As a dedicated student eagerly working towards my law degree, the recent change in the scheduling of the LAWS13013/LAWS11072 - Legal Professional Conduct course has thrown my career plans into disarray. The decision to move this crucial course to Term 2, 2026, instead of the originally planned Term 1, was made without notice, and it poses severe challenges to myself and my fellow students. This course is a Priestly 11 subject, making it an essential component of our education and a requirement for graduation.

In an email dated 9 January 2025, the Head of College of Law stated: “importantly, no student will be disadvantaged by these changes, nor will a student be required to complete extra units.” However, this assurance is demonstrably incorrect. Students, including myself, are clearly disadvantaged by being forced six months behind schedule in completing a compulsory subject. Furthermore, in that same email, while a scheduling change was expressly noted for another subject, only a name change was mentioned for LAWS13013/LAWS11072. The lack of transparency regarding its scheduling change has left students blindsided and unprepared for the consequences.

This shift leaves us six months behind our original timeline, delaying our graduation and consequently our Practical Legal Training (PLT). This unexpected delay has immense repercussions. It not only derails our potential to graduate on time but also affects our ability to commence our PLT, thereby stalling our career advancement by six months. The ramifications are severe, leading to missed job opportunities, financial strain, and significant stress for all affected students.

Personally, this scheduling change impacts me on numerous levels. My admission and career progression are now set back six months because of this decision. During this period, I will miss out on crucial career progression opportunities, and I estimate the financial impact on me to be roughly $20,000, a significant burden. This decision makes little sense to me, especially since the change stems only from a subject name alteration. It’s perplexing why such an administrative adjustment requires an entire cohort to be postponed from graduating.

I urge the administrative authorities of our institution to reconsider this decision. The educational journey of countless students hinges on timely scheduling, which influences our professional and personal lives. Implementing the original Term 1, 2026 scheduling for LAWS13013/LAWS11072 is a feasible and fair solution that ensures students can graduate and enter the workforce as planned.

Please sign this petition to support us in our plea to motivate the institution to prioritise students’ needs and commitments. Together, we can work towards a solution that ensures academic and professional progress without unnecessary delay.