LUMEN Spring 2022 - Flipbook - Page 39
“When you are younger, I think you
take it for granted there will be
teachers or senior people who take
an interest in and devote energy
and time to younger people.”
top of his profession and at the same time remain a
modest and self-deprecating person,” said Nick.
After completing his Masters of Law and working
for John Doyle (Solicitor General and then Chief
Justice), Nick and his wife, Dr Miriam Hill (PhD
(Psych) 1999), spent time studying at Columbia
University in New York City.
“Miriam and I got married at Urrbrae House a
month before we headed off to the States, and so
we launched off onto this new adventure hand
in hand.
“I think it felt further away because things were a
bit less connected then. The internet was only just
ramping up, and we certainly didn’t own
cell phones.
“I remember one cold New York day when we just
arrived and stood outside to use a call box with a
calling card to phone mum and dad to tell them we
had arrived and were safe, so it really did feel very
much like we were two kids from Adelaide on the
other side of the world,” he said.
Now living in London with Miriam and their three
children, Nick fondly recalls his time studying at
Adelaide Law School.
He had long wanted to do something that
would honour both Andrew and John if an
opportunity arose.
Nick recently joined with other Simpson partners
in London to fund the work of the Westminster
Commission on Miscarriages of Justice, a
parliamentary commission chaired by Lord
Garnier and Baroness Stern, which reported last
year on important improvements that could
be made to the UK’s justice system. These
recommendations are now being examined by
the Lord Chancellor, Dominic Raab.
“One of my partners, Jason Glover, instigated the
effort, and in turn it made me think about
whether I could help do something in South
Australia. Given that evidence and procedure are
areas where Andrew and John had taught at the
Law School, it all came together with the idea of
honouring them and supporting the Law School
and research in this area,” said Nick.
Inspired by this opportunity, Nick made a major
gift towards a new Chair for the Adelaide Law
School in evidence and procedure.
He’s hopeful his gift, which will be named in
honour of both Emeritus Fellow Andrew
Ligertwood and The Honourable John Doyle AC,
will help the Adelaide Law School become a leader
in a specialised field.
“If you attract someone who specialises in an area
and who can establish a good teaching body and
potentially cross disciplinary studies, that has the
potential to be transformative,” he said.
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Nick Shaw
Photo credit:
Gabrielle Connole
ALUMNI MAGAZINE - SPRING 2022
37
