DrNicole Siller

Research Interests

Trafficking in persons
Human exploitation
Criminal law and procedure (international and domestic)
Transnational organized crime
Clinical Legal Education
Work Integrated Learning

Knowledge Areas

Criminal Law
Criminal Procedure
Advocacy
Trafficking in Persons
Work Integrated Learning

Projects

Facilitating Self-Represented Litigant empowerment and lessening Court burden in the family violence space (2025)

Funding awarded $7.000AUD

Deakin Law Clinic (DLC) has launched this project to improve its efficiency and effectiveness when delivering assistance and support to Self-Represented Litigants (SRLs) who have applied for or are responding to an application of a family violence intervention order (FVIO).

Legal support services are not provided or funded in appeals at the County Court of Victoria (CCV). The result is an abundance of SRLs. SRL matters have been deemed by the Family Court of Australia as a ‘measure of complexity’ of its caseload because SRLs require ongoing support from the Court in the conduct of their matters.

This project aims to assist in filling this legal services gap via the provision of legal assistance, support and information for SRLs involved in intervention orders to be better empowered, self-sufficient and educated on processes and recent changes to the law, thus reducing the judicial burden in resolving these matters.

Awarded Victoria Law Foundation Everyday Legal Grant ($7000+) to assist meeting project aims.

Deakin & Associates: Integrating simulation-based unit design and instruction in the capstone unit (2022-2023)

Funding awarded: $5,000 AUD

This project aims to assist in the redevelopment of the LLB capstone unit: MLL427 Advanced Legal Problem Solving and Persuasion to provide students with first hand and problem-based learning opportunities that mimic the real world experiences they will encounter in their professional lives as lawyers via simulation-based instruction.

This team is comprised of subject matter, educational and instructional design experts.

Awarded $5,000AUD through the DeakinDesign Seeding Grant Scheme to undertake project.

Success and Retention through WIL: Increasing Success for Cloud-based Law Students (2020-2021)
Funding awarded: $40,000 AUD

This project aimed to improve the participation and success of LSES undergraduate law (LLB) students by providing a tailored and personal
opportunity to enhance practical legal skills directly tied to increased employability and resilience. To address the WIL accessibility and equity
issue for LSES cloud students to increase both retention and employability, the project team designed a pilot online legal clinic: Policy Practice Area.

Eradicating Modern Slavery: What Role for International Criminal Justice? 2014-2016
The UN University Office at the United Nations launched a policy research project to address both the role of international criminal justice and that of the UN system in responding to modern slavery. The project will explore both normative development and institutional practice, with a particular focus on institutions including the International Criminal Court, the International Labour Organization, the UN Security Council, and the broader UN system.

Sponsors: The United Nations University, Permanent Mission of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the United Nations, The Freedom Fund and Journal of International Criminal Justice