Official Bluewater Square Opening Speech given by the Hon Paul de Jersey AC Chief Justice

As to the metropolis, this is a big State, and practitioners should be encouraged to raise their shingles in the very many non-metropolitan centres which should be serviced, and I can see every reason for that to occur here in this very attractive part of the State, as reflected by the evocative “Bluewater” name for the precinct.

“Supporting regional practitioners was largely behind my opposition to the national legal profession reform initiative of the federal government, which has recently failed – its cost would I believe have borne on the financial viability of regional practices.

As to the role of “smaller firms”, there is no doubt that many clients will prefer entering into and being advised in premises like these, by contrast with the architectural behemoths of Eagle Street. These are superbly presented rooms, not over the top, and reassuring and welcoming.

Additionally, I applaud your level of service in allying the three firms, Cooke & Hutchinson, Parker Family Law and Gleeson Klein Lawyers in the one precinct.

One hopes a client would not need commercial, family and conveyancing help all at once –but maybe they will, and I suppose that would not infrequently be a feature of some contemporary marriage breakups.

In any event, the availability of all these services together, at the same identifiable location, provides a really desirable public service. We talk of “one stop shop” services, and it has been achieved with courts in the US for example, but not here, and in the Queensland profession at least, this may be a first.

I warmly congratulate the three firms on this initiative, and wish them well.

And noting that a room bears my family name, I can only hope that is not discouraging to those with an unremittingly Australian bent. It is a name with Gallic pretensions, but I think I can say that those Queensland de Jerseys who currently parade under these colours are not only tried and true Australians, but also – and I am sorry to say things which are obvious, very proud Queenslanders.

The naming of these rooms – Keane, Callinan and Lindenmeyer, reflects the basis of our legal professionalism, which depends for its legitimacy on its relation to the Court, which admits and as necessary controls.