Undergraduate degrees

Studying law develops one’s understanding of the levers of power in our society in a way that is even more effective than political science. This is because law is directly concerned with power and reaches into every part of life. For that very reason, law is extraordinarily important to everyone’s way of life.

Lawyers refer to ‘the rule of law’ because a society governed without law would leave ordinary people at the mercy of the arbitrary abuse of power by those who are simply powerful. In some countries the rule of law is absent – think of Cambodia during the rule of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, for example – and, when that happens, life is very difficult for ordinary people who have no way of protecting themselves from the powerful.

In societies where the rule of law exists, people may even be relatively unaware of it, because their life is not interfered with by corruption and abuse of power. Australia is a country where the rule of law mostly exists, and although its legal system is not perfect in every respect, it does manage to restrain unfettered power. Lawyers can use the law to hold governments accountable.

Studying law allows a person who has a strong sense of justice to see where there are defects in the system and to work constructively and effectively to change it. In this sense, studying law offers the idealistic person a realistic way to make a difference in the world. Many lawyers work in policy and law reform in this way.

Studying law offers a wonderful intellectual challenge in that it develops the ability to argue from evidence in a way that can be very hard for non-lawyers to counter. Studying law will equip you with intellectual skills which will give you a decisive advantage in whichever profession you choose. 

A law degree opens up a wide range of career opportunities in myriad fields.

At UNSW Law we prepare our students for careers in business, media, the arts, science, education, engineering and government. Our alumni include judges, barristers, partners and solicitors in leading law firms, politicians, entertainers, academics and some of the most dedicated public sector and community sector lawyers in Australia.

Our teaching style has always been distinctive and an integral characteristic of UNSW Law. From the beginning, the focus has been not only on what is taught, but how it is taught.

UNSW Law pioneered student-focused, interactive teaching in small classes in Australian legal education. Interactive seminar-style classes give you the chance to debate and discuss ideas, ask questions and get to know your lecturer and peers.

As a student at one of Australia’s leading law schools, you will learn from some of the country’s leading scholars and professional legal practitioners, many of whom have written the textbooks you will use in class.

“At UNSW Law all our classes are seminars, which means that you read material before you come to class and then you discuss it with your teacher and classmates. We know from experience that this is the best way to learn law – it helps you to develop your ideas, to maintain a critical and analytical perspective, and it also ensures that you get to know the people you are studying with.

We teach not only the law and how it works, but also its impact on people and how it relates to justice. This makes law a fascinating and compelling area of study – not the bare study of doctrine, but the study of law in action in all its complexity.” 

Michael Grewcock - Director of Undergraduate Studies 

At UNSW Law you will experience an ethos of justice for all through real legal practice by helping members of the local community at our onsite community legal centre.

Our diverse range of clinical and internship opportunities are available to all students and provide the unique opportunity to simultaneously study the theory of law in the classroom and also to experience it in action. It plays a critical role in the process of transforming our law students into ethical, analytical and engaged legal professional.

Find out more about the clinic and internship opportunities available.

UNSW Law values its partnerships with other leading global law schools. Almost 50 per cent of our graduating students have had an international mobility experience, either through exchange, undertaking one of our short overseas elective courses, or through an overseas internship program. 

Find out more about the exchange and overseas elective opportunities available.

From your first year onwards you will have the opportunity to hone your professional skills through a variety of competitions such as mooting, trial advocacy, client interviewing and negotiation. The skills competitions further develop your legal understanding and equip you with strong analytical, teamwork and communication skills.

Find out more about mooting and competitions.

UNSW Law’s Careers Service caters exclusively to UNSW Law students and alumni. The first of its kind at a NSW Law School, the initiative is modelled on the established and highly successful career offerings at top U.S. Law Schools.

Find out more about UNSW's Legal Profession Careers Service.

All domestic applicants (Australian citizens or permanent residents and New Zealand citizens) who wish to study an undergraduate Law dual degree program at UNSW need to sit the LAT. You can sit the 2019 LAT if you:

• Are enrolled in your final year of secondary schooling (Year 12 HSC or equivalent).
• Have already completed your secondary schooling (e.g. are on a gap year).
• Are currently studying at another university and wish to apply to transfer to UNSW Law (via UAC).
• Are in Year 11 and wish to sit the LAT prior to your HSC. (Your LAT result will be valid for two years so you can use it to apply for Law in 2019).

Indigenous students undertaking the Pre-Law Program at UNSW are not required to sit the LAT as they are assessed under multiple criteria in the Pre-Law Program.

International students are not required to sit the LAT.

Watch our 2020 LAT Information Evening on demand

Read more

UNSW Internal Program Transfer

UNSW Internal Program Transfer (IPT) is an alternative entry pathway into a Law double degree for students who are already studying a non-law degree at UNSW. Providing you receive full credit for your first year of studies it won’t take you any longer to complete a law dual degree. 

UNSW Law guarantees a minimum of 100 places via Internal Program Transfer (IPT) each year. UNSW IPT applicants do not need to sit the LAT.

Find out more here.

Transfer from another university

Students enrolled in a degree at another university (who have completed a minimum of one year of full-time study in their program) can apply via UAC to transfer to a Law dual degree program.

All Domestic students submitting an application to transfer into Law at UNSW via UAC will be required to sit the LAT. Assessment will be based on secondary rank (ATAR or equivalent), tertiary rank (university studies) and LAT score.

Entry is very competitive and students generally require an ATAR in the high 90s, a grade point average of 6.0 (distinction) in their university studies and a high LAT score. 

Educational Access Schemes (EAS)

At UNSW, our Educational Access Scheme (EAS) is called the ACCESS Scheme.

Through the UNSW ACCESS Scheme, special consideration may be given to applicants who can demonstrate that their educational performance has been affected by circumstances beyond their control during Years 11 and 12 or equivalent. If you are eligible for consideration under this scheme your EAS points will be recognised for entry to Law.

The types of disadvantage considered include illness, financial hardship, English language difficulties, disability, family illness and family relationship problems, and attendance at a disadvantaged school. Find our more here.

Special Consideration for Applicants with Tertiary Study (SCATS)

Applicants who have undertaken tertiary study and are applying to transfer to Law via UAC can have long-term educational disadvantage which has affected their tertiary and/or secondary academic performance considered.

Circumstances that may be considered include personal or family illness/disability and other circumstances beyond their control. Applicants must submit a SCATS application including a full written statement describing these circumstances and provide documentation to support their claims. For more information on SCATS click here.

Indigenous Pre-Law Program

The Indigenous Pre-Law Program is an intensive, four-week program held at UNSW Sydney.

The course is designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who wish to apply to study Law. Students take introductory classes including legal system and process, Indigenous legal issues, the law of negligence and academic skills. In this way, students develop a feeling for the law and get a head start in their university legal studies.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students undertaking the Indigenous Pre-Law Program are assessed under multiple criteria and are not required to sit the LAT.

Enquiries can be directed to the Nura Gili Indigenous Programs Centre. Visit nuragili.unsw.edu.au 

UNSW Law pathway to HKU 

UNSW Law and Hong Kong University Law Faculty have signed a memorandum of understanding that provides UNSW Law students who are studying a dual LLB degree or a JD degree an opportunity to gain an LLM degree from HKU.

The first intake of the Pathway Program for UNSW Law students to HKU is First Semester (September) 2020. UNSW Law students will need to follow the standard student exchange application procedure for the First Semester study at HKU and must indicate their interest in the Pathway Program on the application. Find out more

Credit Transfer Rules and Regulations for Bachelor of Laws