Law School says Yes to Collusion

DE MINIMIS 
Volume 1, Issue 6 (Originally Published on 1 April 2012)
 
The High Court has recently ruled that Australian law schools should encourage collusion. Kirby J (as part of the majority) cited Mabo, stating that “despite the position against it at international law, it would be inconsistent with the skeletal framework of Australian law to not encourage collusion.”
 
Such a ruling has led to a declaration by Melbourne Law School that collusion is now ok, and should actually be encouraged.
 
The reaction to this development has been somewhat negative, with students threatening to hold a rally at University Square. Banners containing slogans such as “Privacy of information” and “Don’t let this be a repeat of Tiananmen” have been erected around the square.
 
“For me, the best part of law school is keeping my competitors weak,” said a student who goes by the name ‘the Prince’* on campus. “This policy of collusion will foster an unhealthy spirit of cooperation which will in turn threaten my absolute position of power around here.”
 
Another student has already decided to leave Melbourne Law School, with an article about his decision to appear on New York Times on his final day of class. “I just feel like the school culture has changed since I first started here. It used to be about results, and now it’s about the people.”
 
But the most drastic reaction yet has been the emergence of a small ‘unoccupy’ movement which has seen the law library receive its lowest room-booking yet for group study rooms. “No one ever studied together in those rooms,” explains a 2nd year JD student. “We’d book them with the pretend purpose of group discussion and use them alone during take-home exams.”
 
Do you think the law school is being as inconsistent as Mitt Romney? Let us know via the new interactive feature on our website where you will be able to post your opinions and see other readers’ responses to the issue.
 
* A copy of the Prince’s biography, written by Machiavelli, can be found in the Bailleu Library

**This student will be taking up a job at Goldman Sachs