Mission, vision and strategic plan 

School of Law and Justice 2016 - 2021

Academic Rigour Critical Thinking Ethically Engaged Practice Ready

Southern Cross UniversitySchool of Law and Justice(SLJ) offers �lexible andpioneering modes of delivery,a diverse array of academic,professional andparaprofessional lawprogrammes and a strongsense of communityengagement. Its overarchingmission is the academicallyrigorous education of highlyskilled and inclusive legalprofessionals who are criticalthinkers, practice ready, andinformed by the highestethical standards of conduct.

As global thought leaders intheir respective �ields, theSLJ’s intellectually diversefaculty members create anddisseminate innovative legalknowledges that haveinterdisciplinary breadth,analytic depth and socialrelevance.

In so doing, the SLJ instils itsstudents with a passion forthe Rule of Law, human rightsand the realisation of socialjustice.

As a sustainable and engagededucational organisation, theSLJ makes a signi�icant andlasting wider contribution —both practical and theoretical— to the serious legal issuesconfronting twenty �irstcentury Australia, the Asia-Paci�ic region, and the world.The SLJ aims to be a leader incritical, cultural and clinicallegal studies, both nationallyand internationally.

The School of Law & Justiceat Southern CrossUniversity: a law schoolwith a difference thatmakes a difference.

scu.edu.au/law

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Our Vision

Our vision of the SLJ is ...

a vibrant and intellectually rich centreof internationally recognised research,writing and debate, attractingoutstanding scholars who, as globalthought leaders, will produce anddisseminate innovative legalknowledges with theoretical andpractical impact;

• An exciting, rigorous, innovative andthought-provoking educationalenvironment that instils in its studentsthe capacity for, and love of activelifelong learning and critical thinking inline with the highest academic,professional and ethical standards;

• A ‘best practice’ model for progressive,forward-looking legal professional andcommunity engagement that, in itsnetworks, linkages and collaborations,foregrounds and promotes the Rule ofLaw, human rights, and social andenvironmental justice.

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Our Values

The values that inform theSLJ are:

A dedication to robust academicvalues, and the primacy of rigorous,interdisciplinary and socially relevantresearch;

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The support for an educationalapproach that takes student learningseriously, encouraging independentthought and critical capacity to thehighest academic, ethical andprofessional standards;

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A commitment to the law as aninstrument of social and environmentaljustice and positive institutionalchange, respecting and advancingdifference, multiculturalism and FirstPeoples;

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A pledge that law school governance isopen, transparent and consensus-driven;

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The conviction that access to legaleducation is merit-based, attracting arich diversity of staff and students;

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The commitment to advancing andsustaining close connections andcollaborations with local, national,regional and international academicand professional communities that willfurther empower society byprogressing social justice and positivechange through law.

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Students

The SLJ is committed toproviding a dynamic learningenvironment that engages,through a range ofinnovative and �lexiblepedagogic modes, a richdiversity of students to thinkcritically and independentlyabout law’s doctrinal,clinical, policy andjurisprudential contexts,thereby enabling them tobecome socially responsiblelegal experts committed toprofessional excellence andthe highest ethicalstandards.

Goals

To ensure the SLJ’s curriculumcontinues to establish best practice innational and international legaleducation, attracts robust studentenrolments, promotes social andenvironmental justice, and inspiresstudents to learn and understand thelaw rigorously, critically andenthusiastically.

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To develop and maintain, throughoutits teaching calendar and the SLJ’sSummer/Winter School offerings,distinctive and dynamic online, clinical,postgraduate and continuingprofessional education programs thatare academically sound and �inanciallyviable.

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To develop and support the SLJ HigherDegree Research (HDR) cohort and berecognised as a national, regional andinternational leader in HDR scholarshipand practice.

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To continue to improve teachingquality and student satisfaction levels,and maintain high student retentionrates.

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To develop a strong and robust clinicallegal program that meets the needs ofon campus and online students.

