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.

Monique Hardinge, Sahil Sondhi and Richmond Glasgow 

The Dean's Community Leadership Forum is a new initiative that recognises and supports students showing leadership and ability within the community.

"As someone who has taught in the Law School for a long time, I knew there were so many students doing extraordinary things," said Professor Carolyn Evans, Dean of Melbourne Law School.

"We have people involved in law school student organisations, community legal centres, refugee advocacy,  environmental  causes and a wide range of groups who are trying to make this city a better place to live and Australia a greater place for a whole variety of people."

At the inaugural forum in August, twenty law student leaders met representatives from philanthropic and NGO communities and the legal profession.

"We take our role in producing future leaders very seriously," says Professor Evans.

"The Law School wants to support students in their community endeavors and encourage the leadership and personal skills  that will enable them to take their work to the next level when they graduate from law school."

Image: JD students Monique Hardinge, Sahil Sondhi and Richmond Glasgow. 
Source: Photograph by Jack Fagan

This article originally appeared in MLS News, Issue 6, October 2011.