Indigenous Pre-Law Program
Introduction
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up over a quarter of Territory's population. Despite this, they are grossly over-represented in the criminal justice system. This is just one of the most glaring social justice issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. There are many other legal issues effecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, so it is important that they are able to participate in the legal system.
Unfortunately, there are many reasons why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are not well represented among lawyers. The School of Law and Business is committed to redressing this imbalance so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are able to fully participate in the legal system.
From 1995 the School of Law and Business has been attempting to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying and succeeding in law. In 1995 and 1996 the school offered the Aboriginal Pre-Law Program in Perth jointly with the University of Western Australia and Murdoch University.
Since 1997 the school has offered the Pre-Law Program in Darwin. The program has been extremely successful. Since the programs' commencement, the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law students and graduates has increased markedly.
Program overview
The five-week Indigenous Pre-Law Program has three main aims:
- Familiarise Indigenous people wishing to study law with the content of the first semester of their first year of studies in a law degree at Charles Darwin University
- Familiarise Indigenous people wishing to study law with the university and its facilities
- Assess the likelihood of Indigenous peoples' success in law studies.
Teachers in the program will include lecturers, students and graduates from the School of Law and Business.
Teaching focuses on small group casework and problem solving, with instruction in the skills of legal reasoning, analysis, research and communication.
In 1998 David Woodroffe graduated with a degree in law. David was one of the first NT students to participate in the program. At an information session for prospective pre-law students, David said:
"The great thing about studying in the Pre-Law Program is that it also assists in students personal development in becoming a more confident individual who is able to possess the necessary verbal, writing and analytical skills that will remain with you... what you will learn will be of enormous assistance for when you begin your first year studies and you will be able to manage cases, tutorials and textbooks." (23/11/98)
In 2001, David was practising criminal law at the North Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service.
Contact the Academic Liaison Unit for information:
Phone: 08 8946 6031
Email: alu_lba@cdu.edu.au
Support for Indigenous law students
The School of Law and Business has provided an academic support lecturer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law students since 1995. The support lecturer's role is varied, but generally the aim is to combat the disproportionate number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law students and graduates.
This may occur through:
- Tutorial support by the support lecturer
- Arrangement of tutors through the Aboriginal Tutorial Assistance Scheme
- Coordination of the Indigenous Pre-Law Program
- Provision of information to students regarding cadetships and scholarships
- Provision of a liaison point through which students can raise concerns
- Support and Referral
In addition, the university provides a range of support services through the School of Australian Indigenous Knowledge Systems.
Related links
- Australian Human Rights Centre
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Statistics
- Indigenous Statistics Education
- NT Legislation and Hansard
- NT Department of Justice Court Support Services
- Indigenous Resource Information on the Web
- Australian Public Law Indigenous Issues Journal Article links
- Australian Public Law Stolen Generations links
- Aboriginal Studies Virtual Library
- Action for Aboriginal Rights
- Law Library of Canada and Quebec
- The Mapuche Nation
- Mapuche News
- After Mabo - What About Aboriginal Sovereignty? Henry Reynolds
- Legislative Responses to Mabo - Rendering the Law Unconscious? by Christopher Shanahan
- Opposition to Mining Projects by Indigenous Peoples and Special Interest Groups by Michael Hunt
- Ian Gray and Mandatory Sentencing (ABC Radio National Law Report)
- The Cubillo Case (ABC Radio National Law Report)
- The Kruger Decision (ABC Radio National Law Report)
- The (ABC Radio National) Law Report
