Ms Jacqueline Svenson

Legal Practitioner

School of Law and Justice (Law)

Email:jacquie.svenson@newcastle.edu.au
Phone:(02) 4921 8803

Career Summary

Biography

Jacquie is a Clinical Teacher/Solicitor at the University of Newcastle Legal Centre (UNLC) admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW and in continuing practice since 2002. As part of her practice she provides clinical supervision to law students at the UNLC and teaches into the Law School's Practice Program, Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor degrees. Jacquie’s expertise is in public interest environmental advice & casework, particularly judicial review.

Previous to her role at UNLC, Jacquie was an employed solicitor at the NSW Environmental Defenders' Office running public interest environmental litigation in the NSW Land & Environment Court, at the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation Legal Branch as a prosecutor, and in the Environment & Planning Group of Mallesons Stephen Jaques (Sydney)(now King & Wood Mallesons). Prior to this she was a lobbyist in state parliament on behalf of peak environmental NGOs, an environment advisor to a Federal Senator, a research assistant and a campaigner for a number of conservation groups. She has been at UNLC since 2009. Recent cases and advice work include Class 4 proceedings against a proposed crematorium in Maitland and advice in relation to the redevelopment of Newcastle Baths.

Previous to that she ran the successful case to return King Edward Headland Reserve to public hands (2012/2015) and the protection of a large area of squirrel glider and koala habitat at Anna Bay, NSW (2016), merits proceedings against Williamtown Sand Syndicate in the Land & Environment Court of NSW on behalf of Williamtown & Surrounds Residents Action Group Inc against a proposed sand mine on critically endangered species habitat in Port Stephens, and in achieving refusal of development consent for a large late trading pokie-pub in a very disadvantaged area of Sydney (Casula) on behalf of 3500 objecting community members due to its likely influence on increasing violence, alcoholism and domestic violence in the region (2016, 2022).

Since 2017 Jacquie has been a member of the IUCN World Commission On Environmental Law, Oceania.

CASEWORK

Public interest environmental litigation

Public interest environment & planning cases Jacquie has had carriage of include:

Iris Hotels Casula Property Pty Ltd v Liverpool City Council (application for joinder by Casula Community Group for Responsible Planning Inc.)(2022)

Farley Environment Care v HL Fry & Assoc & Maitland City Council (2021) - judicial review of planning approval for a crematorium and funeral home on threatened species habitat in Farley, near Maitland in NSW.

Williamtown & Surrounds Residents Action Group Inc. v Williamtown Sand Syndicate & Port Stephens Council(2019)- merits appeal against proposed sandmine on koala and sugarglider habitat in Port Stephens, NSW;

Mina Suh v Liverpool Council & Casula Community Group for Responsible Planning Inc (2016), and joinder application 2022 - merits review of deemed refusal of a large pub and poker machine facility in a domestic violence hotspot in Sydney;

South Tomaree Community Association v NSW Land & Housing Corporation Inc. & Hunter Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel (2015) - judicial review of a proposed housing development on squirrel glider and koala habitat in Anna Bay, NSW.

Friends of King Edward Park Inc v Newcastle City Council, King Edward Park Reserve Trust, Minister for Primary Industries & Annie Street Commercial Pty Ltd (2012-2015) - judicial review of approval for a function centre on King Edward Headland Reserve, Newcastle, NSW

Jacquie is a mother of two and when not at work is convenor of Newcastle Climate Change Response https://www.facebook.com/groups/1216525535154056/, undertaking a PhD in creative writing at the University of Newcastle and a fiction writer. Her first commercially published work of fiction Direct Action was published through Lacuna https://www.lacunapublishing.com/index.php/titles/fiction in July 2019.

AWARDS:

Winner, 2021 College of Human & Social Futures Excellence Individual Award for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) - nominated by NLS School Executive Committee

Joint Winner (UNLC team), University of Newcastle Faculty of Business and Law Excellence in External Engagement Staff Award (2015).

