The UQ Law School is the law school of the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Founded in 1936, the school is the sixth-oldest
law school
A law school (also known as a law centre or college of law) is an institution specializing in legal education, usually involved as part of a process for becoming a lawyer within a given jurisdiction.
Law degrees Argentina
In Argentina, ...
in
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and the oldest and most prestigious in Queensland. The school is currently the most-cited law school in Australia. Its alumni include six Australian High Court Justices including two Chief Justices of Australia.
The entering undergraduate class typically consists of about 200 LLB students per year (the smallest cohort of students among Go8 universities), and admission is highly competitive, with minimum selection thresholds ranging around ATAR 99.00-98.00 (OP 1–2). UQ Law additionally offers LLM, MICLaw, MICLaw/MCom, MIL, MIR/MIL,
MPhil
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil; Latin ' or ') is a postgraduate degree. In the United States, an MPhil typically includes a taught portion and a significant research portion, during which a thesis project is conducted under supervision. An MPhil m ...
and
PhD PHD or PhD may refer to:
* Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), an academic qualification
Entertainment
* '' PhD: Phantasy Degree'', a Korean comic series
* ''Piled Higher and Deeper'', a web comic
* Ph.D. (band), a 1980s British group
** Ph.D. (Ph.D. albu ...
degrees. Though no exact figure can be found, the total student enrolment is estimated to be 1200–1650 students (with ~500 students, about 30% of the total student cohort).
The school, as part of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law (BEL), works closely with several student associations including the University of Queensland Law Society Inc. (UQLS), the Justice and the Law Society (JATL) and the Australian Legal Philosophy Students Association (ALPSA).
History
Although the Law School began properly teaching in 1936, a Faculty of Law was established '' pro forma'' with the foundation of the University of Queensland in 1911. This enabled the university to confer '' ad eundem gradum'' degrees'','' an honorary degree recognising the award given by another university, and Doctors of Laws ''
honoris causa
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...
,'' recognising the contribution of selected persons toward the establishment of the university''.''
A limited amount of law subjects began to be taught in 1926- when the first Garrick Professor of Law was appointed. However, this was under the ambit of the university's faculty of arts, as no law school had been properly established yet. In 1935
Thomas Charles Beirne
Thomas Charles Beirne KSG (1860–1949) was an early businessman, politician and philanthropist in colonial and federation era Queensland, Australia. In May 1936, students commenced studies under the newly formed TC Beirne School of Law.
Reputation and student achievements
Since 1935, twenty-seven UQ Law graduates have won Rhodes scholarships. In 2020, two UQ law students won scholarships to study at the University of Cambridge. Eleven UQ Law students have won Fulbright Scholarships since 1955. Ten UQ Law students have won New Colombo Plan Scholarships or Mobility Grant Programs since 2014.
The UQ School of Law is well regarded as one of the world's foremost law schools for mooting; significant mooting achievements include the following:
Notable international advocacy competition accolades
* World Champions (2005, 2014, 2018) in the prestigious Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (currently sharing third place with University of Melbourne's Law School). Semi-Finalists (2007). Baxter Award for Best Respondent or Applicant Memorial (2004, 2014, 2017). Evans Award for Best Overall Memorial (2017).
* World Champions (viz. winner of the Frédéric Eisemann Award) (1997, 2000) in the prestigious Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Runners-up (1998, 2002). Equal Third Place (2020). Teams from UQ Law (TCB) have been the most successful to partake in this moot (by way of moot wins and runners-up).
* World Champions (2008, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019) in the International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot.
* World Champions (2018) along with students from other Australian law schools in the 17th Tokyo Negotiation and Arbitration Moot (aka Intercollegiate Negotiation Competition).
* World Champions (2015) in The Sarin Leiden International
Air Law Moot
The Leiden – Sarin International Air Law Moot Court Competition is an international moot competition organised by Leiden University. It was started in 2010 by the university's International Institute of Air and Space Law and by India'Sarin Mem ...
Court Competition.
Notable domestic advocacy competition accolades
* Australian Champions (2013, 2020) in the Sir Harry Gibbs Constitutional Law Moot.
