Burgmann College was honoured to host Australian High Court Justice and Burgmann alum Robert Beech-Jones (1984–1986) for a special Law Dinner on 16 May 2025.
Over 65 guests were in attendance, including ANU Vice Chancellor, Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell AO, Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales The Honourable Lea Armstrong (1983–1985), CEO of the Law Council of Australia James Popple (1984–1987, 1989, 1997–2000), and former Burgmann Principal Sally Renouf (2010–2024).
Barrister and alum Brodie Buckland (2010–2024) emceed the evening’s events, and Acting Principal Taryn Stasakova welcomed guests and introduced Reverend Gayl Mills. Reverend Gayl Mills led the Grace, and Barrister Bill Gillies (1980–1982) introduced The Honourable Justice Beech-Jones.
Before a crowd of guests that included notable alumni, distinguished friends of Burgmann College, and current Burgmann residents, The Honourable Justice Beech-Jones opened his remarks by promising to avoid providing residents with ‘rules’ to follow, but instead offered advice he would have given himself as a young law student.
He encouraged aspiring lawyers to remember valuable lessons like there is no race to reach professional milestones, especially at the expense of things that are truly important, that some of the best lessons about law aren’t learned in law school, and that the trust their clients place in them is of paramount importance.
‘As a lawyer, you will have many clients, but most of your clients will have only one lawyer,’ said Justice Beech-Jones. ‘To them, you will be “my lawyer”. They will get to sleep at night because “my lawyer is looking out for me”. Assuming responsibility for clients is tiring and stressful, but it can be invigorating, and it’s what makes the work of a lawyer meaningful, especially for a client who is vulnerable.’
Justice Beech-Jones also emphasised the gravity of respecting the rule of law in government, and how personal integrity should be lawyers’ constant guiding light.
'For decades, I’ve sat through numerous speeches emphasising the importance of the rule of law and an independent judiciary, and I confess sometimes my eyes glazed over. I kept thinking, "Why are they repeating the bleeding obvious? Of course, everyone accepts these ideas." I was wrong.
'Right now, in a comparable country [to] Australia, with a written Constitution, day by day, we are seeing a tragedy unfold. Its own government flouts its courts, intimidates its judges, sacks its own prosecutors and lawyers for sticking with their own ethical obligations, and attempts to bully private law firms to do its bidding. To make matters worse, some of those law firms — in fact, some of the largest and richest in the world — have given in to these tactics.
'No matter how smart or well-resourced you are, a lawyer without courage is a total waste of space. Why would any client want a lawyer who won’t fight for their own independence?'
Justice Beech-Jones' speech was inspiring and thought-provoking, inviting attendees to reflect on the importance of the legal profession, and the amazing work that can be achieved by compassionate, intelligent, principled individuals who advocate for justice on behalf of the vulnerable and oppressed.
At the conclusion of the evening, BRA Vice President Eloise Rudge and Burgmann Academic Network Coordinator (Law, Policy and Governance) Cameron Leggatt led the vote of thanks and presented gifts to Justice Beech-Jones, Bill Gillies, and Brodie Buckland for their participation in the evening’s events.
It was a highlight of the year to have the Honourable Justice Beech-Jones return to Burgmann College to spend this very special evening with our alumni, residents, and esteemed friends of the College, and we are grateful to everyone who played a crucial role in ensuring the Law Dinner’s success.
Law Dinners have a rich history at Burgmann. At a Law Dinner in 1997, then-Master's student in the ANU School of Law Sean Brennan (1983–1985; now an Associate Professor at the UNSW School of Global & Public Law) and Mark Love, Solicitor and then-Partner at Corrs Chambers Westgarth in Canberra (now Legal Director at BAL Lawyers), discussed the Wik Decision with attendees.
Scroll down to click through more photos from the Burgmann Law Dinner.
