Adelaide Law School » Events

Next CPD Event – The Role of the Profession in the Absence of a Legislative Human Rights Instrument

Kerrin — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:48:32 +0000

The National Human Rights Consultation was a broad ranging community consultation about the protection of human rights in Australia. Its major critics saw it as a stalking horse for a bill of rights. The committee engaged focus groups and random polling as well as over 60 community roundtables, a three day national symposium and received tens of thousands of submissions. The committee put forward a cascading set of recommendations in the light of the findings. Government declined to proceed with a Human Rights Act but enacted measures enhancing parliamentary scrutiny of legislation and Executive compliance with key international human rights instruments. In this presentation, Frank Brennan will ask what are the ongoing shortcomings in Australia’s arrangements for protecting human rights and how might lawyers assist the community in making up the shortfall.

Presenter
Father Frank Brennan SJ AO, Professor of Law, Australian Catholic University, Adjunct Professor of Law, ANU and the National Centre for Indigenous Studies
Father Frank Brennan had been a self-confessed fence sitter on a Human Rights Act is a Jesuit priest, professor of law at Australian Catholic University and Adjunct Professor at the Australian National University College of Law and National Centre for Indigenous Studies. He was the founding director of Uniya, the Australian Jesuit Social Justice Centre. He is a board member of St Vincents Health Australia and chairs the policy committee of Jesuit Social Services. In 2009, he chaired the Australian National Human Rights Consultation Committee.

Date: Thursday 27 June 2013
Time: 7.20 am – 8.30 am
Breakfast: A buffet continental breakfast will be served, accompanied by tea, coffee and juice
Venue: National Wine Centre (Cnr North Tce and Hackney Road)
Parking: Parking is available along Hackney Road and Plane Tree Drive after the first Parking Bay. Charges will apply.
Cost: $130 – Standard ticket
$110 – Alumni ticket
*$75 – Young lawyers discount ticket (for those who have been admitted for less than 3 years)
$40 – Adelaide GDLP Students

The event will attract 1 CPD point in practical ethics.
Please RSVP by 25 June 2013 to here.

Information about other CPD events in the Adelaide Law School Breakfast Seminar Series is available at here.

Seminar – Using Your Voice Effectively

Kerrin — Tue, 07 May 2013 02:45:52 +0000

As legal academics our voice is arguably the most important teaching tool we possess. However, while we may have specialised knowledge of the law, very few if any of us have any formal voice training. And, as many of us have experienced, teaching for hours on end (especially in rooms with noisy air conditioners or traffic noise!) can cause pain, hoarseness, and even temporary muteness. In this two hour workshop we will learn techniques to control and project our voices, so as to protect this valuable teaching asset, for the benefit of our students as well as ourselves!

Speaker: Marilyn Boadycoat, Speechmatters
Marilyn Bodycoat has over twenty three years experience in voice coaching. She is an Associate of both the Australian Music Examinations Board and Trinity College of London. Over the past eleven years, Marilyn has trained newsreaders and reporters from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, senior managers from Macquarie Bank and Adelaide Bank, executives of Statewide Superannuation, real estate agents, accountants and lawyers from leading Adelaide companies, engineers and doctors.

Venue: Room 316, Ligertwood Building
Date: 10.00-12.00 Monday 15 July 2013

More information can be found here.

Symposium: Compulsory Voting in Comparative Perspective

Kerrin — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:28:34 +0000

A symposium presented by the postgraduate Comparative Law class at the Adelaide Law School
The University of Adelaide

Date: 11 May 2013
Time: 9am for 9.15 am start – 3.15 pm
Location: Moot Court, Ligertwood Building, The University of Adelaide
No attendance fee, but rsvp necessary.
RSVP: cornelia.koch@adelaide.edu.au by 9 May 2013

The Adelaide Law School is delighted to invite you to attend a symposium on compulsory voting in comparative perspective, presented by its postgraduate Comparative Law class. The symposium addresses the question whether people should be compelled to vote in a democratic system of government. The Australian electoral system is considered by electoral specialists to be one of the finest in the world and supporters of compulsory voting attribute this inter alia to the mandatory nature of participation in elections. In contrast, opponents argue that in a liberal society nobody should be forced to vote. The presentations at this symposium place compulsory voting in a global context.

