Challenging government: Law reform and public advocacy

This unit examines the law, policy and practice of law reform and public advocacy. How are laws and
government policies really developed? What can citizens do if they want laws and government policies to change? And how does the law both enable and limit the ability of citizens to advocate for legal and policy change?
This unit examines institutions, mechanisms and limitations of law reform and public advocacy. Issues are looked at from the perspectives of both lawmakers and citizen advocates. Topics may include the role of politicians, parliamentary committees, and law reform commissions; the place of petitions, protests and strategic litigation in the law reform and policy change process; and the various laws that operate to regulate public advocacy and citizen participation in lawmaking and policy development.
The unit will be especially relevant for students interested in legal and non-legal careers in the public sector, politics, and the NGO sector.