Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
The Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture was established in 1993 to mark the arrival of the first group of Bachelor of Laws students at the University of Newcastle. Since the delivery of the inaugural lecture by Sir Ninian Stephen, the annual lecture has been delivered by an eminent lawyer each academic year.
In 2023, the School of Law and Justice will mark the 30th annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture by welcoming the Hon Justice Brian Preston FRSN SC as its guest speaker.
The 2023 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture will take place on Friday, 4 August 2023 at the University of Newcastle Conservatorium of Music.
His Honour Justice Preston is the Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, an office he has held since 2005. His Honour's lecture will reflect on Environmental Justice.
Justice Preston graduated from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws (1st Class Honours) in 1982. Prior to being appointed to the Land and Environment Court in 2005, Justice Preston was a Senior Counsel, practising primarily in planning and environmental law, and he has contributed significantly to the development of the jurisprudence of planning and environmental law in New South Wales.
In 2018 Justice Preston was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW (FRSN, Act of Parliament 1988 for the advancement of Science, Philosophy, Literature and Arts). He is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney, and has lectured in postgraduate environmental law for more than 20 years.
2023 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
Previous Lectures
Newcastle Law School marks 30th anniversary with 2022 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture delivered by Chief Justice Andrew Bell
The Newcastle Law School celebrated its 30th anniversary with the Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture at City Hall in September 2022. The 2022 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture was delivered by Chief Justice of NSW, The Honourable Andrew Bell, with his lecture ‘Innovations in Justice’ coinciding with a thematic focus area of the Centre for Law and Social Justice in 2022.
More than 120 guests were in attendance, including Professor Alex Zelinsky AO (Vice-Chancellor and President), Professor John Fischetti (Pro Vice-Chancellor, College of Human and Social Futures) as well as alumni, students, staff and the legal community. The Honourable Kevin Lindgren AM KC, who played a critical role in the establishment of the Law School, was also among the distinguished guests.
The event also marked the announcement of the School’s new name – the School of Law and Justice – which was confirmed by Professor Zelinsky AO to take effect at the beginning of 2023.
The black-tie event raised funds for the Refugee Early Entry Scheme, an entry pathway at the School that enables early admission to students from a refugee background.
Chief Justice Bell's 2022 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture can be accessed here.
Newcastle Law School welcomed Justice Monika Schmidt for the 28th annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
In 2020 local legal community came together for The Newcastle Law School’s 28th Annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture. We welcomed The Hon Justice Monika Schmidt to deliver the lecture titled ‘Technology and the courts – pivoting from chaos to the unknown.’
The Honourable Acting Justice Monika Schmidt graduated from the University of Sydney in 1979. She was a partner in Minter Ellison and lectured part time at the University of Sydney. Her Honour was appointed a judge of the NSW Industrial Court and Deputy President of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission in 1993 and also later as a Deputy President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. From 2009 to 2019 her Honour was a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, sitting in the Common Law Division, on the Court of Criminal Appeal and on occasions as an acting judge of the Court of Appeal.
She is currently an acting justice of the Supreme Court. Her Honour has held positions on many committees including the NSW Judicial Commission’s Standing Advisory Committee on Judicial Education and as Chair of the steering committee for the National Judicial Orientation Program In 2019 her Honour was appointed a life member of the National Judicial College and awarded an AM.
Read the transcript from the 2020 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture here
Deputy Chief Justice Robert McClelland delivered 27th annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
The Newcastle Law School welcomed Deputy Chief Justice Robert McClelland as its speaker for the 27th Annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture. The topic of this lecture was 'Creativity in Dispute Resolution in Family Law Cases', and was delivered at the University of Newcastle Conservatorium's Harold Lobb Concert Hall.
Deputy Chief Justice Robert McClelland has a BA/LLB from the UNSW and an LLM from the University of Sydney and he is a Visiting Fellow at the University of New South Wales.
After being admitted to practice in 1982, Robert commenced working as an associate to Evatt J in the Federal Court of Australia. He has practised as a solicitor and a barrister. He was elected to Federal Parliament in 1996 and served as Commonwealth Attorney General between 2007 and 2011.
He was appointed a Judge of the Family Court of Australia in June 2015. He was appointed Deputy Chief Justice of the Family Court in December 2018.