The keynote address will be delivered by Mike Wait from the Crown Solicitor’s Office, who was counsel in the recent Holmdahl case that challenged compulsory voting in Australia. The other speakers are Masters students from Malaysia, Cambodia, France, Germany and Australia.

Attendance may attract CPD points for MCPD purposes.

More information is found here.

Adelaide and Flinders Law Schools Debate at Finlaysons on Cyber war

Kerrin — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:17:57 +0000

On 21 May at 5.30pm, as part of Law Week, an Adelaide University Law School team comprising Sarah Grant and Raffaele Piccolo (supported by Meaghan Kostecki) will debate a team from Flinders University Law School in the Finlaysons Boardroom (Level 12, 81 Flinders street) on the question of whether the existing rules of International Humanitarian Law are adequate to deal with the rising phenomenon of cyber warfare. The Adelaide team will be taking the negative position, thus arguing that the current framework is not adequate. The event is sponsored by both the Red Cross and Finlaysons. The event promises to be a rich engagement of ideas in a rapidly developing area of warfare and a strong turnout from Adelaide staff, students and alumni would be greatly encouraged.

Bookings for this event are essential and contact details are provided on the flyer
here.

Next CPD Event – Rectification of Contracts

Kerrin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:54:18 +0000

Rectification is a court order correcting a mistake in a written contract or other legal document. The precise circumstances in which this important remedy will be granted have long been subject to debate. In this seminar Professor Michael Furmston, one of the world’s leading experts on contract and commercial law, will review some major and difficult English developments in this area. These arise from the remarks of Lord Hoffmann in Chartbrook v Persimmon Homes about whether the court should apply an objective or subjective test in deciding whether there was a mistake. This produced three different views in Daventry District Council v Daventry & District Housing, a challenging case which illustrates just how much can be at stake when something “goes wrong” in the drafting process.

Presenter
Professor Michael Furmston is a Professor and former Dean of Law at Singapore Management University. His earlier career included lengthy spells at Oxford University and also the University of Bristol, where he served as both Dean of Law and Pro-Vice Chancellor. A Barrister of Law at Gray’s Inn, he is the Editor of the Construction law Reports and the author of many leading texts, including Cheshire, Fifoot & Furmston on Contract, now in its 16th edition.

Chair
Professor Andrew Stewart is the John Bray Professor of Law at the University of Adelaide, a consultant with Piper Alderman and President of the Australian Labour Law Association.

Date: Tuesday 21 May 2013
Time: 7.30 am – 8.40 am
Breakfast: A buffet continental breakfast will be served, accompanied by tea, coffee and juice

Venue: National Wine Centre (Cnr North Tce and Hackney Road)
Parking: Parking is available along Hackney Road and Plane Tree Drive after the first Parking Bay. Charges will apply.
Cost: $130 – Standard ticket
$110 – Alumni ticket
*$75 – Young lawyers discount ticket
*(for those who have been admitted for less than 3 years)
$40 – Adelaide GDLP Students

The event will attract 1 CPD point in professional skills.

Please RSVP by 19 May 2013 to
here.
Information about other CPD events in the Adelaide Law School Breakfast Seminar Series is available at
here.

Next CPD Event – Unpaid Work Experience: A Legal Challenge

Kerrin — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 01:17:09 +0000

A recent study commissioned by the Fair Work Ombudsman has highlighted a growing trend for job-seekers to perform unpaid work in order to gain experience and improve their employability. Such arrangements, often called internships, are becoming an accepted pathway into many professions – including the law. But are they lawful, especially under the federal Fair Work Act?
The authors of the study, Professors Andrew Stewart and Rosemary Owens, are two of the country’s leading experts on labour law. They will explain some of their key findings and review the difficult legal issues that can arise in this context. They will also discuss the particular challenges that the growth of unpaid work experience may pose for the legal profession.

