Law Law Matters April 2004 News from the Monash Law School community Photo courtesy of Monash University Archives The first Monash Law School staff and students in 1964. Life begins at 40! Inside: As one of Australia's largest and most until the new university had firmly planted itself It may be legal but is prestigious law schools, Monash Law enjoys a onto the educational landscape. However it just? Page 2 broad teaching base, strong international links circumstances intervened and Melbourne’s and a world-class reputation, and all this in just decision to limit its law intake together with a Age no barrier for Victoria’s four decades. demand by the legal profession for more recruits, Page 3 cemented the urgent need for a new Law School youngest Mayor As we celebrate 40 years of the Monash Law at Monash. School and the onset of a new era, we look back Australia Day pride Page 3 on its humble beginnings, the people who made As a result, the countdown began and enormous the dream a reality and its graduates who have pressure was placed on those responsible for It’s never too late made it what it is today. creating the new Faculty. With limited resources, to learn law Page 5 It is almost ironic that when Monash University the challenge was to develop a law school that was established in 1961 to contend with the would provide a standard of education to match Reconnect with the increasing demand for education within the that of The University of Melbourne and to ensure community, it coincided with the University of graduates would have the respect of the legal Law School Page 7 Melbourne’s implementation of a quota on the fraternity. The founders were conscious that number of law students it would accept. Monash Law should never be seen as an ‘overflow’ Celebrating our for Melbourne but as a leader in legal education Although a law school was always planned for high achievers Page 7 Monash, it was not intended to be established in its own right. continued on page 4 Events 5.30pm: Thursday, 20 May 2004 SPECIAL EVENT MAY Twilight seminar: Responsive regulation in Australia 16–22 May 2004 and for developing economies Law Week 2004 Allens Arthur Robinson, Melbourne Thursday, 19 August 2004 www.law.monash.edu.au Ph: (03) 9905 3303 Monash Law Alumni www.liv.asn.au/lawweek/ 23–29 May 2004 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner 5.30pm: Wednesday, 19 May 2004 The Greek Conference: Professional Responsibilities The great Law Week debate: – where to now? Ethics, etiquette and culture For more information call us now on ‘Babies by design’: Should the law allow genetic – perspectives of professional lives (03) 9905 2326 (see page 4 for details). engineering to create the perfect baby? Rethymnon, Crete, Greece Legislative Council, Parliament House, Melbourne Ph: (03) 9690 2033 Ph: (03) 9905 2326 1 www.law.monash.edu.au Faculty news It may be legal but is it just? Since the inaugural Costello Lecture in 2001 He discussed how Australia’s laws disadvantage when Reverend Tim Costello addressed ‘the the poor and other marginalised groups. power of asking questions’, these stimulating “How many people do you think we prosecute lectures on social justice and ethics have for actually making fraudulent claims on their attracted great interest. insurance? How many of these people do you This year’s lecture, held at the County Court was see in the system compared with how many presented by leading entrepeneurial thinker and black kids you see for stealing bikes? Whose law doer on social welfare issues, Father Nic Frances. is this anyway?” he asked. From left, Mr Ian Pyman, President, Monash Law The event attracted 150 legal professionals, Father Frances stated that in previous years Alumni, Father Nic Frances, Reverend Tim Costello, not-for-profit representatives, students and CEO, World Vision Australia, and Monash Dean of about 20,000 people had gone to court and alumni, who were asked some challenging Law, Professor Arie Freiberg. received a fine or conviction for cheating questions about the struggle between ‘what is on their welfare payments. legal’ and ‘what is just’. Father Frances went on to push the envelope “Thousands, tens of thousands of people in regards to questions of social justice and “The reason you are here is that you are are going through the court system for urged us all to work towards a future where passionate about the world, the reason you cheating for $100 or $200. true equality could become a reality. trained because you are passionate about the world, passionate about people and passionate “Yet GST fraud is huge – companies are actually about fairness,” Father Frances said. avoiding tens of