MLS News

John Tobin wins LIV award

Professor John Tobin has been presented with the Paul Baker Award at the Law Institute of Victoria Awards. He was recognised for his extraordinary work, both within the Law School and beyond, in the promotion of human rights.

Accepting the award at the ceremony last month, Professor Tobin applauded the work done by so many lawyers within Victoria to promote and protect human rights at the coal face.

"There is a need to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary work of lawyers working for groups such as the Human Rights Law Centre, Justice Connect, Legal Aid and all the CLCs in Victoria. There is also a need to recognise the vital pro bono work being done by private lawyers to protect the rights of individuals."

Professor Tobin teaches in the areas of international law, human rights, children's rights and public interest lawyering. A passionate teacher and mentor, he was awarded for teaching excellence by the University of Melbourne in 2010 and the following year received a national citation for outstanding contribution to student learning in the area of human rights.

Professor Tobin is currently working with Professor Philip Alston from NYU to produce a comprehensive commentary on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

New Judge in Residence: David Harper

Former Judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria, the Hon. David Harper AM is joining Melbourne Law School as its newest Judge in Residence. He will share insights from his 21 years of service to the Supreme Court with the Law School community. The program gives law students and academics the opportunity to engage with some of Australia's most influential judicial leaders through a series of workshops, classes and activities.

Chief Justice's Medal for Melbourne student

Amy Frew (JD 2013) has been awarded the 2014 Chief Justice's Medal for Excellence and Community Service. The medal is offered to one Victorian law student each year who has demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to community services.

"I am proud to be recognised for what I see as the most important element of my time at Melbourne Law School: the connections between my studies and the volunteer work I did with Community Legal Centres and Victoria Legal Aid," says Amy.

Amy has shown throughout her studies a dedication to public interest and administrative law. "I wanted to become a lawyer to directly work with people who, for whatever reason, were having a difficult time in life and needed assistance. I also wanted to be part of a movement that works towards social change to improve people's lives," says Amy.

In 2013 Amy was awarded the Dreamlarge Student Engagement Grant by the University of Melbourne to develop the Police Accountability Project website in partnership with the Flemington Community Legal Centre.

Ian Malkin wins Award for Excellence

Professor Ian Malkin has won the Award for Outstanding Leadership of University Teaching. The award is conferred annually by the University of Melbourne to recognise outstanding contributions tostudent learning.

Professor Malkin teaches Legal Method and Reasoning and Torts in the JD program and was one of the lecturers involved in teaching the University breadth subject, Drugs That Shaped Society.

Professor Malkin has devoted nearly three decades of his life to the Law School and for those who have been taught by him, or taught alongside him, this latest honour will come as no surprise. He remains as passionate as ever about teaching and trying to create environments that bring out the best in students. He recently established the Ian Malkin Internship Scholarship to support students who want to pursue law within a community context.

On the elements that build a positive teaching culture, Professor Malkin is in no doubt: "A critical mass of like-minded, enthusiastic, dedicated colleagues as well as working in an institution that values efforts aimed at building enriching teaching programs."