School of Law

The QUT School of Law was established in 1977 at the request of the legal profession who saw the need for a law school that provided a balance of theoretical and practical legal education. The development was an outstanding success with a great many graduates progressing onto highly successful careers.

The School of Law is located at the Gardens Point campus, Brisbane - between the Botanic Gardens and the Brisbane River. This central location is close to the Law Courts, State Parliament, legal profession and government departments.

The School is situated in purpose built premises with its own 24-hour computer laboratory, state of the art electronic court and the Library. The Clayton Utz Law Library facilities include quiet study areas, a wireless computer network, and teaching rooms with sophisticated recording facilities.

Study with us

As a QUT Law School student you are offered a range of learning experiences that will prepare you for your future career. You may go on to practise as a lawyer or use your degree as a foundation for a career in government, business or the community sector.

Courses and study

Undergraduate courses

Postgraduate courses

PhDs and research degrees

The defining nature of our law degree is its unique balance between theory and practice. We take a flexible approach to your learning using technology to create engaging learning experiences.

During your degree, you will complete the academic law units required for admission to legal practice. You will also have the opportunity to choose elective units that align with your career interests and to develop legal skills such as interviewing negotiation drafting and advocacy. We offer study in a broad range of legal areas such as property and environment, commercial and consumer, intellectual property and technology and human rights law.

As a QUT Law School student, you are offered a range of learning experiences that will prepare you for your future career. You may go on to practice as a lawyer or use your degree as a foundation for a career in government, business or the community sector.

QUT Law graduates have an excellent track record of securing exciting positions. In recent years more than 90 per cent of graduates have been in full-time work or further full-time study within 4 months of their graduation.

Flexible study options

The Law School offers full-time, part-time and distance learning study modes. All students initially undertake an orientation program dedicated to preparing for legal study. The Law School has a reputation for the use of technology in its teaching and this allows students to experience learning in a variety of ways.

Summer program

You can accelerate your studies or reduce workloads in a standard semester by taking full-fee Summer Program units. The School of Law recognises the need for flexibility in your study program and strives to ensure that suitable numbers of units, both compulsory and elective, are offered during the summer period. These units are often offered in intensive mode to allow students accelerated progression through their degree while still being able to meet their other commitments over the summer period.

Real-world applied focus

QUT Law School prepares its graduates for a legal career by providing a degree that is relevant to the real world.

We focus on the knowledge, skills and values required for your future work as a professional. You will complete assessment tasks that replicate the work you will undertake in the real world. We also offer a range of opportunities for authentic learning; for example, you can elect to undertake work placement learning in law firms, government departments and community organisations.

The school also runs an extensive mooting program and students participate in national and international competitions. QUT also hosts the QUT Shine Lawyers Torts Mooting competition each year which attracts entries from universities around the country. Some of our recent successes include:

• The International Criminal Court Trial Competition at The Hague, the Netherlands. In 2011 QUT's prosecution counsel received the Best Trial Lawyer Award across the competition
• First place in the International Oxford IP Moot 2012.

You will be taught by a dedicated, highly experienced team of academics with several receiving prestigious teaching fellowships and awards from the Australian Learning and Teaching Council.

The school has a first year program where undergraduate students have the opportunity to participate in peer led sessions which assist students in learning unit content and engaging with the campus.

Work with us

Apply to join our staff pool to be considered for sessional academic positions within the School of Law.

Become a sessional academic

Research strengths

Our key research areas are:

• Commercial and Property Law Program
• Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program
• Health Law Research Program
• Intellectual Property and Innovation Law Program.

Our researchers conduct fundamental and applied research into some of the most important socio-legal questions of our time. Our research is published nationally and internationally, and shared with diverse audiences including government, business, scholars and the community.

We also work with government and industry partners, and on interdisciplinary projects that are supported by external grants. Our research results shape policy approaches in government and non-government sectors, and inform professional practice.

Our researchers welcome new postgraduate research students. We currently supervise around 60 PhD and SJD students, and we have strong supervisory capacity in our research areas.