Justice Peter Rose presides as College of Law Graduates celebrate their Graduation from The Applied Law Programs

Graduates from The College of Law’s Applied Law Programs (Family Law and In-house Legal Practice) celebrated their success on Tuesday, 13 April, along with The Hon. Justice Rose, who delivered a compelling Occasional Address and awarded the first ever Sandra Paul Memorial Prize to the best graduating Master’s student in the Program.

Justice Rose shared his thoughts on the meaning of the legal profession and the opportunities for service and satisfaction awaiting the graduates, as well as their responsibilities as lawyers.

“The operation of the legal profession as a profession performs a vital role in the administration of justice. The profession of the law has a strong ethical dimension and seeks to attain the objectives of justice and fairness, not simply the promotion of the self-interest of members of the profession or their clients,” said Justice Rose.

Justice Rose also said he was privileged and honoured to present the inaugural Sandra Paul Memorial Prize in memory of a highly respected Family Law practitioner who recently passed away. Mrs Paul will be well remembered in the legal profession, having worked as a solicitor for 25 years and was a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.

In his address, Justice Rose remembered her as a vivacious, gregarious and hardworking lawyer for whom any challenge was seen as an opportunity to succeed.

He compared Mrs Paul to Ada Evans and Marie Byles - the first female to be admitted to the NSW Bar and the first female solicitor in NSW respectively - for her intelligence, confidence, compassion and her “commitment to overcoming hurdles and achieving her goals notwithstanding the difficulties on the road to such achievements”.

“Sandra’s enthusiasm and commitment to her clients and carrying out her professional responsibilities to a high standard always involved recognition that there is an opportunity to learn more and that complacency represented a backward step,” Justice Rose continued.

Sheridan McMahon was presented the Sandra Paul Memorial Prize as the best graduating Masters student in the Master of Applied Law (Family Law) for the previous semester, receiving $1,000.  

Lewis Patrick, Director of General Education, opened the ceremony which was held at College of Law in St Leonards.

For other press see:

Justice and fairness come first - Lawyers Weekly Online – 19/04/10 20:49