Being a lawyer means having an eye for detail, verbal dexterity, critical thinking skills and working under pressure. To develop this portfolio of abilities, you need excellent guidance, instruction, teaching and practice. That’s where a good law school comes into its own. While having a degree from a prestigious institution can help your career aspirations, the foundation it provides for your professional practice is just as important. In this guide, we turn our attention to the top law schools in Australia.
We’ve used a few well-known university rankings to put together our list. These are the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024. These rankings rate critical areas such as teaching, research and international outlook.
University of Melbourne
We start our journey of the best law schools in Australia on the south-eastern coast of Australia, in the world-famous city of Melbourne. Here we find the University of Melbourne, the second oldest institution in the country. Located just north of the central business district, this urban university boasts the title of Australia’s number one university and 37th globally, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 (THE). That’s not all. It is also the top-rated university in the country for law by both THE and QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 (QS).
The Melbourne Law School occupies the enviable position of being ranked by both THE and QS as a top 20 global school for the subject. The university has a large and diverse student community of 52,000, with 41 per cent of students coming from an international background. Those graduating from the institution also enjoy the opportunities provided by more than 1,600 student internship partners. The university also enjoys a top 10 ranking for graduate employability worldwide (QS).
Investigate where you can study law in Australia.
University of Sydney
The healthy competition between the city of Sydney and Melbourne continues on the higher education front. The University of Sydney is considered one of the premier universities in the country and a top 100 global institution according to the Time Higher Education World University Rankings 2024. The University of Sydney Law School is ranked in fourth spot in Australia and in the top 20 globally by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023.
With a 170-year history, the university has a student community of 73,000. The law school offers numerous qualifications, including LLB, LLM, Juris Doctor and research degrees. The research produced by the school is recognised as being above world standard by the Australian Research Council. What adds to the allure is that the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022 place Sydney at number one in Australia and 4th globally for graduate employment, including for aspiring lawyers.
Explore more about the best universities in Australia.
Australian National University
Australian National University has the distinction of being able to call the country’s capital, Canberra, home. The university dates back to 1946 and counts six Nobel Laureates among its alumni. It hosts a significant student cohort of over 17,000 students from over 100 countries and enjoys a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1. The university enjoys a prestigious reputation, not only for law but also for numerous other subjects, including philosophy, politics, sociology and geology.
Australian National University is considered one of the finest institutions in the southern hemisphere. Its law offering is rated number two in Australia and the top 25 worldwide by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024. The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 place the institution in the top 25 globally and 4th in Australia for law. The ANU College of Law focuses on top-quality legal education, community outreach and excellent research.
Find out what it’s like to be an international student in Australia.
University of Queensland
Over 100 years old and based in Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland, the University of Queensland has an international student cohort of 20,743 students from 140 countries. With a total student headcount of over 45,000, 20,910 of which are postgraduate students, the university is widely recognised for its research. Students also have plenty to keep them busy, with over 220 student societies and clubs on offer.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024, rate the university in Australia's top 10 law schools and in the 100 best globally. This opinion is shared by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023, which ranks the law school in the world’s top 100 and as one of the best 10 universities for law in Australia. The law school also specialises in several research areas, including commercial and corporate, legal systems, environment and natural resources, public law, and international law.
Take some time to investigate the law specialisations you could pursue.
Monash University
Another of Melbourne’s well-known institutions, Monash University consistently ranks within the top 100 universities worldwide. It is also a member of a prestigious alliance of eight Australian universities globally recognised for world-class teaching and research. The university is ranked number six in Australia for law by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024 and in fifth spot by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023.
Monash University is the largest institution in Australia and enjoys global collaborations and partnerships, including in Canada, India and Singapore. Monash offers both in-person instruction and online courses, with international and offshore students making up over 41,000 members of the student population. The Faculty of Law is home to 4,129 students undertaking several programmes, including graduate diplomas, certificate, master’s, and PhD degrees in law.
With a better understanding of the top Australian universities for a law degree, you’re in a good position to think about making an application. Further, you can find out why to study in Australia, how much tuition costs, and what the cost of living is. Make sure that you’re fully prepared by following the latest student news.
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