Australian Legal Dynasties: The Stephens and the Streets
Date
2015-02-17
Authors
Fox, Karen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Australian National University
Abstract
The word ‘dynasty’ evokes images of hereditary rulers, striding dusty castle corridors where their families have ruled for centuries. It might also suggest dominant political families, like the Kennedys, in republican settings like the United States of America. The term can, however, also be used to describe prominent families in other fields, such as business or the law, where a succession of individuals from one family have scaled the heights of their profession. A number of such families have lived and worked in Australia, and their stories are captured in the biographies told in the Australian Dictionary of Biography and the associated People Australia websites. This essay explores the stories of two families who might be thought of as Australian legal dynasties: the Stephens and the Streets. Between them, these two families produced across several generations four chief justices of New South Wales—and one person who turned the job down—as well as at least four other judges, and numerous successful barristers and solicitors.
Description
Keywords
Biography, Australian History, Legal History
Citation
Fox, K. ‘Australian Legal Dynasties: The Stephens and the Streets,’ Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/essay/10. Part of forthcoming publication Using Lives: Essays in Australian History and Biography 2(1).
Karen Fox, 'Australian Legal Dynasties: The Stephens and the Streets', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/essay/10/text30750, originally published 17 February 2015
Karen Fox, 'Australian Legal Dynasties: The Stephens and the Streets', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/essay/10/text30750, originally published 17 February 2015
Source
Australian Dictionary of Biography (Online)
Type
Journal article
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
Open Access via publisher website