The Parish

Moot Court honours Justice Neville Owen

The University of Notre Dame Australia's Fremantle campus has honoured former Western Australian Supreme Court judge, the Honourable Justice Neville Owen, by naming its new moot court after him.

The “Justice Owen Moot Court” was formally opened by the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Celia Hammond, at a special gathering attended by Justice Owen and his family, members of the WA law community, staff, students and supporters of the Fremantle campus’s school of Law.

Professor Hammond outlined Justice Owen’s significant contributions to the university, including his roles as a teacher, counsellor, advisor and provider of sage words to both students and staff.

“We would like to promote him to our students as a model for a good and proper way of living a life in the law”, the vice-chancellor said.

“We want them to not only see what he has done, but also see how he has done it.” Justice Owen said he was humbled by the decision of the university but that he was particularly satisfied with the honour because it related to a subject close to his heart – the advancement of advocacy skills and techniques as part of the standard education of lawyers.

The Moot Court, which is housed in the authentic Fremantle Court House, dating from around 1884, will allow law students to participate in simulated court proceedings using state-of-the-art training facilities that combine traditional advocacy training with current computerised court processes.

It will allow students to record and review their trials, lodge legal documents electronically and practise against interstate competitors before international competitions.

“This electronic Moot Court will help us continue striving towards our goal of providing an excellent legal education, one which blends theory, ethics and a high standard of professional skills training,”  Professor Hammond said.

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