Jennifer Nielsen

Biography

Jennifer is an experienced legal academic with a sustained record of innovation and academic leadership in teaching, research and community engagement. As a socio-legal scholar, she engages law critically. She is an Executive Member of the Australasian Law Academics Association, and was the School’s Dean/ Head of School from 2009-2011.

Research

Jennifer has a solid record of publications and grant funding, and her work reflects her commitment to social justice and inclusion. Much of her work applies critical race and whiteness theory to reveal how mainstream Australian law privileges ‘white’ interests over those of First Nations’ peoples and ‘non-white’ groups.

Community engagement

Jennifer is and the School’s representative on My Community Legal Inc’s Committee of Management. She is also a founding member of the Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre, and the current Chairperson of its Committee of Management.

Supervision

Jennifer is the Principal Supervisor to several PhD candidates, and also supervisors in the School's Honours (Bachelor of Laws) program.

Teaching

Jennifer’s teaching is informed and enhanced by research and scholarship. She adopts a socio-legal, contextual approach that facilitates deep learning and capacity to engage critically and reflectively with law. She has taught across the School's law curriculum at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.