Centres & institutes

UNSW Law & Justice’s research centres, groups and networks are a vibrant part of our research culture and agenda. They connect prominent scholars and initiatives for both academic and real-world impact.

Photographs from the australian human rightd innovate confrence

Our legal research, advocacy and education centres and institutes are integral to the faculty’s research success. They also provide unique internships and legal clinical education for UNSW Law & Justice students. 

A joint initiative of UNSW and law firm Allens, the Allens Hub for Technology, Law & Innovation tackles challenges presented by rapid technological change on the law and legal practice.

Visit Allens Hub

The Kaldor Centre contributes world-leading research and policy analysis to the public debate about protecting refugees and asylum seekers, promoting legal, sustainable and humane solutions to forced migration. 

Visit Kaldor Centre

A joint facility of UNSW and UTS Faculties of Law, AustLII provides free access to Australasian legal information, supporting the rule of law and improving access to justice.

Visit AustLII

The Australian Human Rights Institute produces world-leading research and advances debate on critical human rights issues, with a focus on business, climate, gender and health.

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The Centre for Criminology, Law & Justice is home to scholars and researchers who strive to address the challenges facing governments, citizens and criminal justice systems around the world.

Visit CCLJ website

The Centre for the Future of the Legal Profession is led by UNSW Law & Justice and informed by the legal industry to support the profession in effectively navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by technology, innovation, and societal expectations. 

Visit CFLP website

The Gilbert + Tobin Centre provides legal expertise on issues vital to Australia’s future, including a bill of rights, reconciliation, native title and the question of an Australian republic.

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Home to the world’s largest cohort of Chinese law scholars outside China, the centre engages in research covering international business and economic law specific to the Australia–China trading corridor.

Visit CIBEL website

KLC is an award-winning community legal centre providing free legal advice, casework and community legal education to people who live, work or study locally. It also runs clinical legal education for UNSW students.

Visit KLC website

Empowering business, government and society to address the risks and opportunities of climate change through interdisciplinary research, partnerships and education.

Visit ICRR website

The Indigenous Law Centre is the premier Indigenous law research centre in Australia. It promotes the legal rights and freedoms of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

Visit ILC website

Affiliated centres

Our affiliated centres address major social challenges and public interest concerns. As independent organisations housed at UNSW Law & Justice, they work closely with UNSW staff and students in tackling social justice issues. 

The Australian Pro Bono Centre aims to grow the capacity of the Australian legal profession to provide pro bono legal services focused on increasing access to justice for disadvantaged and marginalised persons.

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The DTP is an independent NGO advancing human rights and civil society. Through courses, it develops the knowledge, skills and networks of human rights defenders in Australia, Asia and the Pacific. 

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Grata empowers Australians to create change by removing the financial barriers to court and integrating litigation with public campaigns for human rights, democracy and climate change.

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The Migrant Justice Institute undertakes strategic research and advocacy to achieve fair treatment, enforcement of rights and access to justice for migrant workers.

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RACS is a community legal centre and one of Australia’s leading refugee legal centres that provides expert legal advice to people seeking asylum and refugees.

Visit RACS

Youth Law Australia is a community legal service dedicated to providing free, confidential legal information and help for young people under 25 and their advocates.

Visit YLA

Research groups and networks

UNSW Law & Justice research groups and networks connect world-leading academics with areas of research strength within the faculty. They advance research and teaching, contributing to advocacy and public policy.

The mission of the Connected Waters Initiative Research Centre is to undertake the fundamental and applied research needed to improve our understanding of groundwater systems both nationally and internationally.

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The Environmental Law Group generates exceptional research aimed at addressing global environmental issues through evidence-based policymaking capable of ensuring a healthy and sustainable environment for current and future generations.

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Members of the International Law & Policy group work across diverse fields of international law. They bring a range of theoretical and methodological perspectives to their research, including interdisciplinary approaches.

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The Legal Education Group aims to further develop the academic understanding of legal education. It supports both experiential and theoretical enquiry and runs workshops on all aspects of the field.

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The Network for Interdisciplinary Studies of Law focuses on problems that draw insights from several disciplines. It maintains strong connections with other UNSW schools and faculties, and other institutions in Australia and internationally.

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Members of the UNSW Private Law Policy & Research Group undertake high-quality research which is at the forefront of commercial practice and founded on the continued pursuit of social justice.

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The Asia Law and Policy Forum aims to support research on law and policy in Southeast Asia. As well as building capacity, UNSW Law & Justice has comparative and country-specific expertise.

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The UNSW Initiative for Biolegality (IBL) is an innovative, interdisciplinary socio-legal research body. It examines the relationship between law and biosciences in the 21st century. It brings together scholars from law, forensics, criminology, biology, medicine, neuroscience, philosophy, bioethics and sociology.

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