Vertoudakis, Julian --- "Editorial" [2017] UNSWLawJlF 1; (2017) UNSW Law Journal Forum No 1

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EDITORIAL

JULIAN VERTOUDAKIS^[1]*

Some readers may remember a print publication known as the Forum that was produced by the UNSW Law Journal in the recent past. That publication was launched in 1995 as a yearly addendum to the issues of the UNSW Law Journal and ultimately cultivated a proud tradition of publishing contributions by practitioners, academics, and judges on recent developments in case law, legislation, scholarship and other legal publishing.^[1]

The print Forum was discontinued in 2012, after the introduction of thematic issues to the Journal permitted its regular output to focus on current events and controversies. The Forum is now being resurrected – not in some bizarre act of necromancy, but as an entirely online generalist publication focused on promoting discussion and debate by publishing shorter scholarly pieces. It is our hope that this format will respond to the demands of the increasingly interactive legal community and permit a faster publication cycle than is possible for print-based publications. However, the Forum is not a blog and will be subject to the same rigorous peer review and editing processes as applies to articles published in the Journal’s print issues.

In 1995, the Forum’s inaugural editor described its objectives as

to encourage thoughtful and intelligent debate on issues relevant to the law. Vigorous argument and analysis of current legal affairs is for the most part impossible in the general media, and it is hoped that the provision of a separate arena such as [the] Forum, devoted to discussion of legal matters by the legal community, will promote better awareness and understanding of such issues within academic, professional, judicial, and other circles.^[2]

The concerns expressed by the editor about the quality of discourse surrounding legal affairs in general media remain strikingly relevant today. The mission of the Forum thus remains to be the destination of choice for authors wishing to engage in thoughtful and intelligent debate, whether by contributing responses to pieces published in the Journal’s issues or elsewhere, essays, case comments, book and legislation reviews, or other types of interactive and audiovisual content that the Forum’s online format caters for.

There are many people who deserve credit for their role in the resurrection of the Forum. First, the authors – whose ideas, insight and analysis of legal developments are the result of painstaking work and allow the Forum to fulfil its reason for being. Second – the anonymous peer reviewers, whose tireless effort to ensure the integrity of scholarly publications deserves our sincere appreciation, even if it does not command material reward. Third – the members of the Journal’s Editorial Board, whose keen enthusiasm for pedantry ensures that each piece is thoroughly debated and edited. Last, but certainly not least, thanks must go to the Journal’s Executive Committee, who in 2016 resolved to resurrect the Forum and in 2017 provided sound advice and warm friendship throughout the year.

On a personal note, I would like to thank my family and my partner for keeping me in high spirits throughout my undergraduate degree. Their unwavering encouragement, generous support, and humour have helped me more than I can express.

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^* Editor, UNSW Law Journal Forum, 20[1]7.

^[1] See, eg, Regina Graycar, ‘Compensation for the Stolen Children: Political Judgments and Community Values’ [1998] UNSWLawJl 22; (1998) 21 University of New South Wales Law Journal 253; Nicholas Cowdery, ‘Mandatory Life Sentences in New South Wales’ [1999] UNSWLawJl 55; (1999) 22 University of New South Wales Law Journal 290; The Hon Sir Gerard Brennan, ‘Reconciliation’ [1999] UNSWLawJl 10; (1999) 22 University of New South Wales Law Journal 595; Adrienne Stone, ‘The Limits of Constitutional Text and Structure Revisited’ [2005] UNSWLawJl 50; (2005) 28 University of New South Wales Law Journal 842; The Hon John Von Doussa QC, ‘Human Rights and Climate Change: A Tragedy in the Making’ [2008] UNSWLawJl 53; (2008) 31 University of New South Wales Law Journal 953; The Hon Justice Kevin Lindgren, ‘Some Current Practical Issues in Class Action Litigation’ [2009] UNSWLawJl 46; (2009) 32 University of New South Wales Law Journal 900.

^[2] The Hon Justice MD Kirby, ‘Forum: Televising Court Proceedings’ [1995] UNSWLawJl 24; (1995) 18 University of New South Wales Law Journal 483.