UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND LAW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ACN 616 240 923 THIRD ANNUAL REPORT – 2019 1 1. OVERVIEW This is the third annual report of the University of Queensland Law Alumni Association (UQLA). Incorporation The UQLA was incorporated on 2 December 2016, as a company limited by guarantee. It is the successor of the formerly unincorporated association, the University of Queensland Law Graduates Association. Objects Under clause 4.1 of its constitution, the objects of the UQLA are: (a) the advancement of education at the University, including without limitation, by: (i) assisting the University in its educational purposes and in the advancement of legal education at the TC Beirne School of Law; (ii) encouraging the involvement of the judiciary and the practising legal profession in legal education at the TC Beirne School of Law; (iii) raising and applying funds to be applied for the advancement of legal education at the TC Beirne School of Law, in particular for disadvantaged students; (iv) commissioning and publishing materials that contribute to, and further the advancement of legal education at the TC Beirne School of Law; (v) facilitating practical legal experience for the students of the TC Beirne School of Law; (vi) otherwise advancing the legal education of the staff, students and alumni of the TC Beirne School of Law; and (vii) to establish and operate/act as trustee of a public fund which is a scholarship fund to which income tax deductible gifts can be made; and (b) to undertake any other activities that are incidental or ancillary to the objects in clause 1.1(a). Charitable Status The UQLA was registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission on 2 December 2016. The UQLA was registered as a charity under the Collections Act 1966 (Qld) on 26 April 2017. Patron The patron of the UQLA is the Honourable Justice Patrick Keane AC. 2 Directors The UQLA has been managed by a board of 8 directors. The composition of the board fully reflects the diversity of the law alumni community. Membership The membership of the UQLA increased substantially: 30 June 2017 30 June 2018 30 June 2019 Honorary Life 61 66 66 Members Ordinary Members 11 189 240 Total Membership 72 255 306 Operations This year the focus of the UQLA has been upon maintaining and reviewing our existing programmes, building our membership base and assisting the Law School in establishing needs- based scholarships. Finance The UQLA operates primarily through the personal efforts of its directors and members, without the need for substantial funding. The funding which the UQLA uses comes from three main sources: (a) membership fees; (b) receipts from events; and (c) donations. The UQLA encourages donations to be made directly to the University of Queensland (rather than to the UQLA), with a request that these funds be applied to further UQLA programmes. This provides donors with the ability to seek a tax deduction for their donation, but still allows the funds to be used for programmes which the UQLA supports. In 2019, the UQLA received: (a) $2230 in membership fees; (b) $2760 from events; and (c) $944 in donations. As a consequence of this improved financial position, the capital of the UQLA has risen from $9.031 (2018) to $10,979 (2019). 3 Future Operations During 2019-2020, the UQLA proposes to substantially increase its membership and thereby establish a stable foundation for its ongoing operations. It proposes to: (a) continue all existing programmes and events; (b) introduce a new annual evening event at the Banco Court, at the commencement of the academic year, to welcome all new alumni, new scholarship holders and new postgraduate students; and (c) work with the Law School to develop its domestic LLM coursework programme. 2. DIRECTORS The following alumni have served as directors of the UQLA during 2018-2019: President John McKenna from 2 Dec 2016 Vice-Presidents (Events) Bianca Kabel from 9 Mar 2017 Georgina Morgan from 2 Dec 2016 Vice-President (UQ Relations) James Rigby from 27 Nov 2018 Vice-President (Communications) and Secretary Shane Montgomery from 10 Mar 2017 Treasurer Christian Jennings from 2 Dec 2016 Directors Jeff Mann from 2 Dec 2016 Kathryn Finlayson from 27 Nov 2018 3. MEMBERSHIP As at 30 June 2019, the UQLA had 306 members, comprising 240 ordinary members and 66 honorary life members. To maximise future participation in the UQLA, the Board continues to fix membership subscription rates at very modest levels. The annual subscription rates are $20, with a 50% discount for new graduates. The Board has also adopted the policy of offering honorary life membership to alumni who hold judicial office or who have been particularly generous in their support of the Law School. 