The Cazalet Discussion

Written by Lewis Ironside and Keely Moggach

Earlier this week, FAME had the honour of hosting Assoc Prof Gary Cazalet for an intimate fireside chat at Cinema Nova discussing the arts and how it can make us better lawyers. Although ‘better’ is certainly a subjective word, here it was approached in a way that meant a lawyer who is creative, empathetic, and most importantly well, both physically and mentally. Whether it’s as simple as engaging in an art and practicing a skill, or learning specific lessons from films, books and television, the arts can teach us much about how we as individuals want to approach the law and interact with the world.

Professor Cazalet highlighted the role of the arts as a tool for both connection and insight. In a profession with the potential to profoundly impact people’s lives, the arts encourage lawyers to be flexible in their communication, and foster sensitivity to the myriad of ways in which culture and politics shape human experience. The possibilities are truly endless, and tonight provided the chance to reflect on the value the arts bring to legal practice and education.

After this chat, we moved into the Nova Bar to network and reflect on how this outlook is not only applicable to law students entering into the field, but also for those already practicing, who may be able to use this outlook to shape how they approach their work.

I am extremely grateful to Gary for sharing his knowledge and wisdom, to our founding instigator, Shaun Miller, for hosting the event, and to the FAME committee and ambassadors for helping to put this event together.