Adelaide Law School: 2023 Highlights
To wrap up 2023, the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics is reflecting on the year that was and featuring highlights from each school.
Dean of Adelaide Law School, Professor Judith McNamara, says, “In 2023, Adelaide Law School proudly celebrated its 140th anniversary, a testament to our enduring commitment to legal education and excellence. After several years disrupted by the pandemic it was wonderful to start the year with a well-attended student induction, including a welcome to student by the President of the Court of Appeal, His Honour Justice Mark Livesey. This set a tone of inspiration and dedication for our students embarking on their legal education.
The highlight of our year was undoubtedly the Law 140 Gala Dinner, which brought together the law school community. It was a fantastic opportunity for networking and the presence of so many distinguished guests and alumni underlined the strong relationship between the law school and the legal community.
Additionally, our Eminent Speaker Series featured thought-provoking discussions by prominent legal scholars who have made an outstanding contribution to the research of the Adelaide Law School. These lectures will be collected and published in a special issue of the Adelaide Law Review in 2024.
Looking ahead to 2024, we are excited to be part of the University of Adelaide’s 150th celebrations. As part of the celebrations we have launched the Adelaide Law School 150 Club to raise funds for the John Bray Alumni Scholarship.”
While there have been many achievements, we have selected just a few that demonstrate what a special year this was for Adelaide Law School students, staff, and alumni.
In no particular order:
- Adelaide Law School’s 140 Gala Dinner to celebrate 140 years. Read more.
- Professor Christopher Symes was promoted to Professor Emeritus. “A wonderful academic mentor, teacher, international researcher, colleague and all round gentleman”. Read more.
- The 2021 and 2022 Law School prizes event was held at the National Wine Centre to celebrate student bequest recipients, industry sponsored prizewinners and Dean's Certificate awardees (top mark in a Law course). Read more.
- Students and academics took part in the "Aboriginal Peoples and the Law" program, a transformative journey to the Yorke Peninsula. Led by Associate Professor Laura Grenfell and Dr Alex Wawryk, this three-day expedition proved to be a resounding success, leaving an indelible mark on the 18 students who participated. Read more.
- Alumni win prestigious international fellowships. Read more.
- Adelaide Law School share statement of support for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Read more.
- The inaugural Lorne Neudorf Cup was held, where first year law students mingled with staff, and the event also fostered a greater sense of connectedness, place and belonging at the Adelaide Law School.
The Lorne Neudorf Cup is a round robin air hockey tournament, dedicated to Professor Lorne Neudorf, a much-loved previous staff member, who kindly donated his air hockey table to the students upon his relocation interstate. Read more.
- The James Crawford Oration 2023 was on the topic, ‘Mapping International Criminal Law in Light of Russia’s Aggression in Ukraine’, with speaker Ambassador Beth Van Schaack and commentator Professor Dale Stephens CSM FAAL.
- Students Annalise Delic and Maddie McNeil won the Grand Final of the Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot competition in March (read more).
Then, in August, students Jessica March and Kurt Schenk, were crowned national champions at the Australian Law Students' Association's Red Cross National Moot Competition in International Humanitarian Law. The team also won best overall memorials, and Jess was awarded best overall speaker.
Jess and Kurt will represent Australia next year at the World International Humanitarian Law Mooting Championship held in Hong Kong, where we are defending world champions, thanks to Annalise and Maddie! Read more.
- Dr Paulina Fishman’s PhD was awarded a Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence, and examiners of her thesis recommended award of the degree without corrections. Dr Fishman said, "my thesis is a testament to the tremendous support that I received from [my supervisors Associate Professor David Brown and Professor Emeritus Christopher Symes.”
Dr Fishman is now working as a Lecturer in Corporate Law at Deakin University. Read more.