4. OPERATIONS The formal operations of the UQLA are based around a number of distinct programmes. These programmes were developed by the UQLA, in conjunction with the Law School and the University of Queensland Law Society (UQLS), to provide direct assistance to the Law School’s educational objects. Orientation Week Programme The Orientation Week programme is open to all students who are about to commence first year at the Law School. It is conducted in the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law in Brisbane and at nearby venues. It involves taking 4-6 groups of about 30 students through a series of six short sessions: (1) an overview of the legal profession; (2) a 4 meeting with a Judge; (3) an overview of the criminal trial process; (4) a visit to a criminal trial; (5) a meeting with Barristers; and (6) a meeting with Solicitors. The UQLA’s involvement in this programme is through volunteers, at no financial cost to the UQLA. Criminal Trial Programme The Criminal Trial Programme is offered to students studying criminal law. This programme is also in the course of development, but has generally involved a visit to the Supreme Court to observe a murder trial, followed by a seminar conducted by the Trial Judge and counsel. Again, the UQLA’s involvement in this programme is through volunteers, at no financial cost to the UQLA. Barristers Work Experience Programme The Barristers Work Experience Programme is offered in conjunction with the UQLS. It provides the opportunity for law students in their second or third years to spend time in a barrister’s chambers to obtain a different insight into legal practice. This programme was supported by a large number of the alumni community in numerous chambers in Brisbane. It was also supported by a number of Judges of the Supreme Court, who offered some participants the opportunity to spend a morning observing court proceedings from the Court’s perspective. Again, the UQLA’s involvement in this programme is through volunteers, at no financial cost to the UQLA. Textbook Programme With generous support from both Thomson Reuters and LexisNexis, the UQLA has been acquiring multiple copies of key textbooks for use by students in the Law Library. The main object of this scheme is to ensure that disadvantaged students can have the benefit of ready access to all key textbooks recommended for use by the Law School. This programme is funded from the donations made to UQ. Scholarship Programme The Scholarship Programme is operated by the Law School, with the support of the UQLA. It is designed to provide financially disadvantaged students with modest scholarships, to cover the gap between a student’s funding (from government support and part time jobs) and the cost of living (particularly for those who are obliged to live away from home). Since the end of the current financial year, this programme received a significant boost from a University initiative to provide matching funding to establish new scholarships for students in financial need. Through the generosity of many alumni, it is hoped that 10 new scholarships will be established. Details of the new scholarship arrangements should be available in early 2020. Video Programme The Video Programme is designed to provide students with information and advice about subject and career options from a broad cross-section of alumni. Teaching Programme The Teaching Programme seeks to encourage alumni to participate in the teaching programme at the Law School, either for particular subjects or as guest lecturers. Alumni now participate in a wide variety of law courses offered by the Law School, including Succession, Insolvency, Planning & Environment, Family and Civil Procedure. Events Programme In conjunction with the Law School, a programme of regular events for alumni was developed during the year. It currently comprises: (a) an annual professional breakfast, with a brief address from a notable member of the alumni community; (b) an annual alumni reunion at the Law School; (c) special events of particular interest to members (eg theatre performances); and (d) a dinner to farewell UQ alumni who are leaving for postgraduate legal study overseas. 5 A website was established to provide information to members and facilitate the efficient management of a potentially large membership base (www.uqla.org.au). Apart from the formal programmes of the UQLA, members of the Executive liaise closely with the University of Queensland, the Law School and the UQLS to ensure that the UQLA is familiar with the needs and wishes of the University and to assist wherever possible. 5. FINANCE The UQLA’s various programmes depend largely upon personal involvement by alumni, but do require some measure of financial support. The annual financial statements of the UQLA were prepared by the UQLA’s accountants, Moffat & Morton. They are attached to this report. There was a small surplus for the year ($1,948), which resulted in the UQLA’s total equity rising to $10,979.