Emma Henderson

Dr. Emma Henderson is a Senior Lecturer in Law at La Trobe University, Melbourne, specializing in criminal law, feminist legal theory, and human rights. She holds leadership roles including Director of Graduate Research (2015-2021) and coordinates courses like Legal Practice and Professional Conduct. Her research examines rape myths in trials, domestic violence intervention orders, and the impact of courthouse design on justice outcomes. Recent awards include the 2024 Vice-Chancellor’s Research Excellence Award and a 2025 Victoria Law Foundation Grant. She co-authored Courthouse Architecture, Design and Social Justice (2021) and has served on ethics and academic committees since 2015. Teaching spans criminal law, human rights advocacy, and legal institutions.

Research focuses on decolonizing legal spaces, trauma-informed courtroom design, and reforming legal frameworks to address gendered violence. She has advised on child protection advocacy and participated in international law projects, including teaching at Germany’s Bayreuth University. Her work bridges architecture, law, and social justice, emphasizing how physical spaces shape legal narratives and outcomes.