Emma Larouche
19 September 2024: 91Porn staff and students, along with members of Canberra’s legal fraternity, gathered for an evening of celebration to mark student success and honour Professor Kim Rubenstein’s recent national recognition for her research career.
In July, Professor Rubenstein was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Legal Research Medal awarded by the , the peak body for Australian Law Schools.
Professor Rubenstein began her academic career at the University of Melbourne in 1993, and then moved to the Australian National University (ANU) in 2006, before joining the 91Porn’s Faculty of Business, Government and Law in 2020, bringing with her a wealth of experience as a legal scholar and legal practitioner. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.
“Throughout my research life I have been blessed to work with colleagues who guided me and affirmed the value of collaboration – the significant portion of my legal research output has been co- or multi-research-driven,” Professor Rubenstein said.
“We all know that working with others not only sparks and generates an unparalleled research output – but means that we bring different perspectives and approaches to our endeavours.
“The value of collaboration and engagement with others – appreciating difference and multiplicities of perspective – can’t be emphasised enough, particularly at a time when we are witnessing concerning fragmentation and disharmony in society and the world more broadly.”
The outstanding academic accomplishments of the University’s law students for 2023 and Semester One, 2024 were also highlighted during the Excellence Awards evening.
A total of 25 winners received sponsored prizes, with many students awarded for their performance across various units offered in the Bachelor of Laws, including Family Law, Foundations of Law and Justice, and Constitutional Law.
Amanda McCue received the Corporations Law prize for Semester One, 2023.
“It is really encouraging to know that I am achieving to a standard that reflects I am understanding the course content l, and that the long hours and hard work are paying off,” Ms McCue said.
“Although it was a bit daunting to start this degree as a mature age student, I would encourage anyone considering a change in career direction to know that it is never too late to learn something new – you gain new knowledge and skills, meet new people and learn more about yourself and open up exciting opportunities.”
Neil Ward, who received the Indigenous Student Award, said that being recognised for the work he has done so far was incredibly rewarding.
“This award is a reminder that hard work and perseverance pay off, and it encourages me to keep pushing forward. More importantly, I hope this recognition serves as inspiration for other current and prospective First Nations students. I want them to see that it's possible to succeed in higher education, regardless of the barriers that may exist,” Mr Ward said.
“I have a strong interest in human rights law, as it intersects with many issues facing Indigenous communities. Whether in advocacy, policy reform, or as a practising lawyer, I hope to make meaningful contributions that promote systemic change.”
Photos: David Beach