Fledgling legal eagles meet at USQ

Senior school students from around the region came together for an opportunity to learn about Law at the 2008 Legal Studies Conference hosted by the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Springfield campus today (30 April 2008).

Organised by the Bundamba State Secondary College in collaboration with USQ law lecturers Dr Anthony Gray and Noelene McNamara, the annual event provided Year 11 and 12 Legal Studies students from schools in Brisbane's West and Ipswich with the opportunity to hear from a range of legal experts.

USQ Senior Law Lecturer Dr Anthony Gray said the conference, now in its 13th year, was a chance to show students the topics they had been covering in class did relate 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 Gray said.

During one his three sessions Dr Gray asked students to test their own verdicts against those handed down in recent Queensland cases.

'Taking on board the same relevant factors the courts would use when handing down sentences, the students had to decide on appropriate sentences for the offenders including jail time and community service and then justify their responses.

'We then compared their sentences against those handed down in real life.

'It was an interesting exercise, as the legal system is supposed to reflect community values and often students call for even tougher penalties than those actually given.'

Dr Gray said the recent wave of crime related shows on television such as C.S.I and Cold Case had fuelled interest in crime in the community.

'Students generally tend to be more interested in hearing about criminal law during these sessions and the ‘crime as entertainment' trend on television has a lot to do with that.'

He said the University was proud to host the conference for the first time this year.

'It was a wonderful opportunity for us to work with the region's schools and meet with students who had 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.'

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.

'It is fantastic that such a wealth of knowledge can be provided from speakers who are involved in the legal profession.

'The students heard from representatives of USQ Law, the Youth Advocacy Centre, Queensland Police, Ipswich Youth Pathways, South West Community Legal Centre Inc and the University of Queensland.

'The speakers give of their time willingly each year and for this I am truly grateful.

'This year more than 200 students and teachers attended from Bremer State High School, Bundamba State Secondary College, Chisholm Catholic College, Faith Lutheran College, Forest Lake College, Forest Lake State High School, Indooroopilly State High School, Ipswich Grammar School and Westside Christian College.

'A thank you must go to the University of Southern Queensland for hosting this years' conference and allowing the use of their facilities,' Mrs Perrett said.

Media Contact: Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0428 102 979