Interview with the Hon. Judith Cohen, solicitor / Interviewer: Ruth Campbell.

1995

59137

Cohen, Judith.

Lawyers -- Biography. -- Australia.

Australia. -- Politics and government.

Cohen speaks on her Jewish family background, childhood and schooling, family encouragement, arts/law at Sydney University, difficulties facing women lawyers post-World War II, memorable class members and lecturers, early experience of law, boat cruise to Europe, meeting husband and moving to Melbourne, her husband Sam Cohen, Alf Conlon's think tank, Sam's legal and political careers and Jewish activities, 1950s Labor Party split, period off work with small children, her return to work, Diploma of Education and teaching experience, death of her husband, return to her law career, appointment to the Arbitration Commission, the importance of positive discrimination, issues raised during her period as a Commissioner (introduction of maternity leave, parental leave and part-time work, bringing nurses into a uniform federal award, superannuation), working in the Northern Territory, various appointments, the General Insurance Claims Review Panel, her pioneering position, contemporary women lawyers, the problems associated with megafirms, the role of alternative dispute resolution, the differences between being a lawyer and a judge, Doc Evatt, Arthur Calwell, Bill Hayden, meeting Harold Wilson, Anthony Mason and her travels.

Open access.

Recorded in Kew, Victoria, on Thursday December 21, 1995 and Thursday January 4, 1996.

6 sound discs (ca. 240 min.) : digital + transcript (96 p.)