Cheryl's seen both sides of law school

DONNA WALSH/Waikato Times

GOING BACK: Waikato University Law School graduate Cheryl Green was one of the first students when the school was first established 20 years ago.

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Twenty years ago Cheryl Green was one of the first law students to sit down in a lecture theatre at Waikato University – now she stands at the front.

Ms Green, who five years ago began working for the Institute for Professional Legal Studies on campus, also lectures students in civil procedures.

Next week, the university's law school will celebrate opening its doors 20 years ago to its first students, and Ms Green is excited about looking back on where it all started.

She was working as a legal executive when Waikato University announced it was opening a law school. She enrolled to become a qualified lawyer.

Even though she was part of the first class to go through, Ms Green said she didn't notice too many stuff-ups. "At the time many people were questioning whether New Zealand needed another law school," she said.

"So the expectations were quite high. From an organisational perspective I think they did really well. It all ran pretty smoothly.

"I would have to say I was impressed. They set the bar pretty high."

But there were a few mishaps during her graduation ceremony – which was held outside in the heat. "We were outside in the hot sun in black gowns. Someone did faint. It was pretty full on.

"I just kept thinking I hope it's not me that's going to faint."

Knowing it would have a few critics, Waikato focused its curriculum on professionalism, law in context, biculturalism and the Treaty of Waitangi.

Current Maori Land Court Judge Craig Coxhead, also an early graduate of the faculty, said that approach enabled the law school to build its reputation.

"The law school has to be of value to communities and this law school definitely is," he said.

Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker is also a graduate and will be the keynote speaker at a gala dinner to be held on April 20.

The dinner will follow on from an international Justice in the Round conference, being hosted on campus by the faculty on April 18-20 to mark their 20th anniversary.

- © Fairfax NZ News