The Hon Wayne Martin AC delivers 26th annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
In 2018, the Newcastle Law School welcomed The Hon Wayne Martin AC, Chief Justice of Western Australia, to deliver the lecture titled 'Restorative Cities – The Role of the Justice System.' The 26th annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture was held in June, 2018 at Newcastle Museum and was the first edition since Sir Ninian's passing in October 2017.
The Hon Wayne Martin AC was admitted to legal practice in Western Australia in 1977. In 1993 he was appointed Queen’s Counsel. At different times he has served as Chairman of the Law Reform Commission of WA and the Administrative Review Council, and as President of the Law Society of WA and the WA Bar Association. In 2006, he became the 13th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia. In 2012, the Chief Justice was recognised nationally when he was appointed a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia. Western Australia. He served as Chief Justice of Western Australia from 2006 until 2018.
Read the transcript from the 2018 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture here
The Hon Justice Margaret Beazley AO delivered 25th annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
In August 2017 the Newcastle Law School has the pleasure of welcoming The Hon Justice Margaret Beazley AO to the University of Newcastle Conservatorium of Music for the 25th annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture.
Justice Beazley AO attended the Sydney Law School graduating with Honours in Law in 1974 and was admitted to the New South Wales Bar on 14 March 1975. She was appointed Queens Counsel in 1989. In 1993, she was appointed as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, the first woman to sit exclusively in that Court. In 1996 her Honour was the first woman appointed to the New South Wales Court of Appeal and in March 2013 was appointed President of the Court of Appeal. She is Chairperson of the NSW Chapter of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law, Patron of the Toongabbie Legal Centre and President of the Arts Law Centre of Australia.
You can access a copy of the 2017 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture here
Justice Virginia Bell delivers the 2016 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
In late April the Newcastle Law School hosted the 24th Annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture. This year, members of the local legal community joined students and staff for a lecture given by Justice Virginia Bell of the High Court of Australia.
The lecture was well attended with over 250 people in the audience to hear Justice Bell’s talk titled “Equality, Proportionality and Dignity: The Guiding Principles for a Just Legal System”.
Justice Bell delivered an enlightened lecture on the history of equality and proportionality from a legal perspective. Her narrative included relevant cases from Sir Ninian Stephen’s distinguished career as well as current legal cases.
Justice Bell answered questions from the engaged audience following her lecture on a range of topics including the representation of women judges, the future of international law and human rights and ways which the legal profession can improve disadvantaged communities.
The Newcastle Law School celebrated the event with a dinner for Justice Bell and other distinguished members of the local legal community. Acting Dean, Associate Professor John Anderson, formally thanked Justice Bell for her insight and time.
Download a copy of the speech here
The Newcastle Law School was proud to welcome Professor Neil Rees for the 2015 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
Professor Rees was appointed foundation Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Newcastle in 1991. Neil Rees has also been a legal academic, a tribunal member, a legal practitioner and a legal adviser to government in a career which spans over 30 years.
Professor Neil Rees conceived of the idea of the annual Sir Ninian Stephen lecture series and was proud to accept the honour of delivering it in 2015. His speech titled "I look ahead", refers to the UON emblem.
His speech covered expected reforms in sources of the law, changes in the delivery of legal services and the future of legal education. He predicted a reform in the content and complexity of legislation and the simplification of future legislative drafting. Professor Rees hypothesized that the legal profession will undergo fragmentation in the future, with paralegals taking on more specialised work and their education being highly specialised as well.
As part of the bigger picture of legal education Professor Rees highlighted the emergence of privatised law schools and online learning capabilities. In his highly directed speech, law students were catapulted into the 21st century where lawyering is fast paced, client focused and technology driven. A glimpse of what lies ahead for them, and a motivation to study hard for their upcoming exams and pursue their dreams in an ever-changing, transnational world.
The Newcastle Law School celebrated the success of the lecture by taking Professor Rees and other distinguished members of the local legal community to dinner after the lecture. Acting Dean of the Newcastle Law School, Associate Professor John Anderson took this opportunity to formally thank professor Rees for his contribution to the Law School and presented him with a copy of the portrait of Professor Rees, which still hangs in the Newcastle Law School today.
The Newcastle Law School was proud to welcome the Honourable Robert French AC for the 2014 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
The Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture was established in 1993 to mark the arrival of the first group of Bachelor of Laws students at the University of Newcastle. It is delivered by an eminent lawyer each academic year.
You can download a copy of Chief Justice French's speech here.
Robert French was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia in September 2008. Prior to this he was a member of the Federal Court where he served as the first President of the Native Title Tribunal. While serving as a Federal Judge, Justice French also served as the Chancellor of Edith Cowan University from 1991 to 1997.
