Guhong Zhou has landed a coveted graduate role at a top-tier Sydney law firm, capping off a memorable academic experience enriched by prizes, mentorship and an unshakeable focus.
Professor Pauline Ridge
Professor
BA LLB (Hons) PhD (ANU); BCL (Oxon.); SFHEA; Barrister & Solicitor Supreme Court ACT
ANU College of Law, Bld 7, Fellows Rd, Acton ACT 2600
ANU College of Law, 5 Fellows Rd, Acton ACT 2600
Research Themes
Research Centre
Biography
Professor Pauline Ridge is a private law scholar and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Her articles and book chapters concerning equity, restitution, property and contract law have been cited by judges and commentators across the common law world. She co-edited Fault Lines in Equity (Hart Publishing, 2012) and is co-author, with Professor Joachim Dietrich, of Accessories in Private Law (Cambridge University Press, 2015). The book provides an analytical framework and doctrinal exposition of accessory liability, referring to all common law jurisdictions, with an Anglo-Australian focus. Her doctrinal and historical research into the legal regulation of religious financing is also highly regarded.This work has led Pauline into human rights law, particularly the right to freedom of religion, which she is now exploring in the context of private law.
Pauline has given interviews, written opinion pieces and made government submissions on a range of religion and law topics, including the reform of religious charity law and the implications of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse for the confessional seal. She is a former Director for the Centre for Commercial Law at the ANU College of Law and member of the Charity Law Association, Australia and New Zealand. In 2013 she was a Visiting Fellow, Asian Law Institute, National University of Singapore. Most recently, she was a visitor at Oxford Brooke University's Centre for Commercial Religion (February, 2019) and the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, University of Victoria, Canada.
Pauline studied at the Australian National University (where she received a University Medal) and the University of Oxford (BCL).
Awards
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2007 | ANU College of Law Dean's Cup for Collegiality |
Significant research publications
- 'Equitable Undue Influence and Religion' (2023) Law Quarterly Review (forthcoming)
- 'When is the Advancement of Religion Not a Charitable Purpose?' (2020) 6 Canadian Journal of Comparative and Contemporary Law 360-397
- 'Tracing and Associated Claims in Australian Law' (2020) 14 Journal of Equity 32-57
- 'Challenging Conceptions of Accessory Liability in Private Law (2019) 78 Cambridge Law Journal 383-408 (with Joachim Dietrich)
- Accessories in Private Law (Cambridge University Press, 2015) (with Joachim Dietrich)
- ‘Third Party Volunteers and Undue Influence’ (2014) 130 Law Quarterly Review 112.
- Jamie Glister and Pauline Ridge, Fault Lines in Equity, Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2012.
- ‘Religious Charitable Status and Public Benefit in Australia’ (2011) 35 Melbourne University Law Review 1071
- 'Pre-Judgment Compound Interest' (2010) Law Quarterly Review 279-300.
- 'Justifying the Remedies for Dishonest Assistance' (2008) 124 Law Quarterly Review 445-468
- 'Equitable Undue Influence and Wills' (2004) 120 Law Quarterly Review 617-639.
View more publications on the ANU Researchers website
Recent news
23
Jun
2022
Several years after graduating from ANU, Jennifer Darmody (LLB/BFin ’15) was working as a solicitor at a top-tier law firm when she made the decision to sign with an Australian women’s road cycling team and pursue life as an athlete instead.
12
Nov
2020
Five ANU Law scholars have been shortlisted in the ALRAs for their excellence and innovation in the discipline of Law.
08
Apr
2019
2018 ANU Prize recipient Catherine Bladen talks about winning
In the Media
20
Jun
2021
Pauline Ridge quoted in ABC News
23
Jun
2012
Public benefit a tough test for religious groups
Pauline Ridge comments in Canberra Times
Past events
08-10
Jul
2020
9.00AM to 12.00PM Conference
Early Career Researchers (ECR) specialising in private law from various Australian universities come together to present their papers to a panel in this conference.
