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The Sir Anthony Mason Research Project in Constitutional Law provides a unique opportunity to develop specialist knowledge and skills in constitutional law by completing a research project in this field. The student will be supervised by a staff member of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law and the project will be assessed by the Director and one other academic member of the Centre (who is not the supervisor). 

The project is run throughout Term 3 each year. A call for applications will be opened prior to the commencement of Term 3.

Successful completion of the Sir Anthony Mason Research Project in Constitutional Law carries with it an award of $1000.

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility to participate in the project will be based on:

• Completion of JURD7250 OR LAWS2150
• Curriculum Vitae
• Academic merit assessed over min. 2 Terms
• Written outline (max. 500 words) of a research project that is a Topical in light of current developments in the constitutional law field; and displays a solid connection to at least one of the .
• The selection will be made by the Director of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre, in consultation with relevant academic staff members regarding their capacity to supervise particular projects. Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a sustained and substantial interest in constitutional law.

Assessment Details

The successful applicant will be required to write a 7,500 to 9,000-word research paper. In assessing your research thesis, the examiners will be looking for:

• Evidence of initiative in researching the topic
• Well structured and fluent writing style (with sufficient attention to detail)
• Persuasive and well thought out argument(s)
• Evidence of critical and analytical engagement with the subject matter
• Appropriate use of resources
• Appropriate use of evidence or examples to support arguments
• Appropriate references and referencing system

Project Topics

Possible areas for research and analysis include:

• The work and role of the Australian judiciary, especially the High Court as a decision-making institution and third arm of the national government
• The interaction of administrative law and constitutional law
• Issues in comparative constitutional law
• Constitutional change and referenda, for instance regarding the position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Counter-terrorism laws and the Constitution
• Constitutional law and legal theory
• The constitutional functions and significance of parliament
• Constitutional or parliamentary protection of human rights
• Contemporary Australian federalism