- Lawyers must think globally, Kirby
- AAP
- 10/09/2008 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: moses ( 9 articles in 2008 )
SYDNEY - Retiring High Court Judge Michael Kirby says Australia's next generation of lawyers must change their focus and think globally.
Justice Kirby, who steps down next year after 12 years serving on Australia's High Court, says the legal profession must no longer view itself as an "enclave of parochialism".
"Question old rules in new contexts of rapidly changing times," Justice Kirby told Faculty of Law graduates at the University of NSW in an address tonight.
"The big challenge, and opportunity, of this generation of lawyers lies in its demand that lawyers should think globally."
Justice Kirby said the changing times had spurred advances in international law - in trade law, economic law and human rights law.
"Never accept that these are developments irrelevant to our Australian domestic law," he told graduates.
Justice Kirby was also presented with an honorary Doctorate of Laws during the degree ceremony, to mark his contribution to the Australian judiciary and community.
During his time on the bench, Justice Kirby was noted for his non-conforming views and his support for judicial activism.
Justice Kirby also said during his lifetime Australia had made progress towards ending discrimination against indigenous people, women and minority groups.
"Australians are gradually improving the lot of Aboriginals in the legal system ... (and) the position of women has also improved, as have many of the laws affecting them, but there is still far to go," he said.
"The position of gays has got better in my lifetime but the oppression and ignorance are not over yet.
"So it is work in progress, no room for complacency."
Justice Kirby, who steps down next year after 12 years serving on Australia's High Court, says the legal profession must no longer view itself as an "enclave of parochialism".
"Question old rules in new contexts of rapidly changing times," Justice Kirby told Faculty of Law graduates at the University of NSW in an address tonight.
"The big challenge, and opportunity, of this generation of lawyers lies in its demand that lawyers should think globally."
Justice Kirby said the changing times had spurred advances in international law - in trade law, economic law and human rights law.
"Never accept that these are developments irrelevant to our Australian domestic law," he told graduates.
Justice Kirby was also presented with an honorary Doctorate of Laws during the degree ceremony, to mark his contribution to the Australian judiciary and community.
During his time on the bench, Justice Kirby was noted for his non-conforming views and his support for judicial activism.
Justice Kirby also said during his lifetime Australia had made progress towards ending discrimination against indigenous people, women and minority groups.
"Australians are gradually improving the lot of Aboriginals in the legal system ... (and) the position of women has also improved, as have many of the laws affecting them, but there is still far to go," he said.
"The position of gays has got better in my lifetime but the oppression and ignorance are not over yet.
"So it is work in progress, no room for complacency."
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