Paul Akon is one of the icons of the UNE School of Law. Paul is talented, charming, hardworking and incredibly experienced in the legal profession. Our law students are exceedingly lucky to learn from such a talented educator. Invariably students tell us that LAW 480 (Legal Research, Writing and Advocacy) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (LAW157) are two of their favourite units in the law degree.
There is a lot more to Paul’s story than academia though.
Paul grew up wanting to be a farmer but his Dad discouraged him from doing so as ‘there is no money in farming.’ His Dad suggested to the youthful Paul, perhaps he should think about studying law.
In 1964, Paul’s Dad sadly passed away when Paul was only 18 years old. But the ‘law seed’ was planted firmly in Paul’s mind. After finishing school, Paul decided to complete an arts degree in order to think more about what he wanted to do. In his third year of his arts degree at Sydney University he remembered his Dad’s advice and chose to enrol in a law degree.
In the last two years of his four year law degree at Sydney University, Paul needed to arrange articles with a law firm. This was a problem. He did not come from a professional family. He did not have any legal connections. Paul finally found a firm who agreed to take him on so he could complete his articles. He was admitted as a legal practitioner in 1971. He soon after decided to take break after seven years study travelling all over Europe in a VW Kombi Van with two friends for 7 months. When he returned home to Australia, Paul found employment at Sly & Russell in Pitt Street, Sydney. At Sly & Russell Paul worked predominantly as a commercial lawyer. However, he came to realise that he’d rather represent ordinary people against corporations than vice versa. Incidentally, if you think lawyers are underpaid now, you will be interested to note that Paul earnt $18 a week as an articled clerk in his first year and $26 in his second year of employment.
One of Paul’s other passions is Rugby Union. In fact Paul is so enthusiastic about the game he decided to write a book on it. Paul’s book Play the Whistle: A Practical Guide to Rugby Refereeing sold more than 100,000 copies around the world. It was so popular it went to four editions. Play the Whistle was also used as the main rugby referees’ manual for over 20 years! Paul circumnavigated the globe promoting the book. It was translated into a number of languages. All the proceeds went into a trust to educate Rugby Union referees.
When he returned to Australia from this promotional trip, Paul decided he wanted to move to the country. A legal job came up in Forbes NSW. In mid-1977 Paul started working at the rural practice of what would become known as Palmer Maccallum and Akon. He stayed there for 21 years (as an employee and then a partner) where he primarily did litigation work. He notes ‘regional practice is amazing as country lawyers are wonderful and very professional.’
As hinted at by the number-plate of Paul’s car – ‘ME D 8’- Paul is very interested in mediation and other alternative dispute resolution tools. In 1998 he trained in mediation and soon became involved in mediation in the NSW Northern Rivers regarding Dispute Resolution in Local Government.
Never one to rest on his laurels, in 2000 Paul trained as a volunteer for the Sydney Olympics where he was allocated a position with the women’s beach volleyball competition. At the same time, Paul started working for NSW Police Legal Services. Shortly after he was asked to manage the Special Projects Unit. In fact, he was so good at this job he received a commendation from the commissioner. To put this into perspective this was the first time a civilian (non- operational police officer) had received a commendation at this level. This was for representing Commissioner Ryan in the PIC Inquiry known as Operation Malta.
After a short stint at the Department of Environment, Paul moved to Armidale with his wife Debra who was appointed as the principal of Presbyterian Ladies College (PLC) Armidale in 2006. For the first six months of 2006, Paul was a locum tenens at the Aboriginal Legal Service inanyone Tamworth.
Paul’s reputation preceded him. The then Head of School at the UNE School of Law, Professor Stephen Colbran, rang Paul and asked if he would be interested in teaching Alternative Dispute Resolution. Paul jumped at this chance, on the proviso he could have a mentor to help him in this new and exciting academic role. Professor Colbran readily accepted this condition and organised for now Adjunct Professor Harry Geddes to act as Paul’s mentor. This professional relationship has continued to this day and Adjunct Professor Geddes has guided Paul on every aspect of academic role. They have also become friends.
In the early days of his employment at UNE, Paul impressed even the almost unimpressible Bryan Pape. So much so, when Bryan resigned he recommended that Paul could take over LS480- ‘Advanced Legal Writing, Research and Advocacy.’ To really appreciate the validity of this recommendation, it is important to understand the context. Bryan Pape was a highly successful barrister and senior lecturer in law who had incredibly high standards of both himself and others. Many students were petrified of Bryan and his exacting standards. But without exception Bryan was admired and respected by all! LS480 and the development of the UNE School of Law’s moot court were Bryan’s babies. There is no way he would have handed these over to anyone he did not trust implicitly. Bryan’s faith in the ability of Paul Akon to nurture nowLAW480 has been reinforced ever since!
Anyone who knows Paul well realises he is incredibly proud of his Greek heritage. In fact in 1920, Paul’s father immigrated to Australia as ‘the Akon family did not have enough food or money to survive’ after the famine in Greece following WW1. Paul celebrates his heritage regularly by cooking delicious Greek and Mediterranean food.
Paul also lives life to the fullest and continues to love travel and ‘breaking bread’ with his family and friends. He also has a strong social conscience and likes to support local businesses whenever possible. He has a preference for supporting family owned small businesses. The importance of supporting local family owned businesses was derived from Paul’s upbringing where his family owned a milk bar in George Street Sydney. Interestingly his father went to the High Court over a claim relating to ice cream in milkshakes after WWII. Paul’s father briefed Barwick KC to represent him. Barwick KC went on to be the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. Furthermore, it is widely believed that Paul’s family was the first to import espresso coffee machines into Australia in 1951.
Paul enjoyed amazing success as a legal practitioner by winning some very big and difficult cases. For example, when the local Forbes abattoir closed down the employees were told there was no way they would receive a redundancy payment from the company- in effect the union abandoned the more than 300 employees. Paul took on this case on behalf of the workers and against all odds he won it for them. Paul was immensely satisfied when the abattoir employees arrived to pick up their redundancy cheques that could be used to support their families until they had a chance to find other employment. In addition, Paul acted in the very first claim for a family whose foetus in utero was injured in utero in a car accident. In fact he won a seven figure settlement for this family so they could adequately care for their brain damaged child.
I think you will all agree Paul has had the most amazingly worthwhile life – and his story is inspirational and heart-warming for us all! Of course always remember ‘Preparation, Preparation, Preparation’ and ‘Onwards and Upwards’ are the keys to success in life!
