Law Student Returns From Australian Moot

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29843, 8 June 1962, Page 13

Law Student Returns From Australian Moot

A library which contained more than 30,000 books, a modern 14-storey building and a large number of fulltime lecturers were among the facilities offered to students at the Sydney University law school, said Mr W. I. Hooker, a Canterbury University law student, who has just returned from Australia where he represented New Zealand law students at a law students’ conference and moot.

This was the first time that New Zealand had taken part in the Australian conference and it was hoped that NewZealand would continue to send representatives. From a student’s pwint of view. Mr Hooker said it was quite important that there should be closer liaison between New Zealand and Australia. Many of the decisions given by the Australian High Court carried great weight and similarly decisions by the New Zealand Supreme Court, particularly in the field of administrative law, had been accepted in many other- countries in the Commonwealth. Mr Hooker said that the courses for law students in Sydney differed from those in New Zealand. Whereas in New Zealand a student had to gain his professional qualification through a university. in Sydney a student couid become a solicitor without attending a university This was done by passing examinations conducted by a solicitors' admission board and serving for four years as an articled clerk.

However, most students took the degree course at the university because this also gave them the status of a barrister At Sydney University there were two courses. One which was taken by part-time students lasted five years, followed by a year as an articled clerk The other was a full-time course, of. which two years was spent on arts stubjects and three years on law subjects.

At Melbourne University students had to spend four vests full time, but at the remaining universities the system of study was the same as in New Zealand where the student had a choice whether he was full time or part time. Mr Hooker said that he noticed ’hat at Sydney Universitv, where the conference was held, there was a close liaison between students and lecturers and between the judiciary and students.

The mooting contest was judged by a judge of one of the State Supreme Courts, and after the contests the judges mixed freely with the students.

The mooting contest, which consisted of teams of two from the seven Australian law schools and New Zealand, was held on a knock-out basis and the New Zealand team of Messrs M. Powles. B. Shenken and Hooker was put out in the first round by Adelaide University. Mr Hooker said that next year the rules of the contest were to be changed to allow each university to take part in at least three moots, as it was felt it was unfair to teams to travel long distances and then be knocked out in the first round. The students of the Sydney University law school published their own law journal which contained articles by senior students edited by the lecturers. The journal was regarded highly and occasionally was cited in the courts. A similar journal had been suggested in New Zealand but the small number of senior students here had held up the scheme, said Mr Hooker.