Jonathan Harlen

Biography

Jonathan has for many years juggled two successful careers: the first as a solicitor/advocate, the second as a novelist. He has published more than 30 novels for adults, young adults and children, and his works have been published internationally in nine countries. His full literary profile may be viewed on Wikipedia.

Prior to joining SCU in 2018, Jonathan was a practising solicitor, specialising in negligence claims.

Research

Jonathan completed his Phd in Law at Southern Cross University in 2022. His thesis combines legal history and legal theory to explore early post-colonial models of legal pluralism in Aotearoa/New Zealand. As a Teaching Scholar he is also actively researching in the area of Teaching & Learning. In 2024 he co-created a new H5P Resource Library for SCU Law, featuring more than 50 interactive law activities.

In 2025 Jonathan received an SCU Library OER Grant to research and write a new textbook in LAWS2018 Wills and Estates. The new free textbook will replace two existing textbooks which currently cost Wills & Estates students $400.00.

Community engagement

Jonathan is passionate about connecting SCU Law more closely to the local legal community and to local high schools. In 2024 he co-organised and oversaw the inaugural Far North Coast High School Mock Trial competition, featuring six Lismore schools. He wrote the trial materials and worked individually with all of the school teams to coach them prior to each trial.

In 2025 the competition was expanded to include sixteen schools, from the Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour as well as Lismore. It is anticipated that the trial will be further expanded in 2026.

Teaching

Jonathan is currently Course Co-ordinator of the SCU LLB Honours program. In addition to all LLB Honours units he teaches Civil Litigation, Wills & Estates, Intellectual Property, and Legal Research and Writing.