UQ Law School

UQ Law School
UQ Law School Logo
MottoInspiration; Innovation; Impact
Parent schoolUniversity of Queensland
Established1936; 88 years ago
School typePublic university
DeanRick Bigwood
LocationBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
EnrollmentYearly intake of ~200[1]
Faculty93[2]

North entry of the UQ School of Law

Thomas Charles Beirne, eponym of the law school

The UQ Law School (also known as TC Beirne School of Law) is the law school of the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Founded in 1936, UQ law school is the sixth oldest law school in Australia and the oldest operating in Queensland.

The entering undergraduate class of 2023 was approximately 67 students.[3] To date, the school has nearly 3000 alumni.[4] Additionally, UQ Law School offers LLM, MICLaw, MICLaw/MCom, MIL, MIR/MIL,[5] MPhil[6] and PhD degrees.[7]

The ULS is home to one of Australia's largest academic law libraries; the Walter Harrison Law Library having been built almost 70 years ago in 1949.[8][9] The school has over 93 professional and academic staff.[4] According to the University of Queensland, 81% of 300 students who had graduated from UQ Law school in 2016 had current employment.[10]

History

Although the Law School began properly teaching in 1936, a Faculty of Law was established pro forma with the foundation of the University of Queensland in 1911.[11] This enabled the university to confer ad eundem gradum degrees, an honorary degree recognising the award given by another university, and Doctors of Laws honoris causa, recognising the contribution of selected persons toward the establishment of the university.[11]

A limited amount of law subjects began to be taught in 1926- when the first Garrick Professor of Law was appointed.[11] However, this was under the ambit of the university's faculty of arts, as no law school had been properly established yet.[11] In 1935 Thomas Charles Beirne endowed the university with £20,000, enabling the university's senate to officially approve the law school on 10 May 1935.[11] In May 1936, students commenced studies under the newly formed TC Beirne School of Law.[11]

Reputation and student achievements

Since 1935, twenty-seven UQ Law graduates have won Rhodes scholarships.[12][13][14] In 2020, two UQ law students won scholarships to study at the University of Cambridge.[15] Eleven UQ Law students have won Fulbright Scholarships since 1955.[16] Ten UQ Law students have won New Colombo Plan Scholarships or Mobility Grant Programs since 2014.[17][18][19][20][21][22]

The UQ School of Law is well regarded as one of the world's foremost law schools for mooting; significant mooting achievements include the following:

Notable international advocacy competition accolades

  • World Champions (2005, 2014, 2018) in the prestigious Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (currently sharing third place with University of Melbourne's Law School). Semi-Finalists (2007). Baxter Award for Best Respondent or Applicant Memorial (2004, 2014, 2017). Evans Award for Best Overall Memorial (2017).
  • World Champions (viz. winner of the Frédéric Eisemann Award) (1997, 2000) in the prestigious Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Runners-up (1998, 2002). Equal Third Place (2020).[23] Teams from UQ Law (TCB) have been the most successful to partake in this moot (by way of moot wins and runners-up).[24]
  • World Champions (2008, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019)[25][26][27][28] in the International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot.
  • World Champions (2018) (along with students from other Australian law schools) in the 17th Tokyo Negotiation and Arbitration Moot (aka Intercollegiate Negotiation Competition).[29]
  • World Champions (2015) in The Sarin Leiden International Air Law Moot Court Competition.[30]

Notable domestic advocacy competition accolades

  • Australian Champions (2013, 2020) in the Sir Harry Gibbs Constitutional Law Moot.[31][32]
  • Australian Champions (2001) in the ALSA Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot.[33]
  • Australian Champions (2016, 2018) in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students' Moot.[34][35]
  • Australian Champions (2017) in the Castan Centre Human Rights Law Moot.[36]
  • Australian Champions (2014) Negotiating Outcomes on Time (NOOT) Competition.
  • Australian Champions (2008, 2011, 2014) in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal National Mooting Competition.[37][38][39]
  • Australian Champions (2004, 2008, 2009, 2012) in the QUT Torts Moot Competition, making them the most successful school to partake in the moot.[40]
  • Australian Champions (2009, 2012) in the Shine Lawyers Torts Moot Competition.[41][42]
  • Winner (2005) National Family Law Moot Competition.

Building

In 2015, the University of Queensland (UQ) undertook a refurbishment of the west wing of the heritage-listed Forgan Smith building. The project aimed to reimagine the School of Law and the Walter Harrison Law Library, resulting in a program restructure and a smaller cohort size.[43] The refurbishment was completed in 2017 by Brisbane-based architecture firm BVN.[44] The redesigned west wing of the Forgan Smith building has received recognition, including several awards:[44]

  • RAIA National Awards – Educational Architecture Award;
  • RAIA National Awards – Interior Architecture Award;
  • RAIA Qld Chapter – Interior Architecture Award;
  • RAIA Qld Chapter – Educational Architecture Award;
  • Australian Interior Design Awards Best of State Queensland – Commercial winner;
  • RAIA Qld Chapter Brisbane Regional Commendation – Interior Architecture; and
  • RAIA Qld Chapter Brisbane Regional Commendation – Educational Architecture.

