National

HAL International Legal Conference and Chapter Orations make for engaging and successful year

On behalf of the Committee of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association, I wish all members and their families a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for 2019.

I also express my thanks to the Committee members of HAL, Patrons, all other members and their families for their efforts and support during the year.

It has been a very busy year for HAL, having hosted high level Orations in each of the eight Chapters around Australia.

Of course, in addition, HAL hosted a very successful International Legal Conference in Rhodes in July 2018, as well as other educational events.

The Committee is excited to be hosting from 5-10 July 2020, a second International Legal Conference in Rhodes, Greece.  Please save the date.  Preparations are well advanced for the 2020 Conference, with registrations opening in May 2019.

Thanks should also be extended to the mentors and mentees who participated in the 2018 HAL Mentoring Program.  The benefits to both mentors and mentees from participation in the program have been considerable.

Finally, I thank all in anticipation of your further support in 2019.

Have a safe and restful festive season.

Best Regards

Manuel (Mal) Varitimos CBE QC
President, Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association
December 2018

4 December, 2018 in Dec 2018, National, Newsletters

ACT: Theophilos (Tom) Efkarpidis Chapter Oration by Hon Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson, Supreme Court of the ACT – 16 November 2018

The Honourable Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson SC, the ACT Supreme Court’s most recently appointed judge, has delivered the inaugural Theophilos (Tom) Efkarpidis Oration titled “Ancient Greece, Modern Australia and the Criminal Law”.

The ACT Chapter of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association (HAL) hosted the Oration on 16 November 2018.

The event was generously sponsored by Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers in Canberra, and was attended by numerous members of the ACT legal fraternity.

The event was attended by members of the Efkarpidis Family, Chief Justice Murrell the ACT Patron of HAL, the Greek Ambassador to Australia, President of the ACT Law Society, Vice President of the ACT Bar Association and many other distinguished guests and HAL members.

Mal Varitimos QC, who attended the Oration, thanked Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson on the evening for preparing such a scholarly and thought-provoking paper.

Papers from the event will be posted as they are available.

Pictures from the event

20 November, 2018 in ACT, Dec 2018, Newsletters

VIC: Chapter Oration by The Hon Justice Chris Maxwell AC, President of the Victoria Court of Appeal – 31 October 2018

The VIC Chapter Oration explored classic and modern concepts of justice and the interaction of the two in relation to respecting the individual and serving the community.

The Hon Justice Chris Maxwell AC President of the Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal delivered the Oration on 31 October 2018.

A large audience of HAL members and guests enjoyed his Honour’s Oration, titled “Classical and modern conceptions of justice: respecting the individual, serving the community” at Monash University Law Chambers on Lonsdale Street in Melbourne.

The HAL VIC Chapter Patron, The Hon Justice Emilios Kyrou, introduced the Hon Justice Maxwell AC.

The President of HAL, Mr Mal Varitimos CBE QC, delivered a speech of welcome to those at the inaugural Vic Chapter Oration, highlighting an important purpose of the Association: providing continuing legal education and the exchange of legal information.

Following the Oration guests enjoyed a Drinks Reception in the foyer of Monash University Law Chambers.

HAL VIC Chapter Chair Ms Elefteria Konstantinou, officially opened the evening, welcoming all guests.

The Hon. Justice Maxwell AC has generously agreed to publication of his paper on the HAL website for all to read.

Papers

Justice Chris Maxwell, President, Victorian Court of Appeal, Chapter Oration titled “Classical and modern conceptions of justice: respecting the individual, serving the community” – 31 October 2018.

Pictures from the Event

6 November, 2018 in Dec 2018, Newsletters, VIC

QLD: Freeleagus Oration by The Hon Justice Walter Sofronoff, President of the Queensland Court of Appeal – 19 October 2018

On 19 October 2018 the Banco Court was at capacity to once again honour Alexander Christy Freeleagus.

This was the fourth Clayton Utz Alexander Christy Freeleagus Oration.  The first Oration, in 2015, was delivered by Justice Emilios Kyrou.

HAL had the privilege of having the Hon Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC and the Hon Justice Patrick Keane AC, both Justices of the High Court of Australia, deliver the Orations in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

This year, those attending witnessed a remarkable Oration delivered by the Hon Justice Walter Sofronoff.

Justice Sofronoff delivered a fascinating Oration titled “The Influence of Hellenistic Philosophy upon Christianity”.

The Hon Justice Philippides, HAL Queensland Chapter Patron, provided interesting closing remarks on the paper.

The Queensland Chapter Chair of HAL, Mr Mal Varitimos QC, thanked all for attending, as well as the generosity of Clayton Utz for once again sponsoring the event.

Papers from the event

Pictures from the Event

20 October, 2018 in Dec 2018, Newsletters, QLD