Master of Law (LLM) (Griffith University), Bachelor of Science (Honours) (The University of Melbourne), Bachelor of Laws (The University of Melbourne), Bachelor of Laws (University of Melbourne)
Nicola is a Senior Lecturer and member of the Consumer Policy and Regulation Research Group in the Law Faculty, Queensland University of Technology. Nicola researches legal and policy issues in consumer financial services, consumer credit and other consumer transactions, and personal insolvency. At QUT, Nicola has received research grants and consultancies from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and Queensland Attorney-General's Department, and has authored or contributed to submissions to government and other review bodies on reviews of consumer law, consumer credit, self-regulation, and personal insolvency. Prior to her appointment at QUT, Nicola was the inaugural Director of the Centre for Credit and Consumer Law at Griffith University, where she undertook and coordinated research on a range of consumer law topics. Nicola has strong links with regulators and consumer organisations, including through her past membership of ASIC's Consumer Advisory Panel, previous appointment as the Consumer and Business Representative on the Banking Code Compliance Committee, and past role on the Executive of the Consumers' Federation of Australia. She has worked with consumer and regulatory organisations to advance research on various consumer and personal insolvency topics. Nicola is also a PhD candidate at Melbourne Law School, and her PhD research focuses on the legal solutions to over-indebtedness and the ways in which consumer experience the different solutions. Nicola's recent publications have covered topics including the fresh start in bankruptcy, new credit laws affecting small loans, and self-regulation in the banking sector. Her work has been published in Australian and overseas refereed journals and edited books. Nicola was, with a colleague, instrumental in establishing the first Australasian Consumer Law Roundtable, an annual event that has been running since 2006, and involves academics from across Australia and New Zealand. Nicola teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students, in areas including insolvency, commercial and personal property, consumer, and financial services law. Some key publications Books
- Bolitho, Hal, Howell, Nicola, & Paterson, Jeannie Marie (2020) Duggan and Lanyon's consumer credit law (2nd ed) Lexis Nexis, Australia
Book chapters
- Howell, Nicola (2016) 'Making Payday Loans Safer: The Australian Approach to Regulating Small and Medium Sized Loans'. In O'Shea, Paul & Fairweather, Karen (Eds.) Credit, Consumers and The Law: After The Global Storm. Ashgate Publishing Limited. (In Press)
- Howell, Nicola (2013) Interest rate caps and price regulation in consumer credit. In Malbon, Justin & Nottage, Luke (Eds.) Consumer Law and Policy in Australia and New Zealand. The Federation Press, Annandale, NSW, pp. 311–336.
Journal articles
- Howell, Nicola J. (2019) Reducing the duration of bankruptcy: Relying on an entrepreneurship and innovation lens to achieve consumer bankruptcy reform. Insolvency Intelligence, 32(3), pp. 109-115.
- Howell, Nicola (2019) Shutting the courts out: Developing consumer credit law in the shadow of alternative dispute resolution and the new Australian Financial Complaints Authority. Journal of Banking and Finance Law and Practice, 30(2), pp. 57-78.
- Howell, Nicola (2018) Researching personal insolvency law and practice in Australia: An update and call for continued investment. Insolvency Law Journal, 26(3), pp. 108-115.
- Howell, Nicola J (2016) 'Small amount credit contracts and payday loans: The complementarity of price regulation and responsible lending regulation'. Alternative Law Journal, 41(3), pp. 174-178.
- Howell, Nicola & Mason, Rosalind F. (2015) 'Reinforcing stigma or delivering a fresh start: Bankruptcy and future engagement in the workforce'. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 38(4), pp. 1529-1574.
- Howell, Nicola J. (2015) 'Revisiting the Australian code of banking practice: Is self-regulation still relevant for improving consumer protection standards?' UNSW Law Journal, 38(2), pp. 544-586.
- Howell, Nicola (2014) 'The fresh start goal of the Bankruptcy Act: giving a temporary reprieve or facilitating debtor rehabilitation?' QUT Law Review, 14(3), pp. 29-52.
Reports
- Howell, Nicola, Wilson, Therese, & Davidson, James (2008) Interest rate caps : protection or paternalism.
- Howell, Nicola (2008) Joint consumer submission to the review of the code of banking practice. (Unpublished)
- Sheehan, Genevieve, Wilson, Therese, & Howell, Nicola (2008) Coming to grips with credit contracts : steps to protect vulnerable borrowers. Brotherhood of St Laurence and Griffith University Centre for Credit and Consumer Law, Fitzroy, Victoria.
Additional information
- Bolitho, H., Howell, N. & Paterson, J. (2020). Duggan and Lanyon's consumer credit law. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/137208/
- Howell, N., Koessler, A., Mason, R. & Dulleck, U. (2020). Behavioural insights into the impact of bankruptcy's public record on business activity. Insolvency Law Journal, 28(3), 125–148. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/205702
- Howell, N., (2019). Shutting the courts out: Developing consumer credit law in the shadow of alternative dispute resolution and the new Australian Financial Complaints Authority. Journal of Banking and Finance Law and Practice, 30(2), 57–78. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/131970
- Howell, N., (2018). Researching personal insolvency law and practice in Australia: An update and call for continued investment. Insolvency Law Journal, 26(3), 108–115. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/122392
- Paterson, J. & Howell, N. (2018). Everyday Consumer Credit Overview of Australian Law Regulating Consumer Home Loans, Credit Cards and Car Loans: Background Paper 4. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/131402
- Howell, N. & Mason, R. (2015). Reinforcing stigma or delivering a fresh start: Bankruptcy and future engagement in the workforce. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 38(4), 1529–1574. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/89200
- Howell, N., (2015). Revisiting the Australian Code of Banking Practice: Is self-regulation still relevant for improving consumer protection standards? University of New South Wales Law Journal, 38(2), 544–586. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/84647
- Howell, N., (2014). The fresh start goal of the Bankruptcy Act: giving a temporary reprieve or facilitating debtor rehabilitation? QUT Law Review, 14(3), 29–52. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/75074
- Howell, N., (2013). Interest rate caps and price regulation in consumer credit. In J. Malbon & L. Nottage (Eds.), Consumer law and policy in Australia and New Zealand (pp. 311–336). Federation Press. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/58005
- Wilson, T., Howell, N. & Sheehan, G. (2009). Protecting the most vulnerable in consumer credit transactions. Journal of Consumer Policy, 32(2), 117–140. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/27225