Law School PACE program

The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is Australia's primary securities exchange.  It is an integrated exchange offering listings, trading, clearing, settlement, technical and information services, technology, data and other post-trade services. ASX acts as a market operator, clearing house and payments system facilitator. It oversees compliance with its operating rules, promotes standards of corporate governance among Australia’s listed companies and helps to educate retail investors.

PACE projects with the ASX involved directed research into a specific aspect of ASX business, with a focus on product listings and governance of listed products. Students work collectively to produce a report document and slideshow presentation for the ASX and build their independent research skills as well as their presentation and professional communication skills.

Foodbank is Australia’s largest food relief organisation, operating on a scale that makes it crucial to the work of the front-line charities who are feeding vulnerable Australians. Foodbank provides more than 70% of the food rescued for food relief organisations nation-wide.

PACE projects with Foodbank involved students researching world best-practice in reporting against the Foodbank policy on ethical sourcing of food and non-food items from Australia and overseas suppliers. The policy covers the following issues: environmental, anti-slavery, workplace conditions, consumer protection and supply chain. Students were to create a simple but meaningful and effective reporting framework to enable Foodbank to assess the compliance of the sourcing partner and also celebrate and promote where the partner is doing the right thing.

Tech4Justice is world first award winning student run lab developing legal technology aimed at increasing access to justice. The Lab is run in the style of a legal tech start-up and is a  collaboration between Macquarie University, the National Justice Project, international commercial law firm K&L Gates and Australian legal tech firm Josef.

PACE projects with Tech4Justice have given students experience working in a legal tech start-up environment, building chatbots that help users make discrimination complaints, not only to make complaint-making more accessible for individuals, but also to harness the potential of complaints as a tool for combatting systemic discrimination in Australia. Students receive training in using no-code bot-building software and gain skills in legal technology, design thinking, independent legal problem solving, project management and innovation.

The Land and Environment Court of New South Wales is the first specialist environmental superior court in the world. It was established on 1 September 1980 by the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW). The Court’s jurisdiction includes merits review, judicial review, civil enforcement, criminal prosecution, criminal appeals and civil claims concerning planning, environmental, land, mining and other legislation

PACE projects with The Land and Environment Court of New South Wales involved students, under the supervision of a Land and Environment Court Commissioner, undertaking activities including induction and court officer training; accompanying Judges and/or Commissioners to a conciliation conference, and court hearing; Registry activities, including filing documents, taking fees, updating records and dealing with enquiries from court users; research activities for the Commissioners, Registrar, LEC website and newsletter.

Thomson Geer is a leading national commercial law firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Perth. The firm has approximately 560 partners and staff nationally, and offers a dynamic, friendly, and professional work environment.

PACE projects with Thomson Geer have involved students analysing complex legal problems and developing critical skills for a career in the law, including analytical, drafting, oral communication and problem-solving skills, in the following areas: Employment, Property, Dispute Resolution, Corporate, and Banking & Finance.

FIH delivers pioneering analysis and actionable ideas in the fight against financial crime. FIH research equips Australia and the international community with the knowledge, tools and insights to understand, identify and disrupt the threats of illicit finance. FIH drives change through our partnership-based approach and viable solutions.

Established in 1996, the GRC Institute's (GRCI) vision is that all organisations have access to suitably qualified compliance risk managers. GRCI is the industry body for compliance risk management professionals and achieve their objectives by delivering exceptional education, resources and advocacy and supporting the integrity of businesses and the market.

PACE projects with FIH and GRCI have involved Students working with GRCI and member organisations (such as Westpac, ANZ, AIA and Deloitte), to identify, and assess the impact of the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regime under ‘Tranche II’ on the property sector in Australia. The project involved looking into the two recommendations the federal government made: the cost on real estate agencies and their capacity to meet reporting obligations.

Students also assisted GRCI and FIH in developing a context-specific “toolkit” to provide guidance to the real estate industry on compliance with the Australian legal regime. Moreover, students had the opportunity to collaborate with industry experts to assist with drafting best practice.

