Brings real-world insights to the classroom.
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Professor Lola Akin Ojelabi serves as Professor and Head of Department (Law) in the School of Law at RMIT University, where she also acted as interim Dean of the School of Law. An Australian lawyer admitted to practice and a Nationally Accredited Mediator, she earned her PhD in Law from La Trobe University, focusing her doctoral thesis on culture and its impact on conflict resolution. Prior to joining RMIT, she held positions as Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Director of Programs (LLB) at La Trobe Law School. Her academic career emphasizes advancing dispute resolution practices through rigorous research and teaching.
Lola Akin Ojelabi's research specializations center on access to justice and conflict resolution, with particular attention to appropriate dispute resolution (ADR). This includes explorations of ethics in mediation, mediator responsibilities, the integration of ADR into legal curricula, cultural appropriateness in dispute processes, ADR's role in enhancing access to justice and promoting social justice, and the application of international law to foster global peace by identifying shared values in intractable conflicts. Her contributions to the field are evidenced by key publications such as the book Ethics and Justice in Mediation (2018), Dispute Resolution in Australia: Cases, Commentary and Materials (2023), and Alternative Dispute Resolution (2026). Additional significant works include 'Family dispute resolution and access to justice in Australia' (2020), 'Civil Dispute Resolution in Australia: A Content Analysis of the Teaching of the Topic of ADR in the Core Legal Curriculum' (2024), and reports like 'Playing Devil's Advocate': Reality testing in the context of mediation in Australia (2022). She supervises postgraduate research on topics including the role of ADR in IT project failures, transnational AI regulation, legal needs of the Afghan diaspora, and ethical considerations in 3D bioprinting. Through her leadership and scholarship, Professor Akin Ojelabi influences ADR pedagogy, policy, and practice in Australia, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals on peace, justice, strong institutions, and reduced inequalities.
