WELCOME FROM THE DEAN

Dear alumni and friends

This is our final edition of e-Brief for 2011 and I would like to take the opportunity on behalf of Melbourne Law School to wish you all a happy festive season.

I would also like to thank alumni and friends for the support and enthusiasm they have extended to the Law School during my first year as Dean. It is a challenge and a privilege to lead such a fine law school, but that task is only possible with the support of the talented staff, students and alumni who make up the Law School community.

On a sombre note, it was with deep sadness that I learnt last week of the death of the Rt Hon. Sir Zelman Cowen, alumnus and former Dean of Melbourne Law School, and former Governor-General. One of the nation's most distinguished constitutional lawyers and academics, Sir Zelman will be remembered for his contributions to legal scholarship and academia, and for his pivotal role in shaping the law school that we are today. All of us at Melbourne Law School extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

Thank you, once again, and I hope you enjoy a relaxing and safe summer break.

Carolyn Evans
Dean, Melbourne Law School
Harrison Moore Professor of Law

News

Alumna named Australia's chief law officer

Melbourne Law School alumna the Hon. Nicola Roxon MP has been appointed as the Attorney-General.

The Dean of Melbourne Law School, Professor Carolyn Evans, congratulated Ms Roxon on becoming Australia's first female attorney-general. The appointment was announced this week by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who is also an alumna of Melbourne Law School.

Read more

Vale

The Rt Hon. Sir Zelman Cowen AK GCMG GCVO QC

Melbourne Law School has paid tribute to one of its greatest supporters, the Rt Hon. Sir Zelman Cowen (LLB 1940, LLM 1941) who died last week aged 92. Sir Zelman was Professor of Public Law and Dean of the Law School, a position he held from 1951 to 1963, and again from 1964 to 1966. A gifted scholar who won the Supreme Court Prize in 1940, a captivating lecturer, and a leader of great vision, Sir Zelman left rich legacies, including the forging of international links in postgraduate study and staff exchange.

Although Sir Zelman left the University in 1966 to become the Vice-Chancellor of the University of New England, and then of the University of Queensland, he retained a lifelong interest in Melbourne Law School. Knighted in 1976, he was appointed Governor-General and served in that role until 1982. He then became provost of Oriel College at Oxford University in the UK before returning to Australia in 1990.

Sir Zelman will be greatly missed. Deepest sympathy is extended to Lady Cowen and the Cowen family.

Tributes: Melbourne Law School would like to invite you to share your tributes and stories about Sir Zelman Cowen. A selection of these will be posted on the Law School's website. Please email your stories to law-news@unimelb.edu.au.

Law School highlights

Our highlights for 2011

1. Melbourne Law School ranked as one of the top 10 law schools in the world.
2. Visit by US Ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey L. Bleich.
3. Professor Tim McCormack named as one of two international observers to the Israeli Government Turkel Commission.
4. Alumnus Simon McKeon (LLB 1978) named 2011 Australian of the Year.
5. Professor Raimond Gaita hosted the Wednesday Lectures at Melbourne Law School for the first time.
6. Professor David Studdert awarded an ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship.
7. Melbourne academics awarded for quality teaching by the Lexis-Nexis Australasian Law Teachers Association Awards and the Australian Teaching and Learning Council Awards.
8. The first Melbourne student completes the Law School's dual degree program with NYU School of Law.
9. The visit of Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan, one of the key figures in the movement for electoral reform in Malaysia.
10. Melbourne Law School students dominated mooting competitions, winning the European Law Students' Association Moot Court Competition in Geneva, The Castan Centre Human Rights Moot Competition, Sir Harry Gibbs National Constitutional Law Moot, and the inaugural Hon. Michael Kirby Contract Law Moot Competition.

Alumni highlights

Reconnecting with friends

Melbourne Law School alumni and friends had an eventful and interesting year in 2011, getting involved in Law School events, mentoring students, and meeting up with old classmates and colleagues.

