Issue 6 – October 2011
- Message from the Dean
2011 has been another wonderful year for Melbourne Law School. Five members of the academic staff have won national teaching awards; our students continue to excel in mooting, winning the Castan Centre Human Rights Moot Competition, the Hon Michael Kirby Contract Law Moot and the World Trade Organisation Moot Court Competition in Geneva; and Melbourne Law School has been rated as the number one law school in Australia and one of the top ten law schools in the world.
- Building a better community
How do you equip people tomake a difference in the world? When the Dean of Melbourne Law School asked herself this question, she looked to the law students already demonstrating their commitment to the community.
- Vale Professor Emeritus Colin Howard QC
Melbourne Law School has paid tribute to former dean, Professor Emeritus Colin Howard QC (LLM 1966, LLD 1971), who died on 2 September, aged 83. Professor Howard had a long connection with the Law School. He was the Hearn Professor of Law from 1965 until 1990 and served as Dean from 1978 to 1983.
- Educating Commercial Lawyers
Melbourne Law School is looking at the way it teaches legal subjects to better prepare students for different kinds of legal practice.
Law schools have traditionally taught legal subjects separately, but in legal practice lawyers are often presented with problems that cross different areas of the law.
- Teacher makes a first-class contribution
Professor Ian Malkin has celebrated 25 years at Melbourne Law School with an extraordinary gift.
Professor Ian Malkin hoped that his plane would never arrive when he travelled from Canada 25 years ago to take up his first university position at Melbourne Law School.
"I remember reading in the Lonely Planet guide on the plane coming over about Australia having the most number of deadly serpents …
- The path to Oxford
The Allan Myers Oxford University Scholarships are making it possible for talented Melbourne law students and alumni to study at the centre of the common law world.
- Q and A The law at work with Hilary Bonney
Hilary Bonney (LLB(Hons) 1988) is a barrister and crime writer who worked as a prosecuting solicitor for the Office of Public Prosecutions Victoria. She speaks about her recent work as story consultant and associate producer on the ABC's new drama, Crownies.
- Alumni profile: Phil Lynch
Phil Lynch (LLB(Hons) 1999) is Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Centre, a specialist community legal centre that promotes and protects human rights, particularly for those that are disadvantaged or living in poverty.
- U.S. Legal Controversy Over Teaching Evolution
Professor Edward J. Larson is a professor of law and history at Pepperdine University in California. He was in Australia recently for an international conference on law and religion hosted by Melbourne Law School, and to teach American Constitutional Law in the JD program.
Professor Larson, who was awarded the 1998 Pulitzer Prize in History for his book Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion, spoke about religious autonomy and its limits. Here is an extract of his presentation.
- Commitment to Justice
Before the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, thousands of people in major cities were forced off the streets to hide the scale of poverty. The impact on the poor and homeless raised issues familiar to Justice Dennis Davis, who has played a key role in protecting human rights in post-apartheid South Africa.
- Recognising Indigenous Australians in the Constitution
Many Australians would be surprised to learn that the Australian Constitution does not recognise its Indigenous people, or provide them with any rights or protection. The issue has been brought to the forefront recently, with the Australian Government opening discussions which may pave the way for change.
- Masters of the game
Gambling is coming to Melbourne Law School, with the Melbourne Law Masters presenting one of the first subjects on gambling law in Australia.
- A world of difference
In the last five years the Melbourne Law Masters has welcomed students from 60 countries, spanning every continent in the world. Three recent graduates talk about their experience and how the Melbourne Law Masters is making a difference to their careers.
- A winning formula
This year some of Melbourne Law School's commercial law students took a break from the study of securities markets and disclosure documents to celebrate an extraordinary partnership.
Jon Webster is one of Australia's leading mergers and acquisitions lawyers. Ann O'Connell is an Associate Professor at Melbourne Law School. Together they teach Regulation of Securities Offerings in the Melbourne Law Masters, a partnership that has spanned almost two decades. This year they celebrated the 10th staging of the course with their students.