Alternative Law Journal
Encyclopedia
The Alternative Law Journal (Alt.LJ) is a quarterly, refereed law journal published by the Legal Service Bulletin Co-operative Ltd in Melbourne, Australia.
The Alt.LJ is administered by volunteers, is independent of any organisation or political party, and is self funding, with some support provided by the Monash University Law Faculty
in Melbourne, where the journal is based.
The Alternative Law Journal was first published in 1974 as the Legal Service Bulletin by the Fitzroy Legal Service in Melbourne, Australia. The journal grew and now has a much wider readership beyond the community legal centres. The name was changed in 1992 to better reflect its goals and readership.
The goals of the Alt.LJ can be broadly described as:
The Alternative Law Journal provides resources for both secondary and tertiary legal studies teachers and students.
The Alt.LJ is administered by volunteers, is independent of any organisation or political party, and is self funding, with some support provided by the Monash University Law Faculty
Monash University Law Faculty
Monash University Faculty of Law, or Monash Law School, is the law school of Monash University in Melbourne, Victoria. Established in 1963, it offers the LLB, J.D., LLM, S.J.D., LLD and PhD degrees in law. It has been ranked as one of the top 20 law schools in the world...
in Melbourne, where the journal is based.
The Alternative Law Journal was first published in 1974 as the Legal Service Bulletin by the Fitzroy Legal Service in Melbourne, Australia. The journal grew and now has a much wider readership beyond the community legal centres. The name was changed in 1992 to better reflect its goals and readership.
The goals of the Alt.LJ can be broadly described as:
- promotion of social justiceSocial justiceSocial justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
, human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and law reformLaw reformLaw reform or Legal reform is the process of examining existing laws, and advocating and implementing changes in a legal system, usually with the aim of enhancing justice or efficiency....
issues - critique of the legal system
- monitoring developments in alternative practice
- community legal educationLegal educationLegal education is the education of individuals who intend to become legal professionals or those who simply intend to use their law degree to some end, either related to law or business...
.
The Alternative Law Journal provides resources for both secondary and tertiary legal studies teachers and students.
- Legal Studies Column is published regularly, providing a class exercise based on an article published in the Journal. The exercises are prepared by legal studies teachers for secondary legal studies students.
- Legal Issues Resource Kits: these compilations of articles from the Journal are grouped by topic, and are often used by teachers, and students studying specific areas of law. Recent kits include topic such as Sexuality and the Law, Family LawFamily lawFamily law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including:*the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships;...
, Human RightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and Prisons.