Chief Justice to officially launch USQ School of Law

The Chief Justice of Queensland Hon Paul de Jersey AC will officially launch the USQ School of Law at the Premiers' Hall, Parliament House this week (Wednesday 9 May 2007).

Queensland Attorney General Hon Kerry Shine MP will also be in attendance for the launch and breakfast from 7am.

Head of the USQ School of Law Mark Tranter said that the launch was a very significant event not only for the University but the Law fraternity in general.

'This is the first law school in Queensland to be launched since 1992 and is in response to the growing demand for legal education,' Mr Tranter said.

'It is a momentous step for USQ and the launch will signal the official start and commemoration of the University's law program.'

In addition to the Chief Justice and Attorney General, there will also be many other dignitaries on hand.

'The President of the Court of Appeal Justice Margaret McMurdo, the Chief Magistrate of Queensland Marshall Irwin and President of the Queensland Law Society Joe Pinder will all be attending,' Mr Tranter said.

'USQ's Chancellor Bobbie Brazil and Vice-Chancellor Professor Bill Lovegrove will also be there as well as many representatives from Brisbane legal firms.'

The law program will be on offer at USQ's Toowoomba and Springfield campuses Semester 1 2008.

'By offering law, USQ will give people on the Darling Downs and Western Brisbane region an alternative and it will open up a gateway to lawyers in regional areas,' Mr Tranter said.

'The USQ Law program will also offer its courses externally, only the second University in Queensland to do so, and that will create further options for those wishing to study Law.'

Elective specialisations within the Law program include commercial law, general practice, natural resource law and international law.

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628