Experts and Lawyers: Surviving in the brave new world

A message from the conference patron

I recently had lunch in my Chambers with Professor Kim Economides. He is a world famous scholar, specialising in the fields of legal practice and legal ethics. He told me how famous Professor The Hon. George Hampel QC, Judge Felicity Hampel and the Australian Advocacy Institute are throughout the common law world. He said that the teaching of advocacy in the Inns of Court in London is now following the Hampel technique. He told me that we could be proud of this export product. Certainly, it is a wonderful achievement to be able to export legal skills to the very source from which the common law, and the tradition of the Bar, spread throughout the world, including Australia.

Their teaching now extends to all professions in their forensic relationship with the law as expert witnesses. It is to this that the work of the International Institute of Forensic Studies is dedicated.

As patron of the institute I send greetings and good wishes to all those who are participating in this conference. This is the third conference hosted by the International Institute of Forensic Studies. As usual, it will be exciting, instructive and even perhaps life-changing. I send every good wish for the ongoing work of the institute.

Justice Michael Kirby
High Court of Australia