Annual Law Lecture Series 
| 2009 Animal Law Lecture Series |
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After a ten day roadshow covering 11 events in five States and Territories, Voiceless’s third annual animal law lecture series wrapped up on 14 May 2009. This year’s Series, which starred US ‘super lawyer’ Bruce Wagman, proved more popular than ever, with 7 leading universities and 3 major law firms hosting events and more than 850 people registering to attend. Distinguished judicial officers, legal practitioners and scholars, state and federal politicians, members of the public and budding animal lawyers galore gathered from across the nation to hear Bruce Wagman speak about his journey to animal law and the trials and tribulations that confront those seeking justice for animals. There were tears, cheers and time for considered scholarly debate as Bruce shared his passion and insights gleaned from many years litigating for dogs, cats , elephants, elk, chimpanzees, gibbons, monkeys, dolphins, and billions of farm animals. Many of those who were unable to attend events, tuned into radio interviews or watched Bruce’s interview on Network Ten’s 9AM with David & Kim. This year’s keynote event involved a night of animal law kindly hosted by Sydney Law School. In what will no doubt come to be remembered as a landmark moment, former High Court judge, The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG, launched Australia’s first animal law textbook ‘Animal Law in Australasia’, edited by Peter Sankoff and Steven White. To read a transcript of The Hon. Michael Kirby's presentation, please download this Justice Kirby stated that the book was an upsetting book, particularly as it describes the legal treatment of farm animals. However he said "We should all be upset, because it was when we got upset about slaves that something happened about slaves. It was when we got upset about Aboriginal rights that something happened about Aboriginal rights. Being upset is the beginning of the journey to solutions." Voiceless would like to take this opportunity to thank the participants in this year’s Animal Law Lecture Series, including Professor David Weisbrot AM (President, Australian Law Reform Commission), Dr Melissa Perry QC (Sixth Floor, Wentworth Chambers), Peter Sankoff (The University of Auckland), Professor Steve Garlick (The University of The Sunshine Coast), Dr Rod Bennison (Minding Animals 2009), David Crocker (Torrens Chambers), Dr Michelle Sharpe (Secretary of the Barristers Animal Welfare Panel and lecturer at Melbourne Law School), Graeme McEwen (Chair, Barristers Animal Welfare Panel), David Glasgow (Lawyers For Animals), Guy Donovan (PALS@PILCH), and lecturers; Celeste Black, Steven White, Jackson Walkden-Brown, Alex Bruce and Lesley Petrie. Special thanks also to our patron J.M. Coetzee and to Professor Peter Singer for attending events, to the many students who helped out and of course to our partners who made the Series possible: Sydney Law School, Newcastle Law School, Griffith Law School, Bond Law School, ANU College of Law, Flinders School of Law, Melbourne Law School, Minding Animals 2009, NSW Young Lawyers, Lawyers For Animals, PALS@PILCH, The Federation Press, DLA Phillips Fox, Minter Ellison and Mallesons Stephen Jaques. The animal law movement in Australia has arrived! To read a transcript of Bruce Wagman's keynote address and view the accompanying slide show, please follow this link Choose a video segment to view:  Welcome by Prof Gillian Triggs, Dean of Law  Introduction by Brian Sherman AM  The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG  Katrina Sharman  Bruce Wagman  Panel Discussion and Q&A Photo Gallery Click photo to enlarge
                                   
If you are an Australian or New Zealand lawyer who wants to remain involved in animal law, please be sure to join our online animal law community at Voiceless Law Talk. For further information about where Bruce Wagman spoke on his national tour, follow this link. Follow this link to read our press release about the 2009 Voiceless Animal Law lecture series. Voiceless’s 2009 Animal Law Lecture Series was proudly supported by the following organisations:
With grateful thanks to Dolman Legal Search & Recruitment and Mark Anderson at Mandos Design for their support. Add to:          |
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Please follow this link to listen to Professor Gillian Triggs, Dean of Law (
Please follow this link to listen to Brian Sherman AM (