thousands of dollars, but we don’t prosecute. Why is that? What is justice and who’s fair and what does fairness mean?” he asked. ‘Babies by design’ The great Law Week debate – Should the law allow To celebrate Law Week and genetic engineering to create the ‘perfect baby’? the 40th anniversary of the Monash Law School, we are proud to present this legal and ethical debate on the Are you living legalisation of ‘designer babies’. in the UK? Featuring special guest Moderator, Campbell McComas. Are you a Monash Law graduate or do Date: Wednesday, 19 May 2004 you know any who are currently living in Time: 5.30pm registration, the UK? If so we want to hear from you. 6.00pm start Location: Legislative Council, To assist us in organising alumni events in Parliament House, the UK please forward your contact details Spring Street, Melbourne. RSVP: Friday, 14 May 2004 including email and mailing address to Reply to Sam Hawkins [email protected]. on (03) 9905 2326 or email [email protected] Proudly supported by the City of Melbourne Law Want to include something in the next edition of Every effort will be made to include contributions Something Law Matters? however space is limited. Please understand that items may be edited or not included. If you have an interesting story or something to say? you wish to say, please contact Jodi on + 61 3 9905 2630 or email 2 [email protected] Age no barrier for Victoria’s youngest Mayor Councillor Clare O’Neil’s final year of her Bachelor Before being elected, Clare, as a local resident, of Laws at Monash has been put on hold after witnessed first hand issues affecting young recently being elected Mayor of the City of people in the area and decided to run for Council Greater Dandenong. in the hope of giving the region’s youth a voice. Clare finished the Arts element of her double “In local government you have the opportunity degree two years ago with a major in History. to help people with the practical issues that are She will now complete her last seven units of raised and you can really have a grass roots Law on a part time basis while juggling the impact. Being on Council gives me the demands of her new role as Mayor. opportunity to do that in an innovative way. In March, after holding the position of local “Since the age of 14 I have always been interested Ward Councillor for just one year Clare became in policy and stepping into the role of a local the youngest female Mayor at the age of 23. representative was a natural progression,” she said. Clare won the majority of votes from her fellow Dandenong Councillors and will now represent Clare has attained a number of skills during the city’s 124,000 residents. her time at Monash, many of which have helped her with her current role. “I think it’s a huge responsibility but I’m looking forward to the year ahead,” she said. As a past board member of the Springvale Monash Legal Service, Vice-Chairwomen of the Having spent a considerable amount of time Monash Law student Clare O’Neil’s law studies have Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau, carrying out community work around the City of been put on hold while she serves as Mayor for the and an English teacher to refugees, Clare has Greater Dandenong, Clare is passionate about City of Greater Dandenong. always been an active student. the municipality and her new role. Australia Day pride Australia Day 2004 saw three Monash Law School representatives acknowledged for their outstanding contribution to the community. Second-year Monash Law/Science student “Monash University has a strong commitment to Hugh Evans was announced Young Australian Hugh’s efforts in creating a better world, and is of the Year for his remarkable humanitarian delighted by the links he has built between the efforts on behalf of some of the world’s most Oak Tree Foundation and Monash South Africa. underprivileged children. His activities in supporting some of the world’s most disadvantaged people set an example for Hugh, the founder of Australia’s first youth-run all of us to follow,” Professor Larkins said. international aid organisation, the Oak Tree Foundation, described the award as an In addition to Hugh’s remarkable achievement, incredible honour that reminds us all of our two distinguished Monash Law alumni were also obligation to help others. recognised on this year’s Australia Day honours list. “We are fortunate to call ourselves Australians, Campbell McComas (BA(Hons) 1977, LLB 1978) living in such a prosperous nation. This was recognised with an AO (Officer of the Order prosperity gives us all a responsibility, even a of Australia) for his service to the entertainment duty, to be a generous nation.