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General Handbook


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Welcome from the Dean

For Undergraduate Students

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The Faculty of Law at the University of New South Wales has a distinctive character.

  • The Faculty has two schools, the Law School and the Australian School of Taxation, and a wide range of Research and Community Centres. These Centres connect the Faculty with the broader community and provide excellent opportunities for our students.
  • Our students are taught top quality doctrinal and analytical skills, preparing them for work in law or tax either in the professions or in a wide range of other employment. We teach our students to see law and tax from many perspectives. This connects with our strong commitment to principles of social justice and the rule of law. It also leads naturally to an interdisciplinary, contextual approach to studying and learning which (employers tell us) gives our graduates a crucial advantage.
  • The Faculty’s teaching excellence is acknowledged by its top ranking in the Department of Education’s assessment of teaching and learning. Similarly, the Good Universities Guide ranks us top for teaching quality and for students’ overall satisfaction.
  • We are acknowledged for the quality of support we offer our students from first year right through to PhD. We accept the best students, we expect the best performance, and we give our students the best possible support to achieve that.
  • The calibre of our students is exemplified by the number who win prestigious awards and scholarships, international internships, and international moot and law essay competitions.
  • Law is taught not in the conventional large lecture & tutorial format focused on mere transmission of information, but rather in seminar-style classes based on interactive dialogue between lecturer and students.
  • The depth and breadth of our programs allows us to offer undergraduate and postgraduate students a very wide choice of study options in law and taxation.. These programs together help to maintain the Faculty's pre-eminence in tertiary legal education.
  • Our Research and Community Centres provide many opportunities for students to be involved through Social Justice Internships. Public Interest Internships are also available in a wide range of external organisations. Both these internship schemes carry course credits. This wide range of centres and the opportunities provided for student involvement are distinguishing features of Law at UNSW.
  • An integral part of the Faculty is Kingsford Legal Centre, our community legal centre on campus in which all law students gain clinical legal experience.
  • UNSW is a member of the Go8, the group of Australia’s leading research universities. Many of the Faculty’s academics are national and international leaders in their fields, writing books, reports and articles which lead debates and set agendas. The interdependence of research, teaching and learning is crucial. Students are taught by lecturers whose teaching draws on their current research.
  • The Faculty is committed to engagement through its research and teaching programs with many external partners in the professions, business, government and community organisations.
  • The Faculty’s wonderful new building provides a fine home for the Schools and Centres, as well as for the Freehills Law Library. The building includes excellent facilities for its growing group of postgraduate and research students.
UNSW Law justifiably attracts students from overseas; in equal measure our graduates carve highly successful careers overseas. However far afield they have come or go, they retain the UNSW warmth, friendship, and focus on social justice. These are hallmarks of success of UNSW Law.

Professor David Dixon
Dean
Faculty of Law

Undergraduate Information

Home | Welcome from the Dean
School of Law - Faculty Information and Assistance | Summary of Programs
Australian School of Taxation - Faculty Information and Assistance | Summary of Programs

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.