Melbourne Law School hosts distinguished members of Japan's legal fraternity

The Asian Law Centre hosted two prominent visitors from the Supreme Court of Japan's General Secretariat Family Bureau at the beginning of February.

While in Melbourne, Judge Kentaro Oono and Mr Koji Tobisawa of the General Secretariat, Supreme Court of Japan met with more than 20 members of the Melbourne legal fraternity, including many Melbourne Law School alumni practicing in the area of family law.   

The visit demonstrates the strong international ties the Melbourne Law School has with institutions such as the Supreme Court of Japan.

Interest in the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction has increased in Japan since it became effective there last year.

Stacey Steele, Associate Director (Japan) at the ALC said that the visit highlights the co-operation between the Melbourne Law School, the Supreme Court of Japan and the Family Court of Australia.   

"We are extremely grateful to Chief Justice Diana Bryant and The Hon Justice Victoria Bennett, both Hague Network Judges, for their support of this visit," Ms Steele said.

A highlight of the visit was a farewell event hosted by the Chief Justice at the Family Court. Justice Bennett noted that the visit "provided a wonderful opportunity to bring together practitioners working on Hague Convention matters in Melbourne for the first time."It is hoped that the visit will be reciprocated with members of the Melbourne network travelling to Japan in June 2015 on a multi-disciplinary study tour including lawyers and social scientists with support from the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department.