* Australian Champions (2001) in the ALSA Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot.
* Australian Champions (2016, 2018) in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students' Moot.
* Australian Champions (2017) in the Castan Centre Human Rights Law Moot.
* Australian Champions (2014) Negotiating Outcomes on Time (NOOT) Competition.
* Australian Champions (2008, 2011, 2014) in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal National Mooting Competition.
* Australian Champions (2004, 2008, 2009, 2012) in the QUT Torts Moot Competition, making them the most successful school to partake in the moot.
* Australian Champions (2009, 2012) in the Shine Lawyers Torts Moot Competition.
* Winner (2005) National Family Law Moot Competition.
Building
In 2015, UQ commissioned a refurbishment of the west wing of the heritage-listed Forgan Smith building; focused on re-imagining the School of Law and the Walter Harrison Law Library and signalling a re-imagined program restructure and smaller cohort size. In 2017, Brisbane based architecture firm
BVN
BVN (''Het beste van NPO'', "The best of NPO"), is a Dutch free-to-air television channel providing Dutch public-service television to viewers around the world.
It is a service of the public broadcasting company of the Netherlands, Nederlands ...
completed the School of Law's Forgan Smith Building refurbishment. The re-imagined west wing of the Forgan Smith building has since won numerous awards:
* RAIA National Awards – Educational Architecture Award;
* RAIA National Awards – Interior Architecture Award;
* RAIA Qld Chapter – Interior Architecture Award;
* RAIA Qld Chapter – Educational Architecture Award;
* Australian Interior Design Awards Best of State Queensland – Commercial winner;
* RAIA Qld Chapter Brisbane Regional Commendation – Interior Architecture; and
* RAIA Qld Chapter Brisbane Regional Commendation – Educational Architecture.
Academics
The UQ Law School is Queensland's premier law school; usually achieving the highest rank for law of any Queensland university. The UQ Law School is Australia's best academically-performing law school, as measured by the averaged QS c''itations per paper'' (CPP) and QS '' H-Index citations'' (H-index) ranking, at 27.5;
ANU College of Law
The ANU College of Law is the law school at the Australian National University and one of the seven academic Colleges of the ANU. It is located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. This provides the College with opportunities to connect with ...
follows UQ Law at an averaged CPP & H-index ranking of 38.5.
When focusing on objective academic performance indicators, University of Queensland's School of Law performs extremely well, often appearing to be Australia's foremost law school: according to Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the school has ranked 1st (nationally) for CPP in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020; and 1st, 3rd, and 2nd (nationally) regarding H-index in 2018, 2019, and 2020 respectively. Globally, the school currently ranks =25th for QS' CPP metric (alongside Cambridge University's law school) and =30th for QS' '' H-Index citations'' metric''.''
Notably, UQ's Law School achieved a THE-WUR ''citation ranking'' of 3rd globally (1st domestically) in 2017 (THE 2018)- two positions above Yale Law School, six positions above top-ranked Duke Law School, and just one position below
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States.
Each class ...
. UQ's Law School also recently received a THE-WUR ''research ranking'' of 36th in the world (THE 2020).
Current and previous ranking positions
''(Positions enclosed in parentheses refer to domestic ranking)''
Notable ranking positions have been emphasised.
''*THE-WUR ranks ahead of the current year (e.g. the ranking(s) released in 2019 were "2020" rankings).''
**''The'' ''ARWU Law subject ranking does not necessarily reflect the quality of a given law school (hence why universities without law schools feature on the ranking- see Princeton University). The ARWU Law subject ranking primarily measures the amount and performance of papers which relate to Law (the ranking additionally may include papers from Law-related subjects such as Policy, Public Affairs, and Criminology- hence why Griffith University, renowned for Criminology, performs well solely on the ARWU Law subject rankings) and that are associated with, or originate out of, a given university.''
''*** This subject ranking includes research on social policy, political science, education, demographics, law, and public health and administration.''
