Law School

The UWA Law School Online CPD Series allows practitioners to earn CPD points by attending live webinars delivered by UWA Law School academics with deep expertise in their respective fields. 

The webinars will be held on Wednesdays from 1–2pm (AWST) and all pricing is inclusive of GST.

Pricing 

• Individual practitioner: $50
• Organisation rate (unlimited attendees employed by the
  organisation): $500
• Community legal centre practitioners: $25
• Community legal centre rate (unlimited attendees employed by
  the CLC): $200

Schedule

Wednesday 9 February 2022

Professor Elise Bant
‘Systems Intentionality’: revolution and evolution in corporate regulation
1 CPD point in Competency Area 4: Substantive Law
Register here

Wednesday 16 February 2022

Senior Lecturer Jacinta Dharmananda
The meaning of meanings: use of defined terms in statutory interpretation
0.5 CPD points in Competency Area 2: Professional Skills and 0.5 CPD points Competency Area 4: Substantive Law
Register here

Wednesday 2 March 2022

Dr Felicity Maher
How to plead a claim in unjust enrichment
1 CPD point in Competency Area 4: Substantive Law
Register here

Wednesday 30 March 2022

Professor Natalie Skead and Dr Marco Rizzi
Algorithmic contracts and the equitable doctrine of undue influence: adapting old rules to a new legal landscape
Competency Area 4: Substantive Law
Register here

Innovations in Legal Practice Management

This Unit assists you in becoming ‘work-ready’ and providing you with a sound understanding of the professional, ethical and business framework within which law firms and lawyers operate.

The Unit addresses three key themes: First, it explores an understanding of the business of law, including the economics of running a legal practice and the development of ethical business processes and strategies.

Second, it considers the role of people and practice management in the delivery of legal services. This includes consideration of how to recruit, engage, upskill and lead staff in an ethical, client-focused and changing legal environment.

Third, it considers the role of technology in the transformation of how lawyers and law firms perform legal work and deliver legal services.

The Unit will be taught intensively using a combination of interactive workshops and seminars. It will be taught by Lauren Ziegelaar (Gilbert + Tobin) and Aaron McDonald (Pragma Lawyers) together with guest presenters.  Students will be assessed by an assignment, a group presentation and their participation in class discussions.

CPD points: Full attendance at this short course entitles a legal practitioner to claim:

• three CPD points in Competency Area 1 (Practice Management), 
• two CPD points in Competency Area 2 (Professional Skills) and 
• one CPD point in Competency Area 3 (Ethics/Professional Responsibility).
  

Dates: 16-17 and 23-24 January 2021, 9am to 4pm each day. Please note shared registration is not available for this workshop.
Cost: $2,530.00 + online booking fee. 
Register here.

Unit name: Water Resources Law
Unit date: 28 – 30 September 2021
Details:
This short course introduces the main legal principles of water resources management and discusses key regulatory issues being faced in Western Australia. Applicable for both lawyers and non-lawyers, participants will become familiar with the principal legal and policy materials applied in the management of water resources in Western Australia.
Price: $2,530
CPD: For attendance at this short course, practitioners are entitled up to 6 CPD points to be selected from the competency areas Professional Skills (0.5 point available), Ethics/Professional Responsibility (1 point available) and Substantive Law (8.5 points available) depending on the sessions they attend.
Further information and registration 

Unit name: Oil and Gas Agreements
Unit date: 24 – 26 November 2021
Details: 
This three-day workshop provides a clear understanding of legal agreements which underpin the operation of the oil and gas industry. Lawyers, government officials and oil and gas company personnel who require an appreciation of the legal context of oil and gas agreements will benefit from the expertise gained in this course.
Price: $2,530
CPD:  Full attendance at this short course entitles a practitioner to six Legal CPD points. Points can be selected from Competency Area 2 (3 points available) and Competency Area 4 (14.5 available).
Further information and registration 

