The Chief Justice of Western Australia, the Honourable Wayne Martin AC, has been appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Advisory Board of Curtin University’s Law School.
Curtin is offering a four-year Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree through the Curtin Business School from 2013. The Legal Practice Board of Western Australia approved the undergraduate LLB course proposal in September.
Professor Paul Fairall, Foundation Dean of Law, who helped to oversee the establishment of the new program, said the Curtin Law School was very fortunate to have the Chief Justice’s experience and counsel as Chair to the Law School Advisory Board.
“Advisory boards provide partnership platforms between CBS and industry leaders to shape our education, our research and our future direction,” Professor Fairall said.
“The Chief Justice’s chairing of the Law School Advisory Board will enhance this collaboration as we start offering the LLB from first semester next year.”
Curtin’s LLB course will provide students with flexible study pathways including the ability to complete the four-year degree in a shorter timeframe, through trimester-based studies in their second and third years.
Students will also be able to do a variety of double-degree programs that are specifically focused on the needs of industry, including units focusing on the resources sector, and governance issues.
The new LLB course will take 120 students in first semester in 2013.
Note to editors:
About the Chief Justice
Chief Justice Wayne Martin was appointed to the Supreme Court of Western Australia on 1 May 2006. He was appointed as a Judge of the Court, a Judge of the Court of Appeal and as the Chief Justice of Western Australia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) in 1973 from the University of Western Australia, completed a Master of Laws from the University of London in 1975 and was admitted to practice in Western Australia in 1977. From 1984–88, he was a Senior Litigation Partner with Keall Brinsden (now Corrs Chambers Westgarth) in Perth. He joined the Independent Bar in 1988 and was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1993. From 2001-03, he was Counsel assisting the HIH Royal Commission in Sydney.
The Chief Justice served as President of the WA Bar Association from 1996 -99, Chairman of the Law Reform Commission of WA from 1996-2001 and, in 2006, was President of the Law Society and Director of the Law Council of Australia.
About Professor Paul Fairall
Professor Fairall, the Foundation Dean of Law at Curtin University, is one of Australia’s longest serving law deans. He recently completed a five-year term as Foundation Dean of Law at the University of South Australia, which after only four years produced its first law graduates. He has also served as Dean of Law at the University of Adelaide and James Cook University.
Contacts:
Paul Fairall, Foundation Dean of Law, Curtin University
Tel: 08 9266 4298, Email: paul.fairall@curtin.edu.au
Kate Selth, Public Relations, Curtin University
Tel: 08 9266 3353, Email: kate.selth@curtin.edu.au
Web: http://curtin.edu.au
Twitter: @CurtinPR
