Kirby Cup Law Reform Competition

The Kirby Cup Law Reform Competition is a unique opportunity for Australian law students to consider the role of law reform and law reform agencies in Australia. The Kirby Cup was donated to the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) by the Hon Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG, a former Justice of the High Court of Australia and the first Chairperson of the ALRC.

 

 

To enter, law students must provide a written paper on a topic of law reform. The competition is organised and sponsored by the ALRC. The ALRC is an independent Commonwealth body that reviews Australia’s laws to ensure they are equitable, modern and fair. Recent ALRC inquiries include family violence, secrecy, royal commissions, privacy and sedition.

 

The competition is open to all students currently enrolled in a tertiary law course (including law courses offered by universities and legal practitioner admission boards). Students may participate in the competition as individuals or as a team of up to four students.

 

 

In 2010, students must submit a paper (between 2,000 and 4,000 words) on the following topic:

The Honourable Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG, a former Justice of the High Court of Australia and the first Chairperson of the ALRC has said that: ‘law reform is much too important to be left to the experts’. Please discuss the importance of consultation to the law reform process, using at least one Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry as an example.

 

 

There will be an official presentation for the competition winners, and the ALRC will consider publishing a summary of the winning entry on the ALRC’s website and submitting it to a relevant journal for publication. Winners will also have their names engraved on the perpetual Kirby Cup.

 

The competition previously consisted of a written and an oral advocacy component. The competition structure was reviewed in 2010 and now consists of a written component only. The ALRC has been reflecting for some time on how best to fulfil the aspirations of Michael Kirby in donating the cup and its connection with the work of the ALRC as an institution. In the ALRC’s view, a written paper competition better reflects the nature of the ALRC process.

 

 

For more information about the Competition, including the competition topic for this year and Competition Guidelines, please see the ALRC website: www.alrc.gov.au.

 

 

The closing date for entries is 8 October 2010.