Academics

The UQ Law School is Queensland's premier law school; usually achieving the highest rank for law of any Queensland university.[45][46] The UQ Law School is Australia's best academically-performing law school, as measured by the averaged QS citations per paper (CPP) and QS H-Index citations (H-index) ranking, at 27.5;[47] ANU College of Law follows UQ Law at an averaged CPP & H-index ranking of 38.5.[47]

University of Queensland's School of Law often appears to be Australia's foremost law school: according to Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the school has ranked 1st (nationally) for CPP in 2017,[48] 2018,[49] 2019,[45] and 2020;[47] and 1st, 3rd, and 2nd (nationally) regarding H-index in 2018,[49] 2019,[45] and 2020[47] respectively. Globally, the school currently ranks =25th for QS' CPP metric (alongside Cambridge University's law school) and =30th for QS' H-Index citations metric.[47]

Notably, UQ's Law School achieved a THE-WUR citation ranking of 3rd globally (1st domestically) in 2017 (THE 2018) - two positions above Yale Law School, six positions above top-ranked Duke Law School, and just one position below Harvard Law School.[50] UQ's Law School also recently received a THE-WUR research ranking of 36th in the world (THE 2020).[51]

Joint degree program

Since 2011, the UQ Law School established a partnership with Washington University School of Law, enabling current UQ students to pursue their UQ law degree while also obtaining an American LLM degree in a shorter timeframe.[52][53]

Current and previous ranking positions

(Positions enclosed in parentheses refer to domestic ranking)

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
QS Ranking by Subject (Law)[47] 48 (7th) 51-100 (10th) 49 (6th) 45 (7th) 48 (7th) 36 (6th) 43 (6th) 39 (6th) 43 (6th)[54] 55 (6th)[55] 53 (6th)[56]
QS Citations Per Paper Ranking[47] - 74 (7th) 80 (5th) 76 (5th) 52 (1st) 35 (1st) 24 (1st) 25 (1st) 37 (3rd)[54] 101+ (10th)[55] 93 (6th)[56]
QS H-Index Citations Ranking[47] - 87 (6th) 71 (6th) 53 (7th) 46 (4th) 38 (1st) 47 (3rd) 30 (=2nd) 59 (5th)[54] 51 (5th)[55] 74 (6th)[56]
*THE-WUR Subject Rankings (Law)[57] - - - - 54 (5th) 40 (4th) 58 (6th) 56 (5th)
*THE-WUR Citations Ranking[58] - - - - 3 (1st) 10 (2nd) 56 (7th) 67 (8th)
*THE-WUR Research Ranking[59] - - - - 55 (5th) 44 (4th) 36 (4th) 37 (4th)
**ARWU Law Subject Ranking[60] - - - - 87 (8th) 87 (7th) 60 (6th) 101-150 (2nd-8th)
***US News (Social Sciences and Public Health)[61] 22 (1st) 21 (2nd) 26 (2nd)

*THE-WUR ranks ahead of the current year (e.g. the ranking(s) released in 2019 were "2020" rankings).

**The ARWU Law subject ranking does not necessarily reflect the quality of a given law school (hence why universities without law schools feature on the ranking- see Princeton University). The ARWU Law subject ranking primarily measures the amount and performance of papers which relate to Law (the ranking additionally may include papers from Law-related subjects such as Policy, Public Affairs, and Criminology- hence why Griffith University, renowned for Criminology, performs well solely on the ARWU Law subject rankings) and that are associated with, or originate out of, a given university.

*** This subject ranking includes research on social policy, political science, education, demographics, law, and public health and administration.[62]

UQ Law Centres

  • Australian Centre for Private Law (ACPL)
    • The APCL aims to foster the development and understanding of private law through the means of advanced research, and seeks to effectively disseminate that research through education and professional outreach.[63]
  • Centre for Public International and Comparative Law (CPICL)
    • The CPICL is a large research centre that brings together faculty members and doctoral students to support, coordinate, promote and showcase work related to: Public International Law; Private International Law; Comparative Law; Competition Law; Constitutional Law; Administrative Law; Human Rights Law; Law of Institutions; Legal Philosophy; International Criminal and Humanitarian Law; and The Law of International Organisations.[64]
  • Marine and Shipping Law Unit (MASLU)
    • The MASLU is a community of legal scholars focused on teaching, researching and consulting services in maritime law and international law of the sea. The MASLU also collaborates with other recognised marine centres on multi-disciplinary projects, and liaises with legal and marine scholars on multiple issues.[65]
  • UQ Pro Bono Centre
    • The UQ Pro Bono Centre strives to be a national leader in developing, promoting and providing student pro bono legal services, as well as to educate about the importance of access to justice. About 30% of TC Beirne School of Law's students are registered to the pro bono program offered by the centre.[66]

