Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG took care to point out he was the only product of the public school system when he served on the High Court* of Australia - the rest were from private schools. He drew this example as a way of praising CQUniversity for introducing an online Bachelor of Laws which will encourage a wider diversity of students into the profession.

Hon Michael Kirby (second from left) with Professor Scott Bowman, Acting Chancellor Charles Ware and Dean of Commerce and Law Robert Fisher

"If those people [from a wider background] are not represented then their values won't be represented," he said.

Mr Kirby said the degree would have a tremendous potential for outreach to Indigenous students, mature-age students, those based in rural and regional areas and those without the financial means to move to a capital city campus.

He said the flexible nature of the degree and the fact it could be completed in only three years would be especially attractive to adult students - "those who didn't get on the train immediately after high school".

The distinguished legal figure travelled from his home in Sydney to CQUniversity's Rockhampton Campus to officially launch the new Bachelor of Laws this week, although he joked that he could have slept in and launched it online from Sydney.

Hon Michael Kirby meets local high school students after the launch

Luckily, he did attend in person for more than 100 people turned out to hear him discuss the potential of the degree. These included academics, members of the legal fraternity and school children interested in legal studies.

Mr Kirby said the University should be proactive and vigilant, with a nuturing role to ensure students studying in isolation from a campus were coping with their studies and not under too much pressure.

He urged that law lecturers teach moral and ethical issues and not just the rules of law, to adequately portray the 'great tapestry' of law.

"I wish you all well. May it [the new degree] flourish as a centre of excellence and provide more opportunities for all," Mr Kirby said.

Almost 100 students have already enrolled the Bachelor of Laws degree, with more expected to take the opportunity of a mid-year entry soon.

*When he retired from the High Court of Australia in 2009, Michael Kirby was Australia's longest-serving judge. His appointment to the High Court came in 1996 and he served 13 years. In later years, he was Acting Chief Justice of Australia twice.

Hon Michael Kirby with law student Samantha Shepherd, a mother of five children who said 'something has come alive in me since enrolling in the new degree' 
Meeting members of the local legal fraternity   
Launch audience members included His Honour Judge Britton DCJ, Allan Batts Solicitor, Grant Ireland Solicitor, Troy Krahenbring Solicitor and Wayne Howard Solicitor 
L-R The Hon Alan Demack AO, Andrew Palmer from Rees R & Sydney Jones Lawyers and Dr Kristy Richardson from CQUniversity 
L-R Rockhampton Barrister Tony Arnold with Gino Andrieri and James Goddard, Solicitors from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers Rockhampton