlights of the calendar will be the 2015 College of Law AUTLSS Ball, the annual Log O Wood day in Hamilton and the Kensington Swan Mentorship evening to name a few. AUTLSS strives to find a balance between organising the highest quality social events as well as high calibre workshops to encourage academic success.

Look our for the Application Information Session, presented by Russell McVeagh. Clerkships are a vital part of advancing your legal career. Be sure not to miss the information drop from February the 6th to hear about all the exciting opportunities that New Zealand’s top firms have to offer. Whether you fancy yourself at Chapman Tripp, Russell McVeagh or at the likes of Simpson Grierson or Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, make sure you get yourself applying. AUTLSS is paving the way for you to advance yourself in 2015 now take hold of the opportunities in front of you!

Competitions are getting underway in Semester One. Competing is a great way to apply and gain legal skills, as well as creating yourself a point of difference for your self. All information will be released in this newsletter but any questions should be directed to competitions committee at competitions.autlss@gmail.com. We have an open door policy so come on and have a chat and meet the team. I hope to meet most of you throughout the year. All the best!

TAMZIN DEMPSTEREDUCATION VP

Hi all, I’m Tammy. I’m your Education VP for the AUTLSS this year. I’m coming into my final year of my LLB with Hons, which is really exciting. I joined the executive team to help develop the student experience for AUT law and make sure everyone’s getting the support they need.

I’m looking forward to enjoying the fantastic events we have planned with you all. Just say hi if you see me around campus, I’m always happy to listen to your ideas. Have a wonderful O-week, everyone. Best of luck for 2015!

MEET THE 2015 EXEC4

POLINA KOZLOVATREASURER

Hi I’m Polina the Treasurer of AUTLSS for this year! I am 21, entering my 4th year of Law and BBus, also doing honours in law from this year, which I am stoked about!

My main goal as a Treasurer for this year would be to see more members signing up and increased participation in the events, which will help us grow our society financially to ensure greater, bigger and more recognisable society in the future. I hope you all have a great year ahead!

CHRISTINE JAMESADMIN VP

Hi my name is Christine and I am the Administrative VP of the executive this year. I’m studying law and business and I am in my last year at AUT. My role as Administrative VP generally involves a lot of organising and coordinating.

I am responsible for agendas/minutes at meetings, affiliations as well as general help with things like making schedules and booking rooms. I look forward to meeting everyone this year and encourage people to get involved, it’s much more fun that way!

REBECCA CROSSMEDIA LIASON

Hey guys, I’m Bex - your Media Liaison for 2015. I’m in my fifth year of a double degree with Business. This is my second year on the exec and it’s great to see how much AUTLSS has grown in such a short period.

I know we’ll keep going from strength to strength with your support! We have a number of great events coming up so keep to ears and eyes open and get amongst!

ANDY HURSPORTS OFFICER

As Sports Officer for the year, my goals are to ensure that Law students participate fully with pride in interfaculty sports competitions throughout the year as well as getting a good number of students to represent AUT in the annual Log O Wood Competition! Last year, law students from Waikato, Auckland and AUT got together to drink, play sports and party which was a great way to socialise and make new friends.

I look forward to all the sports competitions throughout the year and hope to see all students get involved!

MEET THE 2015 EXEC5

5OF THE YEAR LAW FIRM NEW ZEALAND

CHAMBERS ASIA PACIFICAWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2014 NEW ZEALAND

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OFFSITE +CLIENT VISITS +

VOLUNTEERING +GROUP PROJECTS +

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TEWAKATURE MĀORI LEGAL GROUP

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People like you.Find more people like you at www.graduates.chapmantripp.com

2015/2016 Summer Clerk Programme Applications open Thursday 5 March 2015

Shananne is currently in her 3rd year of a Bachelor of Business majoring in Marketing and in her second year of a Bachelor of Laws. She’s particularly interested in the areas of IP and Commercial Law. Shananne works part time in retail and is hoping to get into the law arena something this year. She loves baking, a good workout/run, socializing with friends and all the cutest puppies!

Emilee is currently in her 2nd year of both a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business, and also works part-time. She is particularly passionate about the human rights area of Law and her business major will be in International Business. Emilee is an avid foodie, she can often be found in Auckland’s great eateries with a good glass of vin rouge!

SUB-EDITORS

Welcome to the first issue of AUTLAW for 2015. As you will notice, we have really shaken things up this year and given the magazine a fresh new look!

A little bit about myself - I am known to cook gourmet meals in the wee hours of the morning, and binge watch entire TV series with a glass of red wine. I work part-time at Stardome Observatory as a presenter, and intern at Landmark Chambers - a human rights law chambers.

