Dr. Anthony Hopkins

Biography

Anthony Hopkins is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Clinical Internship Courses at ANU Law School, having joined the university in 2015. In 2018, he received the Vice-Chancellor's citation for his outstanding contribution to student learning, recognizing his innovative teaching approaches designed to bring students as close as possible to the practical realities of legal practice. He began his career as a criminal defense lawyer with the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service in Alice Springs. After taking time to raise his children, he returned to academia as a law lecturer at the University of Canberra and was called to the bar in 2010. He continues to practice as a barrister, focusing on sentencing and appellate criminal cases. His research work centers on legal policy reforms aimed at promoting equality and reducing incarceration, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the criminal justice system. Anthony is also interested in the links between equality and compassion, which he views as foundational to transforming individuals caught in the criminal justice system. His research is informed by his own mindfulness meditation practice.

Research Interests