President Address
Kiara Beard
I am honoured to have been elected to serve as President of the Notre Dame Sydney Law Society for 2027.
As your President for 2027 I hold a genuine belief that a law society should hold the responsibility of creating opportunities, strengthen community, advocate for its students and leave the law school better than it found it. I assure you this will be my primary goal for 2027.
Over the past several years, I have had the opportunity to contribute to NDSLS across competitions, leadership and governance, most recently serving as Vice President for 2026. During that time, I have worked to strengthen the foundations of the Society while also expanding what it can offer students. A significant part of that work has been focused on governance. I have helped lead a substantial renewal of the Society’s external presentation across the legal community through social networking and considerable advocacy for our society. Additionally, last year my fellow committee members and I implemented a substantial renewal of committee structures, responsibilities, financial controls, handover processes and internal governance.
Although much of this work happens behind the scenes, I believe strong institutions are built not only through visible successes, but through systems that allow future committees to succeed long after their authors have moved on.
I have also been proud to contribute to the broader work of NDSLS in competitions, student engagement, professional development and community impact. The Society has supported initiatives addressing access to justice, multicultural and interfaith advocacy, community service and social justice, while continuing to connect students with law firms, practitioners, alumni and opportunities that can shape their careers.
Our competitions, educational resources, graduate guides, professional events and student programs have all reflected a commitment to making the law school experience richer and more connected.
My vision is for NDSLS to be ambitious, innovative and unmistakably student-focused. We will preserve the traditions that have made the Society special, while creating new initiatives, strengthening alumni and professional connections, expanding advocacy and access to justice work, improving competitions and education programs, and finding new ways for every law student to feel that there is a place for them within NDSLS.
Leadership of a student society is temporary. The institution should not be. My goal is that the work we do in 2027 will continue to benefit students we may never meet. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead this Society, and I look forward to everything we will build together.
Vice President Address
Oscar Beard
Hello my name is Oscar and it is privilege to serve as Vice President of the Notre Dame Sydney Law Society for 2027.
My involvement with the Society has grown alongside my time at Notre Dame. I am currently undertaking an undergraduate in a Bachelor of Laws with a Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics. I first joined the Committee through the Sports and Wellbeing portfolio in 2025, where I worked on initiatives designed to strengthen student connection, participation and wellbeing. I later moved into the Executive as Secretary-General in 2026 where I engaged in broader responsibility for the Society’s governance, administration and long term direction.
During my time in the Society I have had the opportunity to see just how much a law society can contribute both inside and outside the classroom. During my time with the NDSLS I have been able to help and support initiatives involving women and families affected by domestic and family violence, multicultural advocacy, social justice, student wellbeing and community service. Additionally, the NDSLS committee members and myself have been able to provide students with mooting and advocacy competitions, professional development opportunities and promote networking pathways with firms and legal organisations that can help students take their next step into the profession.
In 2027, my focus will be on building upon that foundation.I want NDSLS to be a Society that students genuinely want to participate in, rather than one they simply hear about through an email or social media post. That means creating more accessible opportunities for students at every stage of their degree, improving communication, strengthening our competitions and careers programs, supporting our portfolio directors and ensuring that our events provide real value to the student body.
A major priority will also be continuity.
Student societies change leadership frequently, and good work can easily be lost between committees. I want to help establish stronger systems and better institutional knowledge both within our University and across the wider legal community so that each incoming committee can begin from a stronger position than the one before it.
Most importantly, I want students to feel that NDSLS belongs to them. Whether someone wants to compete in a moot, meet a law firm, attend a social event, become involved in advocacy, volunteer in the community or simply meet other law students, there should be a place for them within the Society.
The NDSLS has always and will always be there for the students.
I am looking forward to helping make that happen.