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped me out with this issue. Especially my mates, Max, Lauren and Maanya who dealt with my insane design questions and put up my costant nagging.

And, we are already working on the next issue, so if you would like to contribute, please get in touch. Cheers - Pooja

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5OF THE YEAR LAW FIRM NEW ZEALAND

CHAMBERS ASIA PACIFICAWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2014 NEW ZEALAND

LAW AWARDS2014

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HIPS

13WEEKS

16 NOV 201512 FEB 2016TO

OFFSITE +CLIENT VISITS +

VOLUNTEERING +GROUP PROJECTS +

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x7China Desk

TEWAKATURE MĀORI LEGAL GROUP

2 ROTA

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People like you.Find more people like you at www.graduates.chapmantripp.com

2015/2016 Summer Clerk Programme Applications open Thursday 5 March 2015

THE TRIAL OF THE CENTURYThe State versus Oscar PistoriusPolina Kozlova

On the morning of 14th February 2013 the world was shaken by tragic news: the famous blade runner, Paralympic and Olympic champion, Oscar Pistorius has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend, a 30-year-old model, Reeve Steenkamp, who was shot dead at his upscale home in Pretoria (South Africa). Pistorius and his girlfriend had been the only people in the house at the time of shooting. However, Mr Pistorius had said on the scene that he had fired shots through the bathroom door in the belief that there was in intruder in there. The tragic incident and its emerged details left South Africa and the rest of the world asking what went so terribly wrong at the blade runner’s house in Pretoria that night? Could Pistorius realistically have mistaken his girlfriend for an intruder? Why didn’t he check that she wasn’t in the bed before running off with his gun to the bathroom? Why didn’t she respond to his screaming? Why didn’t she shout after the first or second shot hit her? Why was she in the toilet with her mobile phone? But most importantly, why did Mr Pistorius fire four shots in such quick succession at the closed door of the toilet cubicle whilst no harm had yet emerged out of it?

It was, however, up to the honourable High Court Judge to raise all those vital questions throughout the trial and to give her Honour’s decision on: premeditated murder charge, murder charge; and if not found guilty of the above, the culpable homicide charge (equivalent of manslaughter in New Zealand law).

It was early March of 2014 when the long-awaited seven-month trial finally got underway. The court had to get through a large number of witnesses; both experts (such as sound or medical expert) and non-experts (such as neighbours, friends). Judge Masipa and her assessors had to deal with many inconsistencies of the case, which required additional witnesses, and therefore, postponed the trial. The trial had also had to be been postponed by a month when the accused

was sent to medical centre to undergo various medical tests that would determine his mental state at the time of the accident.

It was the prosecution’s argument that the accused had known that he was shooting at his girlfriend, the deceased, who prosecution said, in fact ran from the accused to the toilet with her phone after they had a fight, and locked herself in the toilet being afraid of the accused.Prosecution argued that the accused’s character was of a very possessive person with love for guns who gets into a rage without sensible reason, the neighbours testimonies and analysis of the deceased stomach supported the prosecution view of how things unfolded that night.

Defence, in turn, had tried to discredit the neighbours testimonies saying they were not reliable because they contradicted each other and that there was a chance that witnesses might have been biased by having seen the trial arguments including other witnesses testimonies before coming into court to testify themselves. Defence had also disputed the findings on the deceased stomach content finding by emphasising the unreliability of the technology used to measure the time when the last meal had been taken. This posed a huge problem in prosecution’s suggested account of events, as that was vital evidence which would discredit the accused’s testimony when he had said that the pair was asleep around 10pm. The defence team had also tried to discredit the police officers testimonies by accusing the police of tampering with the evidence on the scene as well as not following the procedures when keeping the evidence for the trial.

There are many points on which people following the trial may disagree on, but one point will certainly be agreed on by everyone; it has been a tough and complicated trial to watch, let alone, to rule on. Some of the evidence that was presented before the court was so technical, such as sound acoustics along the houses in the complex or the trajectory of the bullets, that at times, it was simply not possible to understand as to what direction the evidence was heading to

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FEATURE

and the Judge had to ask the expert witness to try explain the evidence in the lay terms.

It was September the 11th of 2014, when Judge Masipa gave her ruling on the case of Oscar Pistorius. She ruled out the charge on murder, let alone the premeditated murder, on the basis that the prosecution had failed to satisfy the onus to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused had intention to shoot and kill the deceased.

Instead, the court found the accused guilty of culpable homicide, that is, negligent killing of another human being, on the reason that the court ‘’had not being persuaded that a reasonable person with the accused’s disabilities in the same circumstances, would have fired four shots into that small toilet cubicle..having regard to the size of the toilet and the caliber of the ammunition used in the firearm, a reasonable person with

the accused’s disability and in his position, would have foreseen that if he fired shots at the door, the person inside the toilet might be struck and might die as a result’’.

