The Williams Scholarship - Justice Glen Norman Williams AO (1962 )
Justice Glen Williams is a graduate of the Law School who had a remarkable career as a leading Queensland barrister, judge and law reformer, whilst also contributing to the life and work of the Law School for over sixty years. His important contribution to the University was recognised by the award of a Doctorate of Law honoris causa in 2003.
Glen Norman Williams was born in Brisbane in 1938. He was educated at St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace (1952-55), winning a Commonwealth Scholarship to the University of Queensland. In 1959, he graduated from the University with a Bachelor of Arts, with First Class Honours in political science. His thesis was on special tribunals. Then, in 1962, he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws, with first class honours, winning the Henderson Prize in Law. In 1962, he served as the Associate to Mr Justice Gibbs in the Supreme Court of Queensland. On 8 April 1962, Glen Williams was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court and, after completing his Associateship, commenced practice at the Queensland Bar. He also commenced a long period of service as a part-time lecturer at the Law School in Family Law (1964-67) and Civil Procedure (1971-78). Whilst at the Bar, he was a committee member of the Bar Association of Queensland (1964-66) and commenced a long period of service as a member of the Queensland Law Reform Commission (1976-89). He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1978.
On 7 April 1982, Glen Williams QC was appointed an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland. A permanent appointment followed on 3 December 1982. After 18 years’ experience as a Judge of the Trial Division, he was appointed a Judge of Appeal on 14 December 2000. During his time on the Court, he served as Chairman of the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration (1988-90), Chairman of the Queensland Law Reform Commission (1993-96), Chairman of the Rules Revision Committee (1982-91) and the Supreme Court Rules Committee (1999-2007), director of the Expert Witness Institute of Australia (2000-07), President of the Industrial Court (1998- 99), and a Judge of the Court of Appeal of the Solomon Islands (1993-2014). Justice Williams also served as the inaugural President of the University of Queensland Law Graduates Association (1999-2014). He retired from the court, at the statutory retirement age, in 2008.
In 2001, Justice Williams was awarded a Commonwealth Centenary Medal. In 2003, he was awarded a Doctorate of Laws honoris causa by the University of Queensland. In 2006, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia. Since 2008, he has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Queensland and has lectured in Civil Procedure both at undergraduate and at masters level.
Apart from his legal interests, Justice Williams has served in a number of voluntary roles in the Scout Association, Queensland Cricket and the Eastern Districts Rugby Union Club. In 1966, he married Roberta Gainer. They have two sons (Brendan and Gerard) and a daughter (Frances). Frances Williams is also a distinguished graduate of the Law School. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (1990) and a Bachelor of Laws (1994), with First Class Honours and a University Medal. She was then awarded a Menzies Scholarship, graduating with a Master of Laws (Hons) from the University of Cambridge. After over 25 years in practice as a solicitor, Frances Williams was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland on 17 February 2020.
Williams Scholarship Recipients
2021 Raul Iute
2020 Sylvia Stuen-Parker