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Research

Join our supportive law research community

Whether you're interested in corporate governance, crime, constitutional law, international law or any of the major fields in law, you'll find scholars committed to working in the discipline. Work with us to get the skills you need to complete a rigorous and exciting PhD.

Choose Deakin for law research

Deakin Law School offers a stimulating environment in which to undertake research in a range of legal fields. Our research informs law reform, public debate and is published in Australia and internationally. It also informs our teaching, course design and content. Our research complies with relevant guidelines governing privacy and ethical conduct.

Research strengths

Our research scope is wide, covering:
  • anti-discrimination law
  • administrative law
  • corporate governance
  • crime and criminal justice
  • cyber security
  • data and the law
  • energy and natural resource law
  • health law
  • intellectual property
  • international law
  • transnational commercial law.

Research centres and units

Our research centres take the strengths of Deakin Law School and invest them in projects designed to make a difference.

Centre for Law as Protection

Led by Professors Shiri Krebs and Patrick Emerton, the centre investigates and advances legal frameworks to protect individuals and communities from threats including organised violence, abuse of governmental and corporate power, economic and technology-based harms, and inequality, marginality and deprivation.

Learn more

Law, Health and Society

Led by Associate Professors Neera Bhatia and Tania Penovic, the Law, Health and Society research unit critically examines health law, policy, regulation and ethics to drive change and improve health and wellbeing outcomes across society.

Learn more

Top 3 law school in Victoria*

As a Deakin Law School research degree student, you’ll get a world-class education and the chance to collaborate, learn and share ideas through regular research seminars, conferences and workshops.

Studying at Deakin Law School helped me develop a strong interest in empirical legal research – particularly in the areas relating to corporate law and governance in India, and more broadly in the Asian region. Deakin provided me with a well-rounded professional experience which has enabled my academic career to grow.

Akanksha Jumde

PhD Law

PhD program

Deakin Law School is seeking PhD applicants who are passionate about real-world problems and who are ready to imagine and research innovative solutions to these problems.

We have postgraduate research supervisors available in:

  • corporate governance
  • crime and criminal justice
  • data and the law
  • energy and natural resource law
  • intellectual property
  • international law
  • public law
  • torts and health law
  • transnational law.

View PhD course information

How to apply for a research degree

Get all the information you need to successfully apply for a Deakin research degree or PhD, including key dates, entry requirements, supporting documents and finding a research supervisor. We’re here to support you through the process.

Find out how to apply for a research degree

Meet our HDR students

Name PhD topic Principal supervisor Associate supervisor
Isa Alade FinTech and Data Protection: Imperatives for Bespoke Regulatory Standard Dr Zehra Gulay Kavame ErogluProfessor Jean Du Plessis
Jack Aquilina Research and Development Tax Incentive in the New Knowledge Economy Associate Professor Mark Bowler-Smith Associate Professor Edward Podolski (external supervisor)
Henry Thomas Austin-Stone Non-physical family violence: the challenges in prosecuting perpetrators in Tasmania Professor Marilyn McMahonAssociate Professor Ben Saunders
Matthew Crocker Do our models of sovereign debt sustainability need updating? Professor Patrick EmertonDr Peter Ferguson
Associate Professor Steven Hail (external supervisor)
Holly Cullen Integrating Feminist and Queer Perspectives into International Litigation Strategies Dr Tamsin PaigeAssociate Professor Ben Saunders
Kelly Green Toward a Cohesive Theory of Search Engine Liability in Defamation Alfred Deakin Professor Matthew GrovesAssociate Professor Jason Taliadoros
Madeleine Hale Protection of free speech rights against infringement by private entities  Associate Professor Colin Campbell
Professor Patrick Emerton 
Serena Hildenbrand Victorian government transport data-sharing framework, encompassing privacy and human rights Professor Shiri KrebsAlfred Deakin Professor Matthew Groves
Dr Bruce Chen
Manasi Kumar The Indian Group of Companies Doctrine and its implications for Indian contract law Dr Firew TibaDr Shu Zhang
Dr Saloni Khanderia (external supervisor)
Morgan Stonebridge The Application of Empathy to the Question of Animal Rights Dr Jane KotzmannProfessor Patrick Emerton
Naimeh Masumy Integration of Sustainable Development in Damage Compensation of Investor-State Dispute Settlement: The Delicate Balance of Reaching a Just and Equitable Remedy Dr Tamsin PaigeDr Shu Zhang
Katie Miller Is administrative law fit for high volume, high velocity decision making? A case study Alfred Deakin Professor Matthew GrovesAssociate Professor Maria O'Sullivan
Patricia Nonis First Principles Theory of Animal Constitutional Rights Dr Jane KotzmannDr David Tan
Professor Patrick Emerton
Ninia Reza A critical analysis of the domestic and transnational laws applicable to multinational corporations in selected jurisdictions with supply chains in the Bangladeshi garment industry Professor Jean Du PlessisAssociate Professor Jason Taliadoros
Dr Shu Zhang
Lisa Rogers The safeguarding and protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in international law and policy. Associate Professor Jason TaliadorosAssociate Professor Ben Saunders
Professor Christoph Antons (external supervisor)
Shiran Shahaf Advancing International Norms of Cyber Warfare Professor Shiri KrebsDr John Morss
Associate Professor Danielle Chubb
Joanne Stagg Queer, Here, Curia: A queer Australian alternative judgement project Dr Tamsin PaigeDr David Tan
Maragrita Vladimirova Legal Regulation of Facial Recognition Software and Its Application Professor Patrick EmertonAssociate Professor Colin Campbell
Discover our research degrees

Discover our research degrees

Ranked among the top 1% globally, our world-class researchers drive courageous ideas that shape our shared future. Eager to join their ranks and help bring groundbreaking research ideas to life? Explore how a Deakin PhD can help get you there.

Find a scholarship

Find a scholarship

Reach your full potential and achieve your career goals with the support of a research degree or PhD scholarship. Our top scholarships recognise and reward students from a range of backgrounds and interest areas.

Be part of research that’s above world standard

Be part of research that’s above world standard

Our research-intensive environment delivers and translates high-quality world-class research into outcomes that are relevant and meaningful to our communities.

Law newsroom

Keep up to date with our latest law news and events. Browse opinion pieces from our academic staff who are recognised as leaders and innovators in their fields.

Visit the Deakin Law School Newsroom

Footnotes

*QS Subject rankings 2023

Contact us

Get in touch to more about how you can contribute to world-class research at Deakin Law School.

bl-partnerships@deakin.edu.au