It didn’t take long for the prosecution to file their formal appeal. The appeal is based on the grounds of mistake of law that may have been made in Judge Masipa’s interpretation of murder by dolus eventualis. Dolus eventualis, that is, a legal term for when the accused foresees the possibility of his actions causing death but proceeds regardless.

The prosecution argued that Judge Masipa might have misapplied the law by giving too much emphasis to the fact that it was found by the court that the accused did not know that it was his girlfriend who was behind that closed toilet door. According to the prosecution team’s

argument, however, it is the knowledge of any human being behind the door that is relevant not only the knowledge of a particular human being; and the fact that the accused should have known the result of his actions would be death - death of any human being behind that closed door, not just death of Reeva Steenkamp.

As Judge Masipa granted the leave to appeal against the acquittal the case will now be in front of the Supreme Court of Appeal with a panel of up to five judges. These judges not only have the power to overturn Judge Masipa’s conviction but also the minimum sentence - which in the case of murder would be 15 years in comparison to the maximum of 15 years that can be given for culpable homicide charge.

Will the Supreme Court of South Africa take a different view from Judge Masipa of the High

Court? And are there are some additional factors that Supreme Court might want to consider?

There is that one question that has always been on my mind since the day the leave for appeal was granted… Will the cruel history of South Africa, the state of the local judicial system, or the state of their society affect the decision of the Supreme Court? Will the public opinion matter in the appeal? The public opinion where most of the nation thinks that the badly behaved, spoilt rich boy needs to learn a lesson instead of being surrounded by privilege and the feeling of being superior to the rest?

It is only time that will tell us these answers in the upcoming Oscar Pistorius’s appeal in the Supreme Court of South Africa, and let’s just hope the answers will be substantive!

LOG O WOOD 2015 is the second year AUT Law Society has been invited to Log O’ Wood: the annual sporting and social event that sees Auckland law students convoy down to Hamilton in their hundreds to visit our hosts Waikato University for a fun-filled day and night. Last year we took down a dream team of 25 and this year we want to be bigger and better than ever!

Every year teams play dress up! AUTLSS chose the theme of Mexican Bandits last year and we’re looking for suggestions on what our theme could be this time round.

2014 saw our amazing athletes (we use this term loosely) led by “the Hairy One” aka James Devine annihilate the competition in dodgeball and the all-important drinking games afterwards. Waikato (whose theme was “red”) went on to win Netball, Basketball and Touch leaving the poor Auckland University soldiers without a win.

Now, you don’t have to be remotely good at sport – or even LIKE sport – to come and have an amazing time on this trip. There’s plenty to do if you’re not on the court or field and you know you’re going to make a ton of friends no matter what.

It’s definitely a day you won’t forget and one that I’m sure would be recommended by everyone who came along last year (whether to play or support). Keep Friday 24 April free! It’s always a busy time for assignments so make sure you’re on top of things so that you can come down.Don’t miss out!

enquiries@collaw.ac.nz

0800 265 583 collaw.ac.nz

THE PERFECT START TO YOUR LEGAL CAREER

The College of Law Professional Legal Studies Course (Profs) will help you make the transition from law student to practising lawyer.

We offer courses in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin with multiple start dates to suit your work or family commitments.

Find out how to get the perfect start to your legal career.

Download a handbook today at

www.collaw.ac.nz/plsc

ENROL

IN A 2015 COURSE

AND PAY THE 2014 FEE!

12

enquiries@collaw.ac.nz

0800 265 583 collaw.ac.nz

THE PERFECT START TO YOUR LEGAL CAREER

The College of Law Professional Legal Studies Course (Profs) will help you make the transition from law student to practising lawyer.

We offer courses in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin with multiple start dates to suit your work or family commitments.

Find out how to get the perfect start to your legal career.

Download a handbook today at

www.collaw.ac.nz/plsc

ENROL

IN A 2015 COURSE

AND PAY THE 2014 FEE!

THE SUMMER CLERKRebecca Cross

This past summer I have had the amazing opportunity of being a Summer Clerk at the commercial law firm Minter Ellison Rudd Watts. Minters is renowned for being a very people-focused firm that understands and encourages a work-life balance. Attending the Minters sponsored AUTLSS End of Year Party introduced me to a number of solicitors and partners who convinced me Minters was a great place to work.

After going through the application process, the interview and the acceptance in Semester One

followed by months of waiting for Semester Two to be over, it was exciting to finally start work in November. Living up to its reputation, I felt the firm really cared about us as Summer Clerks, investing a huge number of hours into all sorts of training and fun activities from day one.

