Encouraging research

Research and writing are important activities within the school for both students and staff. They enhance the quality of teaching and learning and are the means by which information about developments in the law and its evaluation are disseminated throughout the legal profession, the legal academy and the community generally.

To promote research and writing, the School publishes the Deakin Law Review. The Review contains articles and notes on important legal issues, cases and statutory developments. It is edited by students under staff supervision.

Director of Research—Sharon Erbacher

The Faculty’s Director of Research is responsible for fostering research and writing by our academic staff. Research is important because of the contribution it makes to society’s knowledge and understanding of the law and because it enriches the quality of teaching. Currently, Law School staff are working to improve the Law’s response to community needs—both in Australia and overseas—in areas as diverse as tariffs, taxation, the environment, competition and trade practices, gender, company law, trusts, shipping, torts, evidence, trade law, health and civil rights.

Research degrees

In conjunction with the Faculty’s Research and Graduate Studies Committee, the School is responsible for three higher research degrees — an LLM by major thesis, a PhD and an SJD. The LLM can be completed in one year and the PhD in three. The SJD is a structured research degree combining course work and major thesis.

Research and Graduate Studies Committee

Research funding and the funding of conference leave is the responsibility of the School’s Research and Graduate Studies Committee. This ensures peer review of projects seeking funding and the merit of conference attendance.

With Committee and Faculty support, the Law School has made a significant contribution to academic literature. In recent years our staff have written, or edited, numerous books and monographs and have contributed to the major Australian legal encyclopedias. They also edit, or contribute to leading journals in Australia and overseas.

Visit our comprehensive research links website

Deakin's School of Law maintains a comprehensive research website which links students and practising lawyers to a vast array of legal resources and to legal search engines.
www.law.deakin.edu.au/research