Special Programmes and Events

Lawyer Visits to Schools Network

Lawyer visits to schools is an initiative of the Law Society and is coordinated by the Francis Burt Law Education Programme. The aim is to increase student awareness of the law, legal principles and the court system in Western Australia. The visits provide an exciting opportunity for the legal profession to engage with students and teachers in the community.

Requests for volunteer lawyer visits are initiated by schools and the Law Society circulates the request to members who may be able to accept the request on a volunteer basis. Volunteer lawyers visit schools free of charge and present to students on a topic requested by the teacher that initiates the request. Please see the frequently asked questions for more information.

To request a lawyer visit to your school visit, please complete the online expression of interest form .

Useful links

• Lawyer Visits to Schools Network flyer
• Guidelines for teachers
• Guidelines for lawyers

Subsidised Schools Visits Programme

Schools with and ICSEA value of 1,000 or less and community organisations that may lack the financial resources to participate in the Francis Burt Law Education Programme are invited to participate in the Subsidised School Visits Programme.

The cost of bus hire and/or the FBLEP tour fee is covered thanks to Curtin University Law School which partners in this initiative.

The programme for groups participating in the Subsidised School Visits Programme adapts according to the needs of each group and may include an empty court activity, observing a court in session, an improvised or scripted court scenario and/or question and answer sessions with invited guests.

Please contact the Law Society’s Francis Burt Law Education Programme at schools@lawsocietywa.asn.au to express your interest in a subsidised school visit if you think your school or community organisation might be eligible.

Proudly sponsored by

Youth Civics Leadership Day

As a part of Law Week the Law Society invites schools to nominate two Year 10 students, who have demonstrated leadership skills and/or civics awareness within their school and/or community, to participate in the Youth Civics Leadership Day Law Week event.

Participants take part in a one-day leadership skills and civics awareness event at the Old Court House Law Museum in Perth. The event enhances the leadership skills and civics awareness that the participants have already displayed within their school and community.

Participants meet and interact with other like-minded students and young professionals from the legal profession during the day. The Programme includes a session on civic awareness and the law, a leadership skills workshop and a presentation from a motivational speaker. During the luncheon, participants have the opportunity to interact with young lawyers from a number of diverse organisations A Supreme Court Judge presents students with a Certificate of Participation at the end of the event

Participation is by invitation only.

Sir Ronald Wilson Lecture

Established in 1989, the Sir Ronald Wilson Lecture provides an opportunity for a person learned in the law and familiar with the public face of law to address issues of relevance to the Year 11-12 Politics and Law curriculum in a public forum.

Exclusive Partner

2021 Sir Ronald Wilson Lecture | The Perils of Independence: The Australian Human Rights Commission’s role in protecting human rights in Australia

Presenter: Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM, Australian Human Rights Commission, President

Lecture Descriptor: A case study of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s role in protecting human rights in Australia, including the rights engaged in the Bringing Them Home inquiry inclusive of:

• The ways that political freedom and other freedoms are protected in Australia’s framework;
• How commitments made through international treaties are translated into laws in Australia (domestic implementation);
• The gaps that are left without domestic implementation ; and
• The lack of a federal Human Rights Act and the case for such protection.

Date: Wednesday, 4 August 2021
Time: 5.30pm to 7pm
Venue: State Library Theatre
Cost: Free

Lecture paper

• 2021: The Perils of Independence: The Australian Human Rights Commission’s role in protecting human rights in Australia, Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM, President, Australian Human Rights Commission

Lecture video

• 2021: The Perils of Independence: The Australian Human Rights Commission’s role in protecting human rights in Australia, Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM, President, Australian Human Rights Commission

Professional Development for Teachers and Other Professionals

The Law Society’s Francis Burt Law Education Programme is committed to delivering professional learning opportunities that are meaningful and useful for teachers and other professionals. The Law Society aims to:

• present two teacher professional learning events every year;
• hold events that are interactive in nature and include contributions from various agencies; and
• the events will be full day, half-day workshops and/or online seminars.
  

Year 11-12 Politics and Law Teacher Professional Learning Day – November 2022

This professional learning day will address challenging Year 11-12 Politics and Law syllabus items with stakeholders sharing their professional knowledge and experience through presentations that will include opportunities for Q&A and take away resources for teachers. A panel discussion will round out the day. The panellists will include significant stakeholders from the legal profession, judiciary and/or the political sphere.

Educators attending this event will receive a certificate of participation as a record and evidence of participation in professional learning as per the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia requirements.

“This was a PD day I didn’t want to end, there was so much great commentary from the panellists. The links to the course were so clear, it was inspiring all round.” 2021 Year 11-12 Politics and Law Teacher Professional Learning Day participant

“Today’s sessions were very good and the opportunity to discuss important syllabus matters with the presenters and colleagues was very valuable – we don’t get this opportunity elsewhere.” 2021 Year 11-12 Politics and Law Teacher Professional Learning Day participant

Date: Monday, 28 November 2022
Schedule: 9am to 3.05pm
Fee: $330 GST inc (Morning tea and lunch included)
Venue: TBC – central city location
Register and pay online
Registrations close: Friday, 18 November 2022
Further details: schools@lawsocietywa.asn.au