Issue 8 – October 2012

We received news recently that the University of Melbourne has broken into the ranks of the top 30 universities in the world. Melbourne's sustained rise among its international peers – the university jumped nine places in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings – is testament to the high calibre of work being done by staff and students, and the support of alumni and friends.

"Thanks to France I've learnt that there are very different holistic perspectives on law and life in this world, shaped by history, culture and language," says Melbourne Law School's Professor Cheryl Saunders AO.

Associate Professor Margaret Young was recently awarded the Junior Scholarship by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Academy of Environmental Law for her book, Trading Fish, Saving Fish: The Interaction between Regimes in International Law

Philosophy. We have all heard the word but it's not often that we get to really understand its meaning, or how it intersects with the legal profession and everyday life.

"Philosophy of law is concerned with holding up to critical scrutiny the basic ideas and assumptions built into ordinary legal thought," says John Tasioulas (LLB(Hons) 1988), Quain Professor of Jurisprudence, Faculty of Laws, University College London. "It involves ideas and assumptions about notions such as rights, obligations, wrong-doing, punishment and harm."

With Melbourne Law School's tradition of harbouring intellectual excellence and academic rigour, it's refreshing to know that it is also fertile ground for the best of creative and comedic talent.

On 27 September 2012 Emeritus Professor Harold Ford AM (LLB 1948, LLM 1949, HonLLD 1987) passed away. Neither his keen intellect nor the affection with which he was held had dimmed over the years. Melbourne Law School's JD Harold Ford Scholarships were named after him in recognition of all that he contributed to the Law School and the respect in which he was held by the academy and the profession.

When Sally Walker found the law, it settled over her like a second skin. It is a part of the story she describes as "the luckiest thing that had happened in my life".

"Big tobacco can be taken on and beaten."

Those were the words of Attorney-General Nicola Roxon (LLB (Hons) 1990) to describe a watershed moment for tobacco control globally

Lisa Leong (BSc/LLB(Hons) 1995) talks about bringing together skills from surprisingly different fields for her role as National Business Development Manager at Herbert Smith Freehills.

Melbourne law student Harini Amarasinghe has just returned to Australia from London where she spent a semester participating in a unique program that brings together students from across the world to learn about international, comparative and transnational law.

His Excellency the Hon. Alex Chernov AC QC (LLB(Hons) 1967), Governor of Victoria, has been awarded the University of Melbourne's highest honour, the Doctor of Laws.

Melbourne Law School's newest scholarship, the Philip Solomon SC Scholarship, will provide a bridge from campus to chambers for law students with a keen eye on advocacy.

When commercial barrister Philip Solomon SC (LLB(Hons) 1991) first applied to further his legal studies at the University of Cambridge, there was no internet to facilitate the ambitions of bright young law graduates to study overseas.

This year will complete the transition to the Juris Doctor as the primary law degree at Melbourne Law School when the final Bachelor of Laws students finish their studies. Current students, recent graduates and alumni got together to celebrate this historic occasion last month at the Woodward Centre atop the Law School.