Elections 2026/27

Elections 2026/27

Elections 2026/27 Elections 2026/27

2026/27 MULSS Elections

Welcome to the 2026/27 Melbourne University Law Students’ Society (‘MULSS’) Elections.

The election process provides MULSS members with the opportunity to nominate for a position on the MULSS Committee and to vote for the students who will represent and serve the Law School community in the year ahead.

Serving on the MULSS Committee is a significant privilege and responsibility. As the largest representative body for students at Melbourne Law School and the oldest law students’ society in Australia, MULSS has a long tradition of service, leadership and excellence. The election process is an important part of ensuring that this tradition continues.

This page contains all publicly available information relevant to the 2026 elections. Below, you will find the election timeline, Constitution, Election Regulations, Nomination Form, Position Descriptions and Voting Form, together with any other information relevant to participating in the election process.

All nominees and voters are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the relevant information and requirements before participating in the election. The Election Regulations provide the framework governing the election process, while the Position Descriptions provide further information about the responsibilities and expectations associated with each position.

Election Timeline

(UPDATED) Nominations
Tuesday 25 August, 10.00 am - Wednesday 2 September, 11.59pm

Campaigning
Tuesday 8 September, 10.00 am - Tuesday 15 September, 10.00 am

Presidential Debate
Thursday 10 September, 1.00 pm

Voting Opens
Monday 14 September, 10.00 am - Tuesday 15 September, 11.59 pm

Election Results Announced at the AGM
Wednesday 23 September, from 7.00 pm

Handover

(TBC) likely Thursday 24 September, from 7.00pm

Please refer to the information below for further details about each stage of the election process.

We encourage all members to take the time to understand the election process and to participate where they can—whether by nominating, voting, attending the Presidential Debate or simply engaging with the candidates and their platforms.

We look forward to welcoming the next Committee and to seeing them continue MULSS's tradition of service to the Melbourne Law School community.

President

Carlos Lagos Martin

In 2027, our LSS turns 130. Our history is worth sitting with honestly. For much of it, our community was a narrow one, open to some, closed to many. That has changed and changed for the better; our community is far wider now than in 1897.  

But as the room widened, our uni experience became captured by a competitive, transactional mentality. A mentality where there’s a sense that the person beside us is competition, one where we feel the need to tick things off to be ‘successful’, and one that lets us forget that the profession is, at its core, a human one.  

I think it's this shift that feeds into the isolation and burnout many of us feel.  

I don't imagine I can change this; there are broader factors at play, one of which is the reality of having to pay off our degree. But there's real value in focusing on what we can control to explore new ways forward.   

I'm running because I think our law school should feel like a community first, a place where we see each other as colleagues rather than competitors and where we take a more active role engaging with the wider community.  

For our MLS community, I plan to:  

  • Establish a 130-year Celebration Committee 

  • Host more staff and student events 

  • Increase LSS initiatives centring student wellbeing 

For our wider communities, I plan to:  

  • Strengthen ties with existing partners and explore new ones   

  • Expand volunteering opportunities, including non-law ones 

  • Increase collaboration with other student societies 

Max Evans

Hi, I’m Max Evans, and I’m running to be your President of the LSS in 2027.

I bring a year of experience on the LSS alongside involvement on college and university committees. This has shown me what the LSS does well, and where it can do more. 

As your President, I will:

• Strengthen Law Camp for First Years

• Expand Social Justice Opportunities

• Enhance the Law Common Room

• Grow Sponsorships & Industry Partnerships

• Improve Competitions Support

• Create More Social Events

• Review the Constitution & Competitions Rules

• Improve Communication with Residential Leadership Teams

I’m committed to building a stronger, more inclusive LSS, and to making sure it’s active and engaging for every student in 2027. 

Vice President

Ambali Pillai

Hello! I’m Ambali, and I’m running for Vice President.

Over the past two years as Equity and Social Justice Director, I’ve seen up close what makes MULSS work. A well running MULSS requires a lot of behind-the-scenes effort, and a Committee that feels supported to do its best work.

I’m running for Vice President because I’m ready to bring a calm, organised approach to the role, and to help make Committee life smoother (and a bit more fun) for everyone.

I also want to ensure the broader student cohort feels heard and supported by MULSS. I plan to create an anonymous suggestion box for students to share feedback and ideas and I’ll hold regular office hours so students have an approachable and accessible way to speak with me directly.

To me, a great VP is someone Directors can rely on to help troubleshoot problems, stay on top of timelines, budgets and admin, and step in when things get busy. People have full lives outside the MLS & MULSS so I think it’s imperative to have a VP who is hands-on, compassionate, approachable and ready to step up to the task, whatever the task may be. That’s me!

Ultimately, I’m running because I care about the MULSS and the people who make it happen. I want to use what I’ve learned over the past two years to help build a Committee that communicates clearly, works well together, and feels supported throughout the year.

