As UNSW Law & Justice prepares to welcome the first cohort of Juris Doctor (JD) students to Parramatta, students can look forward to learning from some of Australia's leading legal academics without needing to travel across Sydney.
One of those academics is Dr Henry Kha, Senior Lecturer, family law expert and UNSW JD alumnus.
With experience spanning legal practice, the Family Court of Australia and leading universities across Australia and New Zealand, Dr Kha brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for helping students understand not just what the law is, but why it exists.
From the Family Court to the classroom
Dr Kha's expertise lies in family law, examining both its historical foundations and contemporary challenges.
After completing his JD at UNSW, Dr Kha worked as a solicitor and later as a legal associate in the Family Court of Australia before embarking on an academic career that has taken him to the University of Queensland, the University of Auckland and Macquarie University.
What continues to draw him to family law is its deeply human dimension.
"Family law is all about ordinary people going through extraordinary life events," Dr Kha says. "Family court judges are confronted with profound questions on philosophical values, particularly what makes for a good life."
Bringing law to life
For Dr Kha, legal education goes beyond memorising cases and legislation.
His teaching explores the historical, political and social context that shapes legal rules, helping students develop the critical thinking skills essential for legal practice.
"Understanding the background and reasoning behind the law is really important in developing critical analysis skills," he says. "The moments of epiphany that students experience when they have properly grasped legal concepts is a rewarding part of teaching."
Students can expect classes that connect legal principles with the real world, drawing on current events, practical examples and broader societal issues.
"I do my best to reify abstract concepts of law into a more tangible set of ideas by exploring the wider history, practical operations or cultural impacts of the law."
A new opportunity for Western Sydney
Dr Kha will be among the academics teaching from UNSW's new Parramatta campus, helping bring law studies closer to students living and working in the area.
He sees Parramatta as an exciting opportunity to expand access to legal education while enriching classroom discussions with the perspectives and experiences of Western Sydney students.
"Western Sydney students bring a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences that can cultivate a more dynamic understanding of the law," Dr Kha says.
"This will provide more study options, especially to those in Western Sydney, who can enjoy world-class legal education from the convenience of their local area."
Learning from leading legal minds
The new JD program will give students access to the same globally recognised UNSW legal education, taught by leading researchers and educators who are shaping legal thinking across Australia.
For prospective students living and working in Western Sydney, it offers a new way to access a UNSW legal education while remaining connected to their local community and professional networks.
And for Dr Kha, that's what makes the opportunity so exciting.
"It's important to keep an open mind and be willing to try something new."
Interested in studying law in Parramatta? Discover how UNSW's new Juris Doctor program is bringing world-class legal education to the heart of Western Sydney.