Mr Nathan Jacobson OBE and Ambassador Jeffrey Bleich Nathan & Pamela Jacobson Lecture	Associate Professor David Wood, The Hon Justice Marcia A. Neave, Mr Robert Lancy MLS Staff Reunion Lunch	Mr Colin Neave AM (left) 2011 Mentor Program launch

Jacobson family and friends Nathan & Pamela Jacobson Lecture	Her Hon. Judge Jane M. Patrick Garrie Moloney, Dr Ian J. Hardingham QC MLS Staff Reunion Lunch	Mr Zili Shao and Mr Christopher Carr Alumni reception, China

Save the date

International Construction Law Conference

Melbourne Law School is a supporting organisation for the Fourth International Construction Law Conference in 2012. The conference will bring together many of the world's leading construction law practitioners, academics and researchers under the theme of Global Challenges, Shared Solutions. It is part of a suite of construction law-related activities occurring in Melbourne and Sydney in early May, including two Melbourne Law Masters subjects.

Details: 6-8 May, Sofitel Melbourne on Collins

Register your place

Watch online

If you missed one of our thought-provoking speakers during the year, you can still catch their presentations online.

Ambassador Jeffrey L. Bleich Domestic violence	Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan Electoral reform	The Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser The Constitution	Professor Mark Hall Health care reform	Mr James Love Intellectual property
Professor Raimond Gaita Power & consent	Mr Guy Rundle Power, the State & WikiLeaks	Dr Helen Pringle Secrecy & power in Democracy	Dr Kevin Heller Prosecuting WikiLeaks	Professor Stephen Toope Preventing torture

Awards and Achievements

Alumni among new silks

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, the Hon. Marilyn Warren AC, recently announced the appointment of 15 new Senior Counsel – 12 of whom are Melbourne Law School alumni. The Law School warmly congratulates:

William Evan Stuart SC (LLB 1976)
Thomas Gyorffy SC (LLB 1976)
Daniel Masel SC (LLB 1979)
Michael Hugh O'Bryan SC (LLB(Hons) 1985)
Martin Rothwell Scott SC (LLB 1985, LLM 1992)
Caroline Eve Kirton SC (LLB 1986)
James Peter Gorton SC (LLB(Hons) 1991)
Peter Robert Darling Gray SC (LLB(Hons) 1991)
Stuart John Wood SC (LLB(Hons) 1991, GDipLabRelLaw 1993)
Matthew John Collins SC (PhD Law 2000)
Lesley Ann Taylor SC (LLM 1999)
Stephen Paul Donaghue SC (LLB(Hons) 1995)

And Kristina Stern SC (LLB(Hons) 1987) who was appointed Senior Counsel in NSW.

View the complete list of the new Senior Counsel for Victoria.
View the complete list of the new Senior Counsel for New South Wales.

Appointment to Magistrates' Court of Victoria

Congratulations to Philip Ginnane (LLB 1986) whose appointment to the Magistrates Court of Victoria was announced by the Attorney-General, Robert Clark, last week.

Alumnus wins the Human Rights Medal

Congratulations to Ron Merkel QC (LLB 1963) who has been awarded the Human Rights Medal for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of human rights in Australia. More on the awards.

Making news

Faculty in the Media

Associate Professor David Brennan, Is the Federal Government liable for treating Sky News unfairly? T he Conversation, 9 December 2011.

Associate Professor Jeremy Gans interviewed by Mark Colvin, High Court rules spouses have no right to privacy, PM, ABC Radio, 30 November 2011.

Associate Professor Andrew Mitchell interviewed by Mark Colvin, Australia taken to international trade court over tobacco laws, PM, ABC Radio, 28 November 2011.

Professor Gerry Simpson, Row over Gaddafi son's trial comes with the territory, The Age, 22 November 2011.

Associate Professor John Howe interviewed by Leigh Sales, Destination Unknown, 7.30 Report, ABC Television, 21 November 2011.

Making news

Alumni in the Media

Ben Naparstek (LLB(Hons) 2007), Naparstek the new editor of Good Weekend, The Age, 15 December 2011

Fergus Green (LLB(Hons) 2007), Four lawyers recognised as future leaders, Lawyers Weekly, 29 November 2011.

Ron Merkel QC (LLB 1963), Freedom to vilify must be checked by freedom from racial vilification, The Australian, 21 November 2011.

Kim Crow (LLB 2010), What sport needs is its own ombudsman, The Age, 20 November 2011.

Mark Leibler (LLB(Hons) 1966), Only one path can lead to two states, National Times, 17 November 2011.