Monday, 16 April 2018
Law Week 2018
Law Week is the biggest event on the Canberra legal calendar. From Monday 14 May to Saturday 19 May, the legal community comes together for a week of lectures, forums, tours and social events.
Law Week’s goal is to promote public understanding of the law and its role in society. The theme of Law Week for 2018 is “Law and Justice in Your Community”.
Law Week also seeks to raise donations for a Canberra charity. In 2018, ACT Law Week will be supporting the ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service (ADACAS). ADACAS is an independent, not-for-profit, advocacy organisation helping people with disabilities, older people and their carers.
Highlights
Attorney-General Mr Gordon Ramsay MLA will officially open Law Week 2018 at the Law Week Launch, featuring the ACT Golden Gavel on Monday 14 May 2018 at 5.30pm in the Great Hall of University House. Following the opening, he will join the Hon Justice Loukas-Karlsson, and Law Society President Sarah Avery, to judge the ACT Golden Gavel speaking competition. Tickets are $30.
The 33rd Annual Blackburn Lecture will be held on Tuesday 15 May 2018 at 12.30pm at the JCSMR's Finkel Lecture Theatre. The Honourable John Pascoe AC CVO, Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia, will deliver his lecture "Sleepwalking through the minefield: commercial surrogacy and the global response". Entry is by gold coin donation.
The Women Lawyers Association of the ACT will host the Annual Law Week Dinner on Wednesday 16 May 2018 at The Boat House by the Lake. The guest speaker will be Virginia Haussegger AM. Tickets are $145.
Lectures and forums
Disability Justice – Equal before the Law? The Office For Disability, Community Services Directorate and the Justice and Community Safety Directorate will present a forum on the impact of disability on people’s ability to be treated equally before the law and to have equal access to the law. Tuesday 15 May, 8.30-11.30am, Finkel Lecture Theatre, ANU. Free entry.
Is there a role for mediation in the criminal law? Mediation is a booming area of the law. Does it have a role to play in the criminal law? Ken Archer, President of the ACT Bar Association will argue that pre-trial conferencing has merit and opportunities to make existing criminal listing processes more efficient and equitable need to be explored. Thursday 17 May, 7.45-9am, King & Wood Mallesons. Tickets $40.
Sentencing in the ACT: The ACT Supreme Court in conjunction with the Australian National University College of Law, and the University of Canberra School of Law and Justice will provide an introduction to sentencing law, including the factors courts take into account when imposing a sentence. Thursday 17 May, 5.30-7pm, ACT Supreme Court. Free entry.
Public Assistance
Legal Advice Bureau: Free 15-minute appointments to discuss legal matters with experienced solicitors. Monday to Thursday, 12.30pm to 2pm at the ACT Law Society. Bookings essential. Call 6274 0300.
Wills Day: Free 30-minute appointments with a specialist solicitor for advice on how to set up a Will. Friday 18 May, 11am to 2pm at the ACT Law Society. Bookings essential. Call 6274 0300.
Tour of the ACT Supreme Court: A public tour, comprising a 20 minute talk and tour of the Court, followed by a live court sitting. Monday 14 May 2018 at 11am. Bookings essential. Call 6207 0355.
ACT Law Week is coordinated by the ACT Law Society, in conjunction with the ACT Bar Association, the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions, the ACT Office For Disability, the ACT Supreme Court, the Women Lawyers Association ACT, and the Women’s Legal Centre ACT & Region. Financial support comes from principal sponsor Lawcover.
For further information contact:
Ms Dianne O'Hara, Chief Executive Officer, ACT Law Society, T 02 6274 0300
