UTAS Law School working to restore their reputation

A “dire” situation said to have damaged the reputation of the University of Tasmania’s School of Law is showing “promising early signs” of improvement, the Law Society of Tasmania president says. LATEST >>

A “DIRE” situation said to have damaged the reputation of the University of Tasmania’s school of law is showing “promising early signs” of improvement, the Law Society of Tasmania president says.

Simon Gates said the school was in “crisis”, with the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice to be delivered in an online-only format.

He also raised concerns of the reduction of lectures to just one hour per week, and a culture of high staff workloads and turnover, with a high number of staff having left since 2020.

Mr Gates had been gathering signatures for an open letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor from the school’s academic student and staff alumni, expressing their “great dissatisfaction”.

But after a meeting on Wednesday between the school and the Law Society of Tasmania, the Tasmanian University Law Society and the Tasmanian University Student Association, that letter will no longer be delivered.

The letter was to come in the wake of more than 80 law students who co-signed a statement demanding action be taken, and similar sentiments of concern from the Tasmania University Law Society president, who said he’d received “lots of complaints and messages” from worried students.

A number of prominent lawyers were also opposed to the school of law changes, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Alan Blow, Director of Public Prosecutions Daryl Coates and former Governor Professor Kate Warner.

Mr Gates said it looked like the university had started listening, “so a number of our concerns will be addressed”.

“There’s some promising signs from the leadership within the university to suggest the legal profession’s concerns are being listened to,” he said.

“My understanding is there is consideration being given to returning to in-person lectures next semester and introducing flexibility to the number of legal units that can be delivered.”

Mr Gates said he understood “experienced academics” would be called on to help the beleaguered school.

“I think the law school has suffered some reputational damage over recent times and there is no doubt there is a crisis in the law school,” he said.

“However we are fortunate in that there are a number of talented and experienced academics within the law school, who are well-placed to guide the law school out of this crisis.”

Kate Darian-Smith, executive dean of the College of Arts, Law and Education, said the meeting had been “positive and constructive”.

“In recent weeks, some of our students have raised concerns and we’ve been working with them to improve the educational experience in law,” she said.

Also on Wednesday, it was announced that Professor Michael Stuckey was stepping down as Dean from the troubled school amid health concerns.

 

Head of UTAS Law School steps down

 

The head of the University of Tasmania’s law school has stepped down in yet another blow for the troubled faculty.

A statement from Professor Kate Darian-Smith, Executive Dean of College of Arts, Law and Education, confirmed Professor Michael Stuckey was stepping down as Dean and Head of the Law School immediately due to ill health.

Professor Stuckey’s passion about access to legal education and justice has driven a focus on getting more students from more diverse backgrounds opportunities to study law at the University of Tasmania.

“He oversaw the expansion of first year Law offerings in Launceston and Burnie, and the launch of the Diploma of Paralegal Practice, which can be studied across the state.

 

University of Tasmania Sandy Bay Campus. Picture: Richard Jupe

“The College is deeply committed to the continued excellence of teaching and research at the Law School and we will begin the search for a new Dean and Head of School immediately.

It’s the latest blow for the embattle faculty after students and the wider Tasmanian legal fraternity pushed back in force against plans to move some Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice lessons online in March.

Some of the prominent lawyers opposed to the move include Supreme Court Chief Justice Alan Blow, TasCAT president Malcolm Schyvens, Tasmanian Bar president Phillip Zeeman, Director of Public Prosecutions Daryl Coates, former Commonwealth DPP Damian Bugg QC, and former Governor Professor Kate Warner.

Prof Stuckey said in response the transition would make legal training more accessible for people living outside of Hobart while delivering the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice twice per year instead of once.

 

 

 

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