Associate Professor Kathy Laster

Associate Professor
BA(Hons),LLB,, LLM, PhD,

Professional Profile

Kathy Laster is Assoc/Professor in the Faculty of Law. Kathy has lectured and published widely in criminology, victimology, the history of crime and punishment as well as on various aspects of multiculturalism and the law and justice administration. Her work in legal education has been influential in both Australian and international law programs. Prior to joining the Faculty, Kathy was the CEO of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) and also served as Executive Director of the Victoria Law Foundation.

Kathy has worked on significant public policy and law reform projects, including review of child welfare and practice in Victoria, the development of national pro bono legal services, the implications of multiculturalism for  legal sector agencies and public sector governance reform.

Kathy is the author/co-author/ of the following books: Law as Culture (1st - 2rd eds), Interpreters and the Legal System, The Drama of the Courtroom and editor/co-editor of Domestic Violence: Global Responses and For the Public Good: Pro Bono and the Legal Profession in Australia.  Kathy has also served as editor of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology and been a member of the international editorial boards including the International Journal of Victimology and Justice Quarterly.

Areas of Expertise

Criminal law and procedure
Justice Administration
Legal History
Law Reform and public policy
Legal Education

Teaching Commitments

Criminal Law and Procedure A (Sem 1) (2011) (LAW3301)
Criminal Law B (LAW3302)