Overview

ALC is devoted to the development of our understanding of Asian law and legal systems.

The Asian Law Centre (ALC) commenced activities in 1985 and is the first and largest Australian centre devoted to the development of our understanding of Asian law and legal systems. Since its establishment, the Asian Law Centre has gradually expanded its membership and the scope of its research and teaching.

The ALC has pioneered extensive programs of teaching and research on the laws and legal systems of  a wide range of countries and jurisdictions in the Asian region, including Japan, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Islamic law and Timor Leste.  Its work and engagement activities have also included Korea, Thailand, Laos and the Philippines.

The ALC is closely linked to the Melbourne Law School's Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society (CILIS), as CILIS has grown out of the ALC's longstanding programmes on Indonesian law. Professor Tim Lindsey is the Director of CILIS and remains an Associate Director of the ALC.

Seminars and Conferences

The ALC hosts an interesting and challenging program of activities, including student workshops and seminars such as the Occasional Seminar Series, the Brown Bag Seminar Series and Asian Legal Dialogues. The ALC also hosts regular conferences on Asian law-related areas of study.

Australian Journal of Asian Law

The ALC jointly publishes the Australian Journal of Asian Law with the University of Washington at Seattle and the Australian National University. A peer-refereed scholarly journal, the AJAL is edited from Melbourne and is now a leading forum for debate for scholars and professionals concerned with the laws and legal cultures of Asia.

Podcast Series

In 2026, the ALC launched a podcast series, titled Asian Law Voices with the Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society. Asian Law Voices presents interviews with an array of expert voices on legal issues throughout Asia, covering the law and its myriad connections with politics, culture, art, society and the everyday.

Research

The ALC is associated with a number of research projects on topics such as Reforms in China, Islamic law, Dispute Resolution and Media Law.

Scholarship

The Malcolm DH Smith Memorial Scholarship assists a first-year Melbourne JD student who has completed an undergraduate law degree or a degree majoring in Asian studies at a tertiary institution in Australia or Asia.

Annual reports

The ALC publishes an Annual Report of its activities each year.

If you have any queries about any of the activities or research of ALC, please do not hesitate to contact us.