2010 JATL Executive!

Hey guys!

 The AGM was great – we’d like to thank those of you who attended.  2010 is shaping up to another great year for JATL.

Here are your 2010 Exec:

President – Suvinee Gunasena

Vice-President – Amy Tuite

Secretary – Aaron Clarke

Treasurer – Ting Wang

Social Convenor – Eliza Eaton

Sponsorship Co-ordinator – Bethany Masters

Themis Editor – Sophie Georgeson

Pandoras Editors – Sam Volling & Josh Underwood

Web Admin Officer – Joslen Ho

Education/ Careers Officer – Joel Chiang Lin

Social Justice Officer – Salwa Marsh

Communications Officer – Veronica Morland

Committee Members – Alexa Freeman, Jessica Di Marco, Flora Lee, Karen Ko & Ulric Yeo.

Great Debate – Tuesday 20th October

The format of the debate is to be similar to Oxford University debates. We will focus the House’s attention on a single, controversial motion, with two speakers for and against. Once they have outlined their arguments, each speaker is questioned by the chairman and the discussion is then opened up to the audience for questions to the panel and a final vote.

In past years (back when Justice and the Law was known as Women and the Law) these Great Debates were fantastically popular events. So we’ve brought them back!

The motion for 2009 concerns jurisprudence and the role of other subject areas in the decision making of judges and the structure of the law in general.

This year’s topic: “This House believes that judges should take account of other areas of knowledge in order to make effective decisions”.

Tuesday 20th October, 6pm – 8pm

SS&H Library Conference Room, UQ.

Thanks to our sponsors Griffith Legal Practice Centre for making this event possible!

Annual General Meeting

It’s that time of year again!

The Annual General Meeting of JATL will be on Thursday the 22nd of October at the SS&H Library Conference Room from 6pm.

Written nominations for executive positions close today at 5pm – email jatl@law.uq.edu.au for nominations.

We’ll be getting pizza afterwards.

Hope you can join us!

Upcoming Legal Events!

It’s getting to be the business end of the semester, but while we know you’re all concentrating on your studies, we know you want to put all that knowledge in context, so why not go to one of these great legal events?

WLAQ is having a Financial Planning and Networking Evening (click for info pdf).

The International Committee for the Red Cross, in conjunction with Mallesons Stephen Jacques is holding an event reflecting on the Geneva Conventions’ 60th anniversary in the light of current conflicts.  Info is here.  This event will be especially interesting for those students studying Humanitarian/Human Rights law this semester.

From the TC Beirne School of Law (represent!):

Dr Norm Stamper (author and former Police Chief of Seattle) presents:

 Drug Law Reform and the Failed ‘War on Drugs’

 The ‘war on drugs’, particularly in the US, has failed. It has become a US$69billion ‘war on people’, with colossal sums being poured into ineffective policing and judicial and criminal punishment strategies.
This talk will give an insider’s perspective on this failure, from a former high-level police official. It will also consider alternative approaches such as legislation regulating drugs and experiences in Seattle establishing bureaux of Professional Responsibility, Community Policing and Family and Youth Protection.

About the speaker

Norm Stamper PhD was a police officer for 34 years. He served as chief of the Seattle Police Department from 1998-2000, and as executive director of Mayor Wilson’s Crime Control Commission. He has been an adviser to the Law Enforcement against Prohibition (LEAP) an association of former and current police officials and government agents who believe legalisation and regulation of drugs is the only ethical and efficient means of their control.  He authored Breaking Rank: A Top Cop’s Exposé of the Dark Side of American Policing (Nation Books, 2005).
Dr Stamper is visiting Australia throughout October and speaking and consulting with stakeholders, agencies and the media under the aegis of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation (ADLRF) a not-for-profit association advocating harm minimisation strategies. His visit to Queensland is facilitated by the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties (QCCL).

When:                         Wednesday 21 October 2009

Time:                           12:00 pm

Location:                    Sir Samuel Griffith Room (1-W341), Forgan Smith Building, The University of Queensland, St Lucia campus.

 All welcome, no RSVP required. A light lunch will be provided.

 For more information about law school seminars please visit http://www.law.uq.edu.au/law-2009-program.