Outstanding Performance Award, Department of Environment & Conservation Legal Branch, 2004.

Award Nominations:

Women Lawyer's Association Community Lawyer of the Year (2019)

Research Expertise
Public interest litigation, climate litigation, judicial review.

Teaching Expertise (current)

LAWS4054B/6014B - Civil Litigation Practice - Lecturer (2016-present)

LAWS 4054B/LAWS 6014B Legal Practice 2 - Employment Law Practice - Lecturer & Course Coordinator (2009-present)

LAWS6112 - Food & Wine Law - Creative Team, Course Co-ordinator & co-Lecturer (2022-present)

LAWS6025 - Advocacy Skills - Creative Team, Course Co-ordinator & co-Lecturer (2018-present)

LAWS4003 - Civil Dispute Resolution - Lecturer (2019, 2021 - present)

LAWS 5036 - International Clinical Legal Externship (Fiji & Tuvalu) (2019) - Co-creator, Course Coordinator & Lecturer, NCP 3 year funded programme "Climate Connections Across the Pacific".

Teaching Expertise (past)

LAWS 5010 & 6020 - Environmental Law - Lecturer (2016)

LAWS 5036 - International Clinical Legal Externship (Indonesia) (2015 & 2016) - Course Coordinator & Lecturer

LAWS 4054A - Environmental Law Practice (2010 & 2012)

LAWS 4054A - Professional Practice (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)

LAWS 6025 - Environmental/Natural Resources Law Clinic - Lecturer & Course Co-Ordinator

LAWS4002 - Administrative Law - Seminar Leader

Committee Memberships

Convenor, Environmental Law Interest Group, Australian Law Teachers' Association (ALTA)

Member, Law Society NSW

Organising Committee - Narratives of Climate Change Symposium 2018

Qualifications

Bachelor of Laws (Honours), University of Sydney
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Sydney

Keywords

Administrative Law
Discrimination
Environmental
Feminist legal theory
Litigation
Public interest
Unfair dismissal

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
480701	Administrative law	25
480202	Climate change law	50
480203	Environmental law	25

Professional Experience

Professional appointment

Dates	Title	Organisation / Department
5/1/2009 -	Clinical Teacher/Solicitor	University of Newcastle Legal Centre Australia
1/9/2006 - 9/12/2008	Senior Solicitor	Environmental Defenders' Office (NSW) Ltd Australia
4/2/2004 - 7/9/2006	Legal Officer	Department of Environment, Conservation & Climate Change Legal Branch Australia
4/2/2003 - 3/2/2004	Solicitor	Mallesons Stephen Jaques Environment & Planning Group Australia
2/6/1999 - 7/12/2001	Paralegal	Mallesons Stephen Jaques Environment & Planning Australia
1/12/1998 - 28/2/1999	Water Policy Officer Drafting submission to the World Commission on Dams	Nature Conservation Council of NSW Australia
9/2/1998 - 8/1/1999	Environment Liaison Officer Lobbist in NSW State Parliament on behalf of 7 Peak Environmental NGOs: Greenpeace, Total Environment Centre, Nature Conservation Council, Friends of the Earth, National Parks Association.	Nature Conservation Council Australia
3/7/1995 - 27/12/1996	Environment Advisor Advising and assisting the Senator on proposed environmental legislation & policy and constituent issues.	Parliament of Australia Office of Senator Christabel Chamarette (Greens NSW) Australia
6/1/1993 - 14/6/1995	Campaign Coordinator (Volunteer)	The Wilderness Society (WA Branch) Inc. Australia