19
Nov
2019
5.00PM to 6.00PM Celebration
Celebrate and support the five Law PhD students undertaking their Thesis Proposal Review milestone with us.
31
Oct
2018
4.30PM to 5.30PM Inspiring Women of ANU - Inaugural lecture
- Professor Pauline Ridge, ANU College of Law
‘For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.’ 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV Bible) The association of religion with wealth-generation can provoke strong feelings. Yet, as with other not for profit entities, it is legitimate and necessary for religious groups to fund their religious activities.
08-09
Sep
2017
9.00AM to 1.00PM Conference
The ANU Centre for Commercial Law and Centre for International and Public Law are proud to announce a conference to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Federal Court of Australia.
View more publications on the ANU Researchers website
Research biography
Professor Pauline Ridge is an internationally recognised private law scholar.
Her articles and book chapters concerning equity, restitution, property and contract law are read and cited by judges and commentators across the common law world. She co-edited Fault Lines in Equity (Hart Publishing, 2012) and is co-author, with Professor Joachim Dietrich, of Accessories in Private Law (Cambridge University Press, 2015). The book provides an analytical framework and doctrinal exposition of accessory liability, referring to all common law jurisdictions, with an Anglo-Australian focus. Her doctrinal and historical research into the legal regulation of religious financing is also highly regarded.This work has led Pauline into human rights law, particularly the right to freedom of religion, which she is now exploring in the context of private law.
Pauline has given interviews, written opinion pieces and made government submissions on a range of religion and law topics, including the reform of religious charity law and the implications of mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse for the confessional seal. She is a former Director for the Centre for Commercial Law at the ANU College of Law and member of the Charity Law Association, Australia and New Zealand. In 2013 she was a Visiting Fellow, Asian Law Institute, National University of Singapore. Most recently, she was a visitor at Oxford Brooke University's Centre for Commercial Religion.
Books & edited collections
- Pauline RIdge and James Stellios (eds), The Federal Court’s Contribution to Australian Law: Past, Present and Future (Federation Press, 2018).
- Ron Levy, Molly O'Brien, Simon Rice, Pauline Ridge and Margaret Thornton (eds), New Directions for Law in Australia: Essays in Contemporary Law Reform (ANU Press, 2017) http://press.anu.edu.au/node/2641
- Joachim Dietrich and Pauline Ridge, Accessories in Private Law (Cambridge University Press, 2015).
- Jamie Glister and Pauline Ridge, Fault Lines in Equity, Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2012.
- Robin Creyke, Peter Sutherland, with Pauline Ridge, Veterans’ Entitlements Law, Federation Press, 2000, (contributed Parts XIA and XIB pp521-537).
Refereed journal articles
- 'Equitable Undue Influence and Religion' (2023) Law Quarterly Review (forthcoming)
- ‘The interaction of state and religion through the law of religious financing’ 2/2020 Quaderni di diritto e politica ecclesiastica 539-551.
- ‘When is the Advancement of Religion Not a Charitable Purpose?’ (2020) 6 Canadian Journal of Comparative and Contemporary Law 360-397.
- ‘Tracing and Associated Claims in Australian Law’ (2020) 14 Journal of Equity 32-57.
-
(with Joachim Dietrich) ‘Challenging Conceptions of Accessory Liability in Private Law’ (2019) Cambridge Law Journal (2019) 1-26 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0008197319000345
-
‘Third Party Volunteers and Undue Influence’ (2014) 130 Law Quarterly Review 112.
-
‘Religious Charitable Status and Public Benefit in Australia’ (2011) 35 Melbourne University Law Review 1071
-
‘Pre-Judgment Compound Interest’ (2010) 126 Law Quarterly Review 279-301.
-
‘Justifying the Remedies for Dishonest Assistance’ (2008) 124 Law Quarterly Review 445-468.
