The Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) has announced that the Honourable Gareth Evans AO QC will be the keynote speaker for the opening dinner at the ALSA Conference 2010, to be held in Adelaide this month.

The event will bring together about 500 law students legal professionals. The legal gathering allows students to attend the law competitions circuit, attend Legal Education Forums, contribute at ALSA Council and network.

Evans himself, who had a 21 year political career, most notably as Foreign Minister (1988-96), will base his speech on the power of the law in protecting those at risk.

Evans had a long-running involvement in this issue. He was co-chair of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, co-chair of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, and president emeritus of the International Crisis Group. This background led to him being the recipient of the 2010 Four Freedoms Award for Freedom from Fear.

Meanwhile, the acting International co-prosecutor at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), William Smith, will be the key note speaker at the Closing Gala Dinner.

For over a decade, Smith worked as a trial attorney, legal officer and analyst at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. He was also the International Deputy Co-Prosecutor of the ECCC for three years before taking up his current position.

The ALSA Conference 2010 will be held in Adelaide from 12-18 July this year.