Very good news

A letter arrived from the university today. It contained the mark awarded to me for the moot court component of Advanced Research, Writing and Advocacy which I’ve been enrolled in during Semester Two this year. The result covered the written submission which I had to lodge ten days before the date of the moot court itself plus my actual performance presenting my case in Federal Court, Melbourne on 1 November. I scored 85%. I was quite pleased about that. Not too shabby, really ….

My brain hurts

I’ve been revising the Northern Territory Emergency Response in connection with my forthcoming exam in Indigenous Australians and Law. There’s a lot of material on this topic and I’ve been slugging my way through all of it – numerous pieces of legislation; health checks on children in remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory; increased policing levels; detection of sexual abuse; restrictions on alcohol; welfare payments made conditional on changes in behaviour; promoting increased school attendance and so on. I’ve read so much my brain hurts and I desperately need a good sleep.

A little clarity goes a long way

I’ve just discovered what shape the examination in Indigenous Australians and Law will take. Apparently there will be four questions. Students will have to answer any two. At least I know what I’m up against now. A little clarity goes a long way.

Go and moot no more

I presented for my moot court yesterday afternoon in Federal Court in William Street, City. It went OK. I copped a few curly questions from the Bench (as I expected to) while I was presenting my submission. I had to think on my feet but I got through. Two of my colleagues had a much tougher time of it though, receiving a right hammering from the Bench. We’ll be advised of our results in about three weeks from now.

Practice makes perfect

I participated in a practice moot yesterday. The real moot court is today. I found yesterday’s practice moot useful. I had constructed the bare bones of my argument but this was the first opportunity I’d had to stand on my feet and articulate the argument. The person who took the part of the judge yesterday was good enough to give all participants feedback at the end. He pointed out a couple of things which I did which need attention. And so to the real thing today … in a real courtroom with real lawyers sitting on the Bench. The sharp end, of course, is that each of us will be assessed on our performance and will subsequently pass or fail. Keeps the mind focused, really.

The first Australians

I e-submitted my Indigenous Australians and Law assignment late last night. I’d been working on it virtually non-stop for six consecutive days. I was very tired when I e-submitted it last night but I certainly knew a lot more about legal developments affecting indigenous Australians since 1788 than I did a week ago.

I felt like a pincushion

Yesterday I had an appointment at a pathology service to have a glucose tolerance test. I’d been told in advance that I’d be required to stay at the pathology service for a minimum of two hours. I turned up for my appointment at 9.45am. What came as a bit of a surprise was that I had blood taken at 10am, 11am and 12 noon. I felt like a pincushion. What added to the experience was that I’d been told to start fasting the night before my visit to the pathology service. When I staggered out of the pathology service shortly after 12 noon yesterday, I went home to have a very, very late breakfast.

It’s time to pull out the checklist

Whenver I get a head cold, I can always tell when it’s reached its peak. I just reach for my checklist of symptoms – fuzzy brain; headache; smarting eyes; aching sinuses; streaming nose; dry cough; rough throat; dry lips; sneezing; shivering. When I reach ten symptoms all operating at full strength, I know my head cold has nearly hit its peak and will gradually start to improve.

It’s been a long, hard road

Last night I put the finishing touches to the written submission which I have to file electronically this coming Tuesday evening. This submission will set the framework for the argument which I will present when I appear at moot court in early November. It’s been a long hard road – much reading but, even more tiring, much thinking. I’m pretty sure I have an arguable case but, of course, opposing counsel will be presenting the opposite case when I appear against them at moot court.

I felt like Matthew Flinders

I felt like Matthew Flinders late yesterday morning. Everyone knows that Matthew Flinders became a well known figure in Australian history for circumnavigating Tasmania. I saw myself in much the same mould yesterday. Early Sunday morning, I needed to move myself from Fitzroy to the Western Highway and all points West. In the past, I’ve used Punt Road, Southbank, West Gate Bridge and the Western Ring Road to access the Western Highway. I decided to avoid that route yesterday morning because of major road works adjacent to West Gate Bridge so I headed North from Fitzroy, accessed Tullamarine Freeway, followed Calder Freeway onto the Western Ring Road and eventually accessed the Western Highway. It was quite an adventure when you’re constantly making choices about the best way to go and you’re competing with hundreds of other motorists who are all rushing to their respective destinations.