Sydney Law School - University of Sydney

The University

Inaugurated in 1851, the University of Sydney is Australia's first University. Its international reputation is based on oustanding teaching, excellence in research and active engagement as a community leader. It has 11 national campuses and it includes 13 faculties, 15 administrative units and over 150 research centres and institutes. It is Australia's leading research university and continues to receive the most funding in new grants from the Australian Research Council (ARC). Owing to such excellence in research, the University of Sydney provides teaching programs that reflect cutting-edge scholarship. Its total student population is 46,000, almost 20 per cent of which are international students representing more than 80 countries. More than 14,000 students are engaged in postgraduate studies, including research by higher degree.

The Law School

With a reputation built on 150 years of history, The Sydney Law School is also Australia's first, having been inaugurated in 1855. It has had a tremendous impact on the Australian judiciary, politics and business. At the postgraduate level, areas of study have been progressively strengthened to encompass an enormous range of specialisations. It was the first Law School in Australia to introduce the Doctor of Juridical Studies (SJD), a unique degree that offers advanced study in law through both coursework and dissertation. The Sydney Law School's Master of Laws (LLM) program is one of the most reputable law coursework programs in Australia. Candidates may choose from the entire range of approximately 150 units on offer in our postgraduate area each year. 70 per cent of our units are offered on an intensive basis, permitting candidates to complete classes in a matter of days.

In February 2009, Sydney Law School moved to its purpose-built, state-of-the-art New Law Building, located on the University's main campus. Occupying an elevated position adjacent to Sydney’s Victoria Park, the building will provide an “open door” orientation towards the city,reinforcing its connection to the CBD’s legal precinct and wider society.

The building consists of four levels and accommodates the faculty academic and professional staff, together with a range of research centres and institutes. It incorporates collaborative spaces, meeting and conference rooms. There are a total of 23 teaching spaces within the building ranging from 300 and 100 seat lecture theatres, through to 60, 56, and 24 seat seminar facilities to suit a wide range of teaching requirements. It also accommodates a Moot Court facility and a spacious Forecourt.

For further information, please visit www.law.usyd.edu.au/about/new_building.shtml

The Program

Our postgraduate coursework program has many exclusive features. It is one of the largest postgraduate programs in Australia, with both our coursework and research offerings attracting the one of the largest number of students and delivering one of the most number of units of study. In addition to our intensive units, we offer a number of units on a semester length basis, thereby creating a flexible method with which to tailor your LLM program.

Lawyers have the opportunity to share classes with non-lawyers, with our specialist coursework offerings in Health Law, Environmental Law, International Law and Labour Law attracting specialists in those fields for instance. This permits a dynamic and interactive environment in which to study. When you come to Sydney you also have the opportunity to partake in limited cross-institutional study, be it at another Law School in Sydney or one interstate. This enables candidates from overseas to study exactly what they want when in Australia based on what’s available at the time.

The great strength of the Sydney LLM is that it enables students to choose from the entire range of postgraduate coursework units of study offered in any given year by the Sydney Law School – an opportunity not provided in any of its other postgraduate coursework programs. Effectively, candidates may select all eight units of study in one area such as International Law or Corporate, Securities and Finance Law. Alternatively, they may like to combine fields of study by selecting units in Commercial Law alongside those in Environmental Law, for instance. While Sydney Law School offers 16 primary specialist coursework study areas, there are a number of specialised subjects that we teach that may be part of more than one area such as:

Constitutional Law
Customs Law
Death Law
Dispute Resolution
European Union Law
Expert Evidence
Forensic Psychiatry
Human Rights Law
Insolvency Law
Intellectual Property
International Criminal Law
International Trade Regulation
Maritime Law
Media Law
Mental Illness & the Law
Migration Law
National Security Law
Restitution
Social Security Law
Sports Law
Telecommunications Law


There are many pathways to the LLM at Sydney including:

Complete your LLM in Sydney...

You can complete your entire LLM program in Australia's largest and most famous city. The Sydney Law School's postgraduate coursework program is one of Australia's largest with over 150 units of study taught each year. Sydney caters to approximately 15 areas of specialisation in law, with units taught by our very own experts as well as overseas visitors and leading members of the legal profession. Units are taught intensively or over an entire semester. If you're a full-time student it's possible to complete your LLM in one year by finishing eight units of study.