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To create a lively and enjoyable cultureof learning and camaraderie amongstSLJ students, both inside and outsidethe classroom, including mooting,seminars, masterclasses, networkingevents, social and other culturalactivities.

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To promote diverse graduatedestinations by providing academicand professional team support toinform, advise and prepare students forprofessional and/or communityplacements.

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To continue to attract international anddomestic students to the SLJ whore�lect the diversity of Australia as amulticultural society.

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Research

The SLJ is committed tomaintaining an intellectuallyvibrant and conceptuallyrigorous environmentfostering internationallyrecognised research that isinnovative, critical,interdisciplinary and sociallyrelevant at local and globallevels.

Goals

To support and strengthen world-classresearch activity that will position theSLJ as a research-driven law school,celebrated for its scholarly diversity,quality and quantum.

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To attract, appoint and retain highlyregarded researchers of internationalreputation.

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To increase and diversify researchincome.

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To ensure that academic staff areresearch-active by providing supportto achieve full capacity.

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To achieve a 4 (or better) in ‘law andlegal studies’ in the next ERA round.

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To enhance the quality of the SLJ’sresearch publications.

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To support the SLJ’s law review as anoutlet for rigorous critical legalscholarship, and to ensure it remainssustainable, by rebranding and linkingit with a major academic organisationand global publisher.

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To continue to generate, build andcelebrate the SLJ’s research culturethrough a variety of seminar, lecture,masterclass, visitor, resident andadjunct programs that engage theacademic and larger community.

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To foster intellectual curiosity andcollaboration through strategies suchas reading groups, writing syndicatesand study circles that build researchcapacity and yield research results.

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Community Engagement

The SLJ is committed tobuilding and sustainingstrong and productive linkswith the local, national,regional and internationalcommunity.

Goals

To ensure that the SLJ retains anddevelops committed partnerships in arange of national, regional andinternational organisations andnetworks pertaining to legal educationand legal scholarship.

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To grow and strengthen links with thelegal profession, industry and otherpartners, developing robust and vitalcollaborations.

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To build a viable clinical legaleducation program for the SLJ,developing sustainable opportunitiesfor student and staff engagementthrough service and scholarship. 

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To bolster connections with alumni,establishing networks that willdisseminate information, buildcommunity, strengthen studentplacement rates and encourage givingback to the SLJ.

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To foster partnerships and growlinkages with secondary schools andother educational providers with a viewto attracting a rich diversity ofstudents.

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Sustainability

The SLJ is committed toensuring its long-term�inancial, social, educationaland environmentalsustainability.

Goals

To maintain a balanced budget andcontinue to be a �iscally responsibleschool within the university by hostingeconomically viable programs thatattract robust student enrolments.

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To diversify the income streams of theSLJ.

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To amplify and enhance the SLJ’sresearch, teaching and servicepresence on the Gold Coast, as well asthroughout the Northern Rivers.

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To ensure that the pace of growth, size,ratio and resources of the SLJ areappropriately calibrated to support andenhance a strong research culture andan active teaching and learningenvironment.

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To create and maintain a healthy,attractive and environmentallyresponsible setting for the SLJ staff andstudents, paying particular attention toissues of emotional well-being,physical plant upkeep and energyconservation.

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Staff

The SLJ is committed torecruiting, retaining andsupporting high-performingacademic and professionalstaff.

Goals

To put in place an e�icient andworkable governance structure for theSLJ, creating and sustaining a collegialculture of integrity, openness,transparency and consensus.

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To equitably distribute servicepositions and portfolios amongacademic staff so as to share fairly themanagement of the SLJ.

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To review regularly academic andprofessional staff performance in linewith existing collective agreementsand standard university practices.

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To provide development opportunitiesfor academic and professional staff.

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To progress the recruitment, retentionand promotion of domestic andinternational, professional andacademic staff who re�lect the diversityof Australia as a multicultural society.

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The School of Law and Justice: A law school with a difference, that makes a difference!

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scu.edu.au