Student Opportunities
The UNSW Allens Hub for Technology, Law and Innovation, is an independent community of scholars based at UNSW Sydney. As a partnership between Allens and UNSW Law & Justice, the hub adds breadth and depth to research on the diverse interactions among technological change, law, and legal practice. The partnership enriches academic and policy debates and drives considered reform of law and practice through engagement with the legal profession, the judiciary, industry, government and the broader community.
Every year the UNSW Allens Hub welcomes current UNSW students to undertake internships at the Hub during either T1, T2 or T3.
For more information on our internships opportunities and how to apply, see below:
Tasks
- Drafting submissions and attending policy roundtables (depending on timing). For examples, interns have often developed their own policy arguments and/or synthesised the input of Hub members into a consolidated submission.
- Attending and assisting with events, talks etc (depending on timing)
- Contributing to research (not RA role but substantive involvement) - Interns are asked to let us know their preferences in terms of "research streams" (on Hub website) and we try to ensure at least some of the time is in that area.
- Co-authoring an ALJ column (depending on interest)
- Presenting at Hub members' meetings
What will you learn as an intern at the UNSW Allens Hub?
Interns with the UNSW Allens Hub will be assisted to develop an understanding of issues involved in legal practice and policymaking and research in the area of law and technology. They will work with their supervisory to consolidate skills related to legal analysis, writing, research, policy advocacy of law and technology.
Selection Criteria
1. Enthusiasm for issues at the intersection of law, technology and innovation
2. Prior relevant courses (in law or in another discipline) including relevant essay topics
3. Interdisciplinary experience/background and ability to work at the intersection of disciplines
4. Oral and written communication skills
Application Information
Information about UNSW Allens Hub internship opportunities and how to apply is available here: https://my.law.unsw.edu.au/current-students/lawinaction
If you are interested in joining the UNSW Allens Hub as a research assistant with any of our Research Streams, please contact us via email at allenshub@unsw.edu.au for more information
The UNSW Allens Hub for Technology, Law and Innovation is pleased to announce the launch of the new Research Scholar program, which allows UNSW Law and Justice Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Law degree students the exciting opportunity to work with a research team to gain invaluable, hands-on experience of research.
Participating students work on a 20-day project with an academic research team in the UNSW Allens Hub. This is a paid position for student, with a pay rate of Level 6, Step 1.
Please refer to Salary Rates, Professional Staff for more information on current pay information.
Eligibility
Students must have at least 72 units of credit in a Juris Doctor degree or 78 units of credit in a Bachelor of Laws degree at UNSW (or approved transfer subjects in law).
Position Description
Read the full position description here
Project Descriptions - Summer/ T1 2023
Project title: Law & Cognitive Assemblages, part of the 'Hybrid Life and Legal Personhood' research stream
Supervisor: Marc De Leeuw
Time period: 2 days a week in T1 2023, or over a continuing period in Summer 22/23 depending on student’s availability – 20 days total.
Tasks: Researching and collecting authors and topics cognitive assemblages/ hybrid life/ international law/ HR; preparation of workshop (and budget) on these topics for 2023; co-development of special issue journal, glossary or edited book proposal
Skills: Solid interest in Law & AI/ robotics/ algorithmic governance and some familiarity with “theory”.
Project Title: Regulating dashboard technologies
Supervisor: Amelia Thorpe
Project Description: This project examines the regulation of dashboard technologies in passenger cars (touch screens, interactive maps, nested menus, systems such as Apple CarPlay). These technologies have grown exponentially in recent years, far outstripping the pace of regulation. There is strong evidence that these technologies are increasing driver distraction, and that this is contributing to rising numbers of traffic deaths and serious injuries, especially for already vulnerable road users such as people walking or riding bicycles.[1] The replacement of our current fleet with autonomous vehicles will take some time, and we cannot overlook these risks: traffic crashes are already the leading killer of Australian children and young people.[2]
Some progress has been made on amending the Road Rules to reduce distraction, increasing restrictions on driver interactions with technologies.[3] Less progress has been made on amending the regulation of the technologies themselves, leaving an increasingly significant gap in the Australian Design Rules. There is an urgent need to address this gap, for two reasons. First, while smart screens are ubiquitous now in new cars, the age of Australia’s fleet means that they are not yet widespread – there is a window for regulation now before these technologies become entrenched. Second, current discussions on amending the Design Rules to reduce vehicle emissions provides an opportunity for a more substantial revision to increase sustainability more generally.
[1] Russ Mitchell, ‘“We Are Killing People” How Technology Has Made Your Car “a Candy Store of Distraction”’, LA Times (online, 6 July 2022) <https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-07-06/we-are-killing-people-how-technology-has-made-your-car-a-candy-store-of-distraction>.
[2] AIHW, Deaths in Australia (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2021) <https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/743dd325-7e96-4674-bb87-9f77420a7ef5/Deaths-in-Australia.pdf.aspx?inline=true>.
[3] National Transport Commission, Developing Technology-Neutral Road Rules for Driver Distraction: Decision Regulation Impact Statement (National Transport Commission, November 2020).
Timing: Flexible, the student could work part time during T1 or full time over the summer break, or a combination of both - 20 days total.
Tasks: The student will have two main tasks. 1) review of international regulation of dashboard technologies to identify how other jurisdictions are responding to this emerging problem and identify best practice; 2) review of Australian caselaw (and media reports, if time) to identify cases involving driver distraction. The student will work with me on analysing this material and preparing an article for submission to a high quality journal.
Skills: No specific skills beyond those in the position description. An interest in transport would be desirable.
Project Title: Right to repair in medical devices and assistive technologies
Supervisor: Kayleen Manwaring
Timing: Flexible, the student could work part time during T1 or full time/part-time over the summer break, or a combination of both – 20 days total.
Tasks: The student will have 3 main tasks. 1) review of legislation (including the Therapeutic Goods Act and regulations and case law on medical devices relating to a right to repair; 2) review of disability policy and advocacy documents, media reports and other ‘grey literature’ regarding right to repair relating to medical devices/assistive technologies; and 3) The student will work with me on analysing this material and preparing an article for submission to a high quality journal, and possibly an op-ed piece for The Conversation.
Skills: An interest in health and disability would be desirable.
Selection
Each applicant will be assessed based on academic merit, interest in undertaking research activities, and intended career plans. Shortlisted candidates will be required to attend an interview before being made an offer.
How to Apply
To apply, applicants are required to submit;
- Current CV (2 pages maximum)
- Cover letter responding to the skills and experience detailed in the position description, including which projects you are interested in, in order of preference (2 pages maximum)
- Academic transcripts
Applications for the Summer 2023 and T1 2023 Research Scholar Program open 19 October 2022. Please complete and submit the application form here by (5:00pm) Friday 11 November 2022.
APPLICATIONS CLOSED
Allens has launched a Graduate Program in Legal Transformation and applications to join the 2024 program are now open.
What is it?
The Legal Transformation Graduate Program will see Allens graduates participating in a 12 month program with rotations through our Legal Technology, Legal Project Management, Product Lab and Innovation Centre teams.
Why legal transformation?
Matter teams are now regularly made up of lawyers, technologists, project managers and product experts working together to ensure cutting edge technology and best practice processes are applied on matters to create exceptional service and greater value. Law firms of the future need to invest in the capability and expertise that supports these changing needs.
How will it work?
Graduates will commence in March 2024 and will complete 2 six month rotations to gain experience in a number of disciplines such as data analytics, automation, design thinking, change management, project management and contract analysis. At the completion of the program successful graduates will be offered a role in one of the placement teams. Note: Legal Transformation Graduates (unlike Law Graduates) will be enrolled in specialised training relevant to their future roles, and therefore will not need to complete PLT (practical legal training) and will not receive a legal practicing certificate.
Who should I apply?
Applications are open to students from a range of disciplines including (but not limited to) Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science and Law. Legal studies are a plus, but not essential, and we are seeking applications from a broad academic spectrum.
Applications close at 11:55pm (AEST) on Tuesday, 11 April 2023. Please address your application to Manreet Singh, National Manager Early Careers. For further information, visit the Allens website or email Student.Careers@allens.com.au.