Rita Shackel
Associate Dean and Senior Lecturer, Sydney Law School
Rita Shackel is Associate Dean and Senior Lecturer in the School of Law at the University of Sydney. In 2005, Rita joined Sydney Law School and was awarded a University of Sydney Early Career Development Award. Rita’s PhD dissertation focused on the use of expert psychological testimony in child sexual assault cases. Rita has continued to research and publish in this area. Currently she has a research program broadly focused on the evaluation and reform of legal processes, particularly, vis-à-vis victims of crime and children’s interaction with the law. Her research in this area combines doctrinal work in evidence and procedure with interdisciplinary analysis, drawing particularly on psychological theories and empirical findings and methodologies. Rita also has an active research program in the pedagogy of legal education, legal professionalism and ethics. Her research in this area again is strongly interdisciplinary in nature.
Rita is a graduate of the University of Sydney holding undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in law, science, psychology and education. Rita’s academic awards include the Jones Memorial University Medal for most outstanding academic and professional record. Rita also received an American Association of University Women International Fellowship. She has worked as a lawyer and academic in a range of settings including in government, law reform and community justice.
