David Derham
Encyclopedia
Sir David Plumley Derham KBE
CMG
(1920-1985) was an Australian jurist and university administrator. He was an expert in Australian constitutional law
. In 1963, he became the Foundation Dean of Monash University Law School
, which is now called the David Derham School of Law in his honour.
Derham was born in Australia in 1920, the son of Alfred Plumley Derham CBE
, an Australian soldier and doctor, and Frances Derham MBE
, an Australian lecturer in art and artist, and was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne
. David Derham served for four years in the Australian Imperial Force
in World War II
, before going on to complete a Bachelor of Arts
and a Bachelor of Laws
at the University of Melbourne
in 1947. He graduated first in his year level, winning the Supreme Court Prize. He practised briefly as a barrister
, before being appointed Independent Lecturer in Constitutional Law at Melbourne University. In 1951, he was made Professor of Jurisprudence
. He served in this position for twelve years, and in 1963 he was approached to become Foundation Dean of the forthcoming new law school, Monash. On 14 October 1963, Monash University's Council was informed that Derham had accepted the position.
Derham's appointment at Monash was crucial for the law school. Because Derham was so highly regarded in the legal profession, Monash ensured that its new faculty would immediately gain a good reputation and have the confidence of the community. The University's Vice-Chancellor, Louis Matheson
, had been eager to find a Dean with extensive experience and respect in legal and academic circles. Derham satisfied these criteria in abundance.
Although Derham was required to continue teaching at Melbourne University until 1964, he immediately set to work on establishing an original curriculum for Monash. His links with the legal profession meant that a wide range of barristers, solicitors and judges assisted him through committees investigating various elements of the establishment of a new law school. The final program he established at Monash was radically different from the course he had previously overseen at Melbourne. The Monash Bachelor of Laws
emphasised the need for law graduates to learn transferable legal skills, rather than merely learning the law itself. He also introduced small-group teaching.
On 1 March 1968, Derham was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Melbourne University, a position he held until 1982.
In addition to his work as a university administrator, Derham was well known for his wide-ranging legal publications. He also advised the Australian Government on a range of issues concerning the legal system, most notably the administration of justice in Papua New Guinea
(which was an Australian Territory until the 1970s).
Derham received a number of awards recognising his outstanding contribution to legal education. In addition to his knighthood, he was awarded honorary doctorates in law from both Monash and Melbourne universities.
According to those who knew him, Derham was a warm, energetic and charming friend. Derham died in Melbourne in 1985, leaving behind his wife and children.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(1920-1985) was an Australian jurist and university administrator. He was an expert in Australian constitutional law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
. In 1963, he became the Foundation Dean of Monash University Law School
Monash University Faculty of Law
Monash University Faculty of Law, or Monash Law School, is the law school of Monash University in Melbourne, Victoria. Established in 1963, it offers the LLB, J.D., LLM, S.J.D., LLD and PhD degrees in law. It has been ranked as one of the top 20 law schools in the world...
, which is now called the David Derham School of Law in his honour.
Derham was born in Australia in 1920, the son of Alfred Plumley Derham CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, an Australian soldier and doctor, and Frances Derham MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
, an Australian lecturer in art and artist, and was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. David Derham served for four years in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, before going on to complete a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
in 1947. He graduated first in his year level, winning the Supreme Court Prize. He practised briefly as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, before being appointed Independent Lecturer in Constitutional Law at Melbourne University. In 1951, he was made Professor of Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
. He served in this position for twelve years, and in 1963 he was approached to become Foundation Dean of the forthcoming new law school, Monash. On 14 October 1963, Monash University's Council was informed that Derham had accepted the position.
Derham's appointment at Monash was crucial for the law school. Because Derham was so highly regarded in the legal profession, Monash ensured that its new faculty would immediately gain a good reputation and have the confidence of the community. The University's Vice-Chancellor, Louis Matheson
Louis Matheson
Sir James Adam Louis Matheson KBE was a British academic and university administrator, who was the first Vice-Chancellor of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.- Early life :...
, had been eager to find a Dean with extensive experience and respect in legal and academic circles. Derham satisfied these criteria in abundance.
Although Derham was required to continue teaching at Melbourne University until 1964, he immediately set to work on establishing an original curriculum for Monash. His links with the legal profession meant that a wide range of barristers, solicitors and judges assisted him through committees investigating various elements of the establishment of a new law school. The final program he established at Monash was radically different from the course he had previously overseen at Melbourne. The Monash Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
emphasised the need for law graduates to learn transferable legal skills, rather than merely learning the law itself. He also introduced small-group teaching.
On 1 March 1968, Derham was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Melbourne University, a position he held until 1982.
In addition to his work as a university administrator, Derham was well known for his wide-ranging legal publications. He also advised the Australian Government on a range of issues concerning the legal system, most notably the administration of justice in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
(which was an Australian Territory until the 1970s).
Derham received a number of awards recognising his outstanding contribution to legal education. In addition to his knighthood, he was awarded honorary doctorates in law from both Monash and Melbourne universities.
According to those who knew him, Derham was a warm, energetic and charming friend. Derham died in Melbourne in 1985, leaving behind his wife and children.