Fiji stands at a crossroads: democracy lies invitingly ahead, with coups and turmoil behind. Will the power-broking military officers allow the people to walk forward, or will they sidetrack the nation's future by further diverging from the Bill of Rights? Shane Svoboda has analysed the situation, and reports.

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Students can learn and grow as members of CLA, taking up many opportunities that might not otherwise be available...or they can simply stay aware of what's happening, and decide to get involved only occasionally. Here student member Rosh O'Meagher explains how she benefited from her first year of membership.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland encouraged Law students to get involved with community groups like CLA, and to put their opinions in writing right from the start of their studies when he spoke to the University of Canberrra Isaacs Law Society. He also supported mroe information exchange between civil liberties groups.

Caption: A-G Robert McClelland and CLA President, Dr Kristine Klugman, at the UC Careers event.

Link: http://www.cla.asn.au/Article/080624_Divided_we_stand.pdf

Should Australia drop a tier of government? Become a republic? In this lecture, CLA member Norman Abjorensen explores how Australia might adapt or evolve, based on where we have come from. He asks: What would our system look like today if it hadn't happened as in the history books, but existed in a parallel universe?

CLA is offering a new law student internship program, based on the University of Canberra Law School. There is already a program with the Australian National University, ANU. Details of the UC opportunity are available

Link: http://www.cla.asn.au/Article/080508rptDNAkb.pdf

A bill prohibiting discrimination and bias by health insurers and employers based on people's genes has passed both Houses of the US Congress by a vote of 509-1. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act is a powerful shield for Americans. Meanwhile, protection in Australia remains limited, even after a major Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry. CLA member and ANU Science/Law graduate-in-waiting, Karlie Brown, analyses the Australian situation in detail in relation to employees.

Link: http://www.cla.asn.au/Article/ShieldLaws.pdf

We need to provide better laws to shield journalists and whistleblowers in Australia says ANU law student Lorraine Ingham after analysing how far Australia lags other English-speaking nations in protecting journalists and sources.

Internships are available with CLA, in conjunction with the College of Law at the Australian National University (other unis: please see read on).

Internships can be at any time, but are usually over three months across the December-through-February period. They count for six unit points towards an ANU Law degree, at the same time producing a quality paper on a topical issue of interest to the student and CLA.

Link: http://www.cla.asn.au/Articles/060203BrookeHome.pdf

The pioneering paper under the ANU/CLA program was produced in 2006 by Brooke Horne, now with Minter Ellison. Horne’s paper investigated the status of environmental refugees, such as Pacific Island people affected by rising sea levels, under international and Australian law. It was produced under the CLA-organised mentorship of immigration law specialist Gerald Santucci of Stacks/Snedden Hall & Gallop.