Magazine for University of Sydney Law School graduates 2015 edition JuristDiction In memoriam: Alumna Cat Thao Constitutions Alumnus-led we remember Nguyen shares her – is there a initiative breaks new Katrina Dawson 4 incredible story 16 gender divide? 30 ground in Uganda 34 From the Dean’s desk This edition — — 02 16 32 World beaters: our students Alumna empowered by law The laws of armed conflict win fourth Jessup moot title studies after life struggle Dr Emily Crawford’s research Five Law School students Cat Thao Nguyen shares her is uncovering issues generated take out top honours at the journey from Vietnam to by the law’s application in the prestigious law moot. Australia and back. 21st century. 04 20 Katrina Watson Dawson Creating new insights into Cate Stewart remembers her health and human rights friend and fellow alumna, Global Health Law guest Katrina Dawson. lecturers tackle the world health issues of today. 06 22 34 Honouring our Giving you a pathway to School initiative breaks new outstanding students Cambridge or Oxford ground in Uganda We celebrate the achievements Sydney Law School provides the A community-based of our prize-winning students. pathway to a dual degree. organisation is breaking the Our alumni come from many diverse and challenging cycle of donor dependency. backgrounds, and are contributing in valuable ways across the globe. We are proud to share their stories with you. 10 26 38 Shaping the future of Old friends come back again Class reunites 40 years on Indigenous law The Four Just Men find their Memories were shared and good A faculty-led legal research way home. times had as the class of ’75 got workshop is fostering young together again. Indigenous talent. 12 28 40 Welcome to our new-look JuristDiction, (himself a member of the very first JuristDiction is a great opportunity Demystifying university life Practising law in the Celebrating our alumni Sydney Law School’s annual alumni Sydney Law School World Champion to share news of our alumni and their A University of Sydney NSW outback achievements magazine, providing an overview of Jessup Team from 1996), deserve the achievements. In this issue, read about program builds Aboriginal Matthew Lyster talks about the A portrait of alumnus Charles activities at the law school over the past highest praise. Cat Thao Nguyen, who has written and Torres Strait Islander challenges of being a lawyer in Waterstreet has won the 2015 12 months. You can access an online copy her memoirs, We Are Here, about her students’ participation in rural NSW. Archibald Prize. and read all the content on our website at We also include a tribute to Katrina experience as a refugee. We also hear higher education. sydney.edu.au/law/juristdiction. We Dawson by her close friend, Cate Stewart, about the inspirational work of Annabelle welcome your feedback, so please do not who manages our Publishing Unit, Chauncy, who is co-founder of the School hesitate to let us know what you think. news of our initiatives in encouraging for Life Foundation and gave an address at 14 30 Indigenous scholarship, some profiles our recent graduation ceremony. Alumni inspire at Constitutions and gender This edition celebrates Sydney Law of our first students to enjoy the Oxford graduation ceremonies How constitutions affect School’s fourth win in the prestigious and Cambridge ‘pathways’ schemes, I hope you enjoy our new-look Three notable alumni give the women’s chances of achieving Philip C Jessup International Law Moot and honour one of our most inspiring JuristDiction. occasional address at the Law equality and agency. – setting a record only equalled by the students, Andrew Thomas. Andrew is a School graduation ceremonies. National University of Singapore. Our recent recipient of the Menzies Harvard stellar team, its coach, Rob Pietriche Scholarship and co-founder of the Professor Joellen Riley and its advisor, Professor Tim Stephens Manjeri School Project in Uganda. Dean, Sydney Law School Produced by Marketing and Communications, Cover: Sydney Law School Library 15/4808 The University of Sydney Printing managed by PublishPartner ©2015 The University of Sydney 01 Celebrating success Celebrating success — — A team of five University of Sydney “This is a tremendous Tim Stephens, the team’s Faculty Advisor, law students has won the 2015 offered his congratulations. Jessup International Law Moot Court result for our talented competition, following up on their students, and is testament “This is an exceptional performance by recent success in winning the Australian to the strength of our team our students, who’ve shown enormous national rounds of the competition in the dedication since November 2014 when High Court in February. of international lawyers at they began work on the moot problem,” the Sydney Law School, Professor Stephens says. The team defeated Pontificia Universidad who have supported the Católica de Chile in