UQ Law Centres
* Australian Centre for Private Law (ACPL)
** The APCL aims to foster the development and understanding of private law through the means of advanced research, and seeks to effectively disseminate that research through education and professional outreach.
* Centre for Public International and Comparative Law (CPICL)
** The CPICL is a large research centre that brings together faculty members and doctoral students to support, coordinate, promote and showcase work related to: Public International Law; Private International Law; Comparative Law; Competition Law; Constitutional Law; Administrative Law; Human Rights Law; Law of Institutions; Legal Philosophy; International Criminal and Humanitarian Law; and The Law of International Organisations.
* Marine and Shipping Law Unit (MASLU)
** The MASLU is a community of legal scholars focused on teaching, researching and consulting services in maritime law and international law of the sea. The MASLU also collaborates with other recognised marine centres on multi-disciplinary projects, and liaises with legal and marine scholars on multiple issues.
* UQ Pro Bono Centre
**The UQ Pro Bono Centre strives to be a national leader in developing, promoting and providing student
pro bono
( en, 'for the public good'), usually shortened to , is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment. In the United States, the term typically refers to provision of legal services by legal professionals for pe ...
legal services, as well as to educate about the importance of access to justice. About 30% of TC Beirne School of Law's students are registered to the
pro bono
( en, 'for the public good'), usually shortened to , is a Latin phrase for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment. In the United States, the term typically refers to provision of legal services by legal professionals for pe ...
program offered by the centre.
Scholars
*Professor Rick Bigwood (acting head of school)
*Professor James Allan
*Professor Nicholas Aroney
*Professor Kit Barker
*Professor Peter Billings
*Professor Anthony Cassimatis
*Professor Jennifer Corrin
*Professor Heather Douglas
*Professor John Devereux
*Professor Craig Forrest
*Emeritus Professor Nicholas Gaskell
*Professor Ross Grantham
*Professor Graeme Orr
*Professor Patrick Parkinson, (former head of school and academic dean).
*Emeritus Professor Suri Ratnapala
*Professor Andreas Schloenhardt
*Professor Brad Sherman
*Professor Tamara Walsh
Publications
The following publications are produced by staff and/or students at UQ Law:
*''
University of Queensland Law Journal
The ''University of Queensland Law Journal'' is a leading Australian double-blind peer-reviewed law review. It was established in 1948 and is published three times a year. The editor-in-chief
An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor o ...
(UQLJ)''
**UQLJ is one of Australia's leading law journals and, established in 1948, is arguably Australia's oldest university law journal. Unlike other university law journal publications, UQLJ's editorial board consists entirely of leading domestic and international academics, ranging from the University of Oxford to the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law, Hamburg.
*''LAWASIA Journal''
**LAWASIA Journal is a leading international law journal primarily dealing with legal issues and developments in the Asia Pacific region. LAWASIA Journal's editorial board consists entirely of legal scholars and members of the judiciary in the Asia Pacific region; such as former justice of the
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is Australia's apex court. It exercises Original jurisdiction, original and appellate jurisdiction on matters specified within Constitution of Australia, Australia's Constitution.
The High Court was established fol ...
Chief Justice of India
The chief justice of India (IAST: ) is the chief judge of the Supreme Court of India as well as the highest-ranking officer of the Indian Judiciary. The Constitution of India grants power to the president of India to appoint, in consultation w ...
, M.N. Venkatachaliah.
*''Australian and New Zealand Maritime Law Journal''
**The Australian and New Zealand Maritime Law Journal (ANZ Mar LJ) is the online incarnation of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand Journal (MLAANZ Journal). The ANZ Mar LJ focuses on making contributions to the areas of maritime law and commerce. The ANZ Mar LJ is edited by, and features contributions from, academics as well as students.
Alumni
The UQ School of Law's alumni include:
Jurists
*
Matt Foley
Matt Foley is a fictional character from the sketch comedy program ''Saturday Night Live'' performed by Chris Farley. Foley is a motivational speaker who exhibits characteristics atypical of someone in that position: whereas motivational speake ...
