Ever wondered why law students seem to carry an extra layer of wisdom? The secret might lie within the walls of the Davis Law Library. Right here we stand before the Davis Law Library. It is a place of knowledge and history.
The Davis Law Library is named after Professor A. G. Davis. He retired as Dean of Auckland Law School in 1965. But its story begins long before it bore his name.
Let’s go back. Before books lined these shelves, this very ground had a different purpose. In 1845, Alexander Wilkie established a bottle factory here. He crafted opaque ginger beer bottles. Ironically, this relates to the famous case of Donoghue v Stevenson that every law student learns about.
Beneath the parking lot, a natural spring called Wai Ariki still trickles. Wai Ariki means water of the lord or chiefly water. Maori and early European settlers used it as a source of fresh water. Felton Mathew planned Eden Crescent and Waterloo Quadrant. He envisioned a spider-web layout. But people disapproved of this design.
Interestingly, the High Court occupied this building in the late 1980s. This was for four years during renovations to its original building. In 1992, the University of Auckland took over. They named it after Professor Davis. Since then, the Davis Law Library has welcomed many. Judges, lawyers, politicians, artists, historians, and researchers have walked through its doors.
Before 1991, the Law School was actually located on the top three floors of the University Library building. The Davis Law Library was founded in 1939. It has been in its current location since 1992.
The Davis Law Library supports the Auckland Law School. Auckland Law School is the largest of its kind in New Zealand. It offers courses in commercial, public, human rights, and environmental law.
The Auckland University Law Students’ Society is very active. It organizes social events and an annual Law Revue. They also participate in sports events. Te Rakau Ture is the Maori Law Students Association. It organizes events and welcomes everyone to join. The Pacific Island Law Student’s Association provides a sense of belonging. It promotes educational achievement for Pacific students.
The Davis Law Library stands as more than just a building. It is a place of constant learning. It is a place where students transform into legal minds. It is a place with a rich history beneath its floors. The Davis Law Library continues to evolve. It embraces its past while shaping the future of law in New Zealand.