AN INTRODUCTION TO AUSTRALIAN LEGAL HISTORY

(AN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY FOR NSW SUPREME COURT “TIPPIES”, FORBES SOCIETY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS)

During 2013 the society began sponsoring Legal History Seminars held in the Supreme Court Precinct of Sydney. Many topics have been covered including the History of Trespass; a History of Property Law; Forms of action at Common Law; a History of the Criminal Law; the Historical Development of Insolvency Laws; Historical Development of Corporation Law and Historical Engagement with Roman Law.

Presenters have included Chief Justice Tom Bathurst and other Supreme Court Judges, Acting Judges as well as a variety of keen students of legal history. It is hoped that the course will encourage others to institute such programs of study.

Click on  History Program for a complete list of topics and presenters.

 2019 Seminars:

This year’s programme of legal history tutorials  began on 21 May 2019 with Dr Simon Chapple (Secretary of the Society) speaking on the topic: ‘Introduction to Australian Legal History’.

Other Seminars Included:

History of Equity,  delivered by the Hon J Campbell QC in two parts, on 6 and 13 August 2019.

 

The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG and Professor Stefan Petrow  delivered an address:

“Our first and only Black Chief Justice meets racism in Australia”.

NSW Bar Association Common Room, S

Thursday, 15 August 2019

By arrangement with the Federation Press in association with the Forbes Society

Launch of new book on Sir Victor Windeyer

The Federation Press announces the launch by Professor The Hon William Gummow AC. of Victor Windeyer’s Legacy: Legal and Military Papers, edited by Bruce Debelle AO QC.

Legalism in the Twentieth Century: the chameleon concept, on 3 September 2019, Court 13A at 5.15 pm  jointly delivered by:

• Professor Mark Lunney - (Junior Vice President of the Society; Professor of Law, University of New England),

• Dr Tanya Josev (Senior Lecturer, Melbourne Law
  School) 

• Dr Susan Bartie (Lecturer, University of Tasmania Faculty of Law)

 

 

 

 Seminars for 2018 have been:

• Professor Wilf Prest, Lawyers and the law in the “Glorious Revolution” on Tuesday 24 April 2018 – Professor Prest’s most recent book Blackstone and His Critics is available through www.bloomsbury.com.au

• The Honourable Arthur Emmett, The Roman Consensual Contracts: Sale, Hire and Partnership on Tuesday 15 May 2018

• Professor Mark Lunney, History of the law of tort on Wednesday 19 June 2018

•   The History of the Law of Commercial Arbitration delivered by the Chief Justice, the Hon T F Bathurst AC, on Thursday 18 October 2018 

  The 2018 Plunkett Lecture:

  The Attorney General of New South Wales, the Hon Mark Speakman SC MP, delivered the 2018 Plunkett Lecture on Monday, 29 October 

These tutorials and presentations are well worth while for experienced practitioners as well as those starting out on a legal career. Any member of the general public who wants to know more about how our legal system operates is welcome at these free presentations by some of the leading legal and academic professionals in the country

All tutorials were presented in the beautifully appointed Banco Court (on Level 13 of the Law Courts Building in Queen’s Square, Sydney). We are grateful to NSW Chief Justice Bathurst for his permission to use such an elegant and significant venue.

 

 

Details of 2017 Seminars included:

Tuesday, 13 June 2017 the Hon John Bryson QC presented on The History of Property Law. Click on the following for a copy of the notes accompanying the seminar: Notes

Other Seminars included:

William Blackstone

Sir William Blackstone

  Tuesday 11 April was an engaging and fascinating talk on the importance of legal history and the work of the English Academic/ Lawyer from the 18th Century,  William Blackstone,  by his biographer Emeritus Professor Wilf Prest (University of Adelaide). Blackstone’s Commentaries are a landmark in the history of the law. Professor Prest brought the man and his influence alive for the audience. Click on the following link for the handout: Prof Prest Handout Forbes Tutorial 11 April 17 . Note: Oxford University Press is offering Forbes members a discount on the Oxford Edition of Blackstone: Commentaries on the Laws of England: Books I, II, III, and IV edited by Wilfrid Prest  – see the attached flyer.   blackstone_oxfordeditionofblackstone

Following this were:

The History of Corporation Law by Justice Ashley Black: Tuesday, 2 May 2017

The History of Equity by the Hon Peter Young QC: Tuesday, 23 May 2017

Other significant events for 2017 included:

• Forbes Lecture for 2017 – delivered by Justice Margaret Beazley AO, President of the Court of Appeal.  It is titled, “An insight into appellate justice in New South Wales”.  The lecture was held at 5.15pm on 28 September 2017 in Banco Court.
• Lecture by The Hon Keith Mason AC QC: in which he  discussed his latest project on Sir Frederick Jordan.  The lecture was titled ‘Sir Frederick Jordan’s brushes with ‘degenerate art’ and was a fascinating exploration of history and art.
• Tutorial by Chief Justice Bathurst:  on 18 October 2017 in Banco Court,  discussing the history of criminal law.

Launch of ‘A History of Australian Legal Education’ by Professor David Barker AM on 4 October 2017 at 5.30pm at Greenway Chambers (Level 10, 99 Elizabeth Street, Sydney).  Professor Barker’s book was launched by The Hon Kevin Lindgren AM QC.

The Attorney General  chaired the Plunkett Lecture, presented by Mark Tedeschi QC on 9 November 2017.