ALSA

A recent study by the Brain and Mind Research Institute: University of Sydney conducted in conjunction with the Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation, revealed high levels of psychological distress and risk of depression in the law students and practicing lawyers who participated, when compared with Australian community norms and other tertiary student groups.

In direct comparison to medical students, law students reported higher perceived stress scores particularly with regard to academic, time, fear of failure, classroom and economic stress.

What we do know is that mental distress has a huge impact on student learning. We see a correlation arising between expansions in access to students who previously would not have been accepted into such courses and low retention. This attrition rate is partly owing to a lack of access to support services being offered to students to nurture student’s mental health.

“The Gillard Government is forthcoming with creating a place for every prospective student in university but the evidence against such a proposal seems to be mounting. When applied to a law specific context ALSA is not supportive of this policy. It is suggested ‘unlimited’ access actually undermines the quality of a law degree as standards of entry are lowered. ALSA believes that the value of law degrees in an internationally competitive market relies on consistent and high standards. Internationally competitive standards depend on two things, namely increased funding and a dynamic curriculum for law.” Says ALSA Vice-President (Education) Aimee Riley.

For a long time the financial burdens shouldered by law students and government have been grossly disproportionate and a far cry from the ‘rational and consistent sharing of costs’. As a result, law schools are equipped with minimal resources and struggle to integrate the robust skills practice components of law with traditional legal education. Accordingly the financial pressure is having a detrimental affect upon law schools and the legal profession alike with higher documented levels of psychological distress than before.

“It is no longer the case that the wage of a graduate law student is inflated in comparison to other professions with legal graduates ranked 11th on the 2010 graduate salary tables. It is also not acceptable that law students continue to pay much higher contribution for much less innovation than seen in other degrees. What is required is Government to relieve the adverse financial pressures law students face and increase student support services.” She said.

2012 will introduce the Gillard Government $263 student fee, which universities will spend on campus services. Whilst this fee imposes a further (deferrable) financial burden upon students, ALSA is supportive so long as the funds are used for essential services such as counselling and legal advice, and fund societies that offer services of direct academic benefit, such as competitions and careers events. ALSA remains concerned that whilst there is to be student consultation on the allocation of spending, such recommendations made by students are consultative only and do not have a binding effect.

ALSA believes awareness of mental illness and financial relief need to be prioritised in higher education and most notably in the ultisation of this new compulsory student fee.