ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS IN THE ALTERNATIVE PATHWAYS IN THE LEGAL FIELD: WORKING IN LEGAL FIELD: WORKING IN ACADEMIA ACADEMIA

Shiri Krebs is a Professor of Law at Deakin University, who won the Researcher of the Year Award in the Women in Law Awards 2022 for her work in Law and Technology

Why did you choose to study law?

When I was young, I actually wanted to be a teacher, but growing up in an area divided by war and conflict shifted my attention to international and human rights law as a means to affect change in the world

When I was in High School, it became clear to me that I wanted to study law and use it as a tool for social change I was very politically active during my High School years At first, mainly from a feminist perspective: I was bothered by all kinds of systemic differences between boys and girls at school, including classes and sports offerings, and fought for equality

Growing up in Israel, there was always the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in the background, which got me interested in Human Rights and International Law I knew I wanted to use law to advance political goals

I studied law and international relations because I wanted to be involved in peace-building

I thought of Law as the tool or mechanism for change, and International Relation provided a deeper understanding of international politics

Why did you choose academia as opposed to private practice?

I always thought that private practice would be too limiting for my main areas of interest I also didn’t think about academia when I went into law Instead, I was passionate about human rights’ activism or an influential legal work within government bodies or the judiciary

I started off working at the High Court of Israel First as an intern and later as legal advisor to the Chief Justice After five years at the Court, I decided to pursue doctorate studies to be able to focus on issues I was passionate about rather than be constrained by institutional bureaucracy and structures

I worked for a few months at the Israeli Democracy Institute developing policy papers on human rights and counterterrorism, and then I moved to the United States to begin my doctorate studies at Stanford

Whilst working on my doctorate research,

I thought at first that I would return to Israel following my studies to practice international law in a government setting or an NGO

But I fell in love with the freedom that sometimes comes with academic research: the creativity and possibility to work on problems you find important I also enjoy teaching and the opportunity to work with many people from diverse backgrounds and interests Unlike serving as a legal advisor to a Justice of the High Court, in Academia, you write in your own voice, raising your opinions and focusing on what you see as important This type of work felt right for me, and I wanted to continue doing it So when I finished my doctorate, I found my way to Deakin

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is the impact of what I do. Part of this impact is through teaching and one-on-one interactions with students Another part is through my publications and the difference they make in the world

For example, one of my recent research projects examines the effects of predictive technologies on preventing counter-terrorism processes I have been invited to deliver presentations and workshops on my research findings to senior military leaders and lawyers in the Australian Defence Force as well as the United States military I was also invited to brief members of the United Nations Security Council about my research at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in March 2023, which was a unique opportunity to influence global conversations and United Nations resolutions in this area of counterterrorism

It has been rewarding to see this research being adopted by decision-makers in Australia and internationally, making a difference in the world

What is the most challenging aspect of your career?

The most challenging part of being an academic is dealing with rejection and failure. It’s all about you and it always feels personal You put yourself out there, and sometimes you ’ re successful but more often you are unsuccessful Every time you get a rejection for a paper or a grant it triggers self-doubt When things do go your way, it feels wonderful But, the next day there is another rejection, like an emotional rollercoaster

I am, of course, very grateful for the successes that come along: this year has been particularly positive for me and for my research, gaining international recognition and seeing my research adopted at the highest levels At the same time, I continue to get rejections and these continue to feel personal The important thing is not to get distracted by those rejections and not to lose confidence in yourself

What is the best way to cope with rejection?

I don’t think there is a best way to cope with rejection

Everyone is different For me, I let it sink in for a day or two (or a week )

I let myself feel the disappointment and hurt And then I let it go and plan my next move, learning from the experience, taking what I can from it, and using it to improve my work

What is your advice for future students interested in Pursuing a Career in Academia?

Be creative, be imaginative, and believe in yourself and in your ideas Find someone to mentor you, someone who can support your work, read and provide comments and advice The honours program is probably the most direct pathway into Academia

What would you do differently in your legal journey?

I don’t think I would do anything differently in my legal journey If you change one detail, everything else can change as well Whatever mistakes and wrong turns I took, I am very happy where it landed me, and I wouldn’t want to jeopardise that

Do you like working in Australia as an Academic as opposed to other Countries?

Comparing it to the US, I find a better work-life balance in Australia In my experience, the work rhythm in the US can be much more intense I also like the outdoors and wildlife in Australia, and find much of my inspiration while hiking and exploring nature

What was it like winning the Researcher of the Year award in 2022?

Winning this award was almost surreal, at a very big and loud event, where you find out if you won or not in real time which was unique It has been particularly meaningful for me, as it is an industry award, recognising the significance of my work in my profession and professional community

This award was especially meaningful for me, as a new member of Australian academia (having been in Australia for only five years) It made me feel that I am where I should be, that I belong and that my work is appreciated and respected

Did you feel that being a woman made your journey in academia more challenging?

I think I was lucky in my journey to not be openly or meaningfully discriminated against I always had female (and male) mentors and supervisors, who had my back and provided useful advice There are always more minor incidents and criticisms you only receive as a woman (for example, being perceived as aggressive or too loud) But I never let that stop me; it only made me louder… While some doors did shut, others opened It’s important to use negative experiences to feed your drive and to motivate you to open other doors

In my area, which is military decision making, I was often the only woman in the room; an experience that can be uncomfortable Today, I bring that to the attention of the organisers at any event that do not have equal gender representation and often condition my participation by having appropriate gender representation of both presenters and keynote speakers