Justice French has published a significant body of work in journals and books. In his numerous public addresses he has sought to bridge the gap between the study and practice of the law.
The Honourable Nicola Roxon MP presents 21st annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
The Honourable Nicola Roxon MP delivered the 2013 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture at the University of Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, in April 2013. Her lecture was titled 'Breathing value into your law degree'.
The Hon Roxon was elected to the Victorian Federal seat of Gellibrand in 1998, and served as Minister for Health and Ageing between 2007 and 2011. In 2011, then Prime Minister Julia Gillard promoted her to become Australia's first female Attorney-General.
Prior to entering parliament, The Hon Roxon worked as an industrial lawyer, and as an Associate to High Court Justice Mary Gaudron. She graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws.
Newcastle Law School welcomed The Honourable Kevin Lindgren for 2012 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
In 2012, the Newcastle Law School had the pleasure of welcoming The Honourable Kevin Lindgren to deliver the 20th annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture. The Hon Lindgren delivered the lecture 'The Rule of Law: Its State of Health in Australia'.
Born in Newcastle, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of New South Wales through Newcastle University College, and in 1957 began his career in law with Harris Wheeler Solicitors, one of Newcastle's oldest law firms, and was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
In 1969 The Hon Lindgren joined the staff of the University of Newcastle as a lecturer in Legal Studies, and was apointed as Professor of Law in 1973, where he remained until his admission to the bar in 1984. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1991, and in 1994 became a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia where he remained until his retirement in 2010.
The Hon Lindgren was instrumental in the formation of the Newcastle Law School in 1993, and remains a Conjoint Professor of the School.
Justice Julie Ward delivers the 2011 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
In 2011, the Newcastle Law School had the pleasure of welcoming Justice Julie Ward to deliver the 19th annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture, titled 'The Modern Day Fusion Falacy – Should There Be a Separate Bar?'
After graduating as Dux of Newcastle Girls High School in 1976, Justice Ward studied arts/law at the University of Sydney. Her Honour graduated in law in 1982 with First Class Honours and the University Medal.
She went on to work as an associate to Justice Nigel Bowen, the first Chief Justice of the Federal Court, and in 1998 was the youngest female partner to be appointed at Mallesons Stephen Jaques.
Justice Ward was appointed to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in September, 2008, acheiving the significant milestone of being the first female solicitor to be directly appointed to the Supreme Court bench, and initially sat in the Equity Division of the Court.
Newcastle Law School welcomed Hal Wootten AC QC for the 2010 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture
The 2010 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture was delivered by Hal Wootten AC QC with his oration 'Finding a Life in the Law'.
Hal Wootten graduated from the University of Sydney Law School in 1945, and began his legal career at the State Crown Solicitor's Office before entering the private sector with Minter, Simpson and Co. He practised as a barrister in 1951 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1966.
Wootten was appointed the foundation Dean of the University of New South Wales Law School when it opened in 1971, and served as a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 1973 until 1983.
He was an advocate for First Nations peoples, helping estbalish the first Aboriginal Legal Service in 1970, and was one of the Commissioners leading the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody from 1987 to 1991. He also served as Deputy President of the Native Title Tribunal between 1994 and 1997.
The 17th annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture took place in 2009, with Stephen Gageler presenting 'Fact and Law' to the Newcastle Law School.
Read the transcript of the 2009 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture here.
The 2008 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture was delivered by The Hon Justice John Basten - 'Human Rights and the Rule of Law'.
His Honour was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1982, where he served for 23 years and appeared in 64 cases before the High Court of Australia. Basten was appointed Queen's Council in 1992. He was appointed as a Judge of Appeal of the New South Wales Court of Appeal in 2005.
You can read the transcript of the 2008 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture here.
In 2007 the Newcastle Law School welcomed human rights advocate and lawyer Graeme Innes to deliver the 15th annual Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture, titled 'Using the Law to Make a Difference'.
The 2006 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture was presented by Frank Brennan AO with his oration 'Confessions of an Erstwhile Land Rights Advocate'.
You can download the transcript of the 2006 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture here.
In March 2005 the Newcastle Law School had the pleasure of welcoming Crown Prosecutor Margaret Cuneen SC to deliver the 2005 Sir Ninian Stephen Lecture. Her lecture was titled 'Living Within the Law'.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.