Australian Law Reform Commission

(ALRC)

Level 23, David Malcolm Justice Centre, 28 Barrack Street, Perth 6000

alrc.gov.au info@alrc.gov.au

What qualities does the ALRC look for in future graduates/ employees? Excellent legal research and writing skills, experience in policy development, the ability to synthesise complex information, and the capacity to contribute to work and within a team.

What is an interesting piece of work that the ALRC has recently engaged in? On April 2019, the Attorney-General issues Terms of Reference requesting the ALRC to conduct an inquiry into the Framework of Religious Exemptions in Anti-discrimination Legislation. The Terms of Reference were altered by the Attorney-General on 29 August 2019. On 2 March 2020 the Attorney-General amended the ALRC’s reporting deadline to be 12 months from the date the Religious Discrimination Bill is passed by Parliament. What are your student and graduate opportunities? How can individuals apply? The ALRC provides opportunities for current law students in their penultimate or final year to work alongside Commission members and legal staff as legal interns. Interns work on a voluntary basis and may work with the ALRC for a day a week for one semester, or for three weeks over the summer break. Internships provide an opportunity for students to increase their awareness of law reform issues while also allowing the ALRC to benefit from students’ research and writing skills. Interns are supervised by a staff member, and undertake research work determined by the needs of the ALRC.

What advice would you give students seeking to apply to the ALRC? The ALRC will only consider applications that address the selection criteria: • Strong legal research skills; • Ability to analyse and communicate complex information; • Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to write clear and concise documents, including research briefs and memos; • Ability to work independently with professional guidance; and • Work experience, or interest in, law reform and/ or social policy development.

What is the main focus of the ALRC? The ALRC is a federal agency operating under the Australian Law Reform Commission Act 1996 (Cth), and the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). The ALRC conducts inquiries – also known as references into area of law at the request of the AttorneyGeneral of Australia. Based on its research and consultations throughout an inquiry, the ALRC makes recommendations to government so that government can make informed decisions about law reform.