The Bugmy Bar Book is a free, evidence-based resource for lawyers and legal decision-makers, as well as policy-makers and other professionals. The chapters below are accessible summaries of key research about the impacts of experiences of trauma, socioeconomic inequality, structural disadvantage and strengths-based rehabilitation. Chapters may provide an evidence base to support legal advocacy and decision-making, and are intended to promote improved understanding of the experiences of people who are brought into contact with the legal system.
While a key function of this project is to assist legal practitioners in the preparation and presentation of material in sentencing proceedings to establish the application of the principles in Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571, these publications may also have relevance in other criminal law contexts, such as bail and mental health diversionary applications, as well as in various civil law practice areas, proceedings before tribunals, coronial inquests and other inquisitorial jurisdictions.
Index of Chapters
Latest News
2024 CLANT Conference
Members of the Bugmy Bar Book Project Committee and collaborators will present at the 2024 Criminal Lawyers of the Northern Territory (CLANT) Conference in Bali on 22 June 2204. Click here to register for the conference.
Paul Byrne Memorial Lecture 2024
The Honourable Chief Justice Lucy McCallum delivered the 2024 Paul Byrne Memorial Lecture on the topic of ‘The Rule of Law in Modern Australia’. Click to open in new window.
Project Contributors
The Bugmy Bar Book Project Committee is comprised of representatives of key justice agencies (including the NSW Public Defenders, NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited and Legal Aid NSW(, the judiciary (including nominees from the Supreme Court of NSW, ACT Supreme Court, District Court of NSW, Local Court of NSW, Local Court of the Northern Territory, ACT Magistrates Court and NSW Judicial Commission), senior legal academics from UNSW, ANU and UTS, and members of the private legal profession.
Although the project originated and is based in NSW, the resources are designed for use across all Australian jurisdictions and the committee engages with stakeholders Australia-wide.