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The Victorian Law Foundation (VLF) are a not-for-profit legal organisation who help people engage with the law, undertake research to support planning and reform, or funding community organisations in their plight to strengthen the relationship between Victorians and their justice system. The VLF facilitated a guest speaker to come to visit our Year 12 Legal Studies class on Thursday 27 February. Zeina Alhalabi , a Barrister practising in the area of Criminal Law visited our class and presented a detailed and targeted Law Talk covering the Unit 3, Outcome 1: The Victorian Criminal Justice System. The students were engaged and comfortable to ask questions to deepen their understanding and interest point. Zeina’s preparedness for the session and insight into being a VCE student, Law student and Barrister was insightful and helpful in many ways to each student. Students left the Law Talk Incursion inspired to do their best in their studies in Law and apply some of the practical anecdotes Zeina provided regarding the principles of justice, Fairness, Equality and Access, to their SAC and Exam style questions.

Here is a snapshot of student experiences from the Law Talk:

On Thursday the 27th of Feb, our Unit 3/4 Legal Studies class had an incursion. We were visited by Miss Ziena Alhalabi who is a Barrister. She came very organised and divided her speech for us into 4 sections.

Firstly, she introduced herself to us and told us about her journey in becoming a barrister. It was very interesting and entertaining to hear her story and how she still achieved her dreams and got to where she wanted to be, without the perfect ATAR. In fact, she spoke about how she did not get the ATAR she needed for her course, but still took another path and ended up exactly where she wanted to be and stated that she did not find it a waste of time and rather enjoyed it, which was very comforting and reassuring for us to hear as VCE students who worry about our grades and academical success. Of course, we all want to aim high and get a good ATAR, however, we are all starting to realise that perfection is just simply something that is impossible to achieve, and we should all be okay with that.

Additionally, she spoke to us about the content we are currently learning and she gave us some fun facts that our textbooks do not have. Hearing her talk about her job and her life was very influencing, so much that students were thinking of changing from a medicine career to a law career, which just goes to show how amazing she was. She was also very kind and understanding with us.

Furthermore, she answered all the questions we had with enthusiasm, while also using simple words that we would understand and when she would mention any legal jargon, she would first ask us if we knew about it and she would give us a chance to apply our understanding and help answer our own questions.

Finally, she gave us study tips on how to cope with not just Legal Studies but also VCE in general, she mentioned how she passed her Bar Exam and gave us tips on how she passed it. We are very grateful for this fun and positive experience.

We thank Miss Cometti and Ms Bacash for allowing us to have the opportunity to speak with an amazing barrister and we especially thank Miss Ziena Alhalabi, who took time off her job to come talk with us. Kind Regards, 3/4 Legal Studies class 2025.

- Sinthia

Our Legal Studies Unit 3&4 class were privileged enough to receive a incursion, where Zeina Alhalabi, a qualified barrister, gave an informative lecture about her experiences in the Criminal Justice System as she navigated through her role as a judge's associate and legal practitioner. It was wonderful to hear about her court experiences which we frequently discuss in class. Thank you Ms Cometti for organising this incursion.

- Hannibal