Law graduates celebrate anniversary

The first graduates of Southern Cross University's Bachelor of Laws will gather on Friday (December 2) to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the end of their degree program.

The graduates, who include a number of prominent North Coast solicitors, senior government policy advisors and Crown solicitors, will attend a dinner hosted by the SCU School of Law and Justice.

Head of School of Law and Justice Professor Stanley Yeo said the program was introduced by Southern Cross University in 1993, with the first cohort of around 50 graduates completing their studies at the end of 1995.

Professor Yeo said the course was initially designed for graduate entry to give non school leavers the opportunity to enter the law profession and provide increased opportunities for people within the North Coast region.

"Those first graduates were mature-age students who came from very interesting and diverse work backgrounds," Professor Yeo said.

The graduates have gone on to practice law throughout Australia and in the United Kingdom. Three of the graduates, including Helen Walsh, have returned to teach law at SCU.

"Quite a number of the graduates are in their own practices in the North Coast region, while a couple have gone on to become barristers," Ms Walsh said.

In the last 10 years the School of Law and Justice has expanded its programs and now caters for a wide range of students including school leavers and non-school leavers.

"We have a whole range of people who come here to study law and many of them do combined law degrees. We offer an attractive mix of degrees, combining law with programs such as contemporary music and human movement science," Professor Yeo said.

The School also hosts the Byron Bay Summer Law School which starts tomorrow (Saturday, December 3). The annual event is an innovative and intensive academic program for students or professionals requiring specific legal knowledge.

This year's Summer School has attracted a record number of participants, with students from 17 universities attending. It will cover a range of specialist areas including international human rights law, public interest advocacy, entertainment law and education and the law.

Media contact: Brigid Veale 66593006 or m. 0439 680 748.