The ANU College of Law is celebrating its mid-year graduation, with almost 1,000 students set to receive a legal qualification from one of the world’s top-ranked law schools and embark on the next stage of their career.

The students, who will be presented with their qualification in a ceremony this afternoon, include Australian and international students from the College’s Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws, Juris Doctor, Graduate Certificate of Migration Law and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice programs, with a small number of research degree students.

With a total of 963 students graduating, the ANU College of Law will have more graduates than any other ANU College represented at the mid-year graduation ceremony. Of the 963, around 187 will attend the ceremony in person, with the remainder being conferred in absentia, often as a result of being based in other parts of Australia and having undertaken their study online.

Dean of the ANU College of Law, Professor Stephen Bottomley, said graduation was a proud occasion not only for students and their families, but the College itself and the wider university community.

“For our graduates, today represents the culmination of many years of study, and I congratulate them on their dedication and commitment.

“Equally, graduation is an especially pleasing time for our teaching and professional staff who have accompanied students on the journey of learning and understanding law.

“Most importantly, however, we look forward to seeing and hearing how ANU law graduates use their learning and understanding of law to make their world a better place.”

While Professor Bottomley said he expected a large number of graduates would use their qualification as a foundation for careers in law and legal services, there was an increasing trend for law graduates to find employment in a diverse range of professional sectors.

“Going to law school, and graduating with a law degree, doesn’t necessarily mean becoming a lawyer.

“Although many of our graduates have found success as lawyers in Australia and around the world, the reality of the contemporary workforce means law graduates are often seen as offering an extremely versatile set of skills.

“Equipped with the knowledge and understanding demanded by some of the world’s leading employers, ANU law graduates often find work in roles and sectors outside of law itself, including finance, business, public policy, social change and NGOs/NFPs in countries throughout the world,” Professor Bottomley said.