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Law Council appoints new CEO
The Law Council of Australia has appointed a new CEO, who formerly worked in the Attorney-General’s department and in the High Court of Australia.
Lauren Croft
Dr James Popple has been appointed as the new CEO of the Law Council Australia, after an “extensive” search, according to the council president.
Prior to that, Dr Popple worked for 12 years in the Australian Attorney-General's Department and in the High Court of Australia, as a judge's associate and later deputy registrar.
Law Council of Australia president Tass Liveris said that Dr Popple’s new role would allow him to make a “significant contribution” to the council.
“The Law Council undertook an extensive recruitment process to find its new CEO and we are delighted that someone of Dr Popple’s calibre and experience is joining us,” he said.
“Throughout his career, Dr Popple has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring access to justice for all and we look forward to him continuing to make a significant contribution to the Law Council’s efforts to uphold the rule of law, advance the public good and champion the Australian legal profession.”
Dr Popple will begin his new role at the Law Council on 25 July 2022.
“I look forward to being able to support the Law Council in its work advocating on major issues that impact all Australians, in particular for the improvement of the law and the administration of justice,” he said.
Mr Liveris thanked deputy CEO, Margery Nicoll, for stepping into the acting CEO role while the hunt for a permanent CEO was underway.
“I am very grateful to Margery for her generosity and support during the period of interim CEO arrangements,” he added.
“Margery has been an exemplary Acting CEO and I know the staff, Executive and board appreciated the stability and steady guidance that she provided over the almost six months she was in this role.”
Separately, the Law Council of Australia has also called on governments to comprehensively adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in order to protect the human rights of First Nations Peoples.
In a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee’s Inquiry into the Application of UNDRIP in Australia, the Law Council said that to date, the protections offered by the Declaration have only been implemented domestically in a piecemeal manner.
“The UNDRIP is the authoritative international standard informing the way governments across the globe should engage with and protect the rights of Indigenous peoples,” Mr Liveris explained.
“Unfortunately, despite announcing support for the UNDRIP way back in 2009, Australian governments and parliaments are yet to recognise and implement its standards in a formal and comprehensive way.”
A priority for the Law Council is a referendum for a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Australian Constitution. The council said that this representation would be a manifestation of the right to self-determination, which is the fundamental principle underpinning the UNDRIP.
“The Law Council considers the UNDRIP as foundational to addressing this state of affairs,” Mr Liveris said.
“Given the systemic nature of the issues facing First Nations peoples, comprehensive legal and policy reform across all federal, state and territory jurisdictions is required. Without this, breaches of human rights in Australia will continue to occur.”
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
