faculty focus
From left: Professor Christian Porter; chief justice Wayne Martin; Michael Kirby; Curtin vice-chancellor, professor Jeanette Hacket; and professor Paul Fairall, the foundation dean of Curtin Law School
From left: Curtin law students Liem Vo, Ricardo Napper and Lisa Favazzo; Curtin vice-chancellor, professor Jeanette Hacket; Michael Kirby; WA governor Malcolm McCusker; chief justice Wayne Martin; professor Paul Fairall; and professor Christian Porter at the launch
New school’ s
WA’ s latest law program will establish closer links with industry.
job focus
C
urtin University’ s new law school aims to produce“ job-ready” graduates, according to the institution’ s vice-chancellor, professor Jeanette Hacket.
The launch celebrated the work done to bring the school to fruition and acknowledged leaders from within the legal profession and academia who had contributed their time, knowledge and skills to establish WA’ s newest law school.
“ The dedication and commitment by all those involved in establishing the Curtin Law School will ensure our students will receive exposure to industry professionals and a program focused on the needs of industry,” Hacket said.
Former justice of the High Court of Australia Michael Kirby launched the law school in the presence of chief justice Wayne Martin, who will chair the school’ s advisory board.
The new school will offer a four-year Bachelor of Laws, designed to give students flexible study pathways, including the chance to complete the course in a shorter time.
Foundation dean of Curtin Law School, Paul Fairall, said that the previous law program served the needs of the business community, but did not extend to the professional entry qualifications for legal practice.
“ The Curtin Law School is based on the assumption that a law school cannot and should not function in isolation from the profession.
“ By strengthening the critical partnership between the academy and the profession, we expect to derive tangible experiential benefits for law students,” he said.
Fairall said a law school well-integrated into practice is important in identifying research opportunities relevant to current issues.
This integration is also important in transition, or“ preparing students for the reality of the modern legal workplace”.
To achieve this connection between academia and practice, Fairall said the school sought to develop strong practicebased programs and to secure the services of qualified practitioners.
Members of the legal profession will act as teachers, mentors and research fellows, joining six professors and associate professors attached to the school.
The school also wants to develop university chambers for practising lawyers, a legal clinical specialising in small business matters and offer professional subjects such as civil procedure in conjunction with the profession.
The school’ s location within WA’ s largest business school is advantageous for students.
“ Situating the Curtin Law School within the Curtin Business School provides opportunities to continue to build on a strong base of law and law-related studies in areas of relevance to the Western Australian business community,” Fairall said. n
www. campusreview. com. au March 2013 | 29