TC Beirne School of Law - University of Queensland

Student Successes
The TC Beirne School of Law at The
University of Queensland has a reputation
for attracting some of the best and
brightest students from Australia and
overseas. More than 2,000 students were
enrolled in the School’s undergraduate
and postgraduate programs in 2008 and
2009. Many of these students achieved
outstanding success in a number of
areas.
Rhodes Scholarships
Rhodes Scholarships were founded
in 1902 under the will of the late Cecil
John Rhodes and are tenable at the
University of Oxford. Candidates must be
aged between 19 and 25 years and be
citizens of the country from which they
are selected. The qualities set out by
the late Cecil Rhodes for those seeking
Rhodes Scholarships include academic
and intellectual excellence, integrity of
character, respect for fellow beings and a
capacity for leadership.
Since teaching began at the TC Beirne
School of Law in 1936, 25 graduates have
been awarded Rhodes Scholarships. In
2008 and 2009, three former students
carried on the proud tradition.
2008 Queensland Rhodes Scholar
Anna Kloeden was awarded the
Queensland Rhodes Scholarship for
2008.
Anna graduated from UQ with a Bachelor
of Arts (Chinese) and Bachelor of Laws
and was awarded a University Medal
in 2008. She discovered her passion
for human rights law while working as
a volunteer at a Chinese orphanage
on a UQ Study Abroad program.
After her exchange experience, Anna
became a regular volunteer at the Anti-
Discrimination Tribunal and her local
church, where she taught English to
Chinese immigrants.
Anna took up her Rhodes Scholarship
at the University of Oxford in September
2009, focusing her Master of Laws
research on how to strengthen the trade
links between Australia and China without
compromising the human rights of those
involved.
2008 Australia-at-Large Rhodes
Scholar
Robert Mullins was the second Law
student to win a Rhodes Scholarship
in 2008 and joined fellow UQ Arts/Law
graduate Anna Kloeden at the University
of Oxford to undertake a Masters of
Studies in English Literature.
Robert was a runner-up in the
Queensland Rhodes Scholarship
but his application was felt to be of
sufficient merit for him to be nominated
to go to Canberra for an interview with
the Australia-at-Large Scholarship
Committee. At the interview, Robert
had to respond to questions on a range
of topics, from politics to individual
aspirations to sporting achievements. He
was also asked about his volunteer work
as Regional Youth Coordinator with St
Vincent de Paul during 2004-2005 and
a refugee tutoring program he helped to
start for university students.
Once his studies at Oxford are
completed, Robert hopes to pursue a
career in academia and is particularly
interested in teaching and promoting
Australian literature.
2009 Queensland Rhodes Scholar
Winner of the 2009 Queensland Rhodes
Scholarship was Caitlin Goss. Daughter
of former Queensland Premier Wayne
Goss, Caitlin’s brother Ryan (also a
School of Law graduate) was the 2007
Queensland Rhodes Scholar and her
grandfather, Konrad Hirschfeld, was the
1927 scholar.
Caitlin graduated from UQ with a
Bachelor of Arts (first class honours)
and Bachelor of Laws and was awarded
a University Medal in 2006. Her work
experience with the Australian Law
Reform Commission showed her how
law reform could have an impact on the
community through improving the laws
surrounding issues such as medical
privacy and the sentencing of criminals.
Caitlin is undertaking a Bachelor of Civil
Laws at Oxford to expand her knowledge
of post-conflict law reform and hopes her
studies will allow her to help set up new
legal systems in countries recovering from
war.
2008
Sir Harry Gibbs Scholarship
Emmanuel College student Simon
LaBlack was the first recipient of a
scholarship in honour of former High
Court Chief Justice Sir Harry Gibbs. The
Scholarship covered Simon’s residential
fees at Emmanuel College while he
studied for a dual degree in law and
journalism.
Simon was awarded the scholarship
because he made a great contribution
to college life and scored highly in areas
valued at Emmanuel such as academic
achievement, intellectual creativity,
community spirit and teamwork. He was
also an active student, editing a student
newsletter, playing bass, tenor and
side drum in the College pipe band and
competing in AFL, soccer, rowing and
distance running.
The idea of a law scholarship arose
following discussions between Sir Harry
and Emmanuel College Principal Adjunct
Professor Stewart Gill shortly before Sir
Harry’s death. The shared vision was
to provide a full residential scholarship
Caitlin Goss
Robert Mullins
Anna Kloeden
TEACHING AND
LEARNING
TC Beirne School of Law Biennial Report 2008-2009 | Page