Law Student Gazette

1. 6th Annual Castan Centre Human Rights Moot

The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law is hosting the sixth annual human rights moot competition, which is open to law (JD/LLB) students at all Victorian universities. The competition will address issues associated with the Victorian human rights legislation and will give students the opportunity to hone their skills in this important area of law. The event is proudly sponsored by Clayton Utz, who is providing generous prizes:

• $3000 to the winning team
• $1000 to the runners-up

Competitors must be in the equivalent of at least third year of a combined law degree, or in any stage of a JD degree, but must not have completed their degree. It is preferable that competitors have completed some studies in human rights law.

For more information please see here.

The Castan Centre wishes to thank the moot competition sponsors Clayton Utz

2. Commercial Court Seminar

The refusal of leave to withdraw has implications for legal practitioners. This seminar explores the legal and ethical obligations on, and ramifications for, legal practitioners seeking to withdraw at the door of the court or during trial because instructions have been withdrawn or the client ceases funding.

Date: Wednesday 6 June, 2012
Time: 5.15 pm – 6.15 pm
Venue: Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Cost: Free
RSVP: Wednesday 30th May, 2012: law-marketing@monash.edu or 03 9905 2630

3. Susan Campbell Memorial Dinner: Celebrating Clinical Legal Education at Monash

Susan Campbell AM (1943-2011) was a pioneer of community legal centres. Through her work, she inspired a generation of law students to give back to their communities. This event celebrates Susan’s professional life and her work with the Monash Clinical Legal Education program.

Host: Professor Arie Freiberg AM, Dean, Faculty of Law
MC: Radio presenter Jon Faine (BA 1979, LLB 1981)
Date and time: 7pm, Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Venue: St Kilda Town Hall
Tickets: $150. Limited concession available. To purchase tickets visit community.monash.edu/suecampbell

For any queries contact adm-lsfoundation@monash.edu. Proceeds will go towards the Susan Campbell AM Clinical Legal Education Visiting Fellowship and Future Fund. Justice Marcia Neave AO is fund patron.

1. The Graeme Schofield Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Oration

The Graeme Schofield VIFM Oration is a biennial event held to highlight the work of forensic practitioners around the world, with particular focus on their projects in resource poor countries. It was named for Emeritus Professor Graeme Schofield, one of the founders of the VIFM.

For more information please see here.

2. Susan Campbell Memorial Dinner: Celebrating Clinical Legal Education at Monash

Susan Campbell AM (1943-2011) was a pioneer of community legal centres. Through her work, she inspired a generation of law students to give back to their communities. This event celebrates Susan’s professional life and her work with the Monash Clinical Legal Education program.

Host: Professor Arie Freiberg AM, Dean, Faculty of Law
MC: Radio presenter Jon Faine (BA 1979, LLB 1981)
Date and time: 7pm, Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Venue: St Kilda Town Hall
Tickets: $150. Limited concession available. To purchase tickets visit community.monash.edu/suecampbell

For any queries contact adm-lsfoundation@monash.edu. Proceeds will go towards the Susan Campbell AM Clinical Legal Education Visiting Fellowship and Future Fund. Justice Marcia Neave AO is fund patron.

1. Great Law Week Debate: ‘Political Bias in the Media Should be Banned’

Witness a team of prominent Monash Law Alumni battle it out with current Monash Law Students, over this highly controversial topic at the annual Great Law Week Debate.

Previous president of the Monash Association of Debaters and 2012 World Universities Debating Championship winner Kiran Iyer will lead the student team to argue “Political bias in the media should be banned”, supported by Madeline Schultz, who was a semi-finalist in the 2012 World Universities Debating Championships and Duncan Wallace, former winner of the Monash Junior Moot and a semi-finalist of the Commonwealth AAT Moot.

Proving this point won’t be easy against the Monash Law Alumni team consisting of Fiona Prowse who won the 2011 World Universities Debating Championship, Channel 7 investigative reporter who specialises in freedom of information Louise Milligan,  and Justin Quill, director of Kelly Hazell Quill Lawyers and one of Australia’s most experienced media law practitioners.

