Strategies to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access and complete an undergraduate law degree
RIS ID
143485
Abstract
The underrepresentation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian legal profession needs further investigation. There are many possible reasons for this underrepresentation. One may be that not every law student wants to become a lawyer. However, another may relate to the lack of support from Australian law schools for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access and complete a law degree. This article focuses on the latter reason and considers how Australian law schools may better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to choose law as their area of study and to remain enrolled in the degree. It synthesises existing knowledge about factors that affect an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person's decision to enrol in and complete a law degree, and outlines options for law schools working together with Indigenous support centres and local Elders to facilitate better retention and increased performance outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander law students.
Publication Details
K. Lingard, E. Marchetti & T. Kelly, 'Strategies to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access and complete an undergraduate law degree' (2019) 22 (3-4) Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues 89-109.