The perks of being a Summer Clerk at Minters are many. We were lucky enough to be provided with amazing lunch whenever we had a long training session. I was able to go to Waiheke with the Construction team for their Christmas Party and Mantells on the Water for the firm Christmas party. Every week there was turbo touch, indoor netball or soccer to get involved

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with (paid for by the firm) and the Summer Clerks even put together our own netball team. We were treated to an amazing BYO by the firm and the very creative Social Committee surprised us with chocolate bars, delicious lunches and even a Mr Whippy visit. Finally I can’t go past the small pleasures of morning tea provided every day at 10am – Friday cheese and crackers being a Summer Clerk favourite.

Something unique to Minters is the cabaret that Summer Clerks are expected to partake in each year. As a group, we had to put on a two hour show made up of dancing, singing, acting and videos for the entire firm. The show was a

big effort and took up a lot of personal time but the whole experience was so much fun and the result was absolutely worth it. Hailed as “the best cabaret yet” we were stoked with what we had created as a group and it brought the whole Summer Clerk group closer as a result.

I would encourage anyone looking at applying for clerkships this year and in the future to apply for Minters. I was the first AUT student to be hired by the firm and I know they’re excited to meet more of us. Whether you think you want to work in a big firm or not, summer clerking is an experience and opportunity you don’t want to miss – who knows where it could lead you.

THE LEGAL EXECUTIVEHaydon Mattson

Over the summer holidays I have been working fulltime as a legal executive at the Conveyancing Shop Lawyers in Takapuna. I have really enjoyed working in a specialized conveyancing law firm, experiencing how a successful firm operates, while developing my practical law skills.

To be honest after completing the property law paper at AUT, I did not see myself practising property law, especially residential and commercial conveyancing. I found the academic application of leases, easements, PPSR and mortgages was a bit boring and something I did not want to study any further.

However, the Conveyancing Shop has open my eyes to the world of conveyancing. I have thoroughly enjoyed working within one of the largest conveyancing firms in Auckland. Although the firm has 3 established branches, I was based at the newly opened Takapuna branch. I am based with an extremely experience

lawyer, who trained and mentored me and importantly treated me as an equal.

I was honoured to be given so much responsibility and treated so well. You always hear stories of legal executives, legal assistants or junior lawyers being made to do basic secretarial duties or been asked to do others research, run errands or to make cups of tea and coffee for senior partners and lawyers higher up the chain. In the Conveyancing Shop this was simply not the case.

It was full on from when I walked in the door in the morning until when I went home at night. The basic hours where from 9am until 5.30pm. Surprising, the Conveyancing Shop valued a good work life balance, so the majority of the time we never stayed later than 6pm. This approach kept happy and balanced employees.

I had heard of horror stories at the MapLA speed dating event, where you get to meet experience lawyers who tell stories about law junior lawyers been asked to stay behind by senior partners

and if they refused, they could not move up the pecking order and even be questioned about their commitment to the law profession. I have seen first-hand what a reasonable employer should do and have observed that if an employer treats their employees well, then the employee will go over and beyond what is expected of them, even when not asked.

I received detailed training on Wills, Trusts, Leases, relationship property agreements and residential and commercial property conveyancing. I got my own business cards, email address, LINZ and PPSR login. I met with clients and stakeholders, ran my own files and communicated with the bank, other lawyers, real estate agents and importantly the client.

An essential skills I have learnt is the importance of running a file, documenting everything and keeping good records so any other lawyer could pick up your file and see exactly what has happen. Another important ability I have learnt is that everyone makes mistakes so it’s so important if you make a mistake be open and honest. Other lawyers,

senior partners, directors, banks or even clients would rather know you have made a mistake than deal with a dishonest legal professional. Even the best legal professionals makes mistakes so they understand when you do.

Another interesting point I have noticed is that the best law firms, lawyers, legal executives and other professionals talk nicely to each other. Even when there has been a mistake or a heated dispute, a professional will argue the law in an educated manner. Occasionally you do get a really grumpy legal executive or lawyer who think they are higher than CJ Ellis herself but this only looks bad on their firm and gives themselves a bad name in the industry.

I would encourage all law students to get out and get some practical experience in any field of law, even if you have your heart set on practicing in a certain area. I highly recommend you trying a different type of law outside of your “I want to be Harvey Spector from Suits dream”. You might be highly surprised what you are capable of and what law chooses you.

Photo credit: Marco Abis

COMPETITIONS

Run by Russell McVeagh, this competition allows you to practice your interview skills. You and your partner will be assigned a client with legal issues; as their lawyers you will work on obtaining key information pertaining to their case. This information can either help their case, or be used against your client by the opposition. Your client will not not always be forthcoming with truthful information. Extractracting all of the key information within the time limit requires careful selection of questions, and intuitive evaluation of the information your client provides.