Date: Wednesday 16 May, 2012
Time: 6pm – 7.30pm
Venue: Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
RSVP: Monday 14 May,2012
Email: law-marketing@monash.edu or 03 9905 2630

For more information please see here.

2. Susan Campbell Memorial Dinner: Celebrating Clinical Legal Education at Monash

Susan Campbell AM (1943-2011) was a pioneer of community legal centres. Through her work, she inspired a generation of law students to give back to their communities. This event celebrates Susan’s professional life and her work with the Monash Clinical Legal Education program.

Host: Professor Arie Freiberg AM, Dean, Faculty of Law
MC: Radio presenter Jon Faine (BA 1979, LLB 1981)
Date and time: 7pm, Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Venue: St Kilda Town Hall
Tickets: $150. Limited concession available. To purchase tickets visit community.monash.edu/suecampbell

For any queries contact adm-lsfoundation@monash.edu. Proceeds will go towards the Susan Campbell AM Clinical Legal Education Visiting Fellowship and Future Fund. Justice Marcia Neave AO is fund patron.

3. What’s Next in the Law? Interactive Law: Lawyers as Peacemakers, Problem-Solvers and Healers

The Australian Centre for Court and Justice System Innovation (ACCJSI) invites you to a public lecture presented by J. Kim Wright, J.D. For further information, please see ACCJSI Flyer Lecture.

1. Summer Research Scholarships

Undergraduate and Honours Students, get a taste of graduate life!

The Summer Research Scholarships program at ANU is aimed at current third year undergraduate students, and provides successful candidates with an opportunity to work with leading scholars over an eight week period between November and late January each year. Full board, a weekly stipend and return travel are included in the scholarships. Full details can be found here.

Please see ANU Flyer for information about ANU Summer Research Scholarships Advisory Day being held in Melbourne on Saturday 19th May at the Stamford Plaza from 10am.

Should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Summer.Scholarships@anu.edu.au

1. Australian Law Students’ Association Clayton Utz Conference (Melbourne) 2012

9 – 16th July
$500 silver registration

In 2012 the ALSA Clayton Utz Conference is being held in Melbourne. More than 500 students from around Australia, as well as New Zealand and South East Asia will be in attendance. Silver registration is $500. Gold registration, which includes accommodation at The Sebel and Citigate Albert Park is $850.

Registration includes:

• Opening (Location Peninsular) and Closing Gala (Location: Crown Palladium. Keynote speaker at Closing: Simon McKeon, 2011 Australian of the Year),
• 5 Speaker Forums (including The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG, Evelyn Halls: partner at Freehills, Robert Clark MP: Victorian Attorney General, Senator Larissa Waters: Australian Greens),
• Cocktail Evening at the MCG,
• 2 Theme Nights,
• Workshops (advocacy workshop being run by Justice Hollingsworth, Supreme Court of Victoria) and much more.

Visit www.alsaconference.com.au for more information and to register.

2. Courts Open Day 2012

The Supreme Court of Victoria and the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court will both open their doors to the public on Courts Open Day, Saturday 19 May, as part of Law Week celebrations.  Located in the legal precinct on the corner of William and Lonsdale Streets, both courts will welcome the public with a free program of tours, talks and public information stalls, from 10am to 3pm. For more information please see Courts Open Day Flyer.

3. Debate: Freedom of Speech is Overrated

Too often, the big issues feel ill-served by parliamentary question time or the 24-hour news cycle. Big issues and bigger ideas deserve informed and passionate consideration. Beyond the soundbites, beyond the sloganeering, beyond the posturing, there’s the debate. For more information please see the debate website.

4. Great Law Week Debate: ‘Political Bias in the Media Should be Banned’

Date: 16 May, 2012
Time: 6pm – 7.30pm
Venue: Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
RSVP: Monday 14 May,2012
Email: law-marketing@monash.edu or 03 9905 2630

For more information please see here.

