For the second year running, the verdict is in – University of Southern Queensland’s (UniSQ) Dr Kathy Reeves has once again been named Australia’s Law Academic of the Year.
Dr Reeves claimed her second consecutive title at the 2026 Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards in Sydney last week, after also taking out the national honour in 2025.
A Senior Lecturer in UniSQ's School of Business, Law, Humanities and Pathways, Dr Reeves specialises in family law, child protection and domestic violence, bringing extensive professional experience into her teaching.
The award recognised her ongoing commitment to excellence in legal education, with this year’s honour highlighting her innovative approach to assessment and student learning.
“Receiving this award for a second consecutive year is an extraordinary honour and a reflection of the incredible students, colleagues and community that I have the privilege of working with at UniSQ,” Dr Reeves said.
“I am particularly proud that the award recognises not only excellence in legal education, but the importance of giving students authentic opportunities to develop the skills, confidence and professional judgment they will need as future lawyers.”
Central to this recognition was Dr Reeves’ transformation of student assessment through a viva voce (oral assessment) approach.
Replacing traditional written assessments in her courses, the approach allows students to work from a case file, prepare court documents, including written submissions, and act as advocates before a mock judge, giving them practical experience similar to real legal practice.
Dr Reeves said the shift had enhanced the student experience, improved graduate readiness and addressed one of higher education's emerging challenges.
“Students tell me that the viva voce initially challenges them, but that it gives them a much greater sense of what it means to be a lawyer. They must demonstrate that they understand the law, identify the relevant issues, apply the law to the facts and respond to questions from the bench,” she said.
“This form of assessment also helps address some of the challenges generative AI presents for traditional assessment methods. Students are required to demonstrate their own knowledge, reasoning, advocacy and ability to think on their feet in real time.
“More importantly, it ensures that assessment is measuring the skills we and the profession want our law graduates to possess.”
Learn more about UniSQ’s Law degrees.
