NSW Law Reform Commission

NSW Law Reform Commission

About

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 Sentencing Council. - Simplify and consolidate the law - Remove inefficiencies and defects in the law Depending on the reference interns can be involved - Repeal laws that are unnecessary and obsolete, and in undertaking research, contributing to drafting - Provide improved access to justice consultation documents, assisting with consultation 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 What kind of work? NSW Government Graduate Program, run by the NSW The process of making law reform recommendations Public Service Commission. includes: - Researching the law Fun Fact / Recent Project - Conducting literature reviews Review of sexual consent laws - Releasing consultation papers which 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. - Review submissions to gauge what people think about the law The review was announced in 2018 and considered - 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

Sydney processes, or helping draft reports. The Commission interested in their work should consider applying for the The final report was transmitted to the Attorney-General in September 2020.