Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland will deliver the 2009 Tristan Jepson Memorial Lecture on 24 September. The annual lecture is presented by UNSW's Faculty of Law.
Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland will deliver the 2009 Tristan Jepson Memorial Lecture on Thursday, 24 September in Sydney.
Mr McClelland will speak about the role the profession can play in encouraging lawyers to seek early treatment for mental illness.
The lecture, presented by UNSW's Faculty of Law, will be followed by a panel discussion with the managing partners of Allens Arthur Robinson, Blake Dawson, Clayton Utz, Freehills and Mallesons Stephen Jaques. Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick will chair the session.
The firms will talk about a new support program for young graduates: UNSW's Faculty of Law has been working with the legal profession to develop some practical initiatives to assist young lawyers to build resilience against stress and anxiety as a precursor to depression.
Research shows that lawyers are four times more likely to suffer from depression than the general population.
The Tristan Jepson Memorial Fund at UNSW was established by Marie and George Jepson following the suicide of their son Tristan, who was a UNSW law alumnus. The fund aims to build and implement effective models of support for mental health wellbeing, based on ongoing research, within the legal education system and profession.
UNSW's Law School has developed mentoring and support programs for students in their first year, when depression sometimes begins. These programs are currently being expanded.
What: Attorney-General delivers 2009 Tristan Jepson Memorial LectureWhen: Thursday, 24 September, 6pm for a 6.30pm startWhere: Freehills, Level 38, MLC Centre, Martin Place, Sydney
Media contact: Steve Offner, UNSW Media | 02 9385 8107 | 0424 580 208