Annual Professional Breakfast – September 25

Justice and the Law Society (JATL) are excited to announce our upcoming event, the Annual Professional Breakfast.

 

This event provides a unique opportunity for you to network with the finest of Brisbane’s legal community including academics, lawyers, barristers and members of the Judiciary. This year the keynote speaker will be Stephen Keim SC, the famed Counsel for Mohamed Haneef, who will be discussing issues of social justice. The Breakfast will also be the official launch of our academic journal, Pandora’s Box.

 

A two course plated breakfast will be served for the occasion.

 

EVENT DETAILS:

 

DATE: Friday 25th September

TIME: 6:30am for a 6:45am start

PLACE: Marriott Hotel, 515 Queen Street, Brisbane City

COST: $25 for JATL Student Members, $28 for Student non-Members

 

Because of limited numbers it is expected that tickets will sell out relatively soon. Tickets will be sold outside the Walter Harrison Law Library from 11.00am to 2.00pm each weekday from the 7th of September until the 18th of September (strictly no ticket sales after this date).

 

For further details drop by the JATL office (Building 1; W209) or email jatl@law.uq.edu.au.

 

Please visit our Facebook event page for updated details.

Week 5!

Wow.  Five weeks into the semester – this means that there is only one month until our Annual Professional Breakfast!

Keep the morning of Friday 25th September free for an amazing event!

Shariah Finance SJF on Wednesday!

The JATL Exec is definitely looking forward to this one!

Date:	Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Time:	7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location:	Building 50, room N202

Checkout our Facebook Event for more info!

Updates!

Week 3?  Where did weeks 1 and 2 go? 

We have Speed-Networking on Thursday.  We’ve got 15 professionals coming (8 Judges Associates!).  The event starts at 6pm.

Please note the changes to the Shariah Finance SJF.  It’ll be starting at 7pm and the venue is to be advised.  We’ll let you know here and on Facebook!

Back to study!!!!

JATL Exec.

Social Justice Forum III: Can banking law have a conscience?

Hey guys!  It’s the end of week two – hope you’re keeping up with your study!

Hope that you enjoyed the launch of ARTT on Wednesday night!  Here’s a sneak preview of our third Social Justice Forum on Shariah Finance.

Can banking law have a conscience? 

In the midst of these uncertain financial times, this SJF will explore the relevance of ethics in the banking law sphere through unraveling Shariah-compliant finance and its perspective on the Global Financial Crisis. 

This is a very timely and relevant forum right now in these difficult economic times recognising the practical application of differing legal perspectives on banking law and their impact on social justice. 

 What is Shariah-compliant finance?

Shariah finance is a USD$ 1 trillion industry and is the fastest growing area of the finance world.  Many of the major players in the Australian financial sphere want a piece of the action.  As many of you may have heard through the media, NAB is also ‘testing the waters’ to see whether they should invest in this area. 

 There have been many statements that Shariah-based finance, through its rejecting of the concept of interest, has been much better able to withstand the credit crunch and the general financial crisis situation facing the globe.  This SJF will explore just how Shariah-compliant finance works and the practical implications of Shariah-based ethics in the banking sphere.  

It really sounds fascinating – we hope to see you there!

Wednesday, 19th August at 7pm – Venue to Be Advised.

Also – Justice Sotomayor has been confirmed by the US Senate and will be promoted to the US Supreme Court!  See a great article here…

Speed-Networking

‘Speed-Networking’ is a fun  and more laidback way to interact with professionals, in particular law graduates.  These people were students not very long ago and can give insight into what it takes to “make it on the other side”. The event will run with students (in pairs) rotating every three minutes from one professional to the next. There will be representatives from a wide range of legal careers, including  graduates working in government to those working in the top tier law firms as well as Judges Associates.  This is a good way to network and ask relevant questions in a comfortable environment.

 

Numbers are capped, so don’t leave it till too late!

 

Event Details

 

When: Thursday 13^th August

Where: SS&H Library Conference Room

Time: 6 pm

Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members

Attire: Smart Casual

Tickets can be bought from the JATL office from Monday 3^rd August between  11  and 2.