Lauren Dressler

[No blurb provided]

Jemma Wilson

[No blurb provided]

Secretary

Maddison Scharer

[No blurb provided]

Ambali Pillai

Hello! I’m Ambali, and I’m running for Secretary.

Over the past two years as Equity and Social Justice Director, I’ve seen firsthand what makes MULSS work well. A good Committee requires clear communication, strong organisation, and members that feels supported.

Being on Committee has given me a practical understanding of how MULSS operates, from planning initiatives and managing admin to collaborating across portfolios. I’m running for Secretary because I want to use that experience to help make Committee processes clearer, more organised and easier for everyone to navigate.

To me, a great Secretary is more than someone who takes minutes. They help keep the Committee on track, make sure important information is communicated clearly, maintain accessible records, and ensure decisions and action items are followed through.

If elected, I’ll focus on clear agendas, timely minutes, organised records and better systems for tracking deadlines and follow-ups. I also want to help make MULSS more transparent and accessible to the broader student cohort by ensuring important updates and opportunities are communicated clearly and consistently.

My Equity and Social Justice experience has strengthened my ability to listen carefully, communicate thoughtfully and make sure people feel heard.

I’m running because I care about MULSS and the people behind it. I want to help build a Committee that is organised, collaborative and well-supported throughout the year.

Stephen Ju

BECAUSE TOGETHER WE CAN

We all know the importance of all the leadership positions in the Law Students' Society. The President leads the overall vision for the society, whilst the Vice Presidents assist in carrying that vision out.

I'm running as Secretary because I believe an efficient bureaucracy, whether it be the needs of a hands-down approach or a flexible one paired with the incoming leadership team is necessary in keeping the interests of law students ahead.

I'm running as Secretary because despite being tasked with the administrative day-to-day running of the Society, I believe I can use the position to further the voice of others in my place on the leadership team. One of the biggest highlights I have had in law school is being able to meet extraordinary others from different walks of life. I want to give back the same hospitality to newer students and existing students for the year that is to come.

I'm running as Secretary because despite any hardships we may face collectively in the Society in the times to come, I pledge my allegiance to ensure our 130 years of excellence and history as an organisation remain firm.

The world beyond the Society does not pause for us to find our footing, and to ensure we are most adapted for the many events that may come, I, as your Secretary, will deliver what is best to ground the work behind the scenes to support this endeavour.


Sponsorship

Jessica Yang

[No blurb provided]

Jemma Wilson

[No blurb provided]

Treasurer

Jessica Yang

[No blurb provided]

Viet Truong Do

I am asking for your vote for Treasurer because I bring a wealth of experience. Since October 2024 I have been the inaugural Treasurer of the Melbourne Law and Business Association. I built its financial controls from the ground up and have maintained a strong balance sheet. My track record speaks for itself, and I will do the same for the LSS.

Before law school I spent ten years in mergers and acquisitions, and I really like being the person responsible for numbers.

Here is what you would get from me as Treasurer:

  1. A budget set early with every portfolio, so each Director knows what they can spend from week one. 

  2. A hard look at any spending that does not benefit students as a whole, by asking the difficult question every time. Do we need it? 

  3. Smart and efficient procurement, so the LSS gets the best bang for its buck. 

  4. A transparent update of the accounts at every Committee meeting. 

  5. Payments and reimbursements made on time, so you never have to chase us up. 

  6. Prudent financial management, so the LSS is in great shape for the foreseeable future.

Vote Viet for Treasurer.


Activities

Jasper Wiggins & Abdullah Imran

[No blurb provided]

Joshua Coley

[No blurb provided]

Communications

Jasper Wiggins & Abdullah Imran

More ways to find out, More ways to join in: Vote 1 Abdullah Imran and Jasper Wiggins for Communications Directors

(1) JD Facebook Group and Socials: We will promote resources you can actually rely on and enable the JD 2026-2027 group as a discussion space for MLS students

(2) Updated Website: Updated handbooks for clerkship applications, pictures from MULSS events, and competition PDFs ready for 2027

(3) Reliable Delivery of Information: Transparent, uniformly posted, and accessible posts about what's happening at MLS across Instagram, Facebook, Website, and Newsletters delivered twice a semester

Yu Sun Kim & Ming Fang

[No blurb provided]

Equity & Social Justice

Shimara Jayasinghe

My interest in equity and social justice has been shaped by my background in Criminology and Psychology, and by learning about the ways the legal system can impact people from diverse social and racial backgrounds differently. It has made me passionate about creating communities where people can share their experiences, challenge perspectives and feel that their voices matter.

I am running for Equity and Social Justice Representative because I want to help facilitate that community within MULSS.

For me, equity and social justice begins with listening. I don't want to assume what students need or speak on behalf of communities I don't represent. Instead, I want to create opportunities for students to raise issues, share their perspectives and feel genuinely heard.

