As at 16 October 2008. Subject to change.
Pre-Conference Program 1
Managing and Meeting the Needs of Self Represented Litigants
Thursday 13 November |
0830—0900 |
Registration |
0900—0915 |
Opening and Welcome |
0915—1030 |
The UK Experience
Mr John Corker (chair)
- Mr Robin Knowles CBE QC — Chairman, Bar Pro Bono Unit of England & Wales; Trustee, LawWorks
|
1030—1100 |
Morning Tea |
1100—1230 |
The US Experience
Mr John Corker (chair)
- Ms Susan Ledray — Pro Se Services Manager, 4th Judicial District Court, Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
1230—1330 |
Lunch |
1330—1500 |
The Australian Experience
Magistrate Michael Baumann (chair)
- The Hon. Justice Margaret White — Supreme Court of Queensland
- Mr Shane Draper — "Self-Represented Litigants" Coordinator, Supreme Court of Victoria
|
1500—1530 |
Afternoon Tea |
1530—1700 |
Panel
Mr Greg Reinhardt and Magistrate Michael Baumann (co-chairs)
Broad based panel discussing issues identified in the Background Paper (being prepared and to be distributed to all registrants beforehand).
- Mr Robin Knowles CBE QC — Chairman, Bar Pro Bono Unit of England & Wales; Trustee, LawWorks (the Solicitors Pro Bono Group of England & Wales)
- Ms Susan Ledray — Pro Se Services Manager, 4th Judicial District Court, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Mr Tony Woodyatt — Director, Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House
- The Hon. Justice Margaret White — Supreme Court of Queensland
- Mr Shane Draper — "Self-Represented Litigants" Coordinator, Supreme Court of Victoria
|
Pre-Conference Program 2
Legal Education Workshop: Law Students Learning by Doing — Linking Law Schools, Law Firms & Government
Thursday 13 November |
1330—1400 |
Registration |
1400—1410 |
Welcome Address
- John Corker — National Pro Bono Resource Centre
|
1410—1500 |
Panel Discussion — The Student Experience
Law students discuss some innovative clinical courses and not-for-academic-credit pro bono activities and consider what has worked as well as what could be improved.
- Professor Jeff Giddings — Convenor, Graduate Program in Dispute Resolution, Griffith Law School (Chair)
- Ms Figen Cingiloglu — Project Manager, Pro Bono Students Australia, University of Western Sydney
- Ms Liz Snell — Past Law student, UNSW
- Ms Rachel Doran — Law student, McGill University, Montreal; Past Coordinator, McGill University Pro Bono Students Canada Program
- Ms Sadhie Abayasekara — Vice-President (Social Justice), University of Sydney
|
1500—1540 |
Panel Discussion — Law School, Law Firm, Non-Profit Sector and Government Experience
What can law firms, non-profits and governments contribute to the education of the next generation of legal professionals?
- Associate Professor Simon Rice — Director, Law Reform & Social Justice, ANU College of Law (Chair)
- Jennifer McVicar — Director, Pro Bono & Community Service Programs, Baker & McKenzie
- Ms Ruth Heazlewood — Chambers Manager, Public Defenders
- Ms Frances Gibson — Senior Lecturer, La Trobe University School of Law
|
1540—1600 |
Afternoon Tea
“Pro Bono Matters” — A short video from UK National Pro Bono Week |
1600—1700 |
Discussion Groups — Working Together
How can law schools, law firms, non-profits and government work better together to engage students in clinical courses and pro bono activities that will better address the legal needs of Australians?
- Facilitated discussion in groups & reporting back to the whole group chaired by Skye Rose, Senior Project Manager, National Pro Bono Resource Centre.
|
| Day 1: Friday 14 November |
from 0730 |
Registration |
Opening Session
0830—0915 |
Welcome to Country
- Mr Allen Madden — Gadigal Elder
Welcome Address
- Mr Ross Ray QC — President of the Law Council of Australia
Opening Words
- The Hon John Hatzistergos MP — NSW Attorney General and Minister for Justice
|
Opening Plenary
0915—1030 |
Forming the Agenda — Panel Discussion
Mr Mark Woods (chair)
What should the Commonwealth and State Government’s agendas be for improving access to justice for the next two years and where are the opportunities to work better together?
- Mr Norman Reaburn — Chairperson, National Legal Aid; and Director, Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania
- Ms Liz O’Brien — National Convenor, National Association of Community Legal Centres
- Mr Peter Stapleton — Chair, National Pro Bono Resource Centre
- Mr Ross Ray QC — President of the Law Council of Australia
- Mr Frank Guivarra — CEO, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
|
1030—1045 |
Morning Tea |
Session 1
1045—1200 |
Stream 1 — Criminal Justice
Mr Tony Whitelum (chair)
Addressing systemic disadvantage and barriers to justice in all areas of the law for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders — why the system isn’t working, and how to fix it.
