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Executive Branch Research Lab (LAWS90258)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Not available in 2026

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Overview

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The Executive Branch Research Lab fosters innovative, practice-led JD legal research into the largest and most elusive branch of the constitutional order: the executive. Against a background of tuition in core concepts and practices relevant to study of the contemporary executive branch – including the political philosophies of the ‘welfare state’ and ‘neoliberalism’, the centrality of contracting to contemporary governmental practice, and how to understand the ideal of the rule of law in relation to different executive branch activities – the Lab will support enrolled students to acquire the academic and practical skills needed to pursue research on and analysis of the contemporary executive branch ‘in action’.

Engaging closely with participating faculty, and working together on group projects, enrolled students will receive training to undertake such activities as supporting the work of under-resourced legal and social sector organisations through the production of targeted research outputs, making submissions to parliamentary and law reform inquiries, writing analyses on issues arising from current executive branch practices for public circulation, and participating in ongoing (year-to-year) research projects convened under the auspices of the Lab.

Indicative list of principal topics for the core academic component of the Research Lab:

  • The Australian ‘administrative state’ over time
  • The ‘welfare state’ in theory and action
  • ‘Neoliberalism’ in theory and action
  • Thinking about constitutionalism and the rule of law in relation to contemporary executive branch practices
  • Research and writing workshops relevant to specific projects

 

Important information about enrolling

This subject is not available for self-enrolment but is an application-based enrichment subject, which means prospective students must apply to enrol. Many of these application-based enrichment subjects also involve a selection process.

More information about the application process can be found on the Application-based enrichment subjects information page inside the Juris Doctor LMS Community [Juris Doctor student access only].

 

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate creativity and originality in identifying, framing and developing a sophisticated and relevant engagement-led research project in collaboration with fellow JD project participants, the project supervisor, and external stakeholders;
  • Develop rigorous and effective approaches to planning, researching and executing an innovative engagement-led research project tailored to the genre of the project;
  • Acquire a deep and integrated knowledge and understanding of the research project area, including its connection to its broader contexts and its implications for other research questions;
  • Explain and defend the project aims and results clearly, persuasively and succinctly in a group class presentation;
  • Demonstrate sophisticated, genre-appropriate, and persuasive written communication skills through developing, structuring, and editing the written output for the research project.

Generic skills

  • Ability to develop and frame a clear and innovative engagement-led research project with a view to disseminating outputs to a range of different audiences;
  • Experience in employing complex research methodologies well-suited to answering the questions of the project;
  • Ability to identify and critically analyse a diverse range of pertinent and complex materials;
  • Ability to participate in and manage a group project; and
  • Capacity to communicate the research results clearly, comprehensively and persuasively to a range of different audiences.

Last updated: 19 November 2025