Newcastle Law School

Australia’s leading clinical law school

Newcastle Law School has some of the highest rates of graduate law employment in the country, excellent teaching staff, and a world-class legal research program. We run our own community legal centre and our students have the opportunity to get extensive experience assisting real people to solve real legal problems.

Newcastle Law School offers an innovative legal education incorporating experiential learning that is interdisciplinary and internationally focused. Through first class, research-led legal education, we integrate the study and practice of law.

Our staff and graduates are world-class professionals, who develop legal and regulatory solutions to some of the most pressing social, commercial and environmental challenges facing our community, region and world.

Our graduates are ethically responsible global citizens, who have a strong sense of social justice, understand how technology is reshaping the justice system, uphold the rule of law and are committed to the highest professional standards.

Why study law?

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94% ^? Practice Program students secure employment within four months of graduating

Top 300 ^? In the world for Law

Study law

All undergraduate students complete a combined degree program, which can include an integrated Diploma in Legal Practice. We also offer a unique Juris Doctor, which includes an integrated Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, as well as a number of Masters programs which are available to lawyers and non lawyers.

Undergraduate

Postgraduate

Student experience

Law Students' Association

The UNLSA is an active student group participating in many legal competitions, including mooting, witness examination and negotiation, and professional and social events.

Law on the beach

Law on the Beach is a free legal advice clinic held in the relaxed setting of Newcastle Surf Club each January and February.

Law in practice

The Practice Program is undertaken during the final two years of your degree. Students in the program deal with real clients and their legal problems at the University of Newcastle Legal Centre and in externships.

Career and Professional Development

Our graduates have some of the highest employment rates of any law school in Australia, due to our focus on career and professional development.

Indigenous early entry scheme

Newcastle Law School is offering Indigenous students the opportunity to gain early entry to our Law degree.

The future of the legal job market

Professor Tania Sourdin, Dean of Newcastle Law School, believes that the future for law graduates who have a practical and forward focused approach is positive.

School Research

An international centre for law research, Newcastle Law School delivers innovative research that builds upon the clinical work undertaken by our University Legal Centre.

We also undertake collaborative research partnerships with business, industry and government in our region, across the nation and internationally.

Newcastle Law School scholars have expertise in a range of law and justice areas, including comparative law, business law, criminal law, environmental law, equity, intellectual property, law and religion, judicial biography, and family law.

Our researchers

Our researchers engage in academic, as well as applied and evidence-based research that focuses on promoting local, national and international access to justice.

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Newcastle Law Review

The Newcastle Law Review (NLR), the journal of Newcastle Law School, reflects the significant outreach activities undertaken by our School.

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Legal Centre

The University of Newcastle Legal Centre (UNLC) is the centrepiece of the Newcastle Law School’s clinical program.

Here, students engage with the community and legal professionals to develop practical skills in the application of the law. UNLC offers a range of services to the public, including free legal advice and assistance, representation, law clinics and community education seminars.

Free legal clinics Law on the Beach Older persons legal clinic Pop-up clinic for students Public interest cases Know the Law Chatbot NLS Pro Bono services

Impact and engagement

Newcastle as a restorative city

This initiative aims to transform Newcastle into a restorative city by building social cohesion and healthy communities.

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Environmental law and policy

The Newcastle Law School recognises the scientific consensus that an urgent and significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is required to avoid catastrophic environmental, economic and humanitarian consequences.

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Legal innovation and design

Technology has led to massive structural change in the delivery of legal services, in turn creating an urgent need to innovate.

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Alumni

The established and ongoing success of Newcastle Law School is in no small way down to the contributions and active involvement of our alumni.

Our reputation as the finest clinical law school in Australia has been established as a result of our students receiving hands-on experience in the legal profession, which we are able to offer as a result of our alumni offering placement opportunities.

Keep in touch with Newcastle Law School

Meet Kaitlin Jagersky

UON Law graduate

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Latest news

News • 15 Nov 2019

Free legal clinic to support community’s vulnerable older people

Some of the most vulnerable people in our society – older people – are benefiting from a new free community legal service established by Newcastle Law School in Newcastle and Gosford.

News • 30 Oct 2019