the Grand Final moot “The Sydney Law School extends held in Washington DC. Two judges of Jessup since the 1990s.” our sincere thanks to all those who the International Court of Justice were Professor Joellen Riley, supported the team, especially the on the bench: His Excellency Sir Kenneth Dean, Sydney Law School.” practice moot judges from the faculty Keith (presiding) and Her Excellency and from the judiciary and wider legal Joan Donoghue along with distinguished profession in Sydney. We extend very international law academic and former As well as the group taking out the special thanks and acknowledgement State Department advisor Professor Grand Final moot, team member Alice for the financial support provided to Harold Koh. Zhou was named best advocate in the the students from the NSW Bar final, and Sarah Bradbury was named Association, Gilbert + Tobin, and the The team comprised Sarah Bradbury, best advocate in the overall competition Australian and New Zealand Society of Nathan Hauser, Sam Murray, Angus in Washington. Angus Nicholas was International Law.” World beaters: our students win Nicholas and Alice Zhou. named as seventh best oralist in the overall competition. The Sydney Law School held a celebratory Sydney Law School is now the world’s function at the school for the team and its fourth Jessup moot title equal best performing law school in the sponsors on 18 May 2015. Alumnus Rob Pietriche (BEc 2012 LLB Jessup, having won the Jessup Cup on 2014) coached the team and Professor four occasions since the competition was opened to international teams in Sydney Law School students win the world’s most 1968. Sydney previously won in 1996, prestigious student legal advocacy competition. 2007 and 2011. Widely recognised as the world’s most prestigious student legal advocacy competition, the Jessup Moot gives competitors the opportunity to argue a case before the International Court of Justice. Working as a team, they represent fictional states in a hypothetical but topical case of international law. In 2015 there were more than 550 law schools participating in the Jessup from more than 80 countries. From left to right: Alice Zhou, Rob Pietriche (Coach), Sarah Bradbury, Nathan Hauser, Angus Nicholas, Sam Murray and Professor Tim Stephens (Advisor) 02 03 In memoriam In memoriam — — At the same time as achieving impressive fellow summer clerk at Mallesons. They at Mallesons, she coordinated its pro results in her studies, she held a variety married in 2001 and went on to have bono Downing Centre Duty Solicitor’s of paid and unpaid jobs. She also three wonderful children: Chloe, Ollie Scheme, volunteered for Make a Wish at participated in sporting and social events and Sasha. Together they created a joyous the Starlight Children’s Foundation and with equal enthusiasm. She represented family and home, full of love and laughter. was instrumental in establishing the Ted the Women’s College in the inter-college Noffs Foundation’s ASK! free legal service Rosebowl competition (rowing, tennis for youth. Katrina Watson Dawson and basketball). She attended the Australian University Games, trying her As her Ascham School friends – the hand for the first time at the heptathlon friends who knew her longest – said in a (1976–2014) and the hammer throw, finishing just recent obituary: she was the best of us. outside a placing in the latter, after only receiving a quick rundown on technique Whatever she did, she did wholeheartedly BA LLB (Hons I) (Syd) LLM (MHRLP) (UNSW) just before the event! and it is wholeheartedly that we love her, miss her and remember her always. Written by Cate Stewart One of her greatest joys at college was fancy dress, for which she was, both then and after, renowned. It was no doubt with great effort that she stifled the urge to add some dazzle to her wig and gown for appearances in court, but by then she had found other outlets for her creativity, such Above all, our thoughts are with Paul, as children’s birthday parties. the children and the rest of the Dawson The Katrina Dawson family for their immeasurable loss. Foundation After completing a summer clerkship at The Katrina Dawson Foundation is Mallesons from 1998 to 1999, Katrina Katrina was simply overflowing with a inspired by who Katrina was. The returned there to work as a graduate in passion for living life to its fullest and foundation will go beyond simply KATRINA DAWSON’S LIFE WAS and, so I am told by many members of the honours in Law and winning the Michael the dispute litigation group. She started was determined to do her best in all that providing financial support. Through INEXPLICABLY AND TRAGICALLY legal profession, the best of colleagues. Harmer and Associates Award for tackling some of the big questions – such she did. She was constantly caring for, the funding of scholarships to CUT SHORT IN DECEMBER 2014 She was unfailingly generous with her Anti-Discrimination Law (1999).