Unit name: Not-for-profit Law
Unit date: 7-10 September
Details: 
This four-day executive education short course examines the nature, function, governance and regulation of not-for-profit (NFP) entities in Australia, with a focus on charities. The unit approaches these issues on a life-cycle basis, examining aspects of formation, governance, tax and fundraising concessions, regulatory requirements and dissolution restrictions applicable to NFP entities under statute and the common law. The course engages with research, comparative perspectives and recent developments in the law to critique the extent to which the current framework for NFP entities encourages innovative, independent and efficient processes and activities for the public benefit, whilst also ensuring the accountability and integrity of the NFP sector. In doing so, we will examine boundary issues such as the provision of private benefits, the commerce/NFP boundary and the government/NFP boundary. Lawyers, accountants, government officials, board members and NFP managers will benefit from this course.
Price: $3,300.00 x 4 days course or $900.00 x 1 day. Discounted rates for NFPs available.
CPD: Full attendance entitles a legal practitioner to claim six CPD points, selected from Competency Areas 3: Ethics and Professional Responsibility (0.5 points available) and Competency Area 4: Substantive Law (17.5 points available) depending on the sessions they attend.
Register here

Unit name: Taxation of Trusts
Unit date:  5–8 October 2021
More details to follow

The John Toohey Oration is a biannual Oration organised by the UWA Law School. The Oration, which commenced in 1998, honours the career and contribution to public life of a distinguished graduate of The University of Western Australia, the Hon. John Leslie Toohey. After graduating in Arts and Law, the Honourable John Leslie Toohey AC QC went on to become an outstanding legal practitioner and, as a Justice of the High Court of Australia, one of the country's most eminent jurists. Mr Toohey was a Justice of the High Court from 1987 to 1998.

The Oration is given by distinguished speakers on a variety of topics. The most recent Toohey Oration was on Thursday 19 August 2021 at the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The Hon. Robert French AC delivered the Oration which was titled ‘A true Australian Republic: True to our history, fit for our future.’  A copy of Mr French’s paper is available on the UWA Research Repository.

The Judge in Residence program encourages and fosters engagement between the judiciary and Law School staff and students. It supports sitting and retired judges to engage in academic activities, including writing and developing research topics and projects.

The 2020/2021 Judge in Residence is The Honourable Justice Antony Siopis. Tony is interested in the extent to which the common law provides remedies for infringements of human dignity and he will be undertaking research into that topic. Open to sitting judges during a sabbatical (WA, Australia, overseas) or retired state, federal and High Court judges (including overseas judges) who wish to be part of the Law School community, the Judge in Residence program offers:

• The opportunity to be involved in the life of the UWA Law School.
• An office in the UWA Law School.
• Access to UWA Library facilities and service during your time in residence.
• Access to student researchers (with payment arrangements subject to negotiation).
• The opportunity to guest lecture and make other presentations to students and staff.
• Audit of postgraduate units taught by the UWA Law School.
  

In return, the Judge in Residence would:

• Have regular interaction with members of the Law School.
• Provide informal mentoring of academic staff and students.
• Maintain a regular presence at the Law School (at least once a week) throughout their residency. 

How to apply

Contact Senior Lecturer and Deputy Head (Community and Engagement) Jacinta Dharmananda:

Tel: +61 8 6488 3955
Email: jacinta.dharmananda@uwa.edu.au

The UWA Mediation Clinic offers a tailored mediation service to help people to resolve University, workplace, family and community conflict.

Find out more

The UWA Law School’s Visiting Scholars Program hosts academics from around Australia and overseas to undertake research and to participate in the communal life of the Law School. Approved visiting scholars are provided with a workspace, IT access and a computer (where possible) and library access. They are encouraged to participate in the academic life of the Law School and University, including seminars and public lectures.

Application process

Prospective visitors should email the following to the visiting scholars coordinator at least three months prior to their intended visit:

• a brief curriculum vitae that includes details of academic employment, qualifications and publications
• a one- to two-page proposal outlining the research project, planned collaboration with UWA Law staff and any other activities intended during the visit
• a copy of a letter from your home university confirming that you are an academic (not a student) and will be taking sabbatical leave for the duration of your visiting academic appointment, and confirming that you will be returning to full-time employment when the visiting appointment ceases
• copy of biodata page (photograph page) of passport (if available). An appropriate visa must have been obtained to allow commencement of this appointment

Applications are considered in advance of the proposed visit and all applicants will be notified as soon as possible after a decision is reached. Any further information that is required to implement the decision will be sought at this point. The Visiting Scholars Program receives many applications from prospective visitors and unfortunately not all can be supported.

The Law School provides a Clinical Legal Education program through which our students can participate in local, national and international legal internships with law firms, courts, government agencies, non-governmental organisations and the UWA Mediation Clinic. The focus is upon social justice and commercial placements.