Complete your LLM in Europe...

The Sydney Law School in Europe program permits students to undertake classes in Germany and the United Kingdom. Classes currently take place in Berlin and Cambridge, with new venues set to be confirmed soon. Units are taught intensively, over four successive days. Upon completion, students must then complete the assessment. Several subjects are offered each year and each unit may count towards programs other than the LLM. You can count one, some or all of your units towards a Sydney LLM by attending classes in Europe.

Complete your LLM in Sydney & Europe...

You may prefer to combine study in Europe with that in Sydney. You can decide to complete half your units in Europe and half in Sydney, for instance. Alternatively you may like to complete most in Europe or some in Sydney. The choice is yours and your unit selection will determine your location. You may even find that you wish to finish your LLM in Sydney in order to attend your graduation ceremony at the University.

Complete a single unit to count towards an LLM...

You do not have to commit to entire program straight away. You may like to sample a unit of study, be it in Europe or Sydney. With a maximum time to completion of six years, you can start off with just the one unit and then you may wish to delay your study until another unit of interest is taught. So long as you complete the assessment, that unit will count towards an award course such as a Graduate Diploma or Masters.

Complete the Graduate Diploma in Law and then upgrade to the LLM...

You may like to start out with a Graduate Diploma, which consists of four units of study. With approval you can then upgrade to a Masters. Many of our students commence with a Graduate Diploma in Law (GradDipLaw) and then decide to enhance their qualifications by transferring to the LLM. With only four units of study remaining to qualify, it's a decision worth considering.

The Faculty

Our level of academic staff expertise is well respected. Not only are many leaders in their fields, but we also draw on a number of leading international experts to deliver our programs. From the very beginning, the Sydney Law School has strived to match academic excellence with close professional links. As part of a bequest by John Henry Challis to the University in 1880, chairs in Law and Jurisprudence were founded, in addition to - reflecting the Faculty's ongoing commitment to placing law within a global perspective - a chair in International Law. Over the last century, these foundations have been extended. There are now 18 Chairs and over 70 full-time academic staff, as well as 60 adjunct members of the Faculty and 40 general staff. Starting with 14 students, it now has approximately 1,700 undergraduate and 1,500 postgraduate students.

Our staff are not only highly experienced and receptive to the needs and interests of our students, but are also international leaders in their fields of study. Some of our academic staff that are recognised as experts both here and overseas include:

Professor Gillian Triggs - International Law
Professor Richard Vann – Taxation
Professor Margaret Allars – Administrative Law
Professor Terry Carney – Mental Health Law
Professor Jennifer Hill – Corporate, Securities & Finance Law
Professor Patrick Parkinson – Family Law
Professor Hilary Astor – Dispute Resolution
Professor Mark Findlay – Criminal Law
Professor Belinda Bennett – Medical Law
Professor Patricia Apps – Law & Economics
Professor Ben Boer – Environmental Law
Professor Reg Graycar – Law and Gender
Professor Mary Crock – Migration Law
Professor David Kinley - International Human Rights Law

Entry Requirements

An undergraduate degree in law or equivalent at an appropriate level is sufficient for entry. The Sydney LLM requires eight units of study for completion. Full-time candidates usually take one year to complete the LLM, with a maximum time of three years. Credit may be available for units completed towards an equivalent degree at another law school.

Application Procedure

For information on the application procedure please visit the International Office website - www.usyd.edu.au/internationaloffice

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to demonstrate English language proficiency before admission. The following scores apply:

1. IELTS overall band score of 7.0, with no less than 6.0 in any component.

2. TOEFL
Paper Test: 600 plus Test of Written English (TWE) = 4.5
Computer-based TOEFL (CBT) = 250 plus a score of 4.5 in the Essay writing component
Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) = 100 with a minimum of 23 in the writing section and 22 in all other sections
Scores more than two years old cannot be accepted.

Tuition and Fees

The fee for the Master of Laws (LLM) at Sydney is A$28,080 in 2010.

