an academic in law reform land—and how you, too, can play a part

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AN ACADEMIC IN LAW REFORM LAND—AND HOW

YOU, TOO, CAN PLAY A PART

Professor Rosalind F CroucherPresident, ALRC

Law reforming

• what drives law reform?• the process of law reforming• the process of writing• the law reform process and you

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WHO AND WHAT DRIVE

LAW REFORM

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Mo

der

nis

ing

5Original Public Record Copy (1900).

Courtesy of the Parliament House Art Collection, Art Services Parliament House.

Fed

eral

sys

tem

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Tech

no

log

y

7

Get

tin

g s

tuck

• Parliament• joint ministerial councils• departmental committees• Administrative Review Council• Family Law Council• Royal Commissions• other ad hoc bodies• law reform commissions

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Get

tin

g u

nst

uck

9Portrait of Jeremy Bentham, Henry William Pickersgill (1782–1875). National Portrait Gallery, London: NPG 413.

Ben

tham

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Jeremy Bentham's "Auto-Icon" at University College London.

Ben

tham

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THE PROCESS OFLAW REFORMING

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Pro

cess

Brisbane

Mackay

Perth

Darwin

Alice Springs

Sydney

Melbourne

Hobart

Adelaide Canberra

Wagga Wagga

Dandenong

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Co

nsu

ltat

ion

Family Violence inquiry 2009-2010

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THE PROCESS OFWRITING

• Conceptual framework• House style• Rigorous editing

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Pro

cess

of

wri

tin

g

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Pri

vacy

Rep

ort

Commissioner, Professor Les McCrimmon

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Pri

vacy

Rep

ort

Privacy Report ready for dispatch, 2008

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Tow

ard

s a

new

sty

le

• Background• Methods• Research• Findings• Conclusion• Recommendation

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Nar

rati

ve s

tyle

• Summarise the ‘story’• Key facts• Supporting detail

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Tele

sco

pin

g

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Tow

ard

s a

new

sty

le

Report – plus Summary reports

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Sty

le t

ips • Abstracts

• Headings• Short sentences

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Rig

oro

us

edit

ing Not another

decorative apostrophe!!

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Rig

oro

us

edit

ing

How can you help?• suggestions of people to speak to (you?)• subscribe to our e-newsletters• encouraging/writing submissions• suggesting ALRC presentations at relevant

seminars/forums• spreading the word!

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Law

ref

orm

& y

ou

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A lasting and pervasive contribution to law

reform .....

En

du

rin

g n

atu

re

The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG Chairman, ALRC, 1975-1984

Now it’s your turn!

YOUR COMMISSION NEEDS

Law

ref

orm

& y

ou

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For further information about ALRC work, copies of speeches and presentations

• ALRC website – all papers, reports available online (free): www.alrc.gov.au• Email: info@alrc.gov.au

• GPO Box 3708, Sydney 2001