{"id":177,"date":"2017-07-11T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-07-11T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hub.findingsimple.com\/au\/australian-law-journal-90-years-meet-team\/"},"modified":"2022-08-03T16:04:13","modified_gmt":"2022-08-03T05:04:13","slug":"australian-law-journal-90-years-meet-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insight.thomsonreuters.com.au\/legal\/posts\/australian-law-journal-90-years-meet-team","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Editorial Board Behind The Australian Law Journal"},"content":{"rendered":"
ALJ editorial board (left to right): Nuncio D\u2019Angelo, Angelina Gomez, Clare Langford, Justice Fran\u00e7ois Kunc, Ruth Higgins<\/h6>\n

It\u2019s the journal traditionally heralded as holding the most topical of legal issues. With a new General Editor and expanded editorial board, The<\/em> <\/em>Australian Law Journal<\/em> (ALJ)<\/a> is going through an exciting process of rejuvenation. To celebrate its 90th anniversary, we look behind the scenes of the ALJ and learn more about the editorial board and their collaborative content selection process.<\/p>\n

The<\/strong> <\/strong><\/span>national law journal<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Since May 1927, the ALJ has published articles, case notes and book reviews around the timeliest legal topics in our country. The journal is widely read and relied upon as a source of accurate legal authority for judges, barristers, legal practitioners, academics and students, and it forms an integral part of the greater canon of Australian legal commentary.<\/p>\n

Behind the scenes is a small, carefully selected group of editors who collaborate painstakingly to produce each issue. Together with its General Editor, the Honourable Justice Fran\u00e7ois Kunc \u2013 who succeeded the ALJ\u2019s longest-serving General Editor, the Honourable Acting Justice Peter Young AO, in May 2016<\/a> \u2013 the editorial board is ushering in a new era for the journal.<\/p>\n

As the recently appointed General Editor, Justice Kunc outlined a clear mission for the ALJ: to reach the key pillars of the legal community and to bring together an editorial board that represents the ALJ\u2019s key customers. Dr Nuncio D\u2019Angelo is a commercial law firm partner with academic interests, Dr Ruth Higgins is a barrister and academic, Clare Langford is a young associate and Angelina Gomez is a corporate practitioner.<\/p>\n

Introducing Dr Nuncio D\u2019Angelo \u2013 Assistant General Editor, ALJ<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

As the journal’s most recently appointed assistant editor, Dr Nuncio D\u2019Angelo was invited to the board in 2016 by Justice Kunc, who selected him given his dual interests as an academic and partner at Norton Rose Fulbright.<\/p>\n

With several decades of experience in corporate, commercial and banking practice, Dr D\u2019Angelo says his first encounter with the ALJ was when he was a student in the 1980s. The journal had such an impact on him at the time that he scraped together his own money to purchase a subscription.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever it comes up in conversation, I\u2019m always proud to say I\u2019m on the editorial board of the ALJ, especially since its rejuvenation under our new General Editor,\u201d Dr D’Angelo says.<\/p>\n

On the editorial process itself, there is a standing arrangement to meet at the judge\u2019s chambers to discuss developments for the ALJ on the first Tuesday of every month. Dr D\u2019Angelo attests it can be a very lively and democratic discussion, and each person is able to freely voice their opinion about an article and make suggestions.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing through the article selection process, we first question whether it is quality content that is relevant to our readership. We also consider how interesting it is to our audience, and whether it\u2019s topical, of the moment and possibly even controversial.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr D\u2019Angelo says the collaborative process is enjoyable, especially as everyone\u2019s opinions are respected and valued.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause our backgrounds are very different, we all bring our different experiences and viewpoints to the table, but at the end of the day it is a very collaborative exercise.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the editorial team does have a lot of fun and enjoys the selection process, the board takes the task of producing the best possible content very seriously.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe effort we make to create relevant and interesting content is reflected in the feedback we often get from our readers. I\u2019m very proud to play a small part in it \u2013 I think we all are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Introducing Dr Ruth Higgins \u2013 Assistant General Editor, ALJ<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr Ruth Higgins joined the ALJ\u2019s editorial board in 2015 and is responsible for editing the journal\u2019s recent cases, including High Court decisions.<\/p>\n

An award-winning barrister, she practises at Banco Chambers in matters relating to competition, public, commercial and energy law, as well as media and corporate criminal law matters.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came to Australia in 1999, and when I started working at Gilbert and Tobin, the ALJ was one of the journals to which we subscribed, and a source we all reliably turned to,\u201d Dr Higgins says. \u201cFor me, it was the first touchstone of a legal journal in Australia, so it resonated with me from the get-go.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s hugely flattering to have been asked to join the board, and it\u2019s also exciting to be part of the ALJ while it is being re-energised.\u201d<\/p>\n

Introducing Clare Langford \u2013 Assistant General Editor, ALJ<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The youngest member of the editorial board, Clare Langford is a young lawyer working in Sydney and also acted as tipstaff to the former General Editor, Justice Young.<\/p>\n

Responsible for the journal\u2019s Personalia <\/em>column, Langford has been on the board for three years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came across the ALJ as a legal research tool when I was a student, and it\u2019s always been a bit of a secret weapon for me as a junior lawyer,\u201d Langford says. \u201cIf you can find an ALJ article about a particular subject, it\u2019s likely to draw together all of the cases on a particular topic, and that really gives you an advantage in your work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking back on some of the ALJ’s key milestones, Langford recalls bidding farewell to the former General Editor as particularly memorable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year, I think a very special moment for the ALJ is celebrating our 90th anniversary edition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Introducing Angelina Gomez \u2013 Assistant General Editor, ALJ<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The longest-serving member of the editorial board, legal practitioner Angelina Gomez joined the law journal in 2005, after being personally invited by Justice Young when she was studying for the bar exam, and acting as a tipstaff to Justice Hamilton.<\/p>\n

Based in Western Australia and specialising in litigation and dispute resolution at Clifford Chance, Gomez is also the books editor for the journal and is responsible for selecting book reviews in each issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to Sydney University, and one of the sources I went to in order to find out about the law was the ALJ,\u201d Gomez says. \u201cI just found it a good place to go to for a good read of the law, and it was something I perpetually used when I wrote essays. In fact, so affectionate was I with the ALJ that when I graduated, I actually took a photo near the shelf of all the ALJ issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking at the evolution of the journal, Gomez says it feels good to be part of something that\u2019s so widely recognised in the industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cI essentially grew up with the ALJ, having used it since I was a law student. It felt surreal to join the editorial committee at first, and still does sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ALJ has much more cutting edge now, and we\u2019re addressing a lot of issues that are current and topical under Justice Kunc\u2019s leadership, and I think it will stand the test of time. It is the Australian Law Journal<\/em>, and being part of it is both a privilege and humbling.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to the Editorial Board, there have also been new Section Editors appointed recently including:<\/p>\n