Teaching

Code	Course	Role	Duration
LAWS4055A	Employment & Industrial Practice Newcastle Law School This course is an optional compulsory module that is required for admission as a legal practitioner as part of the Professional Programme. On successful completion of this module, students will have met the applicable LPAB competency standards for Employment & Industrial Practice (et out below), gained an understanding of the social and political importance of current Australian Federal industrial relations law, developed further competency in statutory interpretation, and in practicing the substantive law practice and procedure most commonly involved in employment and industrial relations practice, and demonstrated the capacity to reflect critically on their own learning experiences in recognising Law as a dynamic discipline requiring lifelong learning and skill development. .	Lecturer	25/7/2017 - 28/10/2017
LAWS4002	Administrative Law Newcastle Law School The study of Administrative Law involves examination of the legal rules and institutions through which governmental decisionmaking is authorised, effected, limited and reviewed. This course examines both the exercise of executive power by administrative agencies and officials, and the means by which administrative decisions can be supervised, controlled and challenged. Whilst judicial review of administrative action is at the heart of the course, extra-judicial mechanisms (including merits review and the ombudsmen) are also considered. Means of accessing information held by the administration are also evaluated.	Tutor	25/7/2017 - 25/11/2017
LAWS4003	Civil Procedure Newcastle Law School This course explains NSW procedural law and demonstrates how to apply it to hypothetical civil disputes in New South Wales. Procedural rules from other States and Federal Court procedure will be discussed where possible for comparison purposes.	Tutor	25/7/2017 - 25/11/2017
LAWS6025	Environmental/Natural Resources Law Clinic Newcastle Law School In this course students carry out work on current or potential environmental and natural resources law cases in or proposed for the Land & Environment Court of NSW, supervised by an experience environmental law Clinical Teacher/Solicitor at UNLC. This practical work is scaffolded by an intensive series of online lectures on NSW natural resources and environmental law, judicial review and civil enforcement techniques, and in-class exercises, discussions and field trips. From engagement in environmental advocacy and targeted course content, students will learn about the reasons why the law seeks to protect the environment, its techniques and methods, and its potential and limits in doing so. Students will gain hands on knowledge preparing them for practicing and policy-making in the environmental and natural resources law field, as well as an opportunity to reflect on these practices. As this course may involve current clients at the UNLC, participants will be required to sign the confidentiality agreement attached at the end of this Course Outline.	Course Co-ordinator & Lecturer	23/2/2017 - 26/5/2017
LAWS4054A	Legal Practice 1 - Part A Newcastle Law School The courses introduces the practice of law, focusing on dispute resolution, legal transactions, legal actions and gives emphasis to professional responsibility and ethical behaviour. The course is made up of a number of components and modules which cover a variety of areas of practice where communication, research, advocacy and legal transaction skills are utilised. Students undertake placement at the University of Newcastle Legal Centre interviewing clients and undertaking in-depth casework, simulation and drafting exercises and attend legal office placements in the general areas of litigation and legal transactions.	Clinical Teacher/Solicitor	25/1/2017 - 9/6/2017
LAWS4054B	Legal Practice 1 - Part B Newcastle Law School The courses introduces the practice of law, focusing on dispute resolution, legal transactions, legal actions and gives emphasis to professional responsibility and ethical behaviour. The course is made up of a number of components and modules which cover a variety of areas of practice where communication, research, advocacy and legal transaction skills are utilised. Students undertake placement at the University of Newcastle Legal Centre interviewing clients and undertaking in-depth casework, simulation and drafting exercises and attend legal office placements in the general areas of litigation and legal transactions.	Clinical Teacher/Solicitor	25/7/2017 - 30/11/2017

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Publications

For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.

Media (6 outputs)

Year	Citation	Altmetrics	Link
2016	Svenson JD, 'Would you mind paying $5 to go to the beach?', (2016)
2015	Svenson JD, 'Public Land is for Everyone', (2015)
2014	Svenson JD, 'Anna Bay decision made without community', (2014)
2013	Svenson JD, 'Use of Crown Land is Under State Scrutiny', (2013)
2006	Svenson JD, 'Bob Brown & The Beetle: How two birds and a beetle saved a forest', (2006)
2006	Svenson JD, 'Case Note: Gray v Minister for Planning & Centennial Hunter Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 720', (2006)
	Show 3 more medias

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Grants and Funding

Summary

Number of grants	5
Total funding	$343,500

Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.

