News Archive

Terrorism, refugees on boats, one punch fatalities, Internet privacy, the impassioned clash of farmers and coal seam gas companies... all have a legal context. Little wonder UWA's Law School has seen remarkable growth in what is taught under the banner of Law, and in the workplaces welcoming our graduates.

"I find a link to law from almost every headline," says the University's first female Dean of the Law School, Professor Erika Techera. "That makes it important we offer contemporary courses that address the full spectrum of Law - and have a multinational and multidisciplinary team.

"Law is a discipline that needs teachers who encourage students to think outside the square, to anticipate tomorrow's problems. Our academic team can do that because of its specialist skills and depth of experience," says Professor Techera.

"We've recently added 10 new academic staff, and my aim is to broaden the scope of what we teach and research. We have criminologists, specialists in socio-legal studies, intellectual property, Chinese legal reforms, dispute resolution, taxation law, and a range of private and public international law areas - so we expose students to the full range of career possibilities."

This year Professor Harry Blagg, well known for his work on Indigenous people and policing, restorative justice, family violence and court innovations, returned to the Law School. Also back on campus is Assistant Professor Ambelin Kwaymullina (from the Palyku people of the Pilbara), highly regarded for her expertise in Indigenous legal systems and Indigenous interactions with Western legal systems.

"One of the School's invaluable assets is having some of Australia's best legal minds among our alumni - from the Chief Justice of the High Court Robert French to Justice James Edelman of WA's Supreme Court (who currently teaches into the Unjust Enrichment Unit). And they are very generous with their time.

"Recently the former Federal Foreign Affairs Minister joined our staff. Professor Stephen Smith brings an extraordinary breadth of experience and knowledge to UWA, and he is helping to develop our new Master in International Law and double Masters in International Relations and International Law."

Today large legal firms are often global, which means that UWA graduates can be found from New York to London to Beijing. Queens Counsel Karyl Nairn, who recently visited the campus, won the 2014 Australian Global Awards in Sydney. She is regularly cited as a leading international arbitration expert and one of the most innovative and influential women in law.

"Law graduates have many options, both within and beyond the legal profession," says Professor Techera.
"A graduate destinations survey with students completing degrees in 2013 indicated that three months before graduation more than 85 per cent already had jobs, 81 per cent being law-related jobs.

"That was an excellent outcome in a difficult job market. It's important to remind students that they have a valuable qualification whether they want to practise law, work in government or non-government organisations, politics, international relations or a myriad of other areas.

"I've had three careers. When I graduated I ran a company, then became a barrister and continued studying, completing a teaching qualification, two Masters and a PhD in environmental law to become an academic. Always an environmentalist at heart, I've been able to combine what I love with what I do."

Professor Techera's area of research is international and comparative environmental law with a particular focus on marine environmental law and heritage law and policy. She is the author of the recently published Sharks: Conservation, Governance and Management .

The new Dean sees 2014 as the dawn of a new era for Western Australia's first School of Law. "It's all about innovation, internationalisation and diversification, and remaining responsive to current trends and future challenges," says Professor Erika Techera.

Having successful bedded down last year's postgraduate Juris Doctor program, the School is preparing to launch its new Graduate Diploma and Master in International Law, Graduate Diploma and Master in International Commercial Law, Graduate Diploma and Master in Law, Policy & Government and the Graduate Diploma in Chinese Business Law next year. If you would like to know more about these courses, visit the Law School website: law.uwa.edu.au