The Presenters
Professor Andrew Stewart is the John Bray Professor of Law at the University of Adelaide, a consultant with Piper Alderman and President of the Australian Labour Law Association.
Professor Rosemary Owens is a Professor and former Dean of Law at the University of Adelaide and a member of the International Labour Organisation’s Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations.

Date: Thursday 2 May 2013
Time: 7.30 am – 8.40 am
Breakfast: A buffet continental breakfast will be served, accompanied by tea, coffee and juice
Venue: National Wine Centre (Cnr North Tce and Hackney Road)
Parking: Parking is available along Hackney Road and Plane Tree Drive after the first Parking Bay. Charges will apply.
Cost: $130 – Standard ticket
$110 – Alumni ticket
*$75 – Young lawyers discount ticket
*(for those who have been admitted for less than 3 years)

The event will attract 1 CPD point in either professional skills or a required unit (practice management).

Please RSVP by 30 April 2013 to
here.

Information about other CPD events in the Adelaide Law School Breakfast Seminar Series is available at
here.

Next CPD Event – Social Media: Communication and consequences in a global networked environment

Kerrin — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 23:52:23 +0000

Over 55% of the Australian population now uses Facebook for business, entertainment, personal communication and sharing with friends and family, with the total number of Facebook users globally exceeding one billion. However, as with any communications medium, as users are learning to adapt and evolve in the online environment they inevitably encounter legal problems, including defamation, intellectual property infringement, privacy breaches and employment law issues. Further, domestic regulators have to adjust to a ubiquitous communications platform which is privately owned and hosted offshore, with little domestic legal presence and accountability.
This seminar will provide valuable insights into recent issues arising from the use (and misuse) of social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, and explore the legal context and implications of these scenarios from a practical legal approach. It will also consider the regulatory context within which these private companies operate and the potential consequences for government and end users, including individuals and businesses. This seminar is an opportunity for all those who encounter social media as users, employers and practitioners to deepen their understanding of the legal and ethical complexities that exist in the online world.

Presenters: Peter Campbell and Melissa de Zwart
Chair: Lisa Jarrett, Partner, Kelly & Co.

Peter Campbell is a partner of Kelly & Co Lawyers with a national reputation in Media, Intellectual Property and Competition and Consumer Law. He was recently named as the pre-eminent Technology, Media and Telecommunications lawyer in SA and the pre-eminent IP lawyer in SA in the 2012 Doyle’s Guide. He advises extensively on legal and ethical issues arising from use of social media. He is the Deputy Chair of the Law Council of Australia’s Media & Communications Committee and a member of the Law Council’s Intellectual Property Committee, Competition and Consumer Law Committee and Privacy Committee.

Dr Melissa de Zwart is an Associate Professor in the Adelaide Law School and a member of the Commonwealth Government’s Classifications Review Board. She has published widely on legal issues arising from the digital environment, particularly in the context of copyright and matters affecting freedom of communication. Prior to joining academia, she was Legal Manager at CSIRO, advising on matters of technology and commercialisation. She has provided advice to APEC, the OECD, ENISA and the UK Government on matters arising from electronic commerce, security and privacy in massive multiplayer online games, virtual worlds and other online contractual communities. Her most recent publications include papers looking at copyright and contract in virtual worlds, griefing and protest in online communities, WikiLeaks and legal regulation of social networks.

Date: 28 March 2013
Time: 7.30 am -8.40 am
Breakfast: A buffet continental breakfast will be served, accompanied by tea, coffee and juice
Venue: National Wine Centre (Cnr North Tce and Hackney Road)
Cost: $130 – Standard ticket
$110 – Alumni ticket
*$75 – Young lawyers discount ticket
*(for those who have been admitted for less than 3 years)

The event will attract 1 CPD point (in either legal ethics or practice management).
Further information about this CPD event and other CPD events in the Adelaide Law School Breakfast Seminar Series is available here.

Please RSVP by 26th March here.

