Anne Macduff is a Senior Lecturer at the ANU Law School. Drawing upon a range of critical theories, including feminist, postcolonial and queer theories, Anne Macduff's research explores how law devalues difference.
She has a particular interest in exploring issues of law and identity, including race, gender and sexuality. Anne's PhD thesis challenged the claim that Australian citizenship law is neutral and inclusive, and argues that the current laws construct a particular racialized and gendered citizen subject. Anne's interest in critically examining the way law excludes certain identities includes other areas of law, including tenancy, public law and family law.
Anne's research also explores the way that legal education devalues difference. Anne has published on critical thinking, reflection (with Marlene Le Brun) and portfolios (with Dr Chris Trevitt). She has also published on student workload (with Lynn Du Moulin).
Appointments
- Editorial Committee, Legal Education Review
- University Education Scholar for the ANU College of Law (2012).
- Chair, ACT committee of the Alternative Law Journal
- Co-Chair, ANU CoL Wellbeing committee
- Committee Member, Human Research Ethics Committee, Humanities and Social Sciences Delegated Committee
- Director, ANU-Alabama Exchange Program
- ANU College of Law SubDean, LLB and JD programs (2017-2019)
Awards
| 2015 | ANU College of Law Education Awards: Award for Teaching Excellence |
| 2014 | ANU College of Law Education Awards: Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning |
Significant research publications
- Macduff, Anne and Wayne Morgan 'Queer Theory and Poststructuralist Feminism' Chapter 5 in Gabrielle Appleby and Rosalind Dixon, The Critical Judgements Project (Federation Press, 2016)
- Macduff, A 'Performing Citizenship, Embodying Obedience' in Kim Rubenstein and Glen Patmore (eds) Law and Democracy: Contemporary Questions (ANU Press, 2014) 131.
- Trevitt, Chris, Anne Macduff & Aliya Steed ‘[e]portfolios for learning and as evidence of achievement: Scoping the academic practice development agenda ahead’ (2014) 20 Internet and Higher Education 69
- Macduff, Anne and Lynn Du Moulin ‘New Challenges in Legal Education: Developing an Appropriate Response to the Issue of Student Workload’, (2008) 19 Legal Education Review 176
- Macduff Anne, ‘Deep Learning, Critical thinking and Teaching for Law Reform’ (2005) 15 Legal Education Review 125
- Le Brun, M and Macduff A ‘Developing the Reflective Practitioner Online’ (2005) 39 (1) The Law Teacher 16
View more publications on the ANU Researchers website
Read selected publications in the ANU Digital Collection
View more publications on the ANU Researchers website
Link to ANU researchers profile
Read selected publications in the ANU Digital Collection
Grants
- ANU Gender Institute, ‘Post-feminism? Post theory? Post Critique?’ Workshop May 2015
- ANU Gender Institute, PHD and Early Career Workshop, Interpellations (Law, Literature and the Humanities Conference, December 2013)
- ANU VC Teaching Enhancement Grant ‘Peer Assisted Learning in Law’ 2013 (team)
- ANU VC Teaching Enhancement Grant ‘Developing a Distinctive JD’ 2012 (individual)
Consultancies
- Researcher, Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, June- November 2008.
- Researcher, Tenants' Union ACT, 2006
- Researcher, Advocacy and Inclusion ACT, 1996-2000.
