Professor Crommelin’s appointment follows the recent decision of the current Dean Professor James Hathaway to return to full-time academic work on international refugee law.

The Zelman Cowen Professor of Law at the University of Melbourne, Michael Crommelin has served with great distinction as Dean of the School on two occasions - from 1989 to 2002 and, after a year as visiting professor at Georgetown University in the US, from 2003 to 2007. 

He has spent the last two years re-establishing his international academic career in energy and resources law and comparative constitutional law, and teaching in the Melbourne JD and Melbourne Law Masters.  Widely-respected as a scholar and leader, Professor Crommelin was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the law and to legal education, particularly as a tertiary educator.

His appointment as Dean comes after an extensive consultation by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis with academic and professional staff of the Melbourne Law School who provided feedback on an appropriate process to select a new Dean. 

Professor Davis said there was a strong staff support for a two-step process - an interim appointment to the position now and a thorough search during 2010 to appoint a new Dean.

"I am delighted that Professor Crommelin has agreed to serve as Dean through 2010 and, if necessary, beyond until a new permanent Dean can take up the role.

"He is undertaking this task in the spirit of optimism and excitement for the future of the Melbourne Law School.  He has immense faith in the capacity of his colleagues in the Melbourne Law School to develop original and imaginative programs, to teach with gusto and flair and to undertake exceptional research projects.  His enthusiasm for the strength of the MLS is as infectious as ever."

An initial architect of the Melbourne JD and a recent teacher in that program, Professor Crommelin is particularly delighted with the outstanding quality of the students selected in the program.

"In designing the Melbourne JD, we set out to meet the specific needs of very talented students drawn from diverse, multi-disciplinary backgrounds in Australia and overseas.  With the benefit of a good undergraduate education, they have firmly decided that law is the right career choice for them.  They are very bright and highly-motivated  -  a pleasure to teach."

The implementation of the Melbourne JD is still in the transition stage (until 2011) but Professor Crommelin believes it has already set a new standard for legal education in Australia.

"Melbourne Law School is an innovative leader in legal research and education in Australia and abroad, with exceptionally strong international links and reputation. It will be a great honour for me to serve again as its Dean," he said.