What is JATL?

JATL is a non-profit organisation within the TC Beirne School of Law at the University of Queensland (UQ), that provides a social and professional network between students and the legal community, and increases awareness of the social justice implications of the law, especially gender equality and discrimination issues. Under our patron the Honourable Justice Debra Mullins of the Supreme Court of Queensland, JATL prides itself with a diverse membership base inclusive of UQ law students, legal professionals, academics and members of the wider community.

JATL’s Aims and Objectives

(a) Investigate, publicise and provide information about social justice issues affecting the community;
(b) Increase awareness of social implications of laws and policies and ensure that legal education is situated within a social context;
(c) Provide networks among members, students, the legal profession and professional networks (locally, nationally and internationally);
(d) Represent, address and improve social justice issues and concerns, including gender equality and discrimination issues;
(e) Celebrate achievements in the law and other areas;
(f) Be a forum for members and others to raise concerns, whether these be directly related to educational matters or to broader community issues;
(g) Facilitate between JATL and its members, the Law School, staff, sponsors and the profession; and
(h) Advocate on behalf of UQ law students for a high quality, fair and equitable legal education.

What does JATL do?

JATL facilitates many events and career development programs that include some of the following:

• The Annual Professional Breakfast (the Breakfast), which provides an opportunity for students and professionals to network in a sophisticated breakfast setting. In addition, the Breakfast marks the launch of our annual peer-reviewed academic journal, Pandora’s Box.
• JATL’s Speed Networking Evening that allows students to gain insight into to the different career paths in commercial law, associateship and consultancy available for law graduates.
• Social Justice Conferences which have addressed topics such as water resource management, climate change, indigenous justice, gender policy and human rights law.
• Magistrates Work Experience Program, this program also incorporates an essay competition, whereby the winning paper is published in Pandora’s Box.