OVERVIEW

The University of Queensland Law Alumni Association (UQLA) is a registered charity, which is operated by alumni of UQ’s TC Beirne School of Law.  The UQLA is the incorporated successor of the University of Queensland Law Graduate Association (UQLGA).

The UQLA seeks to support the highest standards of legal education at UQ through a series of programmes in which all alumni can participate. The UQLGA was founded in 1992 by the Law Faculty Board. The steering committee for its establishment was led by Dr Jeff Mann AM, who had earlier proposed the idea of the UQLGA. The then-Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency Leneen Forde AC, agreed to serve as the foundation Patron of the UQLGA. The former governor, Sir Walter Campbell, and the former Chief Justice of Australia, Sir Harry Gibbs, were the Foundation Vice-Patrons. The Hon Peter Connolly QC was the Foundation President, who was followed as President by the Hon Kevin Ryan QC. From the mid-1990s, the Hon Glen Williams AO QC took over as President of the UQLGA.

The UQLA’s programmes have been developed, in close consultation with the Law School, to seek to provide students with the best possible preparation for legal practice and to build closer links between the academic staff of the Law School, the judiciary and the legal profession.

These programmes begin, for first year students, during Orientation Week. All students are invited to join a small group programme, conducted in the Supreme and District Court complex, where they have an opportunity to hear about the practical working of the legal system from Judges and leading barristers and solicitors and see the courts in action.

This programme is only the beginning of a process which continues throughout the students’ years at UQ.  Through a range of programmes, students have the opportunity to become involved in the life and work of the profession  - with the profession similarly involved in the life of the Law School.

The UQLA also supports a number of programmes to assist disadvantaged students in completing their studies.

To support this work, all alumni are encouraged to join the UQLA and participate in its programmes and events.