Law Faculty leaders, Professor Jeff Giddings and Professor Richard Johnstone, presented papers at the International Conference on the Future of Legal Education in Atlanta, Georgia in February this year. Both papers drew on the 2004 Review of the Griffith Law Curriculum and the subsequent implementation of its recommendations. The papers were very well received in the context of the conference theme - a focus on the need for a broader, more integrated curriculum with stronger emphasis on professional practice.
The review of the Law School curriculum built on moves in the sector to integrate skills and attitudes for professional legal practice as well as doctrinal aspects of law across the curriculum.
Professor Richard Johnstone, Director of the Socio-Legal Research Centre in the Griffith Law School presented a paper on Incorporating Legal Theory, Ethics, Skills and Justice in a Law School Curriculum.
The Griffith Curriculum Review sought to integrate (a) legal theory and interdisciplinary; (b) skills in group work, (c) legal ethics (professional responsibility rules; integrity and critical judgment); (d) generic and legal skills (including interviewing and advising, negotiation, drafting, advocacy, time and workplace management, diplomacy) (e) internationalisation; and (f) awareness of legal issues faced by Indigenous Australians into the law curriculum. Building on these priorities, Professor Johnstone's paper paid particular attention to the attributes of 'the Griffith Law Graduate', and the use of 'vertical subjects' to integrate theory, ethics, skills and justice issues into the curriculum.
Professor Jeff Giddings, then Deputy Dean (Learning and Teaching) of Griffith Law School presented a paper on the topic of Transforming Legal Education in Australia in which he considered processes likely to be useful to a law school in renewing its curriculum. The systematic curriculum review conducted by Griffith Law School in 2004-2005 and which is currently being implemented was used as a case study with particular attention being paid to the implementation process and to evaluation. Professor Giddings argued in the paper that effective implementation is the most challenging part of curriculum change. The presentation will also consider the need to more clearly define the relationships between the core curriculum and elective courses.
Griffith Law School hosted a highly successful Legal Education Day on 10th December 2007, at the Eco-Centre. The symposium was co-convened by Professor Jeff Giddings and Associate Professor Mary Keyes, immediate past and current Deputy Deans (Learning and Teaching) Law and was attended by more than 40 legal academics from around Australia. Associate Professor Keyes explains that the day was a timely reinvigoration of similar events held in south-east Queensland in the 1990s. Current priorities in law curriculum review and an emphasis on ethics, international law and the need for integrated legal practice skills provided a context for lively debate. The program outlining presentations and presenter details is available at Legal Education Day 2007.