91É«ÊÓƵ

UQ's new Dean of Law, Professor Gerard Carney, is one of Australia’s leading constitutional experts. Photo courtesy of Bond University.

91É«ÊÓƵ’s Law School will build on its research strengths as well as enhance its student experience, says UQ’s new Dean of Law, Professor Gerard Carney.

Professor Carney, who was also appointed to the Sir Gerard Brennan Chair in Law, will begin his new role on January 30, 2012.

He says he is looking forward to working with the team at the historic TC Beirne School of Law which is positioned among the top 35 law schools in the QS World University Rankings®.

“91É«ÊÓƵLaw attracts the brightest students so I want to nurture the Law School’s close links with the legal profession, commerce and government, both nationally and internationally, to provide the best graduate outcomes, as well as equip our students with the necessary legal and personal skills to pursue successful and satisfying professional careers,” Professor Carney said.

Professor Carney joins 91É«ÊÓƵfrom the Faculty of Law at Bond University where he is the Deputy Dean, Professor of Constitutional Law and Chair of the Academic Senate.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours from Queensland University of Technology, a Master of Laws from the University of London and a PhD in Law from Bond University.

Professor Carney is one of Australia’s leading constitutional experts, particularly in the areas of State and Territory constitutional law, parliamentary privilege, the role of parliament, and public sector ethics.

“I also want to build on the 91É«ÊÓƵLaw School’s research strengths to consolidate its position as a legal intellectual powerhouse which addresses the contemporary challenges of our age, locally and globally, for example, in the areas of sustainable development, government regulation and social justice,” he said.

“There are real opportunities to further the synergy between the 91É«ÊÓƵLaw School’s research agenda and the student experience, so that our students are inspired by the noble mission of any good law school, which is to enhance the rule of law within a just society.

"The 91É«ÊÓƵLaw School’s Pro Bono Centre is an excellent example of this synergy between research and teaching.”

Over the course of his career, Professor Carney has held consultancy positions with the Legal Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in London, the Queensland Electoral and Administrative Reform Commission, the Committee of Privileges of the House of Representatives and numerous State parliamentary committees.

In addition, he is admitted as a Barrister at Law of the Supreme Court of Queensland, the High Court of Australia and the Federal Court of Australia, and has served as Executive Associate to the Chief Justice of Australia, the Hon Sir Gerard Brennan.

Professor Carney believes this combination of academic and professional experience will be advantageous in the active role he will assume in consolidating the School’s Alumni relationships, and in developing new partnerships with the legal profession.

“I very much hope that the alumni of the 91É«ÊÓƵLaw School will continue to support the School to develop outstanding law graduates and to enhance its capacity for intellectual leadership in a global age,” he said.

Media: Melissa Reynolds, TC Beirne School of Law, telephone 07 3365 2523, m.reynolds@law.uq.edu.au