I received an email this week from Prof Patricia Easteal AM, the 2010 Australian of the Year for ACT who is the editor of this very detailed reference book covering all aspects for Women and the the law in Australia.  The book was launched by The Governor-General in August at the Australian Women Lawyers Conference. Her Excellency also wrote the Foreword.  This book is the first of its kind, highlighting numerous issues women may experience with the legal system, and also acts as a hands-on resource for all people, including legal practitioners and policy-makers, providing practical advice and remedies for dealing with issues in the practice of law that are of particular importance to women.

The text is a compilation of contributions from 30 esteemed experts, drawn from legal practice, academia and government. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and expertise to advance and promote women’s rights. Each author contributes a thorough and rigorous review of gender issues in their own diverse specialist areas of practice such as criminal, family, discrimination, employment, and commercial law. They identify specific examples of biases, which might lead to existing legal categories and processes being impractical, inappropriate or disadvantageous for women, especially for those with disabilities, Indigenous women, lesbians, and migrants.

What follows is thoughtful and pragmatic guidance for responding to the variable and complex needs of women as defendants, complainants, prisoners, victims, and practitioners. This includes an appreciation of the other legislative, bureaucratic and societal changes that are required to raise awareness and to bring about more change.

Some of the important features of this reference include:

• Various specific issues and remedies that women experience with the legal system.
• ‘Hands-on’ resource tool with an overall emphasis on the applied value of information
• Covers many areas of law from ADR to trusts and equity
• Identifies specific issues for women with disabilities, indigenous women, lesbians and migrants.

I have no commercial interest in the book at all but I'm aware that many of you are working in areas that could benefit from such a comprehensive text... So if you're interested you can click here for more details and to order your copy.