Refereed journal articles
- Trevitt, Chris, Anne Macduff & Aliya Steed ‘[e]portfolios for learning and as evidence of achievement: Scoping the academic practice development agenda ahead’ (2014) 20 Internet and Higher Education 69
- Macduff A, ‘Deep Learning, Critical thinking and Teaching for Law Reform’ (2005) 15 Legal Education Review 125
- Le Brun, M and Macduff A ‘Developing the Reflective Practitioner Online’ (2005) 39 (1) The Law Teacher 16
- Macduff, A and Du Moulin, L ‘New Challenges in Legal Education: Developing an Appropriate Response to the Issue of Student Workload’ (2008) 19 Legal Education Review 176
Book chapters
- Macduff, A and Morgan, W, 'Queer Theory and Poststructuralist Feminism' Chapter 5 in Gabrielle Appleby and Rosalind Dixon, 'The Critical Judgements Project' (Federation Press, 2016)
- Macduff, A ‘Performing Citizenship, Embodying Obedience‘ in Glen Patmore and Kim Rubenstein (eds) ‘Law and Democracy: Contemporary Questions’ (ANU Press, 2014)
Conference papers & presentations
- Macduff, A ‘Dreaming the Nation: Citizenship and the Migrant Other in Australia’, paper presented at Law Walls Crises, University of Helsinki, Finland April 2016
- Macduff, A ‘Dreaming the Nation: Citizenship and the Migrant Other in Australia’, paper presented at International Critical Legal Studies Conference, Wroclaw, Poland, September 2015
- Macduff, A ‘Politics in a Postfeminist Age’ paper presented at Post-feminism, Post Theory, Post Critique? Workshop, Canberra ANU May 2015
- Macduff, A ‘Citizenship, Law and Democracy: Exploring Possibilities’ Public Law Weekend, ANU Canberra, 20-22 September 2012
- Macduff, A. ‘Ceremonies of Law: The Citizenship Pledge’, paper presented at the Law and Society Association of Australian and New Zealand Conference ‘Ceremonies of Law: Doctrine, Ritual, Ceremonial, University of Wollongong, Australia, December 6-9, 2011
Government submissions
- Macduff, A and Margie Rowe, 'Inquiry into a Better Federal Family Law System', Submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, May 8, Australian 2018
- Macduff, A. ‘Inquiry into Multiculturalism in Australia’, Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, April 8, Australia 2011
EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
- Editorial Board of the Legal Education Review
- Editorial Board of the Alternative Law Journal
- Secretary, Tenants' Union ACT
INTERNAL ANU COMMITTEES
- CoL Wellbeing committee, member
- ANU Gender Institute, Law and Human Rights Node Leader 2011
- ANU Human research Ethics Committee, Humanities and Socal Sciences Delegated Committee, member
Currently supervising
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Topic: Novel citizens: represenations of citizenship in law and literature
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Topic: 'Recognising and Responding to Economic Forms of Domestic Violence in Private Law' (funded by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship)
Honours thesis supervision
I am willing to supervise in the areas:
- Critical Legal Theory (Race, Gender, Queer)
- Women and the Law
- Family Law
- Cultural Diversity and the Law
- Citizenship Law
- Legal Education
- Domestic and Family Violence
I have previously supervised:
- Critical Legal Theory (Race, Gender, Queer)
- Women and the Law - issues including egg freezing, abortion, surrogacy
- Family Law - children, property, bankruptcy
- Legal Education
- Domestic and Family Violence (Criminal and Civil remedies)
Internship supervision
I am willing to supervise in the areas:
- Critical Legal Theory (Race, Gender, Queer)
- Women and the Law
- Family Law
- Cultural Diversity and the Law
- Citizenship Law
- Legal Education
- Domestic and Family Violence
I have previously supervised:
- Family law and transgender issues
Current courses
| Year | Course code | Course name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Class #4584 | Law and Legal Institutions |
| 2023 | Class #4134 | Litigation and Dispute Management |
| 2023 | Class #2556 | Litigation and Dispute Management |
Previous courses
| Year | Course code | Course name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Class #4584 | Feminist and Critical Legal Theory |
| 2021 | Class #4628 | Family Law |
| 2020 | Class #1419 | Family Law |
Philosophy & approach
Anne's educational focus is on teaching critical thinking, reflective and collaborative learning skills. She is also keen to explore the ways that new technologies can assist student learning.
Teaching awards
| 2015 | ANU College of Law Education Awards: Award for Teaching Excellence |
| 2014 | ANU College of Law Education Awards: Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning |
Past courses
- Foundations of Australian Law
- Evidence
- Legal Theory
- Feminist and Critical Legal Theory
- Family Law
- Torts/ Civil Litigation and Dispute Management
- Race and Equality Law
- Gender and the Law
