Collier, B --- "Welcome from the Editor" [2001] QUTLawJJl 1; (2001) 1(1) Queensland University of Technology Law and Justice Journal 1

Welcome from the Editor

Welcome to the first edition of the Queensland University of Technology Law and Justice Journal. This Journal replaces the previous QUT Law Journal and carries on the tradition of journal publications in the Faculty of Law since 1985 .

Volume 1 of the Queensland Institute of Technology Law Journal was first published in 1985. From then until 1999, there has been an annual edition of the Journal with articles by both national and international authors covering a wide range of legal topics.

In 1996 the School of Justice Studies released Themis, a journal for justice professionals, which produced three editions per year until 1998.

In order to broaden the scope of both journals and to encourage contributions across both law and justice disciplines the journals were combined and re-launched as the Queensland University of Technology Law and Justice Journal from 2001.

The QUTLJJ is published biannually and is available both on-line (at www.qut.edu.au/law/ljournal) and in hard copy (by subscription). The journal contains sections for contributions on law and justice topics as well as student contributions, both undergraduate and postgraduate, and book reviews. (Refer to the Contributors Publication Agreement at p 173 for information on how to submit articles.) Special editions of the Journal may also be commissioned from time to time.

In line with the re-launch of the Journal a new Editorial Board has been appointed with an Editor responsible for each of the sections of the journal. In addition, an Editorial Advisory Board has been established to provide assistance to the Editors. This Advisory Board comprises both national and international specialists well respected in their chosen fields.

A feature of this first edition is the article by Mr Tony Lee which was presented at the inaugural W A Lee Equity Lecture held in the Faculty of Law in 2000. The W A Lee Equity Lecture is an annual event established to honour Mr WA “Tony” Lee, a foremost expert in the area of Equities and Trusts. His legal career commenced in the UK, where he later returned as a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge. His academic career included a lectureship at University of Queensland from 1965 to 1990 and he has been a visiting professor at a number of other Australian universities including the Queensland Institute of Technology. His is author and co-author of important publications in the areas of succession and trusts and was a Commissioner of Law Reform in Queensland. In retirement, Mr Lee spends time updating his work on trustee law. We are pleased to feature Mr Lee’s article in this edition of the Journal.

The other contributors to this edition of the Journal are legal academics and practitioners. Sharon Christensen’s article looks at formation of contracts by email, and Bruce Clarke and Steve Kapnoullas analyse the contractual effect of signature looking particularly at a recent Victorian Court of Appeal decision on this topic. Glen Cranwell looks at treaties and Australian law, and Lynden Griggs considers further developments in the context of the High Court decision in Garcia. Louis Pojman discusses theoretical concepts of justice giving people what they deserve.

We also in this edition have two student contributions: Dominic O’Brien discusses concurrent liability in contract and tort, and Michael Reynolds’ article looks at recent developments in insolvency and employee entitlements.

On behalf of the Editorial Board I welcome you to the new-look QUT Law and Justice Journal and hope you enjoy this first edition.


Berna Collier
General Editor
July 2001