LAW IN CONTEXT PODCast
WELCOME TO THE LAW IN CONTEXT PODCAST
LAW IN CONTEXT began as a book in 1991 and is now also a podcast series designed to introduce law in a critical way to the general public, current students and those thinking of taking up the subject.
Season 1 in 2024 contained 15 episodes designed as a primer for those interested in the fundamentals of common law systems and how they differ from other legal systems.
Season 2 in 2025 takes a deeper dive into the fascinations of Law in Context.
latest episodes
episode 26 – CALL MY AGENT!: aGENCY LAW IN CONTEXT
Your gowned crusaders explore the concept of agency, its legal implications, and its relevance in everyday life. We discuss how agency allows individuals and companies to engage in contracts without direct involvement, the different types of authority agents can have, and the risks associated with agency relationships. We also touch on the evolving nature of agency in the context of AI and automated systems. If AI acts on our behalf, is it (or the AI provider) liable for errors or exceeding authority?
episode 27 – THE STATE
What exactly is a ” State”? It’s not the same as a country, or a nation, or a government. States do need a government to be recognised as a state, as well as a permanent population and territory, but it gets complicated. There are parts of the world, such as Northern Cyprus and Taiwan, that have territory and a government, but are not states.
It’s an important issue, and indeed a vital one at the moment in the Middle East. Is Palestine a state? Should it be recognised as one?
This episode describes the state as a political and legal construct. It isn’t a cultural or ethnic one. Most of the world’s land mass is within the state system. And who knows? Could the Moon be next?
episode 28 – Universities – Time for a change in their governancne
Universities are created by law as corporations, separate from government and from the people who work and study in them. In the past they were run democratically by academics or faculty members, and sometimes by students as well.
Now they are run by highly paid management teams, and governed by small boards. From the outside, legally they look similar to large for-profit companies. “Corporate governance” ideas apply to both.
This episode describes our proposal for an academic democracy at our imaginary Australian Exemplar University.