This Minter Ellison Rudd Watts competition will see you prove your case through witness examination. The competition is a simulated court hearing before a judge, with students acting as the prosecution and defense. You must work with your witness to ask the questions that will reveal information that allows you to win your case, whilst cross-examining the oppositions witness to your benefit. This competition will test your ability to interact with witnesses following the rules of evidence.

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Its going to be an exciting year ahead for competitions at AUT this year as we are expanding the amount of applicants this year and entering into the Junior mooting competition. Kiri Petrie, a fourth year honours student, and Pawan Arora, a third year student, are the comptetitions officers for 2015!Kiri is organizing the first competition of the year, Witness Examination which is sponsored by Minter Ellision Rudd Watts. She will be joined by Pawan as they both take on the Russell Mcveagh Client Interviewing Competition together. Pawan is shaping up the Buddle Findlay Negotiation this year to be bigger than ever before. He is also in charge of administering the exciting entry of AUT into the Junior mooting competition. So get in there, and get involved!

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Hosted by Buddle Findlay, this competition will test your negotiation skills and see how you cope under pressure. In this scenario, lawyers will settle disputes without going to court. Two teams of lawyers will enter into settlement negotiations on behalf of their clients. You must achieve the best deal for your client whilst ensuring their wishes are met. N

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S The last competition for the year is the Bell Gully moot. This is the competition that most law students associate with the real legal world. You and your partner have to argue in front of judge on behalf of your client. Mooting gives you a taste of what court can be like with the pressures of time, questions and a client who is relying on you to do your best for them.

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2014 NEW ZEALAND RED CROSS (NZRC) INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW (IHL) MOOTING COMPETITION

Sam Papp 2014 3rd year student representativeNZRC IHL moot finalist

During the week between the 15-17 November 2014, Simon Noonan and myself represented AUT as the moot finalists for the NZRC IHL Moot Competition in Wellington. We were also assisted by Pooja Sundar (Moot Researcher) and Kiri Petrie (Competition Coach).

Every New Zealand law school competed this year, including – Otago, Canterbury, Auckland University, and Waikato. All competing teams presented submissions as both prosecution and defence in respect to charges laid against fictitious individuals. The main issues in our submissions involved – establishing the nature of the conflict, arguing for and against the protection of cultural property during war, and also litigating the use of private military personnel and the complications that then arise

when security contractors are also present. We attended various workshops on the penultimate day of the competition, and heard from speakers who attend the same conferences as George Clooney’s wife, international law expert - Amal Clooney! We also participated in role-play and discussion exercises, which were designed and led by people who have had active field experience in war zones. This helped to develop a greater understanding of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols. One interesting fact that was brought to my attention is that under the Geneva Conventions, a prisoner of war has specific rights, one being that generally their captor must notify their family members that they have been detained. Also, a captor must not physically harm a captive (this would not be the case in most b-grade war films I have seen).

Unfortunately, Simon became unwell on arrival in Wellington (we think he may have caught something on the plane), and he was in no physical shape to moot in the competition. This led to his withdrawal about an hour before the moot commenced and Pooja quickly stepped in, and used this short duration to learn Simon’s submissions and adapt to becoming

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senior counsel. Irrespective of the changes, Pooja did an impressive job filling Simon’s shoes. She was incredibly calm and understanding, and was quick to think on her feet when answering questions from the panel. The respective judges publically commended Pooja’s efforts, and given situation I thought we made a really good team.

Moots can be a lot of fun. A large degree of effort goes into researching and the preparation of submissions. During this time, it gives the team members an opportunity to bond (I still have vivid memories of Simon, Pooja, and myself frantically making last minute adjustments to submissions the night before the competition up in my hotel room. We had a variety of snacks, a ridiculous amount of dip, red bull, and for Simon – a ginger beer).

There was an exceptionally high standard displayed by all teams, and the selected finalists were from Auckland University and Victoria. The judging panel for this final round included former New Zealand Prime Minister, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Switzerland’s Ambassador to New Zealand, David Vogelsanger, and Director of Defence Legal Services, Colonel Justin

Emerson. With a seamless performance, Victoria University were announced the winners.

After the competition we were invited to a reception hosted by Mr Vogelsanger. It was a very relaxing way to finish off the competition and I had some of the most amazing Swiss cheese that I’ve ever tasted in my life!

A massive thank you to the judges of the AUT preliminary round – Mike French, Thomas Nkomo, and Vernon Rive; for taking time out to judge during the busy period of semester 2 2014. Also, thank you again to Thomas - for taking several hours out of your day to listen to both Simon and myself discuss our submissions before we left for Wellington.