Publications

The following publications are produced by staff and/or students at UQ Law:[67]

  • University of Queensland Law Journal (UQLJ)
  • LAWASIA Journal
    • LAWASIA Journal is a leading international law journal primarily dealing with legal issues and developments in the Asia Pacific region. LAWASIA Journal's editorial board consists entirely of legal scholars and members of the judiciary in the Asia Pacific region; such as former justice of the High Court of Australia, Michael Kirby, and former Chief Justice of India, M.N. Venkatachaliah.[69]
  • Australian and New Zealand Maritime Law Journal
    • The Australian and New Zealand Maritime Law Journal (ANZ Mar LJ) is the online incarnation of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand Journal (MLAANZ Journal). The ANZ Mar LJ focuses on making contributions to the areas of maritime law and commerce. The ANZ Mar LJ is edited by, and features contributions from, academics as well as students.[70]

Notable alumni

Jurists

Politicians, public servants and vice regals

Business leaders

Higher education

Other

See also

References

  1. ^ Coade, Melissa (31 July 2017). "Law school makes 'significant' cuts to student numbers". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  2. ^ "UQ Law School website - Staff Directory".
  3. ^ Queensland, The University of. "Bachelor of Laws (Honours) - Study - The University of Queensland". Study. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b "History - Law School - University of Queensland". law.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Postgraduate study - School of Law - University of Queensland". law.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Master of Philosophy - my.UQ - The University of Queensland, Australia". my.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Higher Degree by Research - School of Law - University of Queensland". law.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  8. ^ Schiavello (24 October 2018). "UQ's Walter Harrison Law Library". Schiavello Furniture. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Warehouse - Library - University of Queensland". web.library.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Outstanding employment record for UQ Law graduates". stories.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e f White, Michael (2016). TC Beirne School of Law: A History (PDF). TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland. ISBN 978-1-74272-170-5.
  12. ^ "Rhodes Scholars - Graduates from the Law School - TC Beirne School of Law - The University of Queensland, Australia". 23 June 2016. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  13. ^ "UQ graduate named Australia-at-large Rhodes Scholar". law.uq.edu.au. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Indigenous lawyer from UQ is 2019 Rhodes Scholar". law.uq.edu.au. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  15. ^ "Two UQ alumni receive prestigious Cambridge Australia Scholarships". law.uq.edu.au. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  16. ^ Harpur, Paul (1 December 2018). "A History of the Fulbright Scholar at the TC Beirne School of Law" (PDF). University of Queensland. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Mr Christopher Vale". law.uq.edu.au. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Immersed in Indonesia". law.uq.edu.au. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Funding opens doors for global experiences". law.uq.edu.au. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  20. ^ "UQ student named New Colombo Plan Fellow to India". law.uq.edu.au. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  21. ^ "UQ New Colombo Fellows set their sights on Indo-Pacific". law.uq.edu.au. 4 December 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  22. ^ "New Colombo Plan scholars embark on global pathways". law.uq.edu.au. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  23. ^ Queensland, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 +61 7 3365 1111 Other Campuses: UQ; Maps, UQ Herston; Queensl, Directions © 2020 The University of Queensland (24 April 2020). "Law students celebrate virtual mooting success". UQ News. Retrieved 29 April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "Awards in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot", Wikipedia, 5 November 2019, retrieved 29 December 2019
  25. ^ Queensland, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 +61 7 3365 1111 Other Campuses: UQ; Maps, UQ Herston; Queensl, Directions © 2020 The University of Queensland. "UQ students win marine law moot". UQ News. Retrieved 1 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot | School of Law | Murdoch University". www.murdoch.edu.au. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  27. ^ "International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot | School of Law | Murdoch University". www.murdoch.edu.au. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  28. ^ "International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot | School of Law | Murdoch University". www.murdoch.edu.au. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  29. ^ "Results|The 17th Competition ( 2018 )|Intercollegiate Negotiation Competition". www.negocom.jp. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  30. ^ Queensl, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 +61 7 3365 1111 Other Campuses: UQ; Maps, UQ Herston; Queensl, Directions © 2020 The University of. "UQ wins international mooting title for Australia". UQ News. Retrieved 1 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ "Sir Harry Gibbs Constitutional Law Moot 2019". Melbourne University Law Students' Society. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  32. ^ "UQ School of Law". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  33. ^ Queensl, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 +61 7 3365 1111 Other Campuses: UQ; Maps, UQ Herston; Queensl, Directions © 2020 The University of. "UQ law students win humanitarian moot". UQ News. Retrieved 1 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ Queensl, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 +61 7 3365 1111 Other Campuses: UQ; Maps, UQ Herston; Queensl, Directions © 2020 The University of. "UQ law students win Indigenous Student Moot". UQ News. Retrieved 1 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ "Media Release: Queensland's 4th Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students' Moot 2018". Indigenous Lawyers Association Queensland Inc. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  36. ^ Unknown (4 October 2017). "11th Annual Castan Centre Human Rights Moot - Faculty of Law". Faculty of Law - University of Tasmania, Australia. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  37. ^ Queensl, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 +61 7 3365 1111 Other Campuses: UQ; Maps, UQ Herston; Queensl, Directions © 2020 The University of. "UQ Law students shine at National Mooting Competition". UQ News. Retrieved 1 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ Queensl, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 +61 7 3365 1111 Other Campuses: UQ; Maps, UQ Herston; Queensl, Directions © 2020 The University of. "UQ law students win national mooting title". UQ News. Retrieved 1 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ Queensl, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 +61 7 3365 1111 Other Campuses: UQ; Maps, UQ Herston; Queensl, Directions © 2020 The University of. "Law students win fourth mooting title". UQ News. Retrieved 1 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ Technology (QUT), Queensland University of. "Torts Moot". QUT. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  41. ^ Queensl, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 +61 7 3365 1111 Other Campuses: UQ; Maps, UQ Herston; Queensl, Directions © 2020 The University of. "UQ team wins 2009 Shine Lawyers National Torts Moot Competition". UQ News. Retrieved 1 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ Queensl, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 +61 7 3365 1111 Other Campuses: UQ; Maps, UQ Herston; Queensl, Directions © 2020 The University of. "UQ's winning streak continues in moot law competitions". UQ News. Retrieved 1 January 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ "Create - School of Law - University of Queensland". law.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  44. ^ a b "UQ Forgan Smith Building – TC Beirne School of Law and Walter Harrison Library Refurbishment". BVN. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  45. ^ a b c "Law". Top Universities. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  46. ^ "World University Rankings 2020 by subject: law". Times Higher Education (THE). 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h "Law". Top Universities. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  48. ^ "Law". Top Universities. 2 March 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  49. ^ a b "Law". Top Universities. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  50. ^ "World University Rankings 2018 by subject: law". Times Higher Education (THE). 27 September 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  51. ^ "World University Rankings 2020 by subject: law". Times Higher Education (THE). 29 October 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  52. ^ Queensland, The University of; Lucia, Australia Brisbane St; Gatton, QLD 4072 +61 7 3365 1111 Other Campuses: UQ; Maps, UQ Herston; Queensland, Directions © 2023 The University of. "UQ/US University partnership offers law students unique dual-jurisdiction study opportunity". UQ News. Retrieved 13 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  53. ^ McCarthy, Leslie Gibson (12 July 2011). "WUSTL School of Law forms alliance with University of Queensland - The Source - Washington University in St. Louis". The Source. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  54. ^ a b c "QS World University Rankings for Law & Legal Studies 2021". Top Universities. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  55. ^ a b c "QS World University Rankings for Law & Legal Studies 2022". Top Universities. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  56. ^ a b c "QS World University Rankings for Law & Legal Studies 2023". Top Universities. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  57. ^ "Times Higher Education World University Rankings". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  58. ^ "World University Rankings 2020 by subject: law". Times Higher Education (THE). 29 October 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  59. ^ "World University Rankings 2020 by subject: law". Times Higher Education (THE). 29 October 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  60. ^ "ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020 - Law | Shanghai Ranking - 2020". www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  61. ^ U.S. News. "Best Global Universities Subject Rankings". U.S. News. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  62. ^ U.S. News. "How U.S. News Calculated the Best Global Universities Subject Rankings". U.S. News. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  63. ^ "Australian Centre for Private Law - School of Law - University of Queensland". law.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  64. ^ "Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law". law.uq.edu.au. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  65. ^ "Marine and Shipping Law Unit - School of Law - University of Queensland". law.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  66. ^ "About the UQ Pro Bono Centre". law.uq.edu.au. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  67. ^ "Publications". law.uq.edu.au. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  68. ^ "The University of Queensland Law Journal". law.uq.edu.au. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  69. ^ "LAWASIA Journal". law.uq.edu.au. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  70. ^ "Editorial Policies". ssl.law.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 11 February 2020.

27°29′48.90″S 153°00′47.09″E / 27.4969167°S 153.0130806°E / -27.4969167; 153.0130806

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=UQ_Law_School&oldid=1211939296"