2025 Past Events
12 February 2025 – Year 12 Conference
The School of Law hosted a stall at the Year 12 Conference, engaging directly with prospective students and showcasing pathways into legal education at Western Sydney University. Staff and student representatives highlighted the School’s strengths in equity, practical learning, and career outcomes.
25–26 February 2025 – Student Legal Service Stall at Welcome Week
The Student Legal Service (SLS) hosted a stall during Welcome Week, engaging with over hundreds of students across two days. The stall promoted access to free legal assistance and practical learning opportunities, demonstrating the School of Law’s strong commitment to community engagement and student support.
25 February 2025 – The Palestine Project: Memory & Media Representation of Genocide
This event formed part of the School of Law’s Palestine Project, examining how genocide is remembered and represented through media in comparative contexts. The discussion reflected the School’s research depth and leadership in international law and human rights scholarship.
25 February 2025 – School of Law Autumn Orientation
The Autumn Orientation welcomed commencing students to the School of Law, introducing them to academic staff, student support services, and peer networks. The School’s inclusive culture and commitment to student transition and success was on full display as we prepared students for what was to come in their upcoming course.
26 February 2025 – Keynote Address: Australia’s Contributions to Shaping International Law
This keynote examined Australia’s role in shaping international law during periods of global transformation. Attended by students and staff, the address highlighted the School of Law’s expertise in public and international law and its engagement with global legal issues
19 March 2025 – JCAN Dinner
The JCAN Dinner brought together students, staff, and members of the legal community in a collegial networking setting. The event strengthened professional connections and showcased the School’s active engagement with justice and community legal networks.
26 March 2025 – WSLSA Start of Semester Dinner
Hosted by the Western Sydney Law Students’ Association (WSLSA), the Start of Semester Dinner welcomed students across all year levels. The WSLSA brings a lot of opportunities for students to engage with their fellow peers and externals, and the event highlights strong student leadership and fostered our sense of community within the School of Law.
26 March 2025 – Book Launch: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Domestic Courts
This book launch celebrated the publication of The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Domestic Courts (Cambridge University Press, 2025). The event showcased the School of Law’s research excellence and contribution to global scholarship in human rights and child law.
31 March 2025 – First Year Lunch
The First Year Lunch provided a relaxed setting for commencing students to connect with peers and staff. Initiatives like this reinforce the School of Law’s supportive learning environment and focus on student wellbeing.
30 April 2025 – Postgraduate Law Dinner
Held at the Commercial Hotel in Parramatta, the Postgraduate Law Dinner celebrated the achievements of the School’s postgraduate cohort. The event strengthened connections among students, staff, and alumni, recognising the diverse professional experience within the postgraduate community.
3 May 2025 – WSLSA Ashurst Contract Moot
Sponsored by Ashurst, the Contracts Moot showcased students’ advocacy and legal reasoning skills through a competitive mooting problem based on contract law. The event offered valuable experiential learning for participants and observers, strengthening the School’s mooting culture and industry connections.
16 May 2025 – National Schools Debating Competition Finals
The School of Law proudly hosted the Finals of the National Schools Debating Competition at our Parramatta City Campus, welcoming around 100 students from across Australia alongside educators, adjudicators, and parents. Hosting this prestigious national event highlighted the School’s outstanding facilities, organisational excellence, and reputation for equity, civic engagement, and youth empowerment.
20 May 2025 – Attorney-General's Address: The Hon Michael Daley MP
The School’s Annual Attorney General’s Address was delivered by the NSW Attorney General, the Hon Michael Daley MP.
The address is a significant moment in our calendar, providing a forum for engagement between the academy, the profession and public law leadership on contemporary issues of law, governance and responsibility.
Past speakers include the Hon. Judith Collins MP, Attorney-General of New Zealand; the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, federal Attorney-General; and the Hon Gabrielle Upton, NSW Attorney General.
22 May 2025 – Clerkship Information Evening
The Clerkship Information Evening welcomed representatives from major law firms, including many returning School of Law alumni. Students gained practical insights into clerkships and graduate recruitment, strengthening career readiness and alumni engagement. This event with the WSLSA is always a great opportunity for students to network and gain and prepare for their future careers.
28 May 2025 – The Palestine Project: In Conversation with Professor Chris Sidoti
This seminar featured Professor Chris Sidoti, United Nations Human Rights Commissioner and leading Australian human rights lawyer. Professor Sidoti discussed the UN Human Rights Council’s Commission of Inquiry into the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, demonstrating the School’s leadership in hosting globally significant human rights discussions.
24 July 2025 – School of Law 30 Years Gala Celebration
The School of Law’s signature Gala Celebration brought together alumni, staff, students, and the legal profession. Featuring an address by The Hon. Justice Virginia Bell, a panel on the future of the legal profession, and a performance by Indigenous law students, the event launched the 30 Year Scholarship Appeal and showcased the School’s excellence and social impact.
30 July 2025 – Moon Day
Co‑hosted with the School of Engineering, this event marked the anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Emeritus Professor Steven Freeland, Chair of the UN Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities, delivered an address highlighting the School’s global leadership in space law.
7 August 2025 – Book Launch: Courts and LGBTQ+ Rights in an Age of Judicial Retrenchment
This event celebrated the launch of Professor Rehan Abeyratne’s book, published by Oxford University Press. The launch highlighted the School of Law’s strength in constitutional law, human rights, and socially impactful scholarship.
2 October 2025 – Seminar on Constitutional Change
Presented by Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, this seminar examined constitutional reform, including the Voice Referendum. Attended by Government and Public Law students, the session encouraged critical engagement with contemporary constitutional issues.
18 October 2025 – ‘What’s Happening in Criminal Law’ CPD Conference
Co‑hosted with Seven Garfield Barwick Chambers, this CPD conference featured leading judges and senior counsel discussing key developments in criminal law. All proceeds supported the Indigenous Law Scholarship and the Hon Brian Sully AM QC Memorial Scholarship, reinforcing the School’s commitment to professional leadership and equity.
21 October 2025 – Mooting Competition Award Ceremony
The WSLSA Mooting Awards celebrated student excellence in advocacy and recognised the staff who support mooting activities. The strength of the WSLSA’s student leadership reconfirms how important students and student bodies are to the School of Law and how they contribute to the School’s mooting culture.
10 November 2025 – Seminar with the Embassy of Ukraine: Ukraine on the Front Lines of Human Rights
Held in collaboration with the Embassy of Ukraine, this seminar featured Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia speaking alongside human rights defenders. The event underscored the School of Law’s global engagement and leadership in contemporary human rights issues.
28 November 2025 – The Pacific’s Cyber Infrastructures: Detangling Regulatory Tensions Amongst Multiple Actors
A hybrid multi stakeholder Workshop on ‘The Pacific’s Cyber Infrastructures: Detangling Regulatory Tensions Amongst Multiple Actors’, hosted by Dr Francine Hug (ICS) and Professor Brett Neilson (ICS).
2 December 2025 – Inaugural Sir James Martin Criminal Law Moot
Held in the Banco Court of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, this inaugural moot between Western Sydney University and Sydney Law School showcased outstanding student advocacy. Presided over by Chief Justice Andrew Bell and senior judges, the event firmly established a prestigious new tradition for the School of Law.
4 December 2025 – Alumni Event
We invited alumni to join us in the reception area of the Banco Court in the Supreme Court building in Phillip Street to reconnect with former classmates and lecturers in a celebration of all that the School of Law has achieved in its 30 years.