Wallumatta Legal is a not-for-profit family law firm on campus at Macquarie University, set up in collaboration with Macquarie Law School and DLA Piper. It provides low-cost tech-enabled family law advice to members of the community who are not eligible for legal aid or pro bono services but are not readily able to pay the prevailing market rates for private practice law firms.

PACE projects with Wallumatta Legal have involved students receiving practical hands-on legal experience assisting clients in the family law space, experience in using cutting edge legal technology and undertaking legal and commercial research tasks.

Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) provides critical free legal advice, assistance and representation for financially disadvantaged and vulnerable people seeking asylum in Australia, including women who have experienced or who fear domestic, family or gender-based violence; members of the LGBTIQA+ community; stateless people; children who are seeking protection without their parents; and people seeking family reunion in Australia.

PACE Projects with RACS involved students working under the supervision of a senior lawyer from RACS, assisting with casework and undertaking background research.

The National Justice Project (NJP) was established by Adjunct Professor George Newhouse and Lt Col (ret) Dan Mori. Through court work, research, training and strategic advocacy, NJP uses legal skills to build a fairer justice system and more equitable society. NJP is committed to ensuring that every has the right to equal access and status under the law. It works collaboratively with its community partners to identify systemic injustice and with individuals to run test cases. NJP’s long-term goal is to bring change to systemic problems of abuse and discrimination.

PACE projects with NJP have involved students assisting Adjunct Professor George Newhouse with his caseload from the NJP, of which he is the Principal Solicitor. Students work on real-world social justice and strategic litigation cases, undertaking a range of activities including legal research, and writing, client interviewing and legal and non-legal advocacy.

Bahay Tuluyan is a children’s rights organisation working to prevent and respond to abuse and violence against children. This is achieved through dynamic collaboration with and empowerment of children, youth, families, and the community. Bahay Tuluyan is committed to building a world where all child’s rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled. Bahay Tuluyan is a founding member of the Network Against Killings in the Philippines (NAKPHIL) and is helping to document cases of killings as part of its human rights monitoring activities.

PACE Projects with Bahay Tuluyan have provided a continuation of a project commenced by Macquarie Law students and involve populating a database using supplied media reports of violence against children, and analysing trends and making recommendations to prepare a group report for the partner organisation.

Legal Aid NSW provides legal services to disadvantaged clients across NSW in most areas of criminal, family, and civil law. Legal Aid NSW also assists people experiencing domestic and family violence.

The Immigration Service is a specialist service of Legal Aid NSW. The Immigration Service gives free independent advice about most family, refugee, and humanitarian visas; temporary visas including bridging visas and visitor visas; resident return visas; and Australian citizenship.

PACE Projects with Legal Aid NSW have involved students working with the Immigration Service at Legal Aid NSW, taking client instructions, and assisting with triage, assisting with casework, and undertaking background research. The focus has been on visa cancellations, judicial review of migration decisions and refugee law

WISDOM Collective was founded with the purpose of creating safe workplaces that women want to be a part of, and where women are empowered to demonstrate their capabilities and realise their potential.

Sport Services Australia’s (SSA) purpose is to enable Australian sporting organisations to thrive, by establishing the foundations to operate effectively and efficiently. SSA partners with sports organisations to help build capability and navigate the complexities of the sporting sector, including Government agencies.

PACE Projects with WISDOM Collective and SSA have involved students exploring a contemporary issue at the intersection of sports law, policy, and governance. Students produce a report which describes, analyses, and evaluates the issue, and provides recommendations and resources which can be utilised by sport stakeholders to evaluate and improve existing laws, policies, and practices.

HAQ - Centre for Child Rights works towards the recognition, promotion and protection of rights of all children. It aims to look at the child in an integrated manner within the framework of the Constitution of India, and the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, which India ratified in 1992, and contribute to the building of an environment where every child’s rights are recognised and promoted without discrimination

PACE projects with HAQ have involved students working as a group on research projects related to the legal protection of children in India. The projects have required students to research comparative legal systems and policies to identify current practice in India and best practice in other jurisdictions; including instances of children who go missing, application of the UNCRC, psychological assessments of children in conflict with the law, children as victims of crime, forensic assessment of juveniles, and balancing punitive and rehabilitative approaches to juvenile justice.