- Mr Glenn Dooley — Principal Solicitor,
North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency
- Ms Jenny Hardy — CEO, Legal Aid Queensland
- Mr John McKenzie — Chief Legal Officer, Aboriginal Legal Service, NSW/ACT
|
Stream 2 — Current Issues
Mr Phil Lynch (chair)
What is best practice in providing legal services to the homeless?
- Mr Bill Manallack — Coordinator, Homeless Person’s Legal Service, South Australia
- Ms Caroline Adler — Manager, Homeless Persons Legal Clinic, Victoria
- Ms Jane Sanders — Principal Solicitor, Shopfront Youth Legal Centre, Darlinghurst, NSW
|
Stream 3 — Civil & Family Law
Mr Dennis Farrar (chair)
Grass roots federal justice — A review of the extent and effectiveness of the jurisdiction of the Federal Magistrates Court (both as to subject and geography) and how that court provides access to justice.
- Federal Magistrate Michael Baumann — Federal Magistrates Court
- Mr Ian Kennedy AM — Chair, Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia; and Senior Partner, Kennedy Wisewoulds
|
Stream 4 — Working Together
Ms Michelle Hannon (chair)
Pro Bono: Working smarter together — new ideas for more effective access to justice.
- Mr John Corker — Director, National Pro Bono Resource Centre
- Hugh de Kretser — Executive Officer, Victorian Federation of Community Legal Centres
- Ms Anne Cregan — Pro Bono Partner, Blake Dawson
|
Session 2
1200—1315 |
Stream 1 — Criminal Justice
Mr David Neal (chair)
Filling the black hole from the empty cupboard — When legal aid funding just won't do the job.
- Mr Dru Stevenson — Associate Professor of Law, South Texas College of Law, Houston Texas
- Mr Jeremy Thorpe — PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Mr Alan Kirkland — Director, Legal Aid NSW
- Mr Bevan Warner — Managing Director, Victorian Legal Aid
|
Stream 2 — Current Issues
Ms Kristen Hilton (chair)
Who’s to blame for credit stress, and how can we help consumers?
- Ms Carolyn Bond — Co-Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Action Law Centre, Victoria
- Mr Chris Connolly — Director, Galexia
|
Stream 3 — Civil & Family Law
Mr Richard Funston (chair)
Family Violence — seeking real integration between the courts, the police and the legal community
- Ms Louise Blazejowska — Manager Community Partnerships, Legal Aid NSW
- Magistrate Anne Goldsbrough — Founder of specialist family violence and family law courts, Melbourne Magistrates Court
|
Stream 4 — Working Together
Ms Caitlin Perry (chair)
Striving for holistic service delivery in the social welfare sector. How do we improve lawyers working with others?
- Professor Peter Saunders — Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW
- Mr Mark MacDiarmid — Principal Solicitor, Elizabeth Evatt CLC, Blue Mountains
- Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens — Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector
|
Lunch
1315—1415 |
“Pro Bono Matters”
A short video from UK National Pro Bono Week. |
Plenary 2
1415—1530 |
Legal Needs Research
Chief Justice Wayne Martin (chair)
National Legal Aid has commissioned our most extensive legal needs survey, and have devised a new policy for a Commonwealth Government — what will these developments mean for clients?
- Mr Geoff Mulherin — Director, NSW Law and Justice Foundation
- Mr Hamish Gilmore — Immediate past Chairperson, National Legal Aid; and Director, Legal Services Commission, South Australia
|
1530—1545 |
Afternoon Tea |
Session 3
1545—1700 |
Stream 1 — Criminal Justice
Mr Ben Salmon & Mr John North (co-chairs)
Round pegs into square holes — court approaches to people with atypical backgrounds and special needs.
- The Hon Jelena Popovic — Deputy Chief Magistrate, Melbourne Magistrates Court
- Judge Stephen Norrish QC — District Court Judge, NSW
|
Stream 2 — Current Issues
Ms Kristen Hilton (chair)
How has access to justice been affected in jurisdictions where Charters of Rights exist?
- Mr Ron Merkel — Barrister, Victorian Bar
- Ms Renee Leon — Chief Executive, ACT Department of Justice and Community Safety
- Mr Philip Lynch — Director, Human Rights Law Resource Centre, Victoria
|
Stream 3 — Civil & Family Law
Mr Rick Cullen (chair)
Rolls Royce Justice and how we fund civil litigation on a penny farthing budget?
- Dr Peter Cashman — Associate Professor, Sydney Law School; Past Victorian Law Reform Commissioner; and author of Class Actions by Federation Press
- Mr John Walker — Managing Director, IMF Australia Ltd
|
Stream 4 — Working Together
Mr Gary Long SC (chair)
Self represented litigants and court based pro bono schemes, their place in adversarial justice, and how effective are they?
