AustLII Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback

University of New South Wales Law Journal

Faculty of Law, UNSW
You are here:  AustLII >> Databases >> University of New South Wales Law Journal >> 2019 >> [2019] UNSWLawJl 1

Database Search | Name Search | Recent Articles | Noteup | LawCite | Author Info | Download | Help

Kneebone, Eloise --- "Editorial" [2019] UNSWLawJl 1; (2019) 42(1) UNSW Law Journal 1


EDITORIAL

ELOISE KNEEBONE[*]

The launch of Issue 42(1) of the University of New South Wales Law Journal (‘Journal’) marks the one year anniversary of the Journal’s shift to publishing three entirely general issues and one thematic issue each year.[1] This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect upon the past year for the Journal, which has seen a number of successes well beyond the new publication structure.

In the past 12 months, the Journal has launched a new website; established the UNSW Law Journal Forum to publish short-form, current, scholarly pieces online; and had one article go ‘viral’ online[2] – perhaps a first for the Journal. It has also been an exciting year for legal citation across the country, with the release of the fourth edition of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation late in 2018.

In the spirit of Lynch and Williams’ much-loved annual study of the High Court published in the Journal,[3] a few statistics from the past year also shed some light on the year that has been for the Journal.

The four issues of the Journal published in 2018 included 43 articles. The articles published covered a wide array of legal issues. From Journal-favourite topics of constitutional and criminal law; to more niche areas of coronial law and the role of artificial intelligence in judicial decision-making; to highly topical issues of Indigenous constitutional recognition and the wellbeing of lawyers; there have been a plethora of insightful, diverse articles published in the Journal.

The Journal increased the number of articles it published in each issue over the course of 2018, reflecting the large number of high-quality articles submitted to the Journal. In total, the Journal published 43 articles in 2018, making it one of the largest leading generalist legal publications in Australia.

These 43 articles were authored by academics across Australia. In the four issues from Volume 41, there were authors from over 15 different universities in Australia and worldwide, alongside one sitting Judge, one retired Judge, two practicing solicitors and one barrister.

These figures provide some insight into what a busy and exciting year it has been for the Journal.

Issue 42(1) is no exception to these statistics. In this Issue we have 12 exceptional articles from 16 different authors. These articles cover a wide range of topics: the nature of a court of law; an alternative model of understanding implied constitutional rights; the gendered nature of privacy laws; family hardship as a mitigating factor in sentencing; anti-discrimination law; migration pathways for frontline care workers; employment standards for temporary migrants in Australian the horticulture industry; international taxation policy; superannuation fund governance; and Australia’s financial system external dispute resolution framework.

In addition, we are honoured to publish an article written by The Hon Justice Michelle Gordon on the topic of the judicial development of the common law by reference to statute. Her Honour will provide the keynote address at the Launch of Issue 42(1) on the same topic. We are very grateful for Her Honour’s time, and for her insight in this article.

I am incredibly proud of the calibre of the articles that are in Issue 42(1), and very thankful to all the authors for entrusting the Journal with the editing and publication of their articles. It has been a real pleasure to work with all of you.

There were many people that worked incredibly hard behind the scenes for this Issue, and to whom I wish to pass on my sincere gratitude.

First, the Journal is greatly indebted to the work of all the anonymous peer reviewers who are so generous with their time. As a student-run journal, we are reliant on the opinions of experienced scholars on all articles submitted to the Journal, and the well-considered reviews we receive ensure that the Journal is able to continue to publish high quality legal academia.

We are, as always, incredibly grateful for the support of the Journal’s three Premier sponsors: Herbert Smith Freehills, King & Wood Mallesons, and Allens. A special thanks to Herbert Smith Freehills who are kindly hosting the launch of Issue 42(1).

The Journal is very proud of the fact that it is a student-run publication. For this to occur, we rely on the support and dedication of many people at UNSW. I am indebted to the support of the Journal’s faculty advisers, Professor Rosalind Dixon and Professor Gary Edmond, whose formidable intellect and thoughtful advice were a source of immense comfort throughout my time as Issue Editor. I also thank Professor George Williams AO and the UNSW Law Faculty, whose ongoing support of the Journal is greatly appreciated.

And of course, the Journal would not be the same without the high calibre of student editors who are involved with the Editorial Board. Editing an article whilst juggling the commitments of university, part-time work and life can be a gruelling task, and the UNSW Law Journal is incredibly lucky to have a group of highly dedicated, skilful and enthusiastic editors. To the rest of the Executive of the Journal, thank you for your hard work and endless encouragement throughout the past year. It has been an immense pleasure to work with so many people that I am honoured to call my friends. I am especially grateful to have worked with such dedicated and competent Executive Editors – Lachlan and Anne, thank you for your patience, guidance and leadership.

And finally, to my friends and family, you have been an immense source of support throughout the past year (and well beyond that). Thank you for listening to the endless conversations about the Journal, for your time, patience, and for the reminders that ‘nobody even reads the footnotes anyway’ when the Australian Guide to Legal Citation had no answers. I am endlessly grateful that I am surrounded by so many caring, funny, intelligent people who I am so lucky to have in my life.


[*] Editor, Issue 42(1), 2019.

[1] For further information, see Rose Vassel, ‘Editorial’ [2018] UNSWLawJl 1; (2018) 41 University of New South Wales Law Journal 1. Prior to 2018, the Journal published four Issues per year, with each Issue including a thematic and general component.

[2] Terry Carney, ‘The New Digital Future for Welfare: Debts Without Legal Proofs or Moral Authority?’ [2018] No 1 University of New South Wales Law Journal Forum; as discussed in media reports including: Christopher Knaus, ‘Expert Attacks Centrelink Robo-Debt and “Moral Bankruptcy” that Allows It’, The Guardian (online), 18 December 2018 <https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/18/expert-attacks-centrelink-robo-debt-and-moral-bankruptcy-that-allows-it>; Cameron Houston and Chris Vedelago, ‘Top QC Slams Centrelink’s Robo-Debt Program as “Elaborate Sham”’, Sydney Morning Herald (online), 2 December 2018 <https://www.smh.com.au/national/top-qc-slams-centrelink-s-robo-debt-program-as-elaborate-sham-20181202-p50jos.html>; ABC Radio National, ‘Review Argues there’s No Legal Foundation for Australia’s Robo-Debt System’, RN Drive, 5 April 2018 (Patricia Karvelas) <https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/review-argues-theres-no-legal-foundation-for-australias-robod/9623996>.

[3] For a full list of articles published in this series, see the Appendix in Andrew Lynch and George Williams, ‘The High Court on Constitutional Law: The 2017 Statistics’ [2018] UNSWLawJl 39; (2018) 41 University of New South Wales Law Journal 1134, 1157–8.


AustLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback
URL: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/UNSWLawJl/2019/1.html