Should Those with Criminal Records be Allowed to Become Teachers?
Can someone become a teacher with a criminal record? Like many legal questions, the short answer is: it depends. Many of us have made mistakes over the years, but what if one mistake could mean you were now ineligible for...
Should Victims Have More Say in Penalty?
In the US, prosecutors are pushing for the death penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the man convicted of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and the sentencing process has already started. But the parents of an eight-year-old victim of the bombing have...
Would You Pay Someone to Take on Your Demerit Points?
Social media reaches into almost every aspect of our lives these days, and it has proven to be both useful and dangerous. It offers a great deal of convenience, but at the same time it has the potential to land...
Should We Have Specialist Courts For War Veterans?
The 25th of April 2015 commemorated 100 years since allied soldiers, including Australians and New Zealanders, attempted to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. The brave soldiers were met with fierce resistance, and over 44,000 allied soldiers were killed, including...
Should We Raise the Legal Drinking Age?
What’s a ‘normal’ Friday night out in Sydney like? A typical Sydneysider might describe a bustling flurry of movement and excitement as people flock to the many pubs, bars and clubs - even now that lockout laws are in full...
Lawyers and Vicarious Trauma in the Legal System
Being a lawyer is not as easy as some people might think. It is a job that, like many others, can be intellectually, physically and emotionally challenging. The job of a criminal defence lawyer requires long hours, a gruelling workload...
Do Police Have to Meet Arrest Quotas?
If you’ve ever worked in retail or sales, you’ve probably been required to meet sales targets or quotas. Sales targets are often used in the retail industry to assess whether an individual is performing up to scratch, and to encourage...
Should Police and Media be Charged for Dangerous Leaks?
In January, six terrified people hid in the cool room of a Paris supermarket while a gunman prowled around the store, planning his next move. The gunman had already killed four people and taken others hostage. He didn’t know that...
Can Someone be Charged For Spreading a Sexually Transmitted Infection?
It’s a conversation no-one wants to have with a prospective partner - but did you know that failing to disclose a sexually transmitted infection (STI) could land you in serious trouble with the law? Offences under the Public Health Act...
Do Bouncers Need Better Training?
An inquest into the death of a man manhandled by bouncers at Crown Casino in Melbourne has given rise to the question of whether or not bouncers have enough training, and whether industry regulations are being adequately enforced. Anthony Dunning...