- Mr Phillip Kellow — Deputy Registrar, Federal Court, Sydney
- Mr Tony Woodyatt — Director, Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House
- Mr Shane Draper — "Self-Represented Litigants" Coordinator, Supreme Court of Victoria
- Mr Jeff Giddings — Convenor, Graduate Program in Dispute Resolution, Griffith Law School
- Ms Susan Ledray — Pro Se Services Manager, 4th Judicial District Court, Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
1830-1900 |
Pre-Dinner Drinks
Grand Ball Room, Sydney Masonic Centre |
1900—2300 |
Conference Dinner
Grand Ball Room, Sydney Masonic Centre
|
| Day 2: Saturday 15 November |
Plenary 3
0900—1030 |
The world of justice — policy perception and
practice
Mr Mark Woods (chair)
How the stakeholders in the justice system work to achieve access here and abroad, are we failing where others have succeeded, or can we show the global village a thing or two?
- Mr Robin Knowles CBE QC — Chairman, Bar Pro Bono Unit of England & Wales; Trustee, LawWorks (the Solicitors Pro Bono Group of England & Wales)
- Senator the Hon George Brandis SC — Shadow Attorney-General
- Mr Hugh Macken — President, Law Society of New South Wales
|
1030—1100 |
Morning Tea |
Session 4
1100—1215 |
Stream 1 — Criminal Justice
Ms Deej Eszenyi (chair)
People with mental illness are missing out on legal services. What can lawyers do about it?
- Ms Sophie Delaney — Coordinator/Principal Solicitor, Mental Health Legal Centre, Melbourne
- Ms Robin Banks — Chief Executive Officer, Public Interest Advocacy Centre
- Professor Terry Carney — Director of Research, Sydney Law School
|
Stream 2 — Current Issues
Mr Michael Adams (chair)
Working with Law Schools and students.
- Ms Andrea Perry-Petersen — Training Coordinator, Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House
- Professor Carolyn Sappideen — School of Law, University of Western Sydney
- Shirley Southgate — Acting Director, Kingsford Legal Centre
|
Stream 3 — Civil & Family Law
Mr Chris Whitelaw (chair)
“It won’t hurt a bit...” A report card on Family Relationship Centres. Can there be justice when power is imbalanced?
- Ms Liz O’Brien — National Convenor, National Association of Community Legal Centres
- Mr George Turnbull — Director, Legal Aid Western Australia
- Ms Sue Pidgeon — Assistant Secretary, Family Pathways Branch, Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department
|
Stream 4 — Working Together
Ms Amy Kilpatrick (chair)
Working Together — a macro and micro view.
- Ms Caroline Seagrove — Project Manager, New South Wales Legal Assistance Forum
- Ms Jenny Lovric — Program Manager, Cooperative Legal Service Delivery Model, Legal Aid NSW
- Ms Joanne Rennick — Partner at Murphy Schmidt; and Chair of Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House
|
Session 5
1215—1330 |
Stream 1 — Criminal Justice
Mr John North (chair)
Reversing the onus and raising the bar — being alert and alarmed when acting for those accused of terrorism offences.
- Mr Stephen Keim SC — Barrister for Dr Mohammed Haneef
- Ms Dina Yehia — NSW Public Defender
|
Stream 2 — Current Issues
Mr Richard Funston (chair)
Older Persons Legal and Education Programs
- Ms Lauren Finestone — Legal Aid NSW
- Ms
Susannah Sage-Jacobson —
Pro Bono Manager, Seniors Rights Victoria, Public Interest Law Clearing House, Victoria
- Ms Ros Williams — Solicitor, Caxton Legal Service, QLD
|
Stream 3 — Civil & Family Law
Ms Deej Eszenyi (chair)
Are we protecting our children from harm and what have we learned?
- Ms Kylie Beckhouse — Senior Solicitor Family Litigation, Legal Aid NSW
- Ms Marcia Ella Duncan — Former Chair, Aboriginal Child Sexual Assault Taskforce, NSW
- Ms Helen Wodak — North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency
- Mr Julian Johnson — North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency
|
Stream 4 — Working Together
Ms Jo Shulman & Ms Judi Teasdale (co-chairs)
Improving access to justice in Regional Rural and Remote Australia — What progress have we made in fulfilling the recommendations of the 2004 Senate Inquiry into Legal Aid and Access to Justice?
- Ms Jane Stewart — Project Manager, WA Country Lawyers Project, Legal Aid WA
- Mr Pat Mullins — Partner, Mullins Lawyers, Brisbane
- Ms Janet Loughman — Principal Solicitor, Women's Legal Service NSW
- Dr Albin Smrdel — Assistant Secretary, Legal Assistance Branch, Attorney-General's Department
|
1330—1415 |
Lunch |
Plenary 4
1415—1500 |
Generations — Panel Discussion
Mr John Corker (chair)
Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y and access to justice. (This session will be a structured panel discussion on what we have achieved and how to handover to the Gen X and Y generations.)
Gen Y:
- Mr Chris Holmes — Vice-President (Education), Australian Law Students Association
- Ms Carmen Chung — Vice-President, UNSW Law Society
Gen X:
Boomers:
|
Closing Plenary
1500—1545 |
A new federalism
A new federalism — increasing collaboration to bridge the gaps in access to justice. What can we expect?
- The Hon Robert McClelland MP — Attorney-General of Australia
|
1545 |
End of Conference |