First year induction day welcome to new students

Kerrin — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 01:25:10 +0000

On 1 March 2013 the Adelaide Law School welcomed its new Law students with the First Year Induction Day. The morning started with a welcome by the Dean of Law, Professor John Williams, followed by their preliminary lecture in Foundations of Law. The next three lectures covered the practicalities of the Law School experience. The Student Advisor, Corinne Walding, discussed the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the law degree. Associate Professor Melissa De Zwart alerted students to the perils of social networking, and the serious issue of Academic Integrity was examined by Dr Matthew Stubbs.

Students were then introduced to a panel of law graduates who discussed “Where could your law degree take you?” The panel openly and honestly discussed their career challenges and successes, and reflected fondly on their experiences at Law School. Their recommendations to students included getting involved in the life of the Law school by participating in mooting and social activities, whilst also being open to experiences such as clerking or associateships later in their degrees.The panel, ably chaired by Associate Professor Christopher Symes, consisted of Lewis Gentry from Finlaysons, Captain Dale Stephens, Royal Australian Navy and Adelaide Law School, Belinda Randell from Belinda Randell Lawyers and Karim Soetratma from the Crown Solicitor’s Office.

Photo:(L-R): Dr Suzanne Le Mire (First year co-ordinator), Panel Members: Captain Dale Stephens; Associate Professor Christopher Symes; Belinda Randell

After the panel discussion the students participated in a treasure hunt around campus, led by the Eagles Mentors. The treasure hunt led students to their final destination of the Ligertwood Building where they were treated to pizza, drinks, ice-creams and an “Opportunity Showcase” showing the variety of options available throughout their law degrees. The showcase included the following: Adelaide Legal Outreach Service and Magistrates Course Legal Advice Service; Law Society of South Australia; Graduate Diploma of Legal Services; Student internships; Law Student’s Society/ALSA; Global Experience; Transition and Advisory Service; Counselling and Disability Service; Education and Welfare Officers (EWO); Adelaide University Debating Society; Mooting competitions; Eagles mentoring; Law Library and the Adelaide University United Nations Society.

The day was very well received with a very positive atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the new students was fantastic.

International Students Dinner celebration for 2012

Dan McCafferty — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 05:26:09 +0000

On Wednesday the 24th October 2012 the Dean of the Law School, Professor John Williams, hosted a farewell dinner for our International Students. In 2012 there were 142 international students enrolled in the Law Degree. The Law School was pleased that nearly 70 international students from 11 different countries were able to attend the dinner held at the Park Lok Chinese Restaurant in Adelaide.

The Honourable Justice Kevin Nicholson QC, Judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia and a former academic at the Law School, was the guest speaker. He spoke to the attendees about his own study abroad and explained that local students get a richer educational experience from learning alongside international students. He said, “the Adelaide community as a whole is the greatest beneficiary of having international students like you”. The Law School is pleased to add a special touch to our international students’ study experience and looks forward to many more of such events in 2013.

Photo above: Back Row, L to R: Michael Wong, Dr Laura Grenfell, Director, Internationalisation & International Student Support, Adelaide Law School Dean Professor John Williams, Ngoc Linh Pham, Suet Yoong Leong, Priscilla Phan
Front Row, L to R: Sunny Wu, David Caruso, Director of Advocacy and Justice Unit in the Faculty of the Professions, Wong Yun Wei, Xin Div Lee.

Study Tour begins for Adelaide Law School Students

Kerrin — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 23:28:05 +0000

Yesterday, a group of our Law students, led by Adelaide Law School Dean Professor John Williams and supported by Corinne Walding, left Adelaide for Germany and Netherlands.

This study tour was facilitated by the Faculty, in close collaboration with the Law School. Our students will be hosted by EBS Universitat in Germany and Utrecht University in Netherlands.

Our students will have the opportunity to gain an appreciation and understanding of the German legal system and also the opportunity to visit The Hague. Students will be exposed to and experience the International Law Courts and gain an understanding of the complexity and depth of international law and foreign legal systems.

There will be regular updates about the study tour on the Adelaide Law School web blog.