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Professor Gabriël A. Moens |
Dean and Professor of Law |
In my contribution to this Newsletter, I would like to focus on the World of Opportunity that has been created at Murdoch Law School. This School has become what could be appropriately called a “Global Law School”, referring to the fact that we offer students an intellectually stimulating educational experience that prepares them for both the domestic and international practice of law. Since January 2007, students have had the opportunity to study Chinese Law at Zhengzhou University in the People’s Republic of China. In addition, in June this year, our students enjoyed an opportunity to study for a four week period at the Università di Macerata in Italy. These fabulous opportunities are pioneering and imaginative programmes. There are other interesting and innovative programmes on the way because my colleagues and I are determined to make this Law School into one of the best and most global law schools in Australia.
Our students also obtain practical experience in our law clinic, SCALES, working directly with clients and dealing with the real-life issues that shape our society. When working in our law clinic, students become passionate about justice, human rights, ethics and fair play. In this regard, I quote with approval a statement made by Rennar Strickland and Frank T Read in their book The Lawyer Myth (Swallow Press/Ohio University Press, Athens, 2008, at p. 13):
| “Every day, in courtrooms throughout the land, our nation’s lawyers, representing all sides of civil cases and criminal prosecutions … fight to preserve basic human, economic, and constitutional rights. They demand factual accuracy, procedural fairness, and decisions that are based on neutral, informed fact finding. In all controversies, especially legal ones, there are winners and losers – what is important is that decisions are made openly; based on neutral principles of law that preserve human dignity and protect democratic processes”. |
This statement describes particularly well the philosophy and attitude that we seek to inculcate in our students at Murdoch. This issue of the Newsletter offers readers a comprehensive overview of what has been achieved in the Law School in the field of human rights education.
The School maintains a curriculum that meets the expectations of modern society and is adapted to the needs of the legal profession. In this context, I would like to mention that last year the School was accredited as an official Continuing Professional Development provider for the legal profession. During the last six months, the School has offered several CPD Seminars and other special events to members of the profession. For example, the School in conjunction with the Australian Legal Information Institute, (AustLII), organised a well-attended seminar on Free-access Online Legal Research. The School is also an officially recognised training provider for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London.
Murdoch Law School is constantly developing strong and exciting professional relationships with industry. This year, Jackson McDonald sponsored a mooting competition for high school students, whom we hope will become our students. Our Postgraduate Certificate in Chinese Law is supported by Minter Ellison. The School of Law also successfully concluded its third Summer Programme in Law, which attracted many students from other WA law schools and eastern states’ law schools. In January 2010, the School will offer its Fourth Summer Programme with units in International Trade Law, International Criminal Law, International Labour Law and International Investment Law which will be taught by overseas and interstate law professors.
An ambition to excel is what makes a law school into a leading law school. Murdoch Law School encourages its students and staff not only to dream about their ambitions, but to convert these ambitions into reality. You would expect nothing else from a Law School that is a World of Opportunity.
