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Unlike many other institutions, UNSW Law & Justice does not have much experience of creating and sharing formal strategic plans. In truth, this can hardly be said to have held the Faculty back.

We attract exceptional students as well as dedicated academics and professional staff who maintain a distinctive collegial culture, we benefit from the generous support of alumni and donors and collaborative partnerships with industry, and we enjoy an enviable global reputation for excellence in teaching and research.  

There is no denying that the Faculty’s traditional reliance on instinct, opportunity and the ingenuity and enthusiasm of its people has been remarkably successful in what has been achieved since we welcomed our first students in 1971.

Undoubtedly, part of the explanation for this is the clarity of its founding vision, as articulated by the first Dean, Professor Hal Wootten AC QC. Hal’s words and example have been a true north, orienting the Faculty at different points in the road along its journey to the present. 

This remains the case. We hold still the ideals and values he embedded in the creation of the Faculty and we cherish our distinctive history and identity. However, even a vision of enduring relevance cannot be simply self-sustaining – especially in times of unprecedented complexity and choice. There is an obligation to reflect on what that vision means to us now.

Law & Justice 2030 is the outcome of a carefully plotted and incremental process, conducted over a year. It reflects the iterative thoughts and input of academic and professional colleagues, students, and alumni on questions as to the Faculty’s contemporary purpose, priorities and specific goals.

I am grateful to all who have given generously of their time and ideas so that the Faculty might construct a plan that is ambitious, relevant and will guide us towards success, in all the various ways we have identified what this looks like for usI. This is your plan – it was made not simply with you, but by you.

The real work, of course, starts now. In harmonisation with the values and objectives of UNSW going forward, the Faculty looks ahead to developing new initiatives, deepening existing collaborations and expanding our reach over the next five years in order to deliver on our plan.

I look forward to sharing news with our community of these activities, as well as our progress against each goal, over the life of this strategy.

Professor Andrew Lynch

Dean