I hope to foster a more connected MULSS community by creating spaces for meaningful conversations, awareness and collaboration around issues affecting students and the wider community. I want these spaces to be welcoming, approachable and constructive — where people can learn from experiences different from their own and feel empowered to engage.

As your representative, I would bring kindness, empathy and a willingness to listen. I want to help build a MULSS community where difference is valued, concerns are taken seriously, and everyone feels they have a place at the table.

Akshata Jois & Farhina Ferdous

[No blurb provided]

External Competitions

Shimara Jayasinghe

My first experiences with mooting and client interviewing were intimidating. But putting my hand up and giving them a chance helped me develop my advocacy and communication skills, build my confidence and, most importantly, prove to myself that I could do something I had initially been afraid to try.

That is why I am running for External Competitions Representative. Competitions provide students with an opportunity to practice practical legal skills in a supportive, lower-stakes environment. They can help students discover strengths they didn't know they had, build confidence and prepare for opportunities beyond law school.

I want to make these opportunities feel accessible to everyone — not just students who already feel confident or have prior experience. I particularly want to encourage those who are hesitant to put their hand up to give it a go, because I know how valuable that first opportunity can be.

As your representative, I would work to facilitate greater engagement with competitions, support students throughout the process and help create an environment where people feel comfortable learning as they go.

You shouldn't have to feel ready before you try. Sometimes, you just need someone to encourage you to take the first step — and I'd love to be that person.

Lucinda O’Toole & Grace Pearson

We, Grace and Lucinda are excited to be running as WAGDI & External Competitions Directors for 2027.

We met each other at Melbourne Law School, and the friendship and support we have found in each other has been one of the most invaluable parts of our Juris Doctor experience. We want to create that same sense of connection, friendship and support for other women and gender-diverse students, so that no one feels like they have to navigate law school alone.

We are running to ensure that women and gender-diverse students have a genuine voice within the law school, greater opportunities, and a stronger sense of community.

As WAGDI Directors, we want to create meaningful networking opportunities by fostering connections across the legal profession with women and gender-diverse individuals. We want to provide opportunities to hear about different experiences, gain insight into diverse career paths and enable students to build valuable professional connections.

As External Competitions Directors, we will ensure competitions are easy to navigate, run smoothly, and provide strong support throughout the process, so students can focus on developing their advocacy skills and making the most of the experience.

Together, we want to make the WAGDI portfolio a space where women and gender-diverse students find community to feel heard, supported and empowered.

Lucinda O’Toole (she/her) and Grace Pearson (she/her)

Elishia Lim & Alice Wilson

[No blurb provided]

Internal Competitions

Ewan Bezzobs & Wilton Chik

[No blurb provided]

Elishia Lim & Alice Wilson

Hey everyone! We are Alice and Elishia and we’re running together to be your MULSS Internal Competitions Directors. Competitions are an important and integral part of law school; they can make all the difference to your experience! Competitions are valuable not only for future budding barristers – they give you a chance to consolidate what you learn in class, build confidence preparing oral and written submissions, help with practical skills like AGLC referencing and time management, and are a fun, low-pressure way to meet new people and engage more deeply with areas of law that interest you.

We have both been involved in several competitions in different ways – as mooting teammates, and as co-opts and judges. Going into our third year, having been involved from different sides has given us a good sense of what makes a competitions enjoyable and rewarding, but also how daunting they can feel if you’ve never done one before!

A big priority for us is introducing new ways to get as many people as possible involved in competing, while keeping competitions challenging and rewarding for people who have competed before. This will look like lower-commitment options for those who are busy but still want to compete in 1 or 2 rounds of first-year or open moot for the experience and feedback - and staying in continual dialogue with MULSS students to make sure your interests are catered for, so you can participate in a competition you’re really passionate about, with a time commitment that works for you!

Jemma Wilson

[No blurb provided]

Queer

Farhina Ferdous

[No blurb provided]

David Canta

[No blurb provided]

Second Year

Grace Kobayashi-Walsh

[No blurb provided]

Akshata Jois

[No blurb provided]

Maddison Schraer

[No blurb provided]

WAGDI

Maddison Schraer

[No blurb provided]

Shimara Jayasinghe

Starting law school can be intimidating. Finding the confidence to put yourself forward can be even harder. As a first-year JD student, participating in the Women and Gender Diverse Individuals Moot gave me the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone in a space that was supportive, inclusive and encouraging. It showed me how much the right environment can help someone take that first step.

I am running for Women and Gender Diverse Individuals Representative because I want to help create those spaces for others.

I want to foster a MULSS community where women and gender-diverse students feel safe to connect, develop their skills and get involved, regardless of their experience or background. I am particularly passionate about supporting students with intersecting identities and creating a stronger sense of belonging for those who may not always see themselves represented.

