The New Face of Equality
"The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life"
—Jane Addams
1. The Equality Portfolio
Welcome to the New Face of Equality!
We hope that through our diverse events and publications—beginning with the Equality Launch—you will be better equipped to gain more:
- Awareness of the latest debates and dilemmas facing our legal system;
- Access to essential student services and programs; and
- Opportunities to participate in a dialogue concerning our roles and responsibilities, as law students in the shaping of our future legal climate.
This section aims to provide you with information about each of the Equality portfolios. Read on below!
1. Social Justice Portfolio
The Social Justice Officers are here to get Melbourne Law School students thinking about how they can help build a society where people feel free and in control of their lives, connected to those around them, and hopeful for the future.
1.1 Social Justice Events
Semester 1
Companion Guide to Beyond Collins Street. This publication will provide real, useful advice from legal professionals, who will shed light about what career pathways leading up to and after the job are like. The areas discussed will be:
- Public interest law,
- Media and Sports law,
- The foreign service,
- International governmental organisations,
- The Australian parliament and ministerial offices,
- Unions and advocacy organisations,
- Think tanks and research institutes, and
- Community NGOs.
Semesters 1 and 2
Social Justice Discussion series. A discussion series on the following social justice themes:
- National consultations around an Australian Human Rights Charter,
- Australia’s shadow report for NGOs under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
- Same-sex marriage, and
- International negotiations around a successor to the Kyoto Protocol.
‘In the Community’ Scholarship—new initiative.
- This scholarship will enable a high achieving student with a demonstrated commitment to social justice the opportunity to ‘volunteer’ in a nominated community legal centre in return for a paralegal wage.
- We’re presently in discussion with prospective sponsors and look forward to sharing more about our progress…
2. Women’s Porfolio
This year we aim to raise awareness and promote discussion of women’s issues within the law school. Although many issues affecting women in the past have been substantially overcome, we believe that problems still exist for women in the legal profession. These problems often relate to difficulties women face in relation to promotion at work and balancing work and family life. We want students to think deeply about these issues in relation to their future professional lives, and also to consider broader issues faced by women in society as a result of inequalities that exist in the legal system. We will be working closely with the Law Faculty and the Student Equal Opportunity Committee to achieve our goals.
2.1 Women’s Portfolio Events
Semester 1
International Women’s Day:
- International Women’s Day aims to celebrate the achievements of women, while also recognising that obstacles to equality continue to exist.
- This year, we worked closely with the Law School Equal Opportunity Committee, in particular with Gender Liaison Office Ann Genovese to organize this event.
- Our guest speaker was Justice Marvia Neaves from the Victorian Supreme who spoke about how female experience shapes our knowledge of and approach to the law.
- The event was a huge success and there were over 100 attendees.
3. Environment Portfolio
This year will be a very important year for environmental issues, not only in Australia, but for the Law School. Recent bushfires, floods and drought have all highlighted the need to take climate change seriously. As students, we are in an excellent position to push for change and to make sure environmental issues are very much on the political and social agenda. Their overall objective is to create a forum where environmental issues can be discussed and initiatives taken within the Law School.
Environmental issues that will be targeted will include:
- Climate Change
- Climate and Social Justice: the impact of climate change on people around the world.
- Deforestation and the degradation of natural habitats in Victoria and Tasmania.
- Animal welfare: the treatment of animals in industry; biodiversity and animal cruelty.
- Sustainability of the law school and recycling on campus.
- Water and Drought.
3.1 Environment Portfolio Events
Semesters 1 and 2
“Legally Green” lecture series.
- This guest lecture series will include notable speakers from the environmental sphere such as State and Federal Politicians, lawyers, and notable academics/scientists.
- Lectures will be open to all university faculties, including the Law Faculty.
Environment interest group.
- Social events to give law students the opportunity to meet and discuss all things environmental with other students.
- These events will include dinners, picnics and excursions.
Alternative career pathways for law students start with:
- Beyond Collins seminar series, with lectures given by:
- The Environmental Defenders Office.
- Lawyers for Forests.
- Plus other notable environmental professionals!
Written submissions to the Parliamentary Committee Inquiry.
- There will be an opportunity for students to participate in preparing written submissions to a parliamentary committee.
- These are great opportunities to both improve skills, and to have a direct involvement in parliamentary discourse!
- For more information, go to the Parliamentary Committee Inquiry submission page.