Whether you're considering studying law at the undergraduate or postgraduate level, The Australian National University (ANU) offers a world-class legal education. Our programs include the Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Juris Doctor, Graduate Certificate of Law, Graduate Certificate of New Technologies Law, Master of Laws and Master of International Law and Diplomacy.

During ANU Virtual Open Week 2020, staff and students from the ANU College of Law answered some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding admission pathways, scholarships and financial support, student life at ANU, career pathways, newest programs on offer and remote learning.

Our panel: Ashley Rogge (Global Engagement and Partnership Coordinator); Associate Professor Wayne Morgan (Associate Dean (Education)); Dr Philippa Ryan (Program Director, Master of Laws); Nicole King (Student Administration Manager); Elaine Ee (Student Administration Deputy Manager); Bachelor of Asian Studies/Laws (Hons) student Cherish Tay and Juris Doctor student Epi Terbio.

What programs are available at ANU Law?

            Undergraduate:

• Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB (Hons))

Postgraduate:

• Graduate Certificate of Law (CLAWS)
• Graduate Certificate of News Technology Law (CNTL)
• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Master of International Law and Diplomacy (MINLD)
• Master of Laws (LLM)

Higher Degree Research:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law
• Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Law

Why study at ANU Law?

• Your law degree positions you to excel in any career you choose;
• ANU is a top five law school in Australia and top 20 globally;
• Expert staff from multiple fields;
• Excellent programs that are both work-integrated and academically based;
• Multiple specialised areas including; law reform, environmental law, social justice, corporate and commercial law, and government law;
• Parliament House and the High Court of Australia are on the campus doorstep; and
• ANU offers the 'Canberra advantage', with many graduates pursuing careers in government.

What are the differences between ANU Law programs?

• The Bachelor of Laws (Hons) is an undergraduate degree that can be commenced straight out of high school. It provides a stepping stone to admission into legal practice.
• The Juris Doctor is a graduate degree that can lead to admission into legal practice.
• The Master of Laws is a graduate degree that allows you to specialise in the field of your choice.

What are the current entry requirements for the Bachelor of Laws (Hons) program, and what happens if I don’t meet those requirements?

In 2020, the entry requirements for LLB (Hons) is an ATAR equivalent of 96.

There are two ways that you can gain entry into the LLB (Hons) program at ANU. The first is via Admission, Scholarships and Accommodation (ASA) direct entry, which will currently be based on Year 11 results (Note: this entry format has now closed). However, if you did not get an ATAR of 96, ANU will automatically reassess your Year 12 results hence you don’t need to reapply. The second option is via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), and if you get an ATAR of 96, you will automatically be able to join the LLB (Hons) program at ANU.

Didn't meet this requirement? Don't stress! You can still enrol in another degree at ANU and then apply for a transfer into law after you have completed 12 months in your other degree. If you do a flexible double-degree it will not put you behind or add an extra year to your studies. (Note: the current GPA needed to transfer is 5.6).

What are the must-know facts about the Master of Laws?

• It can enhance your executive/professional career prospects;
• You are not expected to come to the LLM with a law degree, however coming with a degree that has contained theory essay writing gives you an advantage;
• Your electives are taught by international experts;
• Specialisations include Public Law, Private Commercial Law and International Law (International Law is an important specialisation if you are already working in the government);
• New fields will soon be available through LLM including Human Security Law and New Technologies Law; and
• It is flexible, well packaged and personalised.

Dr Pip Ryan and Demot Ryan SC

Director of the ANU LLM program Dr Philippa Ryan and ANU Law alumnus Dermot Ryan (BA/LLB (Hons) '75, LLM '80) give a presentation to students about becoming a barrister.

What does a double-degree consist of?

• It is not double the work! Rather, it is double the credit;
• You can expect to do three or four courses per semester as a full-time student;
• It is slightly longer than most degrees. A law degree is four years, however by doing that extra fifth year as a double degree, you walk away with two Bachelor degrees in the space of five years.

What are the most popular double degrees to combine with law?

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Asian Studies (BAS)
• Bachelor of International Security Studies (BINSS)
• Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (BPPE)
• Bachelor of Science (BSC)

Did you know? You can combine law with any other discipline across the ANU, excluding Engineering.

What are some of the scholarships available at ANU Law?

• Philippa Weeks Scholarship in Law Available to school leavers from regional and remote areas in Australia. Applications open in mid-December 2020.
• Freilich Indigenous Student Scholarship in Law Available to Indigenous students who are a successful applicant for entry into the first year of a program leading to the award of LLB or the JD. Applications close late January 2021.

           Other scholarships and grants available can be found here.

Amanda Wingett

Recipient of the 2020 Freilich Indigenous Scholarship, Juris Doctor student Amanda Wingett.

What internships are available?

Internships offer students the opportunity to engage with real clients, real problems and real deadlines in a specific legal environment.

These internships are credit-bearing, and students can seek their own internship as long as it meets the requirements of the internship course. (Note: ANU Law covers the insurance).

ANU Law offers a partner internship program where students apply to be placed with one of our partners including Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, ACT Magistrates Court, Kimberly Community Legal Services and  law firms in Canberra.

International internship opportunities are also available to both current students and alumni. These can be supported by scholarships. Placements include the International Court of Justice at The Hague, The World Bank in Washington, D.C. and International Bar Association in London..

More information on the law internship course can be found here.

What are some of the clinical courses available?

• Community Law Clinic (LAWS4268) – you will complete a placement with our Canberra Community Law Legal Centre.
• Environmental Law Clinic (LAWS4281) – you will work with the Environmental Defenders Office in Canberra.
• Indigenous Community Law Clinic (LAWS4278) (Note: on hold due to COVID-19).
• International Law Clinic (LAWS4302) – you can work with non-governmental organisations and ACT government agencies.
• Myanmar Law Clinic (Note: on hold due to COVID-19).
• Prison Legal Literacy Clinic (LAWS4304) (Note: on hold due to COVID-19).
• Public Interest Law Clinic (LAWS6284).

           More information on the clinical courses can be found here.

What are some of the exchange and international opportunities available?

• Exchange programs with partner institutions;
• Overseas courses in Kyoto, Alabama, Geneva and Myanmar; and
• Independent study abroad opportunities whereby you apply and pay the fees. Upon completing the courses, it goes towards credit in your ANU Law degree.

Yasmin Poole

Bachelor of Laws/International Relations student Yasmin Poole during her internship at Austrade’s office in Mexico.

What are some of the extra-curricular activities available at ANU Law?

• Mooting competitions are popular among students and are run by the ANU Law Students' Society.
• Law firm and social justice portfolio committee – student-run in collaboration with academics and consists of submissions to senate enquires, op-eds and volunteer work.

What industries can alumni look forward to working in after graduating from ANU Law?

Employers from across the country have a strong interest in graduates from the ANU. ANU Law students, in particular, can access a diverse range of careers with 50-60% of law graduates working in legal practice and a large sum of graduates working in International Civil Service.

Is there anything else I should know before applying to study at ANU Law?

• All degrees can be completed parttime – international student rules are slightly different due to visas;
• international students can currently commence from their home country and also parttime;
• JD is not ordinarily offered online (Note: An exception has been made due to COVID-19);
• One of our key distinctions is our focus on Government Law and International Law;
• We offer a program that focuses on Social Justice and Law Reform;
• Not all law degrees are automatically recognised internationally (Note: No law degree automatically entitles you to practice in every country in the world);
• Prepare in high school/college by doing subjects you love and are good at to boost your ATAR score; and
• Get involved in work experience opportunities – this will help you decide early on whether you like that career path before applying to your degree of choice.