About ASLP

The ASLP is the Australian Section of the International Association for Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy (IVR). It was founded in 1961 at the University of Sydney, where the administration of the Society remained until 1995, when it moved to the University of Queensland. From 1999 the Society was based at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, and in 2007 it moved again to its current home at Monash University in Melbourne.

The aims of the Society are to promote the study and discussion of legal philosophy though publications and conferences. Since its inception it has drawn its membership principally from law schools, judges and legal practitioners but also from Philosophy and Social Science departments. Currently the Society has over one hundred members.

The Society draws on the widespread interest in law throughout Australia that is not confined to law schools or academic circles. 'Legal philosophy' is construed broadly, and includes philosophical, psychological, social and cultural studies of law. The Society therefore includes practitioners of analytical legal philosophy, critical legal theory, feminist jurisprudence, legal ethics and socio-legal studies. The Society encourages theoretical interest in substantive areas of law such as criminal law, tort and contract, and public law.

The honorary officers of the Society are elected at the Annual General Meeting.  Professor Jeffrey Goldsworthy was elected as President in May 2007, replacing Professor Tom Campbell who had held the position since 1999.   Professor Goldsworthy, from Monash University, is one of Australia’s best known legal philosophers with a growing international profile. Dr John Morss (Deakin University) is Secretary, and Dr Dale Smith (Monash University) is Treasurer. The Society’s Vice-Presidents are Professor Tom Campbell (Charles Sturt University), Professor Peter Cane (Australian National University), Professor Jim Allan (University of Queensland), Professor Margaret Davies (Flinders University), Professor Jim Evans (University of Auckland), Professor Martin Krygier (University of New South  Wales), Dr Kevin Walton (University of Sydney) and Associate Professor David Wood (University of Melbourne).

The Society holds an Annual Conference, which anyone with an interest in legal philosophy is most welcome to attend. The Annual Conference is the main occasion for members of the Society to meet and discuss papers on any topic within legal philosophy. In recent years, Conferences have had one or two principal themes, and a Book Symposium.

The Society publishes the Australian Journal of Legal Philosophy, which is a refereed journal currently edited by Professor Tom Campbell. Formerly called the Bulletin of the Australian Society of Legal Philosophy, the journal has been published annually for twenty five years, is widely distributed to libraries all over the world and is available online to subscribers. Submissions are encouraged from Australia and overseas. The Society offers an annual Essay prize, which is open to all currently enrolled graduate students in any discipline, subject to the condition that the prize winning essay be published in the Journal.