Australia-China Legal Profession Development Program 2010

Participants in the Australia-China Legal Profession Development Program with the Secretary. From left to right: Mr Ruixue Quan (Ray), Madam Danning Xu (Maggie), Madam Qinghua Wang (Jennifer), Madam Na Ni (Nina), Mr Chunlei Yang (Raymond), Madam Li Xie (Shirley), Mr Roger Wilkins AO, Madam Zijian Liu (Jane), Madam Dan Zhang, Mr Guanghua Lin, Mr Yuanbo Ding (Robert).

On 25 February 2010, Mr Roger Wilkins AO, the Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department, welcomed a delegation of 10 Chinese lawyers to Australia at the start of the fourth Australia-China Legal Profession Development Program.

The Secretary provided the lawyers with an overview of the Australian government and legal system and the role of the Attorney-General's Department. A welcome dinner was hosted by the Law Council of Australia. The Program fosters an increased level of legal cooperation and promotes a deeper cross-cultural understanding of the legal systems and institutions of Australia and China. With the rapid development of the Chinese economy, and the quintessential role that legal services play in facilitating trade, initiatives of this kind have never been more important.

The Chinese lawyers undertake a four-month program including study and work placements in areas of law of interest to China, including corporate governance, dispute resolution and energy and resources law. The program's participants include three officials from the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council as well as seven private sector lawyers from law firms across China.

Throughout March, the Chinese lawyers undertook courses at the University of Melbourne and attended presentations given by representatives of government departments and agencies. Presentations given by Attorney-General's Department officers included those by James Graham, Liz O'Donnell, James Faulkner, Dr Dianne Herriot, and Serena Beresford-Wiley. Patrick Collins of Access to Justice Division escorted the participants to Question Time.

The Chinese lawyers have now commenced placements at Mallesons Stephen Jaques, Macquarie Bank, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, the Victorian Department of Transport, Minter Ellison, Crown Law Queensland, Blake Dawson, Holman Webb, Clayton Utz and Bovis Lend Lease. The Department and the International Legal Services Advisory Council (ILSAC) are grateful for the valuable contributions made by Australian law firms and other agencies in providing opportunities for the program.

The Program is an initiative of ILSAC and is jointly implemented by the Attorney-General’s Department and the Law Council of Australia in conjunction with the Chinese Ministry of Justice and the All China Lawyers Association.

The Program is supported by the Australian Agency for International Development, AusAID through the Australian Leadership Awards - Fellowships.