Studying law in Sydney Law School building

Facts & figures

  • Top 20 university globally (QS World University Rankings 2024)
  • #16 in the world for Law*
  • *2023 QS World University Rankings
Study area_

Study law

Prepare for 21st century legal practice

Whether you wish to embark on a career as a lawyer or whether you're a non-law professional who needs some legal expertise, you will be joining one of the top law schools in the world, with a suite of programs designed to meet your needs.

Why study law at Sydney?

At Sydney Law School we attract exceptional students from Australia and overseas, and have an internationally respected faculty of scholars. Our strong links to the practising profession means you will learn from barristers, judges and solicitors.

Established in 1855, Sydney Law School has made a significant contribution to Australia’s judiciary, politics and public life. Our graduates include Prime Ministers of Australia, a President of the World Bank, and Chief Justices of the High Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Our reputation, world rankings, notable alumni, law degrees, and excellent scholarships make Sydney the first choice for studying law.

 

Today’s lawyers need to understand law in its international, comparative and transnational contexts. This applies whether you wish to pursue a career as a solicitor, at the bar, or in government service, industry or the not-for-profit sector. 

Sydney Law School is part of a highly regarded group of law schools worldwide including Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge, Peking and Tsinghua. These international links provide unique opportunities to gain international experience.

With a range of electives and overseas exchange and offshore study options, our courses ensure you will be well prepared for a career in a dynamic global environment.

Singaporean and Australian laws are not only derived from British law, but also follow the common law tradition. In recent years and even after Brexit, UK law has been more influenced by EU law and countries that follow the civil law tradition.  Australian law tends to look towards the US system for precedent, making Australian-trained lawyers more attuned to the impact of US law on international commercial transactions and trade law.

Australian-trained lawyers hold a strong career track record in international law firms because they are renowned for efficiently applying their technical knowledge in their practice. Georgia Dawson, a Sydney alumna and Senior Partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in the UK, openly expresses her preference for recruiting Australia-trained lawyers.

Since Australia is part of the Asia-Pacific, Australian lawyers actively engage with legal professions in the region. There is even an annual conference for judges from Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia.

Students gain a broader, more diversified knowledge that enriches their skills and allows them to better interact with individuals from various professional and cultural backgrounds outside the discipline. 

Combining law with another discipline broadens career options. Many lawyers change professions mid-career and explore roles in other industries such as corporate settings, government and non-government institutions or the arts. Some notable Sydney Law alumni have served as prime minister, president of the World Bank, Head of Sony and CEOs.

Moreover, there is an increasing need for lawyers in the emerging field of Technology Law. For example, Professor Kimberlee Weatherall also serves as the chief investigator of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society.

Sydney is ranked 16th in the World for law and has the highest ranking for Excellence in Research in Australia–well above the world standard with a ranking of 5/5 (QS Rankings 2022). 

Universities that offer single law degrees can have up to one year of non-law electives in their Bachelor of Laws (LLB) which is not recognised for anything else. By doing an additional year at Sydney, you graduate with two degrees.

You will be able to improve your employability across disciplines as you accomplish in depth study across various areas including finance, international relations, innovation and entrepreneurship, digital cultures, international business, languages and cultural studies, nutrition science and more.

Sydney has an extensive network of alumni who actively contribute to the Law School community, like the Chief Justice of NSW who has conducted regular lectures in Private International Law.

Sydney is the only Law School in Australia that has both public and international law in the compulsory curriculum, as well as many international elective opportunities. Students are therefore well equipped to practice in a globalised world where significant entities are constantly moving across borders, making the knowledge of multiple jurisdictions necessary.

Sydney also offers a large Law elective program including access to advanced learning units, which allows students to specialise and learn advanced knowledge in specific areas of law.

Aside from Sydney being Australia’s commercial capital, most multinational law firms are either headquartered or have a strong presence in the city.

  1. Comprehensive teaching and learning in all compulsory law areas, we offer a professionally recognised degree. Students graduate with technical knowledge and the skills to apply it.
  2. International focus:
    • Public and private international law is included in the compulsory curriculum 
    • Law specific exchange programs are available with leading law schools in Asia, Europe, North America 
    • Offshore units are offered in China, UK, Norway, Germany, Japan, India, Nepal and Vanuatu 
    • You can fast-track with dual degree pathways to Oxford, Cambridge and NUS.
  3. Mooting and competitions: 
    • Sydney holds the world record of 6 wins (while National University of Singapore’s 5) in the Jessup International Law Moot (as of 2022) 
    • Mooting for credit, which can be included in your degree results, across 3 different competitions 
    • Co-curricular competitions are run through the Sydney University Law Society 
  4. Clinical units and internships with public law providers: 
    • Public Defenders Office 
    • Environmental Defenders 
    • Office Public Interest Advocacy Centre
    • Community Legal Centres
  5. Sydney Law Review – students have access to this refereed law journal and gain experience in legal writing and research while earning extra credit.
  6. Law Reform Support Program – a co-curricular program where students work with public law organisations to perform research in areas of crime, climate change, consumer credit, migration, disability, housing, indigenous disadvantage and employment.
  7. Access to one of the largest elective programs including four units of study in advanced learning/masters units.

Sydney Law School is one of the world’s leading law schools, with a ranking of 16th in the world in the 2022 QS World Universities Rankings for the discipline of law.

The University of Sydney has been ranked a Top 20 university globally (QS World University Rankings 2024).

Forge alliances and develop networks with colleagues and friends to the benefit of your future career advancement through our student-led organisations such as the Sydney University Law Society (SULS).

Investigate a legal dilemma in a competitive, team environment and participate in mooting opportunities such as the Jessup International Law Moot Court competition or join the many social or interest clubs and societies on campus.

We offer a number of opportunities to broaden your academic experience through overseas exchange and offshore study opportunities

We offer a number of scholarships available specifically for law students. These are designed to recognise potential, assist those in need, reward high achievement, and support your future success.

Scholarships are available to:

See what it's like to study at The University of Sydney

 

 

Related articles