Financial Aid

For information on scholarships for postgraduate international students - www.usyd.edu.au/future_students/international_post…

For information on student loans for postgraduate international students - www.usyd.edu.au/future_students/international_post…

Location

Sydney as a destination has many benefits. It is one of the world’s most beautiful harbour cities, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House scenic icons recognised across the world. It is also home to some of Australia’s most famous beaches that include not only Bondi Beach but Sydney’s well-loved beaches on the northern and southern peninsulas. Bronte Beach, Coogee Beach and Manly Beach also provide a very popular alternative.

Sydney has a thriving nightlife not just in its city centre but around its various suburbs. There’s a vast array of pubs, clubs, bars, cafes and restaurants to choose from that reflect the multicultural status of this fine city. While Sydney is still a young city, there’s a multitude of superb scenery and remarkable architecture to enjoy that outlines Sydney and Australia’s unique history.

Sydney is also conveniently located to many of Australia’s finest National Parks, as well as many smaller national parks and state forests, offering visitors a superb environment for bushwalking, picnics and soft adventure activities, all within easy reach of the city centre. For information on Sydney as a city, visit www.sydneyaustralia.com

Accommodation

The University Accommodation Service will help students to find accommodation close to campus. It is also possible to reserve temporary accommodation when you first arrive to allow you time to find a place to live and attend orientation sessions. Please visit the website - www.usyd.edu.au/stuserv/accommodation/

Student Life

Why choose Sydney?
Five great reasons to study at the University of Sydney

Sydney Choice
At the University of Sydney we offer Sydney Choice - a wide range of dynamic courses with flexible degree structures. We don’t believe one model fits all. We encourage you to start working towards your goal, your way, from your first day at university.

As a global university, many of our degrees have a strong international emphasis and we offer comprehensive exchange program that will allow you to travel and experience a different culture while you learn.

Through Sydney Choice we prepare you for the rigours of higher learning, provide you with skills and versatility for professional employment and help you rise to the responsibility of leadership.

Excellence in teaching and learning
The University of Sydney attracts some of the best students in Australia. With this privilege comes a responsibility to provide the highest quality learning and teaching.

We strive constantly for excellence in intellectual inquiry, academic freedom and integrity, and ethical practice in academic endeavours. At the heart of all of this is an exciting and stimulating student-centred learning and teaching environment.

A rich and vibrant student life
With hundreds of clubs and societies, cafes, bars, bands, theatre productions, sports, three sporting complexes, and Australia’s oldest student newspaper, Honi Soit, you will be a part of Australia’s most vibrant and active student community.

Our campus
The University of Sydney is a blend of neo-gothic sandstone history complete with gargoyles, cloisters and courtyards and contemporary, well-equipped architecture, offering the highest quality teaching, learning and research facilities. In 2010, the University will complete a $800 million project to renew, rebuild and enhance our campuses.

We create leaders
Many graduates from the University of Sydney are leaders, both nationally and on the world stage, in government, business, industry, the arts and sporting arena. University of Sydney alumni include:

Former Prime Ministers John Howard, Gough Whitlam, William McMahon and Edmund Barton
Former Governors-General Sir William Deane and Sir John Kerr
Four of the seven current members of the High Court of Australia
Aboriginal leaders Dr Charles Perkins and Noel Pearson,
Entertainers the Chaser Boys, The Vines and Tim Freedman from the Whitlams
Broadcasters Clive James, Adam Spencer, Julie McCrossin and Mary Kostakidis
Former Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK government, now President of the Royal Society, Professor Lord Robert May
Sir John Cornforth, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Theatre director John Bell of Bell Shakespeare
Film directors Jane Campion and Bruce Beresford
Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks

Summer Program

While the Sydney Law School does not offer any units of study as part of the University of Sydney Summer School, a number of intensive units of study are run during the summer break between December and February each year.

Pre-LLM Course

We encourage all of our international students to attend an optional bridging program that is held a few days prior to commencement of semester. International students are given a brief overview of the Australian legal framework and the common law system. The Program also provides an opportunity for new students to meet each other socially, and with the academic and administrative staff of the Law School.