Luke Beck

Professor

Accepting PhD Students

20082023

Research activity per year

If you made any changes in Pure these will be visible here soon.

Personal profile

Biography

Luke Beck is a Professor of Constitutional Law. He is also Associate Dean (Education) of the Faculty of Law.

Luke is a leading scholar in the field of separation of religion and government and religious freedom under the Australian Constitution. He has also published on various other aspects of constitutional and public law.

His books include Australian Constitutional Law: Concepts and Cases (Cambridge University Press, 2020) and Religious Freedom and the Australian Constitution: Origins and Future (Routledge, 2018). Luke is one of the most published scholars in leading Australian law journals, being ranked as the most published author in Go8 law journals and the third most published author in ERA A* and A law journals in the period 2010 to 2017, according to a 2020 study published in the UWA Law Review.

Luke's research has had important impacts outside the academy, including in case law and law reform. His research has been cited in judgments in the High Court of Australia and New South Wales Court of Appeal, and relied upon in argument in other cases before the courts. His research has also been cited in reports of parliamentary inquiries and law reform commissions in Australia and overseas.

Luke also appears before parliamentary inquiries to provide expert constitutional advice and his advice has led to changes to legislation. He is also a regular media commentator.

Before entering academia, Luke worked in the public service, including in the office of a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, at the Office of the Protective Commissioner and at the NSW Attorney-General's Department.

Research interests

Constitutional law

Law and religion

Constitutional history

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

External positions

National Council Member, Australian Association of Constitutional Law

Victorian Chapter Convenor, Australian Association of Constitutional Law

Member, International Society of Public Law

Member, Law and Religion Scholars Network

Research area keywords

  • Constitutional Law
  • Law and Religion
  • Constitutional History

Network

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or