The ANU Law School has an explicit commitment to the themes of law reform and social justice as core components for understanding the law and effecting change. The Law Reform and Social Justice (LRSJ) program facilitates student-led work on topics including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice, climate and environmental justice, human rights, community legal education and protest rights. These projects provide an opportunity for students to put their research, drafting and advocacy skills into practice, and to lead work on the operation of law in society.
All ANU Law School students – undergraduate or graduate – are welcome to be involved in current projects, and to suggest new projects or work areas for LRSJ.
Student groups are supported in this work by our Law School academics who teach, research and engage across a broad spectrum of social justice topics. Students have the opportunity to be mentored by academic staff, to develop relationships with community, and to build student networks across different year cohorts.
Law Reform and Social Justice holds skills workshops, film screenings, and panels discussing important contemporary issues. These events foster engagement with the profession and help to build new career pathways for our students at the cutting edge of law reform and social justice.
To attend our events, keep an eye on our Facebook feed or sign up to our mailing list.
Our core team supports the work of the LRSJ student groups, fosters connections between students and our Academic Network, and considers strategic directions for the LRSJ. We are keen to hear from students wanting to join existing groups or with ideas for new projects. Write to us at lrsj@anu.edu.au.
Academic Network
Through its teaching curriculum, academic research and social justice initiatives, Law Reform and Social Justice is a central part of the Law School’s focus. The Academic Network reflects the diversity of interests and expertise of the academic staff. Academics provide advice and mentoring for student-led projects and offer input on possible new directions for the program
LRSJ Student-led Projects
Student-led projects are the heart of the Law Reform and Social Justice program. They provide an opportunity for students to put their research and drafting skills into practice, and to lead work on the operation of law in society. Students have the opportunity to be mentored by academic staff, to develop relationships with community, and to build student networks across different year cohorts. The projects aim to foster a commitment to social justice and law reform through volunteer activities.
All students of the ANU Law School - undergraduate or graduate - are welcome to be involved in current projects, and to suggest new projects or work areas for LRSJ.
South Asian Research and Advocacy Hub
The South Asian Legal Research and Advocacy Hub (SARAH) is an undergraduate legal research centre run by South Asian students for the South Asian diaspora. Our aims are:
- To research the condition, identity, and future of the diaspora in Australia.
- To understand and create awareness of South Asian legal systems.
- To empower South Asian youth to become leaders in legal research and advocacy.
- To collaborate with South Asian law schools internationally to build generations of future lawyers who are passionate about the diaspora, their culture and their communities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Project
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Project aims to amplify the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders to students and wider Canberra. The project hosts advocacy events such as screenings and panel discussions, as well as conducting research projects such as parliamentary submissions. Our project has a focus on continually deepening our own understanding of justice in this area by engaging with the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics, authors and creators.
Research Hub
The Research Hub conducts a range of legal research projects, produces law reform submissions and presents at parliamentary inquiries. Our work offers ANU students the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and has had a real policy impact on some of the most urgent issues facing our society.
Disability Justice Research Hub
The Disability Justice Research Hub researches and addresses issues of law reform for people with a disability (PWD). Through our research projects, we identify areas for reform in the legal sector, and propose changes that will positively impact PWD.
We offer a space for young people with a passion for disability justice to engage in research, build networks, and form communities. We connect with external stakeholders and bridge the gap between theory and practice (both within and outside of the university context).
Protest Rights and Legal Observer Initiative
Our aims are to increase community understanding of police powers and the right to protest. We provide community legal education to support communities engaging in collective action, counter-surveillance and community self-defence. We also support students researching anti-protest legislation in various Australian jurisdictions.
Law Students for Gender Equality
Born out of the belief that every person is entitled to safety, dignity and respect, Law Students for Gender Equality (LSGE) is a student-led organisation dedicated to advocating for gender equity and combatting the prevalence of sexual harassment in the legal profession.
Law Students for Climate Accountability
Law Students for Climate Accountability researches the participation of Australian law firms in climate-related cases through analysis of litigation and financial transactional data. This project raises awareness of the role of law firms in contributing to the climate crisis, encourages accountability for their actions, and allows law students to make more informed decisions about future employers.
Student-led projects are the heart of the Law Reform and Social Justice program. They provide an opportunity for students to put their research and drafting skills into practice, and to lead work on the operation of law in society. Students have the opportunity to be mentored by academic staff, to develop relationships with community, and to build student networks across different year cohorts. The projects aim to foster a commitment to social justice and law reform through volunteer activities.
All students of the ANU Law School - undergraduate or graduate - are welcome to be involved in current projects, and to suggest new projects or work areas for LRSJ.
Research submissions
Submissions from 2024-2022 coming soon
2025 submissions
2024 submissions
- Australia’s Youth Justice and Incarceration System
- Climate Change Amendment (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity) Bill 2023
- Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2024 [Provisions]
- Inquiry into the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024
- Inquiry into the Criminal Code Amendment (Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes) Bill 2024
- Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024
- Inquiry into the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024
- Inquiry into the Use and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Systems by Public Sector Entities
- Inquiry into Wrongful Detention of Australian citizens Overseas
- Right-Wing Extremist Movements
- Submission to the Inquiry into Australia’s Sanctions Regime, South Asian Research & Advocacy Hub
- Submission to the Inquiry into Australia’s Sanctions Regime
2023 submissions
- Assessment and Support Services for People with ADHD
- Inquiry into Greenwashing
- Inquiry into the Administration of the referendum into an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice
- Select Committee into Cost of Living, Disability Justice Research Hub
- Select Committee into Cost of Living, South Asian Research and Advocacy Hub
- Select Committee into Cost of Living
2022 submissions
- Application of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia
- Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Future of the Working Week (ACT)
- Inquiry into Abortion and Reproductive Choice (ACT)
- Inquiry into Dangerous Driving
- Inquiry into the 2022 Federal Election
- Inquiry Into the Rights of Women and Children
- Inquiry Regarding the Agreement between Australia and Japan Concerning the Facilitation of Reciprocal Access and Cooperation between the Australian Defence Force and the Self-Defence Forces of Japan
- Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children
- Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare
2021 submissions
2020 submissions
- Administration of Sports Grants Inquiry
- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill Inquiry
- Centrelink's Compliance Program Inquiry
- Commonwealth Electoral Amendment Inquiry
- General Issues Around the Implementation and Performance of the NDIS Inquiry
- High Level of First Nations People in Custody Inquiry
- Human Rights of Women and Girls in the Pacific Inquiry
- Review of AFP Powers Inquiry
- The Adequacy and Efficacy of Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Regime Inquiry
2019 submissions
Human Rights Case Summaries Project
The LRSJ Human Rights Hub has produced a comprehensive series of summaries of cases referring to the Human Rights Act 2004, from the date of enactment until 2021. These are a valuable resource for practitioners and help to make human rights jurisprudence accessible to the wider community.
Read more
25 Jul 2022
19 May 2022
LRSJ Scholars Network List
The LRSJ supports students to make a real-world impact in the law reform and social justice sector. Our students have contributed to positive change in our community through involvement in the process of law reform, leading community legal education projects, and building advocacy networks.