5. Maurice Blackburn Women in the Law Breakfast

12 July, 7am, RACV Club Melbourne – Students $20

Once again the Maurice Blackburn Women in the Law Breakfast is being held. Running in 2012 as part of the Australian Law Students’ Association Clayton Utz Conference, it will provide a great opportunity to hear from some inspiring speakers while networking with members of the legal profession and law students. All enquiries should be directed to education@alsaconference.com.au.

Please visit www.alsaconference.com.au/equity-breakfast to purchase tickets.

6. The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law / King & Wood Mallesons Annual Lecture

Professor Olivier De Schutter, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food

The role of the right to food in combating global hunger

Date: Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Time: 5:45pm to 7pm
Venue: State Library of Victoria Conference Centre and Theatrette, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne
RSVP: castan.centre@monash.edu or telephone 03 9905 3327
Public Lecture – All Welcome

Professor Olivier De Schutter is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food. He is professor at the University of Louvain (Belgium) and at the College of Europe (Natolin), and a visiting professor at Columbia University and Sciences Po (Paris). Before being appointed Special Rapporteur, he was the General Secretary of the International Federation for Human Rights in charge of issues of globalization and human rights. Between 2002 and 2007, De Schutter chaired the EU Network of independent experts on fundamental rights, a high-level group of experts providing advice on fundamental rights issues to the European Parliament and European Commission.

Professor De Schutter will be teaching an intensive postgraduate law unit Economic social and cultural rights and international law at Monash University Law Chambers in June.

7. The Impact of Mental Impairment Legislation for People with Cognitive Impairment: The Aboriginal Disability Justice Campaign

Date: Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Time: 6pm to 7:30pm
Venue: Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
RSVP: castan.centre@monash.edu or telephone 03 9905 3327
Full details: http://www.law.monash.edu.au/castancentre/events/2012/aboriginal-disability-justice.html
Public Forum – All Welcome

Why did Marlon Noble spent almost ten years in a West Australian prison without ever being convicted for a crime?

This forum will explore the human rights and legal issues for people with a psychiatric disability and cognitive impairment (intellectual disability / acquired brain injury) who come before the courts and are assessed as having a mental impairment and then found unfit to plead. This legislative process was designed as an alternative pathway through the courts for people with psychiatric disabilities and cognitive impairments who could not enter a plea or understand the criminal justice system. Unfortunately this process is having dire consequences in terms of liberty for people who are subject to its findings.

In a number of states and territories across Australia being assessed as mentally impaired and then found unfit to plead leads to indefinite detention in prisons and psychiatric units. Despite not being convicted of a crime, detention is often indefinite because there are no alternative accommodation and treatment options other than prisons or psychiatric units. In the Northern Territory, detention is in a maximum security prison. In Western Australia you do not have the right to appeal the findings.

8. What’s Next in the Law? Interactive Law: Lawyers as Peacemakers, Problem-Solvers and Healers

The Australian Centre for Court and Justice System Innovation (ACCJSI) invites you to a public lecture presented by J. Kim Wright, J.D. For further information, please see ACCJSI Flyer Lecture.

1. National Graduate Law Conference

The ANU College of Law invites graduate research students Australia-wide to attend the eighth National Graduate Law Conference 2012. The 2012 conference will enable Higher Degree Research students to present papers in a range of legal research disciplines including: public law, private law, criminal law, international law, regulation and law, and legal theory. Alternatively, students may also come as an attendee to participate in discussions about the presentations from students and some invited guest speakers. Students are encouraged to present work-in-progress papers related to their doctoral research.

For more information please see here.

1. 2012 Careers Fair

12 July, 5pm – 8pm, Olympic Room MCG

The 2012 Careers Fair will be held as part of the ALSA Clayton Utz Conference. The event will be held at the MCG from 5pm till 8pm on the 12th July. Just in time for clerkship applications, this is a great opportunity to meet employers and ask those final few questions to ensure your CV stands out. For those of you in first to third year, this free event provides a great opportunity to view the field, start to learn about the various firms in Melbourne and stock up on a year’s supply of stationary.

Please visit here to see a full list of firms attending.

1. 1.4 Billion Reasons

Date: Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Time: 5pm – 7pm
Venue: Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
RSVP: castan.centre@monash.edu or telephone 03 9905 3327
Full details: Here.

Public Lecture – All Welcome

This special presentation by the Global Poverty Project will explore the issue of extreme poverty, and the barriers we face in bringing about its end. It is recommended for anyone interested in learning more about ending extreme poverty in our lifetime.

2. Human Rights, Protest and Police Surveillance: a Forum on Intelligence Gathering and Monitoring of Public Protest

Date: Thursday, 17 May 2012
Time: 6pm – 7:30pm
Venue: Melbourne City Conference Centre Chapel, 333 Swanston Street, (Cnr Little Lonsdale and Swanston Streets), Melbourne
RSVP: castan.centre@monash.edu or telephone 03 9905 3327
Full details: Here.

Public Forum – All Welcome

Recent news reports have revealed the increasingly widespread and targeted involvement of state and federal police, ASIO and even private agencies in monitoring groups and individuals participating in public protest.

In the courts, a case currently underway at VCAT* is challenging police powers to collect and retain footage of people at protests in relation to a 2010 climate change protest at Hazelwood Power Station in the Latrobe Valley.

This forum brings together experts in law, human rights and surveillance, as well as individuals who have sought to protect their privacy through the courts, and asks:

• What kind of monitoring and surveillance techniques are currently being utilised?
• What are the effects of this practice from a democratic and human rights perspective?
• What legal protections are available and how adequate are they?

The event is open to all who have an interest in learning about and addressing this critical human rights issue.

3. Reprieve Australia

Reprieve Australia is co-hosting a film -“A Common Purpose” – a film about the death penalty.
Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at Sydney Film Festival 2011.

Date: Thursday, 3 May 2012
Time: 6:30 pm
Venue: Hoyts Cinemas, Melbourne Central, Corner of Swanston and La Trobe Street, Melbourne
Tickets: $30 can be purchased here
Contact: anna.martin@reprieve.org.au Reprieve Australia.

All proceeds of ticket sales will go to Reprieve Australia and the Human Rights Law Centre.

25 people are convicted of the murder of one man, 14 are sentenced to hang, one lawyer is assassinated and the other goes into exile. ‘A Common Purpose’ is the dramatic story behind a notorious murder trial that marks South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy.

Told through the perspectives of defence lawyer, Andrea Durbach, Independent journalist John Carlin, and the accused, the story unfolds to reveal one of legal history’s biggest cases on the death penalty. A timeless and inspirational story about a struggle for justice in a country where injustice was entrenched in the law.

There will be a Q&A after the film with Andrea Durbach and Director, Mitzi Goldman.

4. The Great Law Week Debate: ‘Political Bias in the Media Should be Banned’

Date: 16 May, 2012
Time: 6pm – 7.30pm
Venue: Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
RSVP: Monday 14 May,2012
Email: law-marketing@monash.edu or 03 9905 2630

For more information please see here.

1. 2012 Law Malaysia Program Information Session

Date: Tuesday 17 April, 2012
Venue: Building 12, L2
Time: 1 – 2pm

Please come along and hear all about this wonderful program (lunch provided)!

Malaysia offers a fun time whilst basking in the sunshine enjoying the food and culture from one of Asia’s most multicultural societies. Enrich your education by studying at the Monash Malaysia campus where you will have the chance to experience the law in a comparative context including studying
with students from different parts of the world.

• Find out how you can study overseas in 2012 at the Sunway Campus, Malaysia without adding any time to your degree.
• Listen to students share their experiences from the 2011 program.
• Hear about the application process, units offered, funding and more.

This session will not be recorded but all information presented including eligibility will be available on the Malaysia program website.