-
‘Equitable Undue Influence and Wills’ (2004) 120 Law Quarterly Review 617-639.
Book chapters
‘Sir Anthony Mason’s Contribution to the Doctrine of Unconscionable Dealing: Amadio’s Case’ in Barbara McDonald, Ben Chen and Jeffrey Gordon (eds), Dynamic and Principled: the Influence of Sir Anthony Mason (Federation Press, 2022, forthcoming) approx. 8,000 words.
'A No-Benefit Benefit Test: Comment' in Matthew Harding and Daniel Halliday (eds), Charity Law: Exploring the Concept of Public Benefit (Routledge, 2020, forthcoming) 4,000 word comment
‘Silent Accessories’ in Elise Bant and Jeannie Paterson (eds), Misleading Silence (Hart Publishing, 2020) 285-304.
- ‘Not-for-Profit Law and Freedom of Religion’ in Matthew Harding (ed), Research Handbook on Not-for-Profit Law, (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2018).
- 'Modern Equity: revolution or renewal from within?' in Sarah Worthington, Andrew Robertson and Graham Virgo (eds), Revolution and Evolution in Private Law (Hart Publishing, 2017) 251.
- ‘Monetary Remedies for Equitable Participatory Liability: General Principles and Current Questions’ in Simone Degeling and Jason Varuhas (eds), Equitable Compensation and Disgorgement of Profit (Hart Publishing, 2017) 197-218.
- 'Constructive Trusts, Accessorial Liability and Judicial Discretion’ in Elise Bant and Michael Bryan (eds), The Principles of Proprietary Remedies (LawBook Co, 2013) 73-96.
- ‘Participatory Liability for Breach of Trust or Fiduciary Duty’ in Jamie Glister and Pauline Ridge, Fault Lines in Equity (Hart Publishing, 2012) 119-141.
- ‘Law, Tolerance and Religious Schools in Australia’ in Elizabeth Burns Coleman and Kevin White (eds) Religious Tolerance, Education and the Curriculum (by Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, 2011).
Conference papers & presentations
- Australian Charity Law Association Conference, Melbourne, 19 July 2013, ‘Law, Religion and Public Benefit: Reflections on English Developments from the Perspective of Australian Reforms’.
- "The Liability of Third Party Volunteers for Undue Influence", Obligations VI Conference, Ontario, 2012
Commissioned reports
A Safe Place for Children – Care, Protection and Safety of Children in the Uniting Church in Australia, Uniting Church Press, Melbourne, 1999, (member and joint author, Task Group).
Government submissions
-
Submission to Treasury on the Exposure Draft of the Charities Bill 2013, 3 May 2013.
-
Submission to Treasury on the Consultation Paper, ‘A Definition of Charity’, 9 December 2011.
Case notes & book reviews
- ‘Equitable Subrogation: Principle and Remedy’ (2010) 126 Law Quarterly Review188-193.
- ‘The Assessment of Contractual Damages – Ruxley Electronics in Australia’ [2009] Restitution Law Review 132-137.
- (with Joachim Dietrich) ‘Equitable Third Party Liability’ (2008) 124 Law Quarterly Review 26-31.
- McCulloch v Fern (2002) 18 Journal of Contract Law 138-144.
- Case entry on Garcia v National Australia Bank Ltd, The Oxford Companion to the High Court of Australia, Oxford University Press, 2001.
- Case entry on Yerkey v Jones, The Oxford Companion to the High Court of Australia, Oxford University Press, 2001.
- ‘Crescendo Management Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation’ (1989) Australian Law Journal 504-506.
Other
- Submission to Treasury on the Exposure Draft of the Charities Bill 2013, 3 May 2013.
- Submission to Treasury on the Consultation Paper, ‘A Definition of Charity’, 9 December 2011.