Francis Patrick Donovan
Francis Patrick Donovan, (1 February 1922 − 3 February 2012) was an Australian academic, lawyer, and diplomat. He served as Australian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the OECD, and Ambassador and Special Trade Delegate to the Unit ...
Ian Callinan
Ian David Francis Callinan Order of Australia, AC King's Counsel, KC (born 1 September 1937) is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.
Education
Born in Casino, New South Wales, Cal ...
, former
justice of the High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is composed of seven Justices: the Chief Justice of Australia and six other Justices. There have been 56 Justices who have served as Justices of the High Court since its formation under the ''Judiciary Act 1903''. Un ...
Supreme Court of Queensland
The Supreme Court of Queensland is the highest court in the Australian State of Queensland. It was formerly the Brisbane Supreme Court, in the colony of Queensland.
The original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court allows its trial division to he ...
and the
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is Australia's apex court. It exercises Original jurisdiction, original and appellate jurisdiction on matters specified within Constitution of Australia, Australia's Constitution.
The High Court was established fol ...
, former president of the
International Military Tribunal for the Far East
The International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE), also known as the Tokyo Trial or the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, was a military trial convened on April 29, 1946 to try leaders of the Empire of Japan for crimes against peace, conven ...
.
*
Patrick Keane
Patrick Anthony Keane (born 26 October 1952) is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia and a former Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia. He will soon join as a judge on the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.
Early life an ...
, current
justice of the High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is composed of seven Justices: the Chief Justice of Australia and six other Justices. There have been 56 Justices who have served as Justices of the High Court since its formation under the ''Judiciary Act 1903''. Un ...
, former chief justice of the
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law (with the exception of family law matters), along with some summary (less serious) and indic ...
.
*Sarah Derrington, judge of the
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law (with the exception of family law matters), along with some summary (less serious) and indic ...
governor-general of Australia
The governor-general of Australia is the representative of the monarch, currently King Charles III, in Australia.Una Prentice, first graduate of the school and first female Commonwealth Prosecutor.
*Gerald Edward (Tony) Fitzgerald, former judge of the
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law (with the exception of family law matters), along with some summary (less serious) and indic ...
.
*Geoffrey Davies, former judge of appeal on the Queensland Court of Appeal.
*Desmond Derrington, former judge of the
Supreme Court of Queensland
The Supreme Court of Queensland is the highest court in the Australian State of Queensland. It was formerly the Brisbane Supreme Court, in the colony of Queensland.
The original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court allows its trial division to he ...
Cameron Dick
Cameron Robert Dick (born 1 January 1967) is an Australian politician and member of the Labor Party currently serving as the 51st Treasurer of Queensland. He previously served as Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure a ...
chief justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland
The chief justice of Queensland is the senior judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the highest ranking judicial officer in the Australian state of Queensland. The chief justice is both the judicial head of the Supreme Court, as well as th ...
; current governor of Queensland.
* William George Hayden, former governor-general of Australia, former minister for foreign affairs and trade, former leader of the Labor Party and
Leader of the Opposition
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Goldman Sachs
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, head of Global Value team for
First Eagle Investment Management
First Eagle Investments is a US investment management
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Megan Davis
Megan Jane Davis is an Aboriginal Australian activist and international human rights lawyer. She was the first Indigenous Australian to sit on a United Nations body, and was Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Davis is Pro vice ...
,
UNSW
The University of New South Wales (UNSW), also known as UNSW Sydney, is a public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the founding members of Group of Eight, a coalition of Australian research-intensive ...
pro vice-chancellor indigenous, former commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court, UN expert member of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples.
* Leenen Forde, former chancellor of Griffith University, former Governor of Queensland.
*
Llew Edwards
Llewellyn "Llew" Edwards (22 October 1894 – 1965) was a Welsh boxer who fought professionally between 1913 and 1922. He is most noted for winning both the British and the British Empire featherweight boxing titles in 1915 and for an out ...
, former chancellor of the University of Queensland, former Queensland state politician and Liberal Party leader.
Other
* Michael Ware, Award-winning journalist and award-winning documentarian.