I want to be a representative who is approachable, empathetic and willing to listen. Whether you have an idea, a concern, or simply don't know where to start, I want you to feel comfortable reaching out.

I hope to help build a community where taking the first step feels a little less daunting — and where everyone has the opportunity to grow, participate and feel that they belong.

Lucinda O’Toole & Grace Pearson

We, Grace and Lucinda are excited to be running as WAGDI & External Competitions Directors for 2027.

We met each other at Melbourne Law School, and the friendship and support we have found in each other has been one of the most invaluable parts of our Juris Doctor experience. We want to create that same sense of connection, friendship and support for other women and gender-diverse students, so that no one feels like they have to navigate law school alone.

We are running to ensure that women and gender-diverse students have a genuine voice within the law school, greater opportunities, and a stronger sense of community.

As WAGDI Directors, we want to create meaningful networking opportunities by fostering connections across the legal profession with women and gender-diverse individuals. We want to provide opportunities to hear about different experiences, gain insight into diverse career paths and enable students to build valuable professional connections.

As External Competitions Directors, we will ensure competitions are easy to navigate, run smoothly, and provide strong support throughout the process, so students can focus on developing their advocacy skills and making the most of the experience.

Together, we want to make the WAGDI portfolio a space where women and gender-diverse students find community to feel heard, supported and empowered.

Lucinda O’Toole (she/her) and Grace Pearson (she/her)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Rule 16 – A Candidate may nominate as part of only one joint ticket.

    ✅Ben and Jerry nominate together for Internal Competitions Directors.

    ❌Ben cannot also nominate with Spike on a separate joint ticket for Education Directors.

    Rule 16 cont. – Candidates nominating together for multiple positions comprise a single joint ticket.

    ✅Ben and Jerry nominate together for: Internal Competitions Directors and Education Directors.

    Even though they are nominating for two positions, they are treated as one joint ticket rather than two separate tickets.

    Rule 17 – Joint tickets nominating for multiple positions must specify an order of preference.

    ✅Ben and Jerry nominate together for: Internal Competitions Directors and Education Directors.

    Ben and Jerry agree to preference (1) Education and (2) Competitions.

    Rule 18 – Joint ticket nominations take precedence over individual nominations.

    Ben and Jerry nominate together for Internal Competitions Directors. Ben also nominates individually for Vice President.

    Election results indicate:

    • Ben and Jerry win Internal Competitions Directors as a joint ticket; and

    • Ben also wins Vice President individually.

    ✅Under rule 18, Ben’s joint ticket nomination is given priority when determining the outcome.

    Rule 19 – A candidate elected both individually and as part of a joint ticket is elected only as part of the joint ticket.

    Using the previous example, Ben is elected:

    • with Jerry as Internal Competitions Directors; and individually as Vice President.

    ✅Ben is declared elected as Internal Competitions Director with the joint ticket.

    Ben is deemed to have declined Vice President, which is then filled under the Constitution and Election Regulations (for example, by recount or casual vacancy process, as applicable).

    Rule 20 – A joint ticket elected to multiple positions is elected only to its highest-preference position.

    Ben and Jerry nominate together for Internal Competitions Directors and Education Directors.

    ❌The election results would otherwise see them elected to both positions.

    ✅Because Education was listed as their first preference, they are declared elected only as Education Directors.

    Internal Competitions is then filled in accordance with the Constitution and Election Regulations, allowing another eligible candidate to fill that office. This ensures the ticket occupies only one role while respecting the order of preference declared before voting commenced.

  • Nominees and MULSS members must not contact the Returning Officer directly.

    If you have any questions or wish to make a complaint, please contact Grace Staton, Secretary, at secretary@mulss.com

  • Generally, no. If the purpose of inviting them to coffee is to gain their vote, this is likely to constitute campaigning. You may, however, have a normal social conversation with a friend where election matters arise informally.

  • No. Candidates cannot form joint tickets, except where the Regulations specifically permit a joint ticket for a particular position. Candidates must not tag or expressly endorse other candidates.

  • Candidates should not enter into agreements to support or vote for one another. Candidates also cannot publicly demonstrate support for another candidate, as this may amount to an express endorsement.

  • A communication is unsolicited if the recipient has not requested it in some form.

  • You must be more than simply acquainted with the person. This would generally not include someone you have only met briefly or greeted in passing.

  • Generally, no. If someone contacts electors on your behalf to promote you or encourage them to contact you about the election, this is likely to constitute campaigning.

  • No. Sending unsolicited, pre-formatted messages to multiple electors is likely to be considered spamming and campaigning, particularly where you are not closely familiar with the recipients.

    What about my close friends?
    Only where the communication is genuinely part of an ordinary conversation. Pre-written messages sent to multiple friends for the purpose of gaining votes may still constitute campaigning.