Journey to Excellence Program Offers First Year Students Life Hacks for Law
Making the transition from high school to university is a big change, but stepping into Law School takes that big change to the next level. Journey to Excellence is a program that's run specifically for first year law students and it's designed to make that transition to university a bit smoother.
“I'm so glad I was able to be part of it, because I would definitely have had a lot more trouble understanding assessments and even just starting legal research and writing - I wouldn't be as confident,” recalls Jasmine.
Now in second year Jasmine is a Monash Law student studying a double degree of Law and Art. Last year at around about this time her mind was racing while she settled into her first few weeks of her legal studies.
“I do have people in my family who've been to university, but not law school. So Journey to Excellence was helpful for me because I didn't really know much about studying law,” explains Jasmine.
“They run weekly tutorials that are optional, and if you want a bit of a extra support, they go through different topics each week like different types of assignments you'll get within your law degree.”
Sign up for Journey to Excellence here
Jasmine’s Journey to Excellence program was run as a series of online Zoom meetings.
“The Law academic running our tutorials was very flexible with the timing of the tutorials. She’d ask us all when we would be free before scheduling the meeting times. Then in every tute she’d ask if there's something specific that we want to do, so that was really good.”
“We went through legal research tips, legal writing tips, like how to reference properly, and general law skills that are really useful to know. Sometimes it's a bit hard to teach yourself these things, especially when you're just knew it new to Uni,” shares Jasmine.
In addition to life hacks for Law School, Jasmine’s Journey to Excellence group also enjoyed meeting each other and starting their network of connections.
“I think the group was actually really supportive. Everyone was in the same boat - they all just wanted like a bit of extra support. It was good to meet other students and I made good friends with some of them.”
The Journey to Excellence program also offered students an opportunity to be mentored by one of the Law Faculty academics on an informal basis. This is a chance for first year students to have regular catch ups with a Law academic where they can give you tips about studying law and future career advice.
“I actually didn't end up getting a mentor, but I should have. I was still settling into uni and I was planning to email but, by the time I did I was too late,” laments Jasmine.
Law students at Clayton Campus
In 2023 the Journey to Excellence program also took students into the Monash Law Clinics for a preview of Clinical Legal Education. It was a good opportunity to gain a first-hand understanding of the Family Law Assistance Program and the professional practice electives.
“We were able to sit in with the students who are taking the unit so we can see what the unit’s all about. We could observe student interviews with clients and that kind of thing, which I thought was really helpful.”
“It was good to spend some time with older students as well and make connections and get some advice from them as well,” explains Jasmine.
In fact, this experience planted the seed for Jasmine’s future practical placement electives in the Clinical Legal Education program.
“I'm so desperate to do it - I would do it now if I could. I just want to do as many as possible, because they all seem like so such good experiences.”
Overall, the Journey to Excellence program provided Jasmine with a smooth transition from high school into first semester of Law School, with some insights into her future study options and some contacts to share that journey with her.
“I think it’s actually a great way to make friends, because in first year, first semester, a lot of people don't know many people doing the same degree as them, or even at the same university”.
“It gives you good opportunities to make friends because everyone can relate on a certain level as well.”
Whether you’re nervously looking at your reading list and assignment requirements, or you’re confident you know exactly what you’re doing in Law School, Journey to Excellence could be your secret to success. And after a year in the program, Jasmine just offers one piece of advice.
“I would recommend that students should definitely join Journey to Excellence - a hundred percent!”