I am very privileged to have been asked by the Dean to take on this new role and I am very excited by the prospect of helping to develop a vibrant alumni community. As Chris GANE says, this should be a 2-way street as we can gain from you and you from us.
Fortunately I do not start with a completely blank sheet as Paul MITCHARD has already kicked things off with this Alumni Newsletter and the e-mentoring scheme (which we hope to enlarge). But we need to build on these and hopefully the consultation will give us guidance on how best to set about this. I do want to emphasise, though, that I want to embrace all alumni from all programmes (not just the PCLL!) whether or not they are pursuing legal careers and wherever they are now located. I want to hear all your news: marriages, births, partnerships, judgeships, official appointments and so on. I want to disseminate that to all alumni so that you can through us stay in touch with one another and with one another’s progress and achievements. And so we, of course, can stay in touch with you.
My brief also extends to relations with the professions. I already enjoy pretty good relations with a good many senior lawyers and judges but as time goes on many of you will become serious and senior players in your respective professions and the 2 roles will ever increasingly merge.
We are very proud of our alumni and of the impact that you are making and will continue to make on society in your many different ways. We want to be involved so my hope for the years to come is that we will develop together an alumni community which is connected within itself and which continues to feel a real part of the Faculty and of CUHK.
But I will need your help! And you can help me first of all by reaching out to other alumni you know and checking that they are receiving this newsletter; if they are not, please suggest they email me their contact details.
Thank you.
Richard MORRIS
Associate Dean for Alumni and Professional Relations