- A Safe Place for Children – Care, Protection and Safety of Children in the Uniting Church in Australia, Uniting Church Press, Melbourne, 1999, (member and joint author, Task Group).
Currently supervising
-
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)
PhD supervision
I am willing to supervise in the areas of:
- Equity, Restitution Law, Contract and Property Law;
- Legal Regulation of Religion (my particular expertise is in religious financing, but I am interested in all aspects of private law's interaction with religious faith and religious activity).
I have previously supervised:
- Sonali Walpola, 'The Enforcement of Promises At General law; Principle, Doctrine, And How Coherent Development Can Be Realised' (2014).
- Kate Falconer, 'Bones of Contention: Creating a Legal Channel in Equity for the Return of Archaeological Remains and Indigenous Cultural Property' (2020). Panel Chair and Primary Supervisor in 2017, thereafter Panel Member.
Current PhD supervision:
Radhika Chaudri, 'Recognising and Responding to Economic Forms of Domestic Violence in Private Law'. Panel Chair and Primary Supervisor 2019.
Kate Roff, The concept of property and discretionary trusts. Panel Member.
Abdul Mu'iz, Third Party Funding in Arbitration for Contractual Construction Disputes in Malaysia, Panel Member.
SJD supervision
I am willing to supervise in the areas listed above under PhD supervision.
MPhil supervision
I am willing to supervise in the areas listed above under PhD supervision.
LLM Masters thesis supervision
I am willing to supervise in the areas listed above under PhD supervision.
Honours thesis supervision
I am willing to supervise in the areas listed above under PhD supervision.
Current courses
| Year | Course code | Course name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 |
LAWS2205 Class #7135 |
Equity and Trusts |
| 2023 |
LAWS6205 Class #5442 |
Equity and Trusts |
| 2023 |
LAWS4254 Class #4139 |
Restitution |
| 2023 |
LAWS8454 Class #4140 |
Restitution |
| 2023 |
LAWS8335 Class #1576 |
Equity and Contemporary Issues |
Previous courses
| Year | Course code | Course name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 |
LAWS2205 Class #5207 |
Equity and Trusts |
| 2021 |
LAWS6205 Class #5562 |
Equity and Trusts |
| 2021 |
LAWS4254 Class #4287 |
Restitution |
| 2021 |
LAWS8454 Class #4288 |
Restitution |
| 2021 |
LAWS8335 Class #4635 |
Modern Equity: Concepts and Principles |
Philosophy & approach
I teach in my areas of research expertise (which encompass the law of equity, restitution law, and law and religion). I love my subject matter and I really want my law students to love it too. I am also conscious that many of them will become professional lawyers: their university education has a direct and profound effect upon the clients they serve and so there is legal content and skills that they must master. I have a responsibility to society as well as to my students in this respect. Experience has taught me that many law students are anxious about their academic performance, time-poor and lack confidence. Therefore, pastoral care is an integral part of my teaching philosophy. I believe very strongly in supporting my students so that they can maximize their learning, whilst also being intellectually true to the subject matter. My aim is to be fully present to my students in my teaching through developing mindful and respectful relationships with them. I use humour in order to lessen anxiety and because it is a natural part of my personality. I aim to facilitate a process of independent and “deep” learning because I believe that students are more likely to understand material that they have grappled with for themselves. I do this by being a guide (choosing relevant material, teaching formats, assessment schemes, etc), commentator (giving my expert analysis of the law) and coach (encouraging, motivating and caring for them). My greatest satisfactions as a teacher include when I see the ‘lightbulb’ come on in relation to a tricky legal rule, when I see genuine enthusiasm being sparked, and when former students stay in touch. In conclusion, I try to teach in such a way that my students truly enjoy their learning, master the relevant legal content and associated skills and are enabled to make a valuable contribution to society.
Past courses
- Equity and Trusts (LLB Hons and JD);
- Restitution (LLB Hons and JD);
- Commercial Equity (LLM and JD).
