Young legal eagles flock to USQ

Her Honour Judge Sarah Bradley of the Ipswich District Court spoke to Western Corridor year 12 students at USQ's Springfield campus last week.

Senior school students from around the region converged on USQ Springfield campus last week (25 February) for the 2011 Legal Studies Conference.

Organised by the Bundamba State Secondary College in collaboration with USQ Law lecturers Dr Noeleen McNamara and Associate Professor Anthony Gray, the annual event provided Year 12 Legal Studies students from school in Brisbane’s west and Ipswich with the opportunity to hear from a range of legal experts.

Dr McNamara said the conference, now in its 16th year, was a chance to show students how the topics they had covered in class related to the real world of law.

'One of the great things about having legal studies in schools is the lessons are designed to be very practical, so the students can learn about how our criminal justice system works,' Dr McNamara said.

'This year the students heard from keynote speaker Her Honour Judge Sarah Bradley of the Ipswich District Court.

'Judge Sarah Bradley has had a distinguished career beginning with her admission as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1978.

'Judge Bradley commenced her career as a Solicitor in Government before joining, and later becoming a Partner, of a legal practice. Her Honour has also had a long association with the South Brisbane Immigration and Community Legal Service at West End, including Chairing the Management Committee of this organisation.

'Her Honour was the first Stipendiary Magistrate in Queensland to be appointed as a Judge of the District Court of Queensland and has served as the President of the Australian Association of Women Judges since 2006.

'When based in Cairns, Judge Bradley was extensively involved with James Cook University’s law school. Since being appointed to the District Court in Ipswich, Judge Bradley has become involved with activities of the USQ Law School.'

Dr McNamara said the University was proud to host the conference again this year.

'It was a wonderful opportunity for us to work with the region’s schools and meet with students who have an interest in Legal Studies. We hope to meet some of them again over the coming years if they decide to follow a career in law and enrol in a law degree at Springfield campus,' she said.

Bundamba State Secondary College conference coordinator Debbie Perrett said the aim of the day was to provide participants with information to enhance their understanding of Legal Studies.

'This is achieved by students attending a variety of workshops on topics relating to their current studies,' Mrs Perrett said.

The students heard from representatives of USQ Law, IDEALAW and First National Real Estate.

Contact Details:
Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0438 309 096