Welcome to the Australian Academy of LawThe Australian Academy of Law comprises elected individuals of exceptional distinction in the discipline of law who are committed to the advancement of that discipline and to justice according to law in Australia. Membership is by invitation by the Board of Directors following nomination by an existing Fellow, together with a Seconder, and consideration and recommendation by the Membership Committee. Fellows are invited from the practising profession, from legal academia and from the judiciary to facilitate collaboration and constructive debate amongst all sections of the legal community. The Academy thereby provides a bridge between all sections of the legal community. The objects of the Academy are to:
It is important that Fellows consider from time to time other distinguished lawyers who are suitable for nomination as a Fellow. The eligibility criteria are that the person is of exceptional distinction in the discipline of law and demonstrably committed to the objects of the Academy. All Fellows are encouraged to look broadly to nominate candidates and to consider candidates from diverse backgrounds. Nominations should be forwarded to the AAL Secretariat by 31 August each year. The AAL expects to elect new Fellows by the end of each calendar year. The AAL's 2022 annual report has now been published and is to be found here. |
LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS |
Contempt of court is a key part of the administration of justice. The law needs to be applied swiftly. Yet, many complexities in the law of contempt have developed over the centuries. Professor Rolph’s new book is the first comprehensive treatment of the Australian law of contempt of court. It discusses fundamental principles and practical issues. The book considers all forms of contempt, including civil contempt, sub judice contempt, contempt in the face of the court, scandalising the court and interference with the administration of justice as an ongoing process. Professor Rolph’s work examines both contempt of superior courts of record and the contempt powers of a range of inferior courts and tribunals. It also analyses the procedures and penalties for contempt of court. Professor David Rolph is a preeminent scholar in media law. He is the author of the authoritative work, Defamation Law, a consulting editor on Gatley on Libel Slander, and a legal history scholar. His many publications address fundamental issues about affecting freedom of expression and laws that protect competing interests: defamation, privacy and the administration of justice. Patrick McCafferty KC, a media law specialist, will provide a brief commentary. The Hon Justice Peter Applegarth AM, Supreme Court of Queensland, will chair the session You are warmly invited to register to attend in person or onlineMore information can be found here To register click here Join the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Law for their annual symposium in 2023. This year, three public lectures will be delivered by Dame Julie Maxton DBE, Executive Director of the Royal Society in London. These events will be held in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. About the eventsCanberraDate: Monday 4 December 2023 SydneyDate: Tuesday 5 December 2023 MelbourneDate: Wednesday 6 December 2023 *Please note: the events will not be livestreamed, but a recording of the Canberra event will be made available on Friday 8 December 2023. | The creation of the Supreme Courts of New South Wales and Van Diemen's LandSpeaker: The Hon Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC On 8 September the Chief Justice gave the opening address for this 2 day conference - "Enduring Courts in Changing Times" AAL's Twelfth Annual Patron's AddressThe Australian Academy of Law'sTwelfth Annual Patron’s Address was delivered bythe Hon Chief Justice Peter Quinlan onThursday 12 October 2023 in Perth.The venue was Court 1, Supreme Court Building, Stirling Gardens There is no single correct sentence:Some thoughts on choice, subjectivity and the ethics of sentencingThe full paper can be read here |
Essay Prize Winners In a first for the Australian Academy of Law, the annual essay prize has gone international. Please congratulate Professor Andrew Higgins and current bar course student in London John Yap on winning this $10,000 prize. The title of their essay is “Class Actions in Context: Distinguishing Regulation, Tort, and Procedure.” This year's question asked entrants to consider whether the growth of such private litigation in Australia and elsewhere could ‘be described as an evolutionary form of “privatised regulation”, gap-filling where the state and its regulators have not fully or properly controlled or deterred behaviours, or protected and compensated affected person. To what extent is it successful in that regard? Should it be encouraged? Why or why not? Give examples.’ The winning essay, which can be read here, disagreed with the possible premise of the question and sought to ‘clear the field’ to make a different argument. More information can be found here. |