Thank you so much to the AUT Executive and in particular, Kiri Petrie, Pooja Sundar, and Pawan Aro-ra for making this moot a reality for AUT. Simon and I really appreciated the opportunity we had to represent this law school. This moot was one to remember and a definite 2014 highlight. I wish the next team that represents AUT at the 2015 NZRC IHL moot final all the best.

For some students, the Library can be a bit daunting, the place where only the nerds go or possibly just a place to avoid. Other students will come in and leave only when kicked out at closing time, utilising the Library as much as possible, becoming friends with the librarians and/or using the online resources as much as they can – both on and off campus.

To get the best out of your university experience and graduate with the qualifications you are aiming for, you should embrace the Library and all that it can offer you. The Library can provide you with the research skills and resources to help you to succeed in your goals.

The Library may become your home away from

home, offering study rooms and computers as well as access to books and other resources to get those assignments done. If you prefer to study elsewhere - it’s a good idea to learn to access the many and varied online resources to research.

We have many print books which students can borrow and take home, as well as the Course Reserve collection where many of your texts and recommended readings are kept for shorter 2hour or 3day loans.

Friendly Library staff are available to assist students with finding the information.From Semester 1, 2015, the Research Help and

The Library Staff and the Help Desk

The (Hidden) Treasures of the Library

By Melanie Lovich

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the Lending Desks will be combined, so students only need to go to one desk for assistance. This will be the main desk as you walk into the Library: Level 4 in WA building. For queries that may take longer than a few minutes or you need to see the Law Librarians for specialist help you can contact the Law Librarian, Melanie directly (see profile below).

The Library organises a number of generic and subject specific workshops to help all students learn to find information and for students to become familiar with the resources they need to access.Check out the Library for details for the generic workshops to using the Library services and resources: http://www.library.aut.ac.nz/i-need/workshops Your Law Librarians also organise a number of specialist law workshops. A number of these are compulsory for 1st students. If you miss these workshops or need additional assistance, contact Melanie or Nicola to arrange a meeting.

Research Workshops and Online Info

The AUT Library webpage: www.library.aut.ac.nzThis is the main access point to all the library services and resources (both print and online).Subject Guides: http://www.library.aut.ac.nz/subjects/Subject-Guides

Use the Law Subject Guide as the “mother ship” of most things law that you will want to access for your study. This includes appropriate websites, databases, user guides, New Zealand Style Guide (referencing).

Join the following FaceBook groups to find out what’s happening in the Law School, news and updates about the Library, post queries and comments to your fellow students about all things law etc. - AUT Law Students’ Society: for all AUT Law students - Maori and Pacific Law Student Association Incorporated – primarily for AUT MaPLA students and those with MaPLA interests - AUT LLB (hons) – primarily for AUT LLB Honours and other PG students.

Online Resources and Help

Facebook AUT Law Groups – for students

Photo credit: Christian

MELANIE LOVICHmelanie.lovich@aut.ac.nz(09) 921 9999

Office hours: (WA) Level 3 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 8am - 4pmWednesdays - 12pm - 8pm

AUT Liaison Librarian for Law since 2007. Primarily responsible for the Honours and other Postgraduate Law & Tax students, but assist all Law students as needed. I am also the Liaison for International Business and Taxation students.

I have a weird interest in Tax and will be taking 2 postgraduate papers this year, so I will be a student too!

You will often see me around the WF and WY buildings when Im not in the Library/in my office (WA).

I will be organising a number of workshops this year for all levels of law students. I look forward to assisting you this year.

BOOKWORM

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New Zealand Legal Method Handbook is newly published and very timely for the beginning of the academic year. For LLB students at AUT taking any of the first year papers this book is especially useful for the Legal Systems, Legal Reasoning and Constitution papers.

This is a practical book, including not only the theory, but illustrated with lots of examples and exercises to help students to grasp the concepts and enhance their skills. This is a not a book that you would read from cover to cover, but jump into sections/chapters as needed or refer back to. It is set out well, making it very easy to read and understand the topics in nice bite size chunks.

It has seven parts:1. Introduction to legal systems in general and the New Zealand legal system2. New Zealand’s constitution3. Legislation and law making in NZ4. Statutes and statutory interpretation5. Introduction to case law and analysis6. Covers the relationship between statute and case law; and lastly7. An introduction to legal writing

I recommend that it be read by first year law students as it provides a good foundation of knowledge for building on. Other students will also benefit from this text and it will be well used. I think there will be many senior law students wishing they had this book when they started Law School.

The Library has a number of copies available, although I think it’s a book that students might want close at hand during their first year of study. I might even buy my own copy.

