Beasley Medal Awards

On Friday 10 December 2021, the UWA Law School held the biannual Frank Beasley Medal dinner in the newly renovated Beasley Law Library. The Frank Beasley Medal is awarded to distinguished UWA Law School alumni and scholars who have made an outstanding and sustained contribution to the law and the advancement of justice in Western Australia and to legal education at UWA. In 2021, the Medal was awarded to Malcolm McCusker AC CVO QC LLB '60, The Honourable Neville Owen AO LLB '69, Emeritus Professor William Ford LLB '76,  and (posthumously) Enid Russell LLB '30, the first female graduate of UWA Law School to be admitted to practice in WA. Valerie French LLB '72 accepted the Medal on behalf of Ms Russell. The Medals were awarded by the WA Attorney General, The Hon. John Quigley MLA LLB '74. Read more about the Frank Beasley Medal. 

First two Indigenous students participate in SSO Internship

Two of our Juris Doctor students, Tyson McEwan and Andrew Dhu, were the inaugural Indigenous law students to participate in the recently established State Solicitor’s Office Indigenous Legal Internship Program (ILI). The ILI is a recognised academic program at UWA that provides an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander University JD students to undertake paid work experience within the SSO. The program seeks to give the law students an understanding of legal work and the role of the SSO, and insights into a career in the law.  

New Judge in Residence for 2022

We are delighted that The Honourable David Newnes (LLB ‘78), former Judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, will commence as our Judge in Residence at the Law School in 2022. Mr Newnes succeeds The Honourable Antony Siopis who was our Judge in Residence for 2021/2022. The Judge in Residence program encourages and fosters engagement between sitting and retired members of the judiciary and Law School staff and students.  

Toohey Oration held at Supreme Court

On Thursday 19 August 2021, the Law School held the biannual Toohey Oration at the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The Honourable Robert French AC LLB '71, delivered the Oration entitled, A True Australian Republic: True to our history, fit for our future. Romanie Hollingworth LLB ‘92 provided comments on Mr French’s excellent paper. A copy of the paper is available on the UWA Research Repository.

Australia New Zealand Intervarsity Moot on Animal Law - UWA team wins grand final

In September 2021, the UWA Law School mooting team comprising JD students Rachael Griffiths-Szeto, Joseph Waters and Yasmin Kirkham (pictured), won the national Grand Final of the Australia New Zealand Intervarsity Moot on Animal Law. Joseph Waters was awarded the Best Oralist out of all competing teams. Congratulations to all and a big thank you to Dr Renae Barker for her coaching.

Law School academics make an impact  

Under the Commonwealth ‘Discovery Early Career Researcher Award’ scheme for 2022, Associate Professor Tamara Tulich (pictured) has been awarded $445,125 to deliver the first legal history of preventive justice in Australia, detailing the origins, scope and justifications for preventive justice in the Australian settler colonial context. Professor Sarah Murray was co-author of a report of the independent Ministerial Expert Committee on Electoral Reform. The reforms in the recently enacted Constitutional and Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Equality) Act 2021 (WA) were based on this report.

National Teaching Award for UWA Law School Academic 

Lecturer Aidan Ricciardo received the national Award for Excellence in Teaching (Early Career) in the inaugural Australian Legal Education Awards. The award is for ‘instilling self-confidence in his students and supporting them to be the best learners they can be by making legal studies accessible and inclusive.’

COVID myth-busting panel

On Wednesday 27 October 2021, the UWA Public Policy Institute, UWA Law School, and the Australian Association of Constitutional Law hosted the public event, ‘COVID myth-busting: power, rights and the law'. Professor Sarah Murray, Associate Professor Meredith Blake and Dr Murray Wesson formed an ‘Ask the Experts’ panel to answer questions about government emergency measures during the pandemic.

New law books by our academics

Professor Michael Blakeney, with co-editor Kadambot Siddique, recently published the collection Local Knowledge, Intellectual Property and Agricultural Innovation (Springer) and Professor Elise Bant, with co-editors, Wayne Courtney, James Goudkamp, and Jeannie Marie Paterson, recently published the collection Punishment and Private Law (Bloomsbury). 

New members of UWA Law School Advisory Board

Corrs Chambers Westgarth Partner in Charge (Perth), Kirsty Sutherland LLB '89, has agreed to be the Corporate Law Association of Perth’s representative on UWA Law School’s Advisory Board. Also joining the Board is Rebecca Lee LLB '93, in her role as 2022 President of the Law Society of Western Australia. The Advisory Board provides advice and an external perspective on the Law School’s strategic direction.