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Call for Submissions to the University of New South Wales Law Journal Issue 45(1)

21 Apr 2021

First 2022 Thematic: ‘Abuse of Power’

The UNSW Law Journal is currently welcoming submissions for the thematic component of Issue 45(1). The topic for this thematic component is ‘Abuse of Power’.

Over the past 12 months, COVID-19 has, justifiably, been the main focus of legal and popular discourse within Australia. However, as we begin to emerge from the pandemic and re-evaluate our legal system, we are increasingly uncovering abuses of power by both private and government bodies. These include sexual assault allegations within Australia’s own Parliament House and findings of sexual harassment within the High Court, wage theft of vulnerable and migrant workers, the stripping of funding to the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), and the increased spotlight on Indigenous deaths in custody.

One of the primary responsibilities of the law is to hold those in power to account, and ensure such power is not misused. The volume and seriousness of recent abuses raises the question of whether the law is sufficiently fulfilling this imperative function. Issue 45(1) aims to answer this question, shedding light on contemporary abuses of power both seen and unseen that impact the lives of everyday Australians. In light of this, the Journal invites contributions that explore how the law both facilitates and responds to abuses of power.

The submission deadline for the thematic Issue 45(1) is 3 September 2021. Publication of Issue 45(1) is set for late March 2022. Any changes to these deadlines will be indicated on the Journal’s website.

Articles for print publication in the Journal must be between 7,000 and 13,000 words in length (excluding footnotes). The style guide for the Journal is the current edition of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation, available online, and as supplemented by the latest edition of the Journal’sAdditions’.

If you are interested in, or have any queries about, submitting for Issue 45(1), please contact the Journal at law.journal@unsw.edu.au.