If you have an interest in New Zealand history, then you might want to pull this one from the shelf to read. This is a fascinating biography on one of New Zealand’s influential (controversial?) legal figures: James Prendergast who became our third Chief Justice.

You will come across Prendergast in your law studies and this book will provide insight into the man behind the decisions he made and the many statutes he drafted. Incredibly, he was involved in the formulation of over 900 Acts introduced from 1865-75.

Born and educated in England, Prendergast had a very strong understanding of the English legal system before he came to colonial New Zealand in the 1860s. This knowledge was used to influence and develop New Zealand’s legal system to what we have today. He worked his way up from lawyer in Dunedin with growing mining needs, to Attorney-General of New Zealand and became our longest serving Chief Justice when he retired in 1899. His judicial expertise included land law, criminal law and law relating to Maori.

The majority of his reported cases were not controversial, although some of his more notable cases include Minnie Dean (R v Dean) and Wi Parata v The Bishop of Wellington.

Morris includes a chapter focusing on the case of Wi Parata, in which Prendergast declared the Treaty of Waitangi was “a simple nullity”. It is the decision on this case he is best remembered.

This book is full of interesting facts and details about Prendergast and New Zealand law. I recommend all law students read this.

New Zealand Legal Method Handbook Stephen Penk and Mary-Rose Russell

Prendergast: Legal Villain? Grant Morris

BOOKREVIEWSBy Melanie Lovich

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HOROSCOPES

Jan

20 -

Feb

18AQ

UARI

US Take initiative. Take advantage of

your lecturers’ office hours. Spend every hour of their available time asking them every question you can think of. Ask about their weekend?

May

21

- Jun

20

GEM

INI

Stick with the electives you have picked for this semseter. Trust your gut and trust your instincts. If all else fails, invest in eyelid stickers that make you look like you’re awake.

Mar

21

- Apr

19

ARIE

S

Go to the gym after every class. Ask every one of your lecturers to join you in a refreshing workout. Remember, the AUTLSS sports teams really, really need you!

Jul 2

3 - A

ug 2

2LE

O

You’re the next AUTLSS president. Yes, you! Go get those posters designed and printed. Go sort out your acceptance speech. Go plan your coup of Karl campaign.

Sep

23 -

Oct

22

LIBR

A

We know you’re supposed to be the scales of justice and all. But are you really sure law school is for you? Go look in the mirror and see if you can imagine a gin and tonic in your hand.

Nov

22

- Dec

21

SAGI

TTAR

IUS Start writing your name with a QC

after it. Studies show that when you prematurely add expected titles to your name that people think you’re a complete tool.

Feb

19 -

Mar

20

PISC

ES

Are you sure that’s what you want to wear to the clerkship interview?Yes?Huh. Um. Okay then... More power to you.

Jun

21 -

Jul 2

2CA

NCE

RStop empathising with every single one of your bleeding heart, criminal law clients. Pull yourself together and reign in your volatile emotions. Go have some tea or something.

Apr

20 -

May

20

TAU

RUS

Remember, five drafts of an assign-ment is not enough. You need at least nineteen. Go start typing, and writing now! Go go go! Send me the twentieth draft to proof.

Aug

23 -

Sep

22VI

RGO

You do not need all of those eight highlighters for your first workshop with Paul. Six highlighters, four different coloured pens, and two sticky tabs will be adequate.

Oct

23

- Nov

21

SCO

RPIO

You’re the next Denny Crane. Start name dropping now. If you don’t know who that is, shame on you! You don’t deserve to be Denny Crane. Denny Crane.

Dec

22

- Jan

19

CAPR

ICO

RN

50 Shades of Grey is a movie. It is not real life. Get a grip man! You’re in law school. Go camp out in the library or something.

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BRAI

N F

OO

D

NO1 PANCAKECnr Wellesley & High St

This is basically the place uni students live. The hole-in-the-wall No1 Pancake stall has a range of savoury and sweeet Korean pancakes that are not only incredibily delicious but quite reasonably priced at around $4.50 each. Do pop by early on in the day however, as they are often sold out!

UMI & UMIYA SUSHIWellesley Street East

Umiya sushi is best known for its variety. Being vegetarian there aren’t a lot of options out there for me in terms of sushi so Umiya is the place to go. They every type of sushi imaginable; spinach tempura balls, smoked tofu, salmon onigiri, the list goes on!

ZAP 4 THAI10 Commerce Street

Good place for a quick meal. Portions are generous and very reasonably priced. The wait time for your order is bearable; not that you’d mind when you get to custom order your meal!While Zap isn’t known for its authentic Thai food, it’s still a good cheap eat with enormous portion sizes.

