Get in touch to more about how you can contribute to world-class research at Deakin Law School.
Research
Join our supportive law research community
Whether you're interested in corporate governance, crime, constitutional law, international law or any of the major fields in law, you'll find scholars committed to working in the discipline. Work with us to get the skills you need to complete a rigorous and exciting PhD.
Choose Deakin for law research
Deakin Law School offers a stimulating environment in which to undertake research in a range of legal fields. Our research informs law reform, public debate and is published in Australia and internationally. It also informs our teaching, course design and content. Our research complies with relevant guidelines governing privacy and ethical conduct.
Research strengths
Our research scope is wide, covering:
- anti-discrimination law
- administrative law
- corporate governance
- crime and criminal justice
- cyber security
- data and the law
- energy and natural resource law
- health law
- intellectual property
- international law
- transnational commercial law.
PhD program
Deakin Law School is seeking PhD applicants who are passionate about real-world problems and who are ready to imagine and research innovative solutions to these problems.
We have postgraduate research supervisors available in:
- corporate governance
- crime and criminal justice
- data and the law
- energy and natural resource law
- intellectual property
- international law
- public law
- torts and health law
- transnational law.
Find a research supervisor
Discover Deakin Law School supervisors that could help you further your research career goals. Filter by 'Availability for Supervision' and Faculty of Business and Law under 'Area/Faculty'. Then click into an expert's profile to learn more about them.
How to apply for a research degree
Get all the information you need to successfully apply for a Deakin research degree or PhD, including key dates, entry requirements, supporting documents and finding a research supervisor. We’re here to support you through the process.
Research centres and units
Our research centres take the strengths of Deakin Law School and invest them in projects designed to make a difference.
Centre for Law as Protection
Led by Professors Shiri Krebs and Patrick Emerton, the centre investigates and advances legal frameworks to protect individuals and communities from threats including organised violence, abuse of governmental and corporate power, economic and technology-based harms, and inequality, marginality and deprivation.
Law, Health and Society
Led by Associate Professors Neera Bhatia and Tania Penovic, the Law, Health and Society research unit critically examines health law, policy, regulation and ethics to drive change and improve health and wellbeing outcomes across society.
Top 3 law school in Victoria
As a Deakin Law School research degree student, you’ll get a world-class education and the chance to collaborate, learn and share ideas through regular research seminars, conferences and workshops.
Studying at Deakin Law School helped me develop a strong interest in empirical legal research – particularly in the areas relating to corporate law and governance in India, and more broadly in the Asian region. Deakin provided me with a well-rounded professional experience which has enabled my academic career to grow.
PhD Law
Meet our HDR students
| Name | PhD topic | Principal supervisor | Associate supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isa Alade | FinTech and Data Protection: Imperatives for Bespoke Regulatory Standard | Dr Zehra Gulay Kavame Eroglu | Professor Jean Du Plessis |
| Jack Aquilina | Research and Development Tax Incentive in the New Knowledge Economy | Associate Professor Mark Bowler-Smith | Associate Professor Edward Podolski (external supervisor) |
| Henry Thomas Austin-Stone | Non-physical family violence: the challenges in prosecuting perpetrators in Tasmania | Professor Marilyn McMahon | Associate Professor Ben Saunders |
| Matthew Crocker | Do our models of sovereign debt sustainability need updating? | Professor Patrick Emerton | Dr Peter Ferguson Associate Professor Steven Hail (external supervisor) |
| Holly Cullen | Integrating Feminist and Queer Perspectives into International Litigation Strategies | Dr Tamsin Paige | Associate Professor Ben Saunders |
| Kelly Green | Toward a Cohesive Theory of Search Engine Liability in Defamation | Alfred Deakin Professor Matthew Groves | Associate Professor Jason Taliadoros |
| Madeleine Hale | Protection of free speech rights against infringement by private entities | Associate Professor Colin Campbell | Professor Patrick Emerton |
| Serena Hildenbrand | Victorian government transport data-sharing framework, encompassing privacy and human rights | Professor Shiri Krebs | Alfred Deakin Professor Matthew Groves Dr Bruce Chen |
| Manasi Kumar | The Indian Group of Companies Doctrine and its implications for Indian contract law | Dr Firew Tiba | Dr Shu Zhang Dr Saloni Khanderia (external supervisor) |
| Morgan Stonebridge | The Application of Empathy to the Question of Animal Rights | Dr Jane Kotzmann | Professor Patrick Emerton |
| Naimeh Masumy | Integration of Sustainable Development in Damage Compensation of Investor-State Dispute Settlement: The Delicate Balance of Reaching a Just and Equitable Remedy | Dr Tamsin Paige | Dr Shu Zhang |
| Katie Miller | Is administrative law fit for high volume, high velocity decision making? A case study | Alfred Deakin Professor Matthew Groves | Associate Professor Maria O'Sullivan |
| Patricia Nonis | First Principles Theory of Animal Constitutional Rights | Dr Jane Kotzmann | Dr David Tan Professor Patrick Emerton |
| Ninia Reza | A critical analysis of the domestic and transnational laws applicable to multinational corporations in selected jurisdictions with supply chains in the Bangladeshi garment industry | Professor Jean Du Plessis | Associate Professor Jason Taliadoros Dr Shu Zhang |
| Lisa Rogers | The safeguarding and protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in international law and policy. | Associate Professor Jason Taliadoros | Associate Professor Ben Saunders Professor Christoph Antons (external supervisor) |
| Shiran Shahaf | Advancing International Norms of Cyber Warfare | Professor Shiri Krebs | Dr John Morss Associate Professor Danielle Chubb |
| Joanne Stagg | Queer, Here, Curia: A queer Australian alternative judgement project | Dr Tamsin Paige | Dr David Tan |
| Maragrita Vladimirova | Legal Regulation of Facial Recognition Software and Its Application | Professor Patrick Emerton | Associate Professor Colin Campbell |
Find a scholarship
Reach your full potential and achieve your career goals with the support of a research degree or PhD scholarship. Our top scholarships recognise and reward students from a range of backgrounds and interest areas.
Be part of research that’s above world standard
Our research-intensive environment delivers and translates high-quality world-class research into outcomes that are relevant and meaningful to our communities.
Law newsroom
Keep up to date with our latest law news and events. Browse opinion pieces from our academic staff who are recognised as leaders and innovators in their fields.
Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our University rankings page.
Deakin is ranked equal third in Victoria for law, with LaTrobe University. QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025.
