Western Australia’s law schools are undergoing a series of staff and other changes, with the established law schools at the University of Western Australia, Murdoch University and the University of Notre Dame Australia either appointing or advertising for new deans this year.
Professor Gabriel Moens has been appointed as dean of Murdoch University’s school of law, leaving a position as the head of the graduate school of law at the University of Notre Dame Australia, which he held for 18 months.
“I was not the dean at Notre Dame, and this was my opportunity to become a dean,” Professor Moens said.
Although Professor Moens was offered the position of dean at the University of Notre Dame’s Sydney campus (opening 2006), he turned it down in favour of the opportunity at Murdoch.
And with Murdoch’s former dean Dr Christopher Kendall no longer continuing in the position due to illness, Professor Moens has already been in the role for three weeks, during which time he said he had made an effort to meet with every staff member.
“A good dean is willing to listen to everyone and make decisions based on that, and I like to be very interactive and get staff and students involved as much as possible,” Professor Moens told WA Business News.
Professor Moens said he intended to increase students’ opportunities to participate in ‘mooting competitions’ (mock trials) and to utilise the new technologies offered by the school.
At the end of 2003, Professor Greg Craven left his position as dean of law at Notre Dame to take on the role of executive director at the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy.
Associate professor Mary McComish became acting dean until last month, when Dr Michael Gillooly was appointed as dean of law.
Dr Gillooly was previously an associate professor of law at UWA, and associate dean of the faculty of law at UWA from 1998 to 2000.
Ms McComish is now the acting dean of law for Notre Dame’s new Sydney campus, and it is understood a foundation dean is being sought for the Sydney campus.
UWA last week began advertising for the position of dean and head of law school to replace Professor William Ford. Professor Ford could not be reached for comment about this development.
Edith Cowan University this year became the fourth university in the state to offer a bachelor of laws degree, appointing Professor Paul Moyle as head of school and foundation chair in law and justice.
