About
NSW Law Reform Commission
The NSW Law Reform Commission provides legal policy
advice to Government on issues that are referred by the Student Opportunities
Attorney General (called "references"). NSWLRC prepare The NSWLRC run a four-week paid internship program
reports which comprehensively analyse the issues in July/August for one-two law students each year. The identified in the reference, and make recommendations program is available for students in their final year of to Government for legislative reform.
study.
When reviewing areas of the law NSWLRC seek to:
Interns work on projects of the NSWLRC and NSW
- Improve and modernise the law
- Simplify and consolidate the law
Sentencing Council.
- Remove inefficiencies and defects in the law
Depending on the reference interns can be involved
- Provide improved access to justice
consultation documents, assisting with consultation
- Repeal laws that are unnecessary and obsolete, and
in undertaking research, contributing to drafting processes, or helping draft reports. The Commission
To identify key issues with the law and areas for reform and Council credit the contribution of interns in their in a project, the Commission conducts intensive research published papers. including academic literature reviews and empirical
research where required. They engage with stakeholders, You can find more information here:
and legal and industry experts through consultations, https://www.lawreform.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/lrc/ and discuss ideas for reform in consultation papers or lrc_internship/Internship-main-page.aspx question papers, which are available to stakeholders and
the public to comment on through our website. Anyone Graduate Opportunities
can make a submission to the Commission on a reference. NSWLRC does not have a Graduate Program, but students
interested in their work should consider applying for the NSW Government Graduate Program, run by the NSW
What kind of work?
The process of making law reform recommendations Public Service Commission. includes:
Fun Fact / Recent Project
- Researching the law
- Conducting literature reviews -
Releasing
consultation
papers
which
Review of sexual consent laws
provide In response to the high-profile Lazarus case, the NSW
background information, discuss key issues, and present Attorney-General asked the NSWLRC to undertake a options for reform
review of sexual consent laws in NSW.
the law
The review was announced in 2018 and considered
- Review submissions to gauge what people think about
- Conduct face to face consultations with with members sexual assault research and expert opinion, as well as of the community who are affected by the law, interest community views, and developments in law, policy and groups, experts, NGOs, and Government agencies
practice in Australia and internationally.
Location
The final report was transmitted to the Attorney-General
Sydney
in September 2020.
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