The Canberra Law Students’ Society (‘CLSS’) is the representative body for all law and justice studies students at the University of Canberra. As a student-led organisation, CLSS serves as a bridge between students, faculty, and the broader legal profession, ensuring our members have access to invaluable opportunities for professional and personal growth. Our ultimate mission is to support students through their academic journey at UC by providing resources, advocacy and networking opportunities, enhancing the experiences through initiatives that cater to academic, professional and social development. UC is a university with a focus on skills development and employment outcomes, therefore as a law society, we aim to build on this through various initiatives and events throughout the year.
Under our careers portfolio, we host a semesterly Careers Fair and publish a Careers Guide in order to open doors for our students during their academic journey and upon graduation. In understanding that a law degree enables more avenues than just traditional practice, we continue to create relationships and regularly connect with law firms, the public service and the private sector so that our students have more opportunities to find a career that suits them.
Our competitions portfolio runs extensive mooting, negotiations, client interview and witness examination competition programs, providing students with hands-on legal advocacy experience. Throughout the year, our socials portfolio hosts different events to provide a welcome break from the monotony of study, with the premier event being the annual law ball. Both portfolios seek to provide students with a positive safe space to meet and connect with other members of the society and of the professional world.
Our education portfolio provides tangible services and aids for students during their study. By offering templates, exam preparation sessions, skills seminars, a study group raffle and various guides, CLSS equips students for success in their studies. Our equity portfolio allows us to make sure that success is possible for every student, so we have initiatives include our textbook equity scheme for students in financial need to have semester long access to textbooks.
As an affiliated member of ALSA, CLSS actively participates in national discussions on legal education and student rights. Through our involvement, we seek to contribute to the broader legal student community across Australia and to bring attention to key legal education issues affecting students at both a local and national level.
