Australia and the United Kingdom: A Bit Like Family, Much in Common But a Lot of Difference

It is a pleasure to be able to offer some remarks by way of Foreword to the UK Supreme Court Yearbook for the 2015–16 legal year. There are deep historical and cultural connections between the Australian judiciary and legal profession and the judiciary and legal profession of the UK. The connection is well illustrated by the appointment in September 2016 of Jonathan Smithers, the Immediate Past President of the Law Society of England and Wales, as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Law Council of Australia. The Law Council of Australia is the peak national representative body of the Australian legal profession and is composed of the Law Societies and Bar Associations of the Australian States and Territories and a group representing large law firms.