In this article, Luke Hyland shares his experiences of studying Law at WSU.
Register for Western Sydney University’s Open Day: Sunday 27 August, 2017.

In studying law, you’re constantly presented with people’s opinions of why you’ve chosen this path:

“Oh, it must just be for the money…”
“I suppose you have family in the industry…”
“I bet you’re looking forward to studying every day…”

It’s frightening to believe there is such a lack of faith that those studying law are doing it out of genuine interest.

This is where I break from the stigma associated.

WHY TO GO TO WSU: HOW I GOT HERE

I have personally wanted to study law and business since Year 8 at high school. This led to studying commerce in junior years, along with legal and business studies in senior years. Upon finishing the HSC, I was presented with three early offers – guaranteed spots at some of NSW’s leading universities.

I chose to go to WSU to study a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business (Advanced Business Leadership) due to a range of factors. These included the convenience of faculties, access to an on-campus Moot Court in Parramatta, vast networking opportunities (free lunches are the best), and positive feedback from others regarding quality of education.

The one thing I have found transitioning from high school to university is that, whilst the start feels like a whole new world, WSU has personality like no other.

You can go on your first day of class and make a table of friends that will stick with you from the first day until you finish. I personally have accrued an immediate group of best friends totalling 11 that I wouldn’t have made if not for WSU’s attention to detail in uniting students.

WHY TO GO TO WSU: THE UNI

I was accepted into Western through The Academy, as part of the Global Leaders Program.

The university focuses on personal and professional development to the nth degree. The Academy, for example, offers advanced degrees for high-achieving students (90+ ATAR or high results at uni). It’s a free program, and really pushes you to be the best you can be.

At the end of the program, you get a Bachelor of Applied Leadership and Critical Thinking – and there are a heap of other benefits (workshops, networking opportunities, exclusive study spaces just to name a few!).

This focus on development also allowed me to travel to Thailand in 2017 as a delegate of Australia, participating in the University Scholars Leadership Synopsium at the United Nations. It was here that I could comfortably and proudly represent my university and country (fully sponsored by the university), grateful for the opportunity I would not have had if not for WSU.

The staff at Western are professionals with a seasoned and deep knowledge of their field.

While being accommodating, you always feel like you can approach a tutor with any problem – educational or otherwise. This helps when it comes to exam periods, or if you have any issues, as all staff are always ready to help no matter how big or small the matter.

And in 2018, like they did this year, WSU will provide free digital textbooks for first-year units (valued up to $800!).

WHY TO GO TO WSU: THE COURSE

The biggest issue I have found with the Bachelor of Laws offered at Western is the variety in subjects offered; there are so many I want to do!

Almost every imaginable aspect of the law is covered in a subject list that is almost as long as the Year 12 legal studies syllabus!

Completing the base units for law helps you choose which units you may want to do. Personally, my interest in business has resulted in me leaning toward some of the business-style law units: revenue law, law of employment, international business transactions law, transactional law, Australian consumer law, and the list goes on.

You always hear about how many readings a law student has to do. What I have found is that a passion in law renders this not as a chore, but a hobby.

In contracts law last semester, I sat for hours working out of sheer interest in how the law impacts contractual agreements between parties. The workload is not only manageable, but isn’t really a workload at all!

IN SUMMARY…

Studying law at Western is the way to go.

Enjoying university makes a course and workload so much more enjoyable, and this is facilitated every step of the way by WSU.

Not only would I recommend aspiring students look into WSU’s Open Day; some of my friends have transferred to Western just off what I have told them about day-to-day life!

Register for Western Sydney University’s Open Day: Sunday 27 August, 2017.