CALD Legal Education Awards - Council of Australian Law Deans

About the Awards

The CALD Legal Education Awards aim to recognise outstanding teaching practices and contributions to student engagement and research supervision. The Awards categories include:

Teaching Excellence Award – This Award recognises sustained excellence in teaching and learning in legal education.
Teaching Excellence Award: Early Career – This Award recognises sustained excellence in teaching and learning in legal education by an early career academic.
Teaching Excellence Award: Sessional – This Award recognises sustained excellence in teaching and learning in legal education by a sessional academic.
Teaching Excellence Award: Engagement – This Award focuses on the demonstration of sustained excellence in teaching and learning in legal education that engage with the broader community, through initiatives such as (indicative and not prescriptive) work-integrated learning programs, clinic-based learning and community legal education.
Teaching Excellence Award: Research Supervision – This Award focuses on achievement in teaching and learning in legal education in the form of higher degree research supervision.

Eligibility & Criteria

Each award has specific eligibility criteria and requirements that must be addressed including supporting documentation: refer to the Information Pack for details.

Each law school is permitted to submit one nomination per award. Individual law schools manage any preliminary selection process, if required, and are encouraged to develop internal processes for selecting the school nominee in each category. Each nomination must be endorsed by the relevant Associate Dean or Dean.

Supporting Documents

Teaching Excellence Award	Six pages addressing the relevant criteria Two referee reports (one must be external to the nominee’s institution) not being longer than one page each
Teaching Excellence: Early Career Award	Four pages addressing the relevant criteria One referee report (may be internal or external to the nominee’s institution) not being longer than one page
Teaching Excellence: Sessional Award	Four pages addressing the relevant criteria One referee report (may be internal or external to the nominee’s institution) not being longer than one page
Teaching Excellence: Engagement Award	Six pages addressing the relevant criteria Two referee reports (one must be external to the nominee’s institution) not being longer than one page each
Teaching Excellence: Research Supervision Award	Six pages addressing the relevant criteria Two referee reports (one must be external to the nominee’s institution) not being longer than one page each

Past Winners

Excellence in Teaching (Sessional)

2025

Chun Chi (Michael) Hung

University of New South Wales

With over a decade of teaching, Michael transforms legal education by integrating practice-based insights and interactive methods, inspiring the next generation of commercial law professionals.

Excellence in Teaching (Engagement)

2025

The UNSW PLT Team, comprising Vedna Jivan, Moira Murray, Anneka Ferguson and Pamela Taylor-Barnett

University of New South Wales

UNSW PLT delivers transformative, values-driven legal education, nurturing student wellbeing, identity formation and community engagement through innovative, practice-oriented learning that shapes adaptable, courageous lawyers of tomorrow.

Excellence in Research Supervision

2025

Associate Professor Jonathan Bonnitcha

University of New South Wales

For leading the development of innovative research training courses for higher degree research candidates in law, and for supervision practices that inspire candidates to learn.

Outstanding Career Achievement Award

2025

Professor Alex Steel

University of New South Wales

Professor Steel’s career as a legal academic spans over 30 years, of which he has been in senior leadership positions for the last 16 years. His contributions to legal education, within UNSW, nationally and internationally, have been transformative, reflecting a sustained commitment to excellence, leadership, and collaboration. His leadership in fostering networks, developing national standards, and mentoring educators has left a lasting legacy on the field. His unwavering commitment to collaboration, mentorship, and excellence has not only shaped the careers of many colleagues but has also set new benchmarks for legal education in Australia.

Excellence in Teaching

2024

Associate Professor Alysia Blackham

University of Melbourne

For excellence and leadership in legal education, including the development of empirical legal research teaching, and design of innovative curricula and resources.

Excellence in Teaching (Early Career)

2024

Pariz Lythgo-Gordon

University of Wollongong

For utilising a holistic approach, including innovative gamification, to cultivate an inclusive, motivating learning environment, empowering first-year law students to realise their full potential

Excellence in Teaching (Sessional)

2024

Karen Abidi & Lisa Di Marco

Monash University

For sustained teaching excellence and the collaborative creation of an engaging blended contract law program that motivates students through connecting theory with legal practice.

