For a number of years, the Sir Francis Burt Oration has been an event at which the intellect, integrity and vision of its namesake is honoured by a speaker who upholds those same qualities and ideals. This year was no exception.
After astutely intuiting that her audience held a range of views when it came to the topic of international law, Professor Devika Hovell of the London School of Economics engaged each person in a packed Court 1- regardless of their preconceptions or misconceptions- in an address that explained complex issues of international criminal law in a way that was relatable to legal concepts and political events familiar even to those with an exclusively domestic or commercial practice.
It was impossible to have left the event without a newfound or renewed appreciation for the fragile politics of international criminal law, especially when viewed against current world events that affect us all.
We were left with the reminder that the business of law- which is a business in which we are all concerned- has a role to play in sustaining the rule of law in a globalised world. If you would like a copy of Professor Hovell’s paper- Everything Everywhere All At Once: International Criminal Law in an Unruly World- please contact Tayla Nielsen (tnielsen@chambers.francisburt.com.au).