The Chief Justice of Queensland, The Hon. Paul de Jersey AC, was among the distinguished guests who attended an official welcome for UQ's new Dean of Law, Professor Gerard Carney, at Customs House on 29 February.
UQ Chancellor John Story introduced Professor Carney to the 160-strong audience comprised of members of the legal profession, Queensland judiciary and university colleagues, highlighting his distinguished career in academia and as a legal practitioner.
"Gerard comes to us - not only with excellent credentials - but the vision to ensure the Law School continues to remain both relevant and progressive," Mr Story said.
Professor Carney, who took up his position at the TC Beirne School of Law in January, described his appointment as both a great honour and a great responsibility.
"I regard it as the most important responsibility I will ever have," he said.
Outlining a number of key strategies to be implemented over the coming months, the Professor said his objective was to see the School become the most respected law school in Australia - renowned for its high calibre graduates and for cutting edge legal and interdisciplinary research.
"Central to all this strategy is enhancing our engagement with the legal profession," he said.
"Your involvement and support are essential in achieving these two principle aims."
Pledging his commitment to strengthen relationships with the School's external stakeholders, Professor Carney announced his intention to facilitate more opportunities for practitioners and law firms to participate in the future of the School.
He said this would include liaison regarding internships and graduate placements and increased participation in law courses as guest lecturers and in the delivery of practical skills training such as legal writing and mooting.
Professor Carney also revealed plans to establish several new specialist legal research centres as part of a strategy to raise the School's research profile. If successful, the School's existing research centres - the Centre for Public International and Comparative Law, and the Marine & Shipping Law Unit - would be complemented by units dedicated to legal research relating to the resources sector and the Asia-Pacific region.
Media: Melissa Reynolds, TC Beirne School of Law on (07 3365 2523, m.reynolds@law.uq.edu.au).
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