One of Australia's most prominent legal identities will today visit the University of Newcastle.

High Court Justice Michael Kirby will meet with law students at the University's Callaghan campus this afternoon to speak about the work of the High Court.

Tonight he will be the guest speaker at the University of Newcastle's Inaugural Law Alumni Dinner. The topic of his address will be 'From University to the High Court in Five Easy Decades'.

Michael Donald Kirby was appointed to the Court in February 1996. At the time of his appointment he was President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal, having been appointed to that office in September 1984.

He has held numerous positions with major national and international organisations including the Board of CSIRO, President of the Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands, UN Special Representative in Cambodia and President of the International Commission of Jurists. In 1991 he was appointed a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia.