Powering the wheels of justice
True crime may be one of the world’s most popular genres of entertainment but, for our students, the work to address injustice begins much closer to home.
Cold cases, missing persons, wrongful convictions, misclassifications of cause of death – for every question that remains unanswered in a police investigation or legal proceeding, there are victims and loved ones left searching for justice.
Led by world leading forensic anthropologist and criminologist Associate Professor, Xanthé Mallett, the Justice Clinic at the University of Newcastle is one of the few places they can turn for help.
Established in 2019 to support transparency and accountability in the justice system through education, advocacy and research, the Justice Clinic reviews cold cases and serious criminal matters where there may have been a miscarriage of justice.
Alumni and students at the centre of righting wrongs
Kathleen Folbigg’s pardon and release after 20 years in jail illustrates the tireless effort required by legal teams to battle for justice. Most recently led by lawyer and University of Newcastle alumna Rhanee Rego, many students assisted in Ms Folbigg’s legal case over the years under the supervision of University of Newcastle Legal Centre Director, Associate Professor Shaun McCarthy, who was Ms Folbigg’s instructing solicitor between 2013 and 2017.
Working on the Folbigg case taught me that there is tragedy and grief behind every legal context. That often gets lost in high profile cases. It was a salient lesson for me to learn so early in my career.”
-Solicitor Kate Wielinga (LLBDipLegP, 2015; BComn, 2014)
The Clinic enables criminology and law students, as well as students from other allied disciplines including psychology, to experience first-hand how the cogs of justice turn: triaging cases, researching information, and working with authorities, experts and people directly impacted by the event. The opportunity to investigate claims, review evidence and campaign for change often provides a career-defining moment.
“Students spend years looking at theory but it’s not until they start Work Integrated Learning at the Justice Clinic that they see how it works in the real world. It’s a mindblowing moment when they realise they can genuinely have a positive impact on someone’s life who has been through one of the worst experiences you can imagine,” says Associate Professor Xanthé Mallett.
The people we work with are the most disadvantaged and they need a champion to fight their cause. We are teaching students the skills needed to encourage enquiry and help people desperate for justice.”
-Associate Professor Xanthé Mallett, School of Law and Justice
Click here to learn more about the University’s Justice Clinic and the Folbigg case.
If you would like to support the Justice Clinic's important work to help address miscarriages of justice, please visit newcastle.edu.au/justice-clinic-donation
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