Week 9 was an exciting week for Senior School Legal Studies students. On Tuesday evening, Year 11 Legal Studies students, along with Mr Sommariva, Mr Whatley and Frau Harris, attended 'Just Lawful', a presentation at the University of South Australia. Co-hosted by Daniel Panozzo and The Advertiser’s chief court reporter, Sean Fewster, the presentation took the audience through the evidence provided during a real murder trial. Students were encouraged to use their critical-thinking skills to consider the significance to attribute to the different items of evidence, and to question inherent bias and assumptions. The evening provided the students with valuable insight into the complexities of murder trials as well as helping the students to consider whether we have a justice system or merely a legal system.

On Friday of Week 9, the Stage 2 Legal Studies students had the opportunity to meet Supreme Court Justice Laura Stein. Justice Stein described her career pathway, which saw her rise to the position of Crown Solicitor and then a Supreme Court Judge. She also described some of the typical aspects of a 'day in the life' of a judge, and gave firsthand insight into how the South Australian court system attempts to balance the “competing tensions” of fairness vs efficiency, empowered vs disempowered, rights vs responsibilities and certainty vs flexibility. Justice Stein also provided the students with information and suggestions about careers in the legal field, which was particularly valuable for students planning to study Law at a tertiary level.

Judy Harris
Legal Studies Teacher