1. Symposium – Recent developments concerning the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Date: Tuesday 24 April 2012
Venue: Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Time: 9:00am to 2:45pm

This symposium will consider three important current issues in children’s rights, from Australian and international perspectives.

This informative and thought-provoking event will bring together some of Australia’s leading child rights advocates, academics and organisations. It will be an invaluable occasion for those working or studying in the area, as well as anyone with an interest in children’s rights.

Confirmed speakers:
The Hon Alastair Nicholson AO RFD QC, Chair of Children’s Rights International
Associate Professor John Tobin, University of Melbourne
Associate Professor Paula Gerber, Monash University
Chris Varney, Former Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations

Registration
Registration fees for the symposium are:
Full price: $75
Concession full price: $35

To register and pay online, please go here.

For more information on the event, please see Convention on the Rights of the Child.

2. Law Beyond Practice 2012 – Law Careers Beyond Commercial Firms

Date: Thursday 19 April, 2012
Venue: Monash University Law Chambers Auditorium, 555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne CBD
Time: 6pm – 8pm
Ticket: $10 (Drinks & Canapés provided)
More information: Here

Seats are strictly limited, so be quick to secure your place by booking online.

Thinking about clerkships and the conventional pathway of commercial law firm practice? Having doubts and wanting to know other options for your hard-earned law degree?

Law Beyond Practice 2012 aims to provide ambitious law students with an insight into an array of career opportunities to use your law degree outside commercial practice. Connect with successful professionals who have chosen less traditional law-related careers, from government departments, not-for-profit organisations, to leaders of the criminal law. Hear their ‘100 Second Pitch’ and then have the opportunity to chat with them – in an informal setting – to discuss legal career insights that are rewarding in both the personal and professional sense.

Confirmed speakers so far:
The Hon. Robert Richter QC
Ms Joh Kirby, Executive Director of Victoria Law Foundation
Cr Charlotte Baines, Monash City Council
Senior Sergeant Therese Fitzgerald, Police Prosecutions Division
Ms Madeline Keating, Carina Ford Immigration Lawyers
Mr Nikolas Tumbri, Associate to The Honourable President Maxwell of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Mr Khoi Cao-Lam, Manager of North Melbourne Legal Service Inc
Professor Arie Freiberg, Dean of Law Faculty at Monash University
Mr Paul Horvarth, Sports Lawyers

Representatives from:
The Legal Services Commission
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
The Environmental Defender’s Office

3. Meeting Challenges in the Civil Justice System by Professor Dame Hazel

How has the landscape altered? What are the challenges and opportunities? How does the justice system need to change to stay relevant to the people it serves?

The lecture will focus on current civil justice policy in England and Wales and argue that, as a result of trends over the last fifteen years, the value of a public civil justice system is being challenged, while access to that system is being inhibited both by new procedural and funding measures.

Accompanied by a profound change in civil justice discourse, the relevant interdependent justice policy strands involve the promotion of mediation and the withdrawal of the State from civil disputes; the removal of legal aid from most non-criminal issues; and a reduction in resources for the courts.

Date: Tuesday 17 April, 2012
Time: 6:00pm
Venue: Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
RSVP: See attached information for booking form

For more information please see Critique of Civil Justice Reforms in England.

4. 2012 Law Malaysia Program Information Session

Date: Tuesday 17 April, 2012
Venue: Building 12, L2
Time: 1 – 2pm

Please come along and hear all about this wonderful program (lunch provided)!

Malaysia offers a fun time whilst basking in the sunshine enjoying the food and culture from one of Asia’s most multicultural societies. Enrich your education by studying at the Monash Malaysia campus where you will have the chance to experience the law in a comparative context including studying
with students from different parts of the world.

• Find out how you can study overseas in 2012 at the Sunway Campus, Malaysia without adding any time to your degree.
• Listen to students share their experiences from the 2011 program.
• Hear about the application process, units offered, funding and more.

This session will not be recorded but all information presented including eligibility will be available on the Malaysia program website.