In the Asia- Pacific region, Australia is best-known for having the most number of world-leading higher educational institutions. Most law schools in the country have an outstanding international reputation which, attracts international students and employers from across the globe. Australian law schools offer a range of LLB and LLM degree programs with specialization subjects to ensure extensive learning and understanding of the different existing legal systems. Additionally, most Australian universities have a wide global network which, allows students to undergo exchange programs or study law in an international university.

Here, we will be talking about some of the best law universities in Australia.

Top Law Universities in Australia

1. University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is Australia’s second-oldest public research university and one of the globally top-rated Australian universities. Established in 1853, it started as a small institution with only four professors and 16 students. Now, the University of Melbourne welcomes over 30,000 international students from over 130 countries worldwide. Additionally, Times Higher Education recognizes the university as the number 1 higher educational institution in Australia and 35th best worldwide.

The Melbourne Law School is the oldest in Australia and consistently ranks number 1 in providing high-quality legal education and hands-on training on clinical trials and internships. The law school also ranks top 5 in the world and 1st in the country and the Asia Pacific by the Times Higher Education Rankings by Subject. It has the most number of graduates who held positions as chief justices, prime ministers, and attorney-general than any Australian law school. Given that, it’s not surprising that the University of Melbourne is one of the best law universities in Australia.

Law School at the University of Melbourne only has graduate degree programs. It offers a Juris Doctor degree that will allow students to practice legal professions in Australia and abroad. Students may also enroll in Master of Law programs with a wide range of internationally-recognized specialization courses. The Faculty also offers Ph.D. or MPhil degree programs which, include extensive research training; and a Doctor of Law with advanced legal studies.

2. University of New South Wales

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a world-class public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Established in 1949, it became well-known for its outstanding reputation in high-quality teaching, cutting-edge research, and technological innovations. UNSW is a founding member of the Group of Eight which, comprises Australia’s most research-intensive universities. Additionally, the university is an active member of the elite association of international universities known as Universitas 21. Furthermore, it continuously builds its international reputation through partnerships and exchange initiatives with more than 200 universities worldwide.

Law at UNSW is one of the best in the world. In the 2021 QS World University Rankings by Subject, it ranked 20th worldwide and 2nd in Australia. Annually, the UNSW Faculty of Law receives the highest rankings and satisfactory scores from global academic surveys.

The Faculty at this top-notch law school offers all levels of law degree programs including, a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and a double-degree LLB program for undergraduate students; Juris Doctor and a Master of Laws for postgraduate students; and Doctor of Laws, LLM by Research, and Master of Philosophy for postgraduate research applicants. UNSW has one of the largest student exchange programs, so students have the opportunity to study overseas for their law degrees.

3. University of Sydney

The University of Sydney (USYD) is the oldest public research university in Australia. Established in 1850, it is well-known for topping off the charts of global academic rankings, consistently placing in the top 50. USYD is a member of the elite Group of Eight, the association of top-leading research-intensive universities in Australia. It also offers the largest array of academic programs and research courses that will enable students to develop their skills, broaden their knowledge, and access international networking through exchange programs and internships.

The University of Sydney Law School is among the top law schools in Australia. It was established in 1855 and started providing law and legal instructions to students in 1890. It is the oldest law school in Australia and is one of the best in the world. The Faculty was ranked 13th in the world, 2nd in Australia, and 3rd in the Asia Pacific by the 2020 QS World University Rankings by Subject. It offers a range of flexible degree programs including, Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with specialization courses in arts, commerce, economics, engineering, or science. It has graduate programs including, the Juris Doctor program, Masters of Laws, and Specialist Masters and Graduate Diplomas. The Faculty also offers postgraduate research courses, wherein students may work in an international community.

4. The University of Queensland

The University of Queensland (UQ) is a top-leading public research university located in Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in 1909, it is one of the best and oldest Australian universities. It is a founding member of the elite Group of Eight, the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, and Universitas 21. The university has received the most number of national academic awards among all Australian universities due to its excellence in teaching and research, global partnerships and exchange programs, world-class facilities, and friendly and engaging community.

University of Queensland Law School is among the best law universities in Australia. It is the oldest in Queensland and the sixth-oldest in the country. It was established in 1936 and became one of the most regarded law schools in the world. In 2021, law at UQ was ranked 43rd worldwide according to the QS World University Rankings by Subjects.

The Law School offers a wide range of double-degree programs for undergraduate students to ensure comprehensive learning and a deep understanding of the law from a wide perspective. Students may combine their LLB degree with arts, business management, commerce, computer science, economics, humanities, journalism, and science. UQ also offers a range of postgraduate degree programs including, Master of Laws, Master of International Law, Master of International Commercial Law, dual-degree Master’s programs, and higher degrees such as MPhil and Ph.D. in law by research.

5. Australian National University

The Australian National University (ANU) is one of the world’s top-leading public research universities located in Canberra, Australia. It was initially founded as Canberra University College in 1929, was then established by the Parliament of Australia as ANU in 1946. The university currently ranks in the top 27 of the 2022 QS World University Rankings. ANU is also the number one university in Australia and is well-known for its outstanding performance in Anthropology, Earth and Marine Sciences, Geography, Geology, Philosophy, Politics, and Sociology.

ANU College of Law is one of the best in the world. In 2019, the law program was ranked 15th worldwide by the QS World University Rankings by Subject. The college offers a wide range of law degree programs including, Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, Master of International Law and Diplomacy, Graduate Certificate of Law, and the Graduate Certificate of New Technologies Law. Students may also undergo intensive research on specific subjects to obtain an MPhil/Ph.D. in Law.

 

We hope this article on the best law universities in Australia was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Law Programs for International Students!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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