20211 grants / $3,000

CHSF Working Parents Research Relief Scheme$3,000

Funding body: College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle

Funding body	College of Human and Social Futures \| University of Newcastle
Scheme	CHSF - Working Parents Research Relief Scheme
Role	Lead
Funding Start	2021
Funding Finish	2021
GNo
Type Of Funding	Internal
Category	INTE
UON	N

20191 grants / $198,000

Climate Connections Across the Pacific - LAWS5036 Fiji & Tuvalu$198,000

Climate Connections Across the Pacific involved NCP funding for 20 (combined) law & environmental science students to travel to Fiji & Tuvalu to experience and meet the people living at the "coal face of climate change".

Through participation in Climate Connections Across the Pacific, students engaged first hand with the government agencies, NGOs, practitioners and communities at the "coal face of climate change". Through immersion in the social, environmental, political and cultural reality of this issue for our nearest Pacific neighbours, students demonstrated legal skills and expertise within the context of international work integrated learning placement; reflected on the application, importance and limitations of international environmental law within the context of a country most affected by those laws; and developed skills in empathy, cross cultural communication, and appreciation of the value of these skills to their integration as a global lawyer. Students were matched with the most appropriate host, and each host department therefore also made significant contributions to the Project by means of the personal and professional mentoring offered.

Funding body: Commonwealth Government - New Colombo Programme

Funding body	Commonwealth Government - New Colombo Programme
Project Team	Jacquie Svenson, Dr Liam Phelan
Scheme	New Colombo Scheme
Role	Lead
Funding Start	2019
Funding Finish	2022
GNo
Type Of Funding	C1500 - Aust Competitive - Commonwealth Other
Category	1500
UON	N

20161 grants / $66,000

LAWS5036 - International Clinical Legal Externship - Indonesia$66,000

An intensive 10 day internship placing 20 NLS JD and LLB law students and two law academic supervisors in NGOs and government institutions focusing on environmental and natural resources law and corruption prevention in Jakarta and Bogor, Indonesia, in partnership with the Universities of Atma Jaya and Brawijaya.

Funding body: Commonwealth

Funding body	Commonwealth
Project Team	Dr Tim Connor, Ms Jacquie Svenson, Ms Donna Reedy
Scheme	New Colombo Plan
Role	Lead
Funding Start	2016
Funding Finish	2016
GNo
Type Of Funding	Aust Competitive - Commonwealth
Category	1CS
UON	N

20152 grants / $76,500

Legal costs & disbursements - Friends of King Edward Park Inc. v NCC, King Edward Headland Reserve Trust, Minister for Primary Industry & Annie Street Inc.$55,000

Funding body: Newcastle City Council & King Edward Headland Reserve Trust

Funding body	Newcastle City Council & King Edward Headland Reserve Trust
Project Team	Ms Jacquie Svenson
Scheme	Legal Costs
Role	Lead
Funding Start	2015
Funding Finish	2015
GNo
Type Of Funding	Other Public Sector - Local
Category	2OPL
UON	N

LAWS5036 - International Clinical Legal Externship - Indonesia$21,500

This project funded 10 Newcastle Law School 4th and 5th year Law students and an academic supervisor from NLS to undertake a 10 day international work-integrated placement in Malang and Surabaya, Indonesia, in partnership with the University of Brawijaya, Malang. The program introduced students to the key administrative and anti-corruption processes, policies and institutions in Indonesia through the lens of environmental decision making.

Funding body: Commonwealth

Funding body	Commonwealth
Project Team	Professor Sandeep Gopalan, Ms Jacquie Svenson, Ms Donna Reedy
Scheme	AsiaBound
Role	Investigator
Funding Start	2015
Funding Finish	2015
GNo
Type Of Funding	Aust Competitive - Commonwealth
Category	1CS
UON	N