Let IPLS take you to the BarPROFS - as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Selectyourlocation Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin

2. Choose your course 13 weeks (9 online & 4 onsite) “I want to finish as quickly as possible” 18 weeks (14.5 online & 3.5 onsite) “I have other things I need to do as well”

3. Createyourowntimetable A new intake starts every month Mix and match modules to suit your needs

Student Loans & Allowances available

0800 776 376 www.ipls.org.nz

The student common room at the IPLS Auckland centre

Photo credit: Closari

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HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER (ABC, 2014), or alternatively, Why You Wished You Worked For Annaliese Keating - by Maanya Tandon

If you haven’t watched ABC’s new series How to Get Away with Murder – seriously query your immediate priorities or whatever else you have been doing with life.

The series follows the juggernaut that is criminal defence attorney and lecturer Annaliese Keating (Viola Davis) and the brilliant ‘Keating Five’ - five of Keating’s most precociously determined law students and clerks at her practice. The show unravels (shock!) a central murder plot, but also incudes the trials of Keating’s various criminal clients. Brought down by a shaky first two or three episodes, and occasionally ridden by average scripting and predictable screenplay, the show certainly raises its game and leaves you wondering just what you would give to be one of either prom-queen Michaela, puppy-eyes Wes, over-your-shit Laurel, the ever-smouldering Connor, or (enter some defining quality) Asher.

You may be forgiven for omitting to watch the show, given that the intimately hands-on experiences of the Keating Five will hasten the realisation that your summer clerkships/months of feigning interest in corporate law were infinitely duller in subject matter and – let’s face it – significance.

For you first years – while Keating teaches Criminal Law 101 to first year law students,* don’t get too excited in the anticipation that your criminal law class will be halfway as exciting as hers. While you may relish in dropping mens rea, actus reus and equally obscure Latin phrases into conversations with your non-law-school friends, here your paths will divorce from the Keating Five’s – who will actually kill someone and then spend the rest of their time evading responsibility and dealing with crippling guilt.**

But don’t be too hard on yourselves – while you may struggle to find time for anything outside the gargantuan, life-enveloping black hole that is law school, the Keating Five will spend 99% of their time learning pure legal badassery, dabbling in casual sex-for-vital-trial-information, attending trials, sleeping with co-workers, and still somehow remain on top of their (otherwise rapidly deteriorating) lives.

Verdict: Guilty – both of being awesome and guaranteeing that Annaliese Keating becomes your new biggest legal crush.

*which the show portrays as a mixture of Criminal Procedure, semi-illegal Criminal Advocacy, sporadically-included-rules-of-Evidence, or how-to-come-very-close-to-being-disbarred 101.

**Calm yourself, it’s not a spoiler, it’s the series’ opening scene.

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FILM & TV REVIEWSWHIPLASH

Whiplash (2014) written and directed by Damien Chazelle, is a psycho-thriller that depicts an intimate and fast-paced journey through 19 year old Andrew Newman’s atypical American dream. His ambition is to become a legendary jazz drummer and his dream starts to become a reality when he is discovered by senior instructor – Terrence Fletcher (J.K. Simmons), and recruited as a drum alternate.

Andrew is well aware that Fletcher wants a drummer who exceeds the legendary speed of Buddy Rich. In order to obtain this perfection, Andrew is subject to a high amount of emotional and sometimes physical abuse. This is all part of Fletcher’s unhealthy philosophy that is purposely designed to test Andrew’s psyche.

It doesn’t take much for me to be able to vicariously live through a film and the message I took away from this one is that - if you really love something, you’ll get up and do it – no excuses! Andrew’s determination throughout the film is captivating. J.K. Simmons received Best Supporting Actor at the recent 87th Academy Awards, and I agree this was really well deserved.

This film gives a generous insight into the mind of a young man who eagerly accepts the dark form of love offered by Fletcher. Andrew becomes addicted to Fletcher’s isolated form of motivation, and is left with only the desire to breath the toxic fumes of Fletcher’s presence.

I’d definitely give this a 4/5.

- by Sam Papp

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IMPO

RTAN

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ATES

MARCH16 – Russell McVeagh Applications Workshop23 & 24 – Client Interviewing Pre-lims25 – Client Interviewing Semis26 – Client Interviewing Finals27 – SSCC Meeting (3-5pm WF710)27 – Kensington Swan Mentorship Evening (5.30pm, KS offices)31 – Wynn Williams Wine and Cheese night (invite only)

APRIL24 – Log O’ Wood

MAY4 – SSCC Meeting (3-5pm WF711)5 – Negotiation Competition Pre-lims7 – Negotiation Competition Semis and Finals (at Bud-dle Finlay)

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