Annual Phillipa Weeks Lecture by The Hon Justice M B J Lee

The ANU Law School is proud to welcome The Hon Justice M B J Lee of the Federal Court of Australia as the keynote speaker at the annual Phillipa Weeks Lecture. Given each year in memory of the late ANU Law Professor, Phillipa Weeks, this annual lecture is delivered by national and international experts highlighting key issues in the area of labour law.

Industrial law occupies a distinctive position at the intersection of legal doctrine, economic power, and social contestation. It places strain on the ethical responsibilities of legal practitioners. Titled "Ethics, Advocacy, and Professional Responsibility in Industrial Law", this lecture examines the professional obligations of advocates practising in industrial law, with particular attention to the risks posed by partisan alignment. Drawing on judicial experience, it considers how assumptions about “choosing sides” can influence advocacy practices, especially the preparation of affidavit evidence, in ways that may prioritise forensic strategy over assistance to the court. The lecture argues that ethical difficulty in this field most often arises not from dishonesty, but from a gradual erosion of professional independence. It concludes by reaffirming the centrality of the lawyer’s duty to the court and the ethical discipline required to preserve the integrity of industrial adjudication.