Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law
CPICL 20th anniversary Law Journal Special Issue
A Special Issue of the University of Queensland Law Journal celebrates the 20th anniversary of the foundation of Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law ('CPICL') in 2003.
The Special Issue features a forward from Professor Anthony Cassimatis AM, and an Introduction by Professor Ann Black and Dr Jospeh Lelliot (The CPICL editors for the edition). Contributors include: Professor Nicholas Aroney, Dr Paul Taylor, Professor Jonathon Crowe (University of Southern Queensland), Professor Reid Mortensen (University of Southern Queensland), Dr Yvonne Breitwieser-Faria, Professor Sue Farran (Newcastle University), Dr Constance Lee (CQ University), and Simon Miller.
The articles represent the full breadth of CPICL, spanning issues in public, international, and comparative law. The Centre’s focus on the Asia-Pacific is well represented, with articles on Japan’s Constitution, the push from Pacific nations for Climate Justice, and the tension (and convergence) between the foundations of Confucianism and constitutionalism.
The Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law (CPICL) brings together a large group of faculty members and doctoral students who are actively engaged in research and teaching in the following areas:
Public law
- constitutional law
- administrative law
- domestic human rights law
- law of institutions, including educational, religious and professional institutions.
International law
- public international law
- international human rights law
- international criminal and humanitarian law
- the law of international organisations
- private international law
Comparative law
Analysis and comparison of:
- law in nations of Asia and the South Pacific
- legal systems, other than the common law, including civil, chthonic, socialist and Syariah legal systems
- role of legal institutions in different nations and legal systems
- legal pluralism
- inter- and intra-legal pluralism in Australia.
Legal theory
Philosophical, economic, social and historical perspectives on law.
About the Centre
Established in September 2003, the Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law is dedicated to advanced research and seeks collaborative links and scholarly exchanges with other disciplines within the University, and with like-minded research organisations around the world.
Support is provided by the Centre for doctoral research and currently 15 doctoral students work with the supervision of the Fellows of the Centre. Fellows and other Centre members also contrinute to the graduate program of the School of Law by the conduct of courses in its research areas. View our management and members.
The Centre disseminates its research through public seminars and conferences and publications. Froom 2004-2020, the Centre published the LAWSASIA Journal in partnership with LAWASIA, The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific and from 2017, the Australian Journal of International Law, edited by Centre Director, Professor Anthony Cassimatis.
CPICL has established links with relevant government and public institutions and offers consultancy services in its area of expertise.
CPICL is currently running eight research programs:
- The Legal Pluralism Program
- Cultural Heritage Law Program
- International and Comparative Competition Law and Policy Program
- The Korean Law Program
- Disability Human Rights Program
- Indonesian Law Program
- Federalism and Multilevel Governance Program
- Law and Religion in the Asia-Pacific
Contact
Whether you're a potential student, a scholar from Australia or overseas, or someone who's active in public, international and comparative law, CPICL welcomes your enquiries about our research areas, seminars and organisation. Please contact our Centre Director.
Professor Anthony Cassimatis
Centre Director, Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law
Email: cpicl@law.uq.edu.au
Telephone: +61733652446
Law School
The University of Queensland
Brisbane QLD 4072
Australia
Featured publication
Source: Getty Images
The text provides a practical and engaging introduction to ethical decision-making in legal practice in Australia. Underpinned by four theoretical concepts – adversarial advocacy, responsible lawyers, moral activism and ethics of care – this text analyses legal and professional frameworks in the Australia context. Relevant parts of the Australia Solicitors’ Conduct Rules are highlighted, and the accompanying text provides guidance on professional obligations. Case studies and discussion questions offer contemporary, practical examples of the application of ethics in legal practice for both students and practising lawyers. The book also addresses the challenge of ethical action and offers skills and techniques to deal with ethical conflicts.
Featured scholar
Professor Ann Black - Outstanding CPICL Scholar and Executive Director
Professor Ann Black, was one of the founding members of CPICL. She is currently CPICL’s Executive Director for Comparative Law and is the Program Manager for the Centre's Indonesian Law Program, the Legal Pluralism Program, and the Korean Law Program and is a member of the Law and Religion in the Asia-Pacific and the Federalism and Multilevel Governance Program.
Professor Black is recognised as a pioneering law lecturer who empowers her students to learn about different legal systems across cultures. In February 2024, Ann’s outstanding contribution was recognised nationally when she received the prestigious Award for Teaching Excellence at the annual Australian Awards for University Teaching.
Her innovative teaching and assessment methods equip her students to be informed global citizens who can evaluate different approaches to law and make sense of law in the world.
Professor Black researches in the field of comparative law, law & religion, and legal pluralism, with particular interest in Islamic law and the law and legal cultures of Asia, especially Brunei Darussalam. She is a co-author, with Gary Bell, of Law and Legal Institutions of Asia: Traditions, adaptations and innovations (Cambridge University Press, 2011) and Modern Perspectives on Islamic Law, with Hossein Esmaeili and Nadirsyah Hosen, (Edward Elgar, 2013), and Religious Freedom in a Secular Society, with Jahid Hussein in Brill’s Studies in Religion, Secular Beliefs and Human Rights (2022). Another book co-edited with Jahid Hussein, Religious Freedom and Accommodating Religious Diversity: Challenges and Responses will be published this year.
For a full list of Professor Black's publications see her Law School profile page.
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