Pre-Law
The Blackstone Pre-Law Portfolio runs engaging social and academic events tailored to undergraduate students with an interest in legal studies. We seek to provide support and guidance to individuals with a direct pathway to the JD, students studying an undergraduate law major or individual law unit, and those with an interest in studying law in the future.
In 2024, the Pre-Law Portfolio will run a number of initiatives designed to engage and inspire undergraduate law students. These will include:
Careers events to inform students of potential future pathways;
Regular study sessions in collaboration with tutors and unit coordinators to guide students in their study of undergraduate law units;
Host multiple enjoyable and practical competitions specifically for pre-law Students, including Mock Trials and Mooting;
Facilitate the Pre-Law Mentoring Program to support undergraduate Students in their studies, and their pursuit of postgraduate legal studies by pairing them with a JD mentor.
Pre-Law Competitions
Mock Trials
Pre-Law Mock Trials occur in Semester One, whereby two teams representing either the prosecution or the defence compete in a simulated trial. Teams examine and cross-examine witnesses and present brief opening and closing addresses to convince a judge they should win the case. Given this fact-finding objective, no knowledge of the substantive law is necessary, and only limited pre-trial preparation required. This is a great opportunity to develop skills in public speaking, information gathering and persuasive argument.
Mooting
Mooting involves teams of two representing one of two parties involved in a civil dispute, being run in semester two. Given a set of facts, teams must argue points of law in order to prove their case. Providing experience in developing a legal argument, mooting is perhaps the closest experience that an undergraduate student can to appearing in court. Some basic knowledge of law is necessary and some preparation is required.
Pre-Law Initiatives
Careers Events
The Pre-Law Portfolio has introduced a number of new Careers Events in 2022. In Semester 1, we successfully ran a panel night on Legal Internships alongside Women in Business. There will also be a Juris Doctor Information Session run in Semester 2 for aspiring Juris Doctor Students.
Study Sessions
The Blackstone Society hosts study sessions for key undergraduate units, including LAWS1111, and LAWS1110. Please feel free to direct any questions regarding undergraduate law units to the Pre-Law Portfolio.
Pre-Law JD Mentoring
For students interested in pursuing the JD, or wanting to explore their pathways, the Pre-Law Portfolio runs a Pre-Law JD mentoring program. This involves matching an undergraduate pre-law mentee with a Juris Doctor student mentor, with a picnic hosted to allow them to meet and discuss all things law and university.
The Semester 2 Picnic will be held on the 22nd of August.
Sign up for as a pre-law mentee here, or a JD mentor here.
Pre-Law Majors
For students interested in pursuing the Juris Doctor, studying one of UWA’s three undergraduate law majors can provide useful foundations for postgraduate study. Each major is unique, providing insight into a different aspect of our legal system.
The three pre-law majors offered at UWA include Law and Society, Criminology and Business Law. Explore them here.
