The task of establishing the new law school was given to John Halden Wootten QC, a former judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, who was appointed Foundation Dean in 1969.
[16] The UNSW Law School was noted as one of the primary faculties in helping to place the University 1st in Australia and 33rd in the globe for most millionaires produced.
[17] In the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Good Universities Guide, UNSW was the only law school in Australia to receive top ratings across all criteria, which include: teaching quality, generic skills, overall satisfaction, and success in obtaining a job.
[18] From 2006 to 2009, the Federal Government's assessment of excellence in tertiary education found that the Faculty lead all Australian universities for the quality of learning and teaching in law.
[19][20][21] Among the Go8 law schools, UNSW Law topped the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) 2014 survey, conducted and funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training, which measured the perspectives of recent students and graduates on experience as students and employment and salary outcomes.
Features of the building include light-filled atria space, open staircases, landscaped courtyards and an agora running up through floors.
It is designed to assess aptitudes and skills that are relevant to success in the law program, including critical thinking and analysis, and organising and expressing ideas in a clear and fluent way.
(Rough estimate due to nonspecific number of 2019 student intake)|[51] The introduction of the LAT, allowed faculty to better differentiate candidates and was no longer a reflection on their sole performance in the ATAR.
[44] It is the equivalent of the undergraduate Bachelor of Laws for the purpose of admission as a legal practitioner, but is only open to university graduates.
Entry into the JD program is based on academic results in previous university degrees earned by the applicant.
[43] As a guide, to be competitive for a CSP, applicants would have achieved at least a distinction average in previous Bachelor or master's degree.
Applicant's eligibility to be offered a CSP place may be improved if they have also completed an optional honours year or research degree.
[56] There is a number of UNSW Law Centres, which contribute to the Faculty's research as well as providing internships and clinical legal education to students.
It undertakes research on displacement issues in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and around the world, and contributes to public policy by proposing legal, sustainable and humane solutions to forced migration.
[60] In June 2019, the Centre published a document citing seven principles which should be key to Australia's refugee policy, supported by law and evidence-based research.
It functions as a research centre specialising in constitutional and administrative law, Indigenous legal issues, and human rights.
[65] The Centre's Advisory Committee is chaired by Sir Anthony Mason, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.
The Centre takes on cases where there is no other source of assistance or where acting for the client will benefit the community by achieving change in the law or government policy.
[78] Submissions for publication are received from local and international academics, judges, and legal professionals from a wide range of practice areas.
The journal is distributed among a diverse set of subscribers, including judges, government departments, non-government organisations, law firms, and more than 250 universities worldwide.