Excellence in Teaching (Engagement)

2024

Kate Fischer Doherty

University of Melbourne

For excellence, innovation and leadership in clinical legal education that influences, inspires and enhances student learning and experience.

Excellence in Research Supervision

2024

Professor Erika Techera

University of Western Australia

For sustained leadership in supervising a diverse range of HDR students and designing a dedicated research student training and development program.

Outstanding Career Achievement Award

2024

Emeritus Professor Brendan Edgeworth

University of New South Wales

Excellence in Teaching

2023

Associate Professor Marina Nehme

For motivating, inspiring and positively influencing students’ learning by bringing theory to practice.

Excellence in Teaching (Early Career)

2023

Sam Roach

Queensland University of Technology

For leading innovative developments in work-integrated learning to ensure all undergraduate law students can engage in experiential learning opportunities

Excellence in Teaching (Sessional)

2023

Madeleine Hale

For engaging and motivating law students to approach their studies with passion, resilience and excellence through tailored and inspiring lectures, tutorials and mentorship

Excellence in Research Supervision

2023

Professor Ben Golder

For supervision practices leading to excellent student outcomes in terms of higher degree research theses and publications, and for supporting candidates’ career and research development

Excellence in Teaching

2022

Kate Offer

University of Western Australia

For developing a highly engaging class culture with a focus on innovation and both real life and industry relevant learning

Excellence in Teaching (Early Career)

2022

Kathryn Greenman

University of Technology Sydney

For delivering practice-oriented, inclusive and engaging learning experiences that inspire students to learn and develop positive professional identities as ethical and justice-focused lawyers

Excellence in Teaching (Sessional)

2022

Liz Mansveld

University of Western Australia

For sustained contribution to teaching and learning excellence in legal education using evidence-based methodologies and a passion for student success

Excellence in Teaching (Engagement)

2022

Sara Dehm and Anthea Vogl

University of Technology Sydney

For inspiring students’ real-world commitment to refugee justice and enhancing their professional capabilities through clinical legal education, industry partnerships and critical, experiential learning

Excellence in Research Supervision

2022

Professor Niloufer Selvadurai

Macquarie

For inspiring students to find a purpose for research that transcends academic success and addresses a societal need motivates students to learn and flourish

Outstanding Career Achievement Award

2022

Dr Penny Carruthers

University of Western Australia

For sustained commitment in developing challenging and inspirational learning journeys for law students – in the classroom, through the curriculum, and through broader student experiences

Excellence in Teaching

2021

Dr Kerstin Braun and Associate Professor Noeleen McNamara

University of Southern Queensland

For developing compulsory law-specific academic integrity resources which provides students with a clear understanding of academic misconduct, thereby eliminating breaches in two first-year core subjects

Excellence in Teaching (Early Career)

2021

Aidan Ricciardo

University of Western Australia

For instilling self-confidence in his students and supporting them to be the best learners they can be by making legal studies accessible and inclusive

Excellence in Teaching (Sessional)

2021

Alexander Chan

University of Western Australia

For instilling self-confidence in his students and supporting them to be the best learners they can be by making legal studies accessible and inclusive

Excellence in Teaching (Engagement)

2021

Dr Linda Steele

University of Technology Sydney

For transforming students’ understanding of disability and mental health law and empowering them to become agents of disability justice through engaging with communities

Excellence in Research Supervision

2021

Professor Paul Babie

University of Adelaide

For leading the Adelaide Law School in supervision to completion, with students frequently receiving university and faculty awards for thesis excellence and obtaining academic and research positions

Outstanding Career Achievement Award

2021

Professor Emeritus Ian Malkin

Melbourne Law School

Professor Malkin’s teaching has inspired and had a lasting impression on colleagues and students over 35+ years at Melbourne Law School (MLS). Professor Malkin has developed, coordinated and delivered a range of law units and has been involved in broader curriculum development and review. His teaching and learning service, leadership and impact extends well beyond MLS, to the whole of the University of Melbourne, and he has also provided leadership in legal education more broadly at a national level. Professor Malkin’s curriculum development is innovative and he has co-authored leading textbooks in his area of expertise, along with co-authored articles that are a valuable contribution to legal education scholarship. The nomination for this award demonstrates a singularly student-centred approach to teaching which has influenced generations of law students at MLS.