Judges to help students and academics

The University of Melbourne law school has launched Victoria’s first judge-in-residence program, with the former chief justice of the Federal Court, Michael Black QC, taking up the first residency. Alongside Black, who is a Melbourne law school alumnus, current and retired judges will lend their counsel to students and academics. Through a series of workshops, classes and guest lectures, the initiative will give students and academics the opportunity to engage with some of Australia’s most influential judicial leaders. “This insight will provide students with a learning opportunity that is unlike the typical law school experience,” dean of the law school Professor Carolyn Evans said last week. In addition, Black said the concept will be of great value for students. “They have a fascination with how the law works in practice and, for whatever reason, they find it extremely interesting talking to the people who have decided the cases they have read,” he said. “The program will certainly benefit law students by giving them an understanding of who the judges are and what they do, as well as giving them an idea of their personalities. I think this will be interesting and, I would hope, reassuring for the students to see the face behind the words.” Evans said the initiative would encourage judges and academics with shared interests in particular areas of law to learn from one another, as well as allow students to obtain insights into the working of the courts and the role of Australian judges. “We are delighted to have Michael Black joining us this semester and look forward to developing this initiative in the coming years,” she said. Black has had a keen interest in legal education, having served as chair of the Juris Doctor Advisory Board shortly after its inception in Australia in 2001. He was also foundation chairman of the Victorian bar's course of instruction for new barristers.