Macquarie Law School
|
Universal Logo of Macquarie University | |
| Motto | Gladly Teche Oneself (Latin) |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1972 |
| Dean | Dr Natalie Klein |
Academic staff | 94 |
| Students | 2,450 |
| Location | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | |
| Affiliations | Macquarie University |
| Website | www.law.mq.edu.au |
Macquarie Law School (Macquarie Law or MQ Law) is the law school of Macquarie University and was first established in 1972 as Sydney's third law school. Entry into the law school is competitive, with candidates required to possess superior grades including an ATAR of above 97, or have gained an internal GPA of at least 3.0 for competitive first-year application. Macquarie Law School is ranked 9th in the country, in line with its overall position, just outside G8 positioning. In 2010, in line with modernising practice of the University, the typical undergraduate law degree offered a new curriculum with inclusion of the new "people and planet" units, with new law reform units which students may wish to undertake as part of their degree.[1]
Macquarie Law School is home to approximately 2,500 students, almost 100 academic teaching staff, and an average intake of 500 students per year. A significant proportion of these students do not progress into second-year due to the high demand of work ethic and study required. Macquarie Law School aims to equip students with more than traditional skills, but more so practical skills to enter the legal profession with ease at the completion of a degree. Staff at Macquarie Law School are also active in matters of pro-bono legal work, and other various matters on domestic and international fronts.[2]
Dean of Macquarie Law School
The current Dean is Professor Natalie Klein BA (Juris) LLB (Hons) (Adel), LLM JSD (Yale). Klein teaches and researches in different areas of international law, with a focus on law of the sea and international dispute settlement. Dr. Klein is the author of Dispute Settlement and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Cambridge University Press, 2005) and has recently completed a manuscript for Oxford University Press, entitled Maritime Security and the Law of the Sea. She regularly provides advice, undertakes consultancies and interacts with the media on law of the sea issues. Prior to joining Macquarie, Dr. Klein worked in the international litigation and arbitration practice of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, served as counsel to the Government of Eritrea and was a consultant in the Office of Legal Affairs at the United Nations. Her masters and doctorate in law were earned at Yale Law School.[3] Klein often participates in media reports regarding her expertise, notably on topics regarding the law of the sea.[4]
Degree components
The following areas of study are required to be completed alongside a number of elective credits for a Macquarie Law Degree as either undergraduate or postgraduate level in their respective year levels.
Level 100: • Legal Foundations • Criminal Law
Level 200: • Tort Law • Contract • Ethical Law • Jurisprudence
Level 300: • Constitutional Law • Administrative Law • Property Law • Equity and Trusts
Level 400: • Business Law • International Law
Level 500: • Remedies in Law • Litigation • Practical Legal Experience
Popular electives also include: Succession Law, Taxation Law, Climate Change Law, Family Law, Human Rights Law and Media Law. Over 50 elective or specialist areas are made available to sometimes third, but more than often fourth and fifth year students to gain experience in personal interest areas.[5]
Centres
Centre for Environmental Law: The University has a strong history of involvement in environmental studies and the Centre for Environmental Law was one of Australia's first. It has been formally recognised as a Centre of Excellence within the University. The centre focuses on research and cases of law concerned with international, comparative and national environmental law, climate change, biodiversity, marine law and oceans governance, planning and local government law, pollution law, corporate environmental law, Indigenous peoples and environmental rights, heritage law and policy, trade and environment, and environmental litigation and mediation. MU-CEL is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Macquarie University, is a founding member of the IUCN's Academy of Environmental Law.
Publications
The Macquarie Law Journal is the initiative of the Department of Law at Macquarie University. It is published annually, both in hard copy and online, each volume having a special theme. Manuscripts are refereed by means of double-blind, peer review.
The Australian Journal of Legal History is dedicated to publishing high quality research by those scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds who are interested in the dynamic relationship between law and history. The bi-annual journal, which was previously produced at the University of Adelaide, builds upon the research and teaching strengths in legal history at Macquarie University.
The Macquarie Journal of International and Comparative Environmental Law provides a forum for scholarly dialogue concerning both global and regional environmental issues. The biannual Journal contains a variety of articles and book reviews together with relevant case and legislative commentary. The editorial board is made up of 12 distinguished experts in the field of international environmental law from 11 different countries.
Macquarie University Law Society
Macquarie University Law Society (MULS) was founded in 1975 and is the representative body for all law students at Macquarie University. Elections are held annually to elect different members into the executive. The society offers a range of events of both strict legal and casual social nature as well as engage students to participate in various events such as mooting and mock trials.
MULS is also the main developer of the publication 'The Brief' where articles by students, staff and legal professionals are included. The first section of The Brief contains student-written articles, interviews and pieces by prominent academics and professionals. The second section contains reports covering everything you need to know about what is going on at MULS. The first edition of The Brief in 2013 featured articles from notable legal professionals including the Hon. Michael Kirby, a retired High Court judge.[6]
Controversy
In 1987, not long after the law schools establishment, high levels of financial problems and corruption within the law school became evident, prompting major governmental reforms in the way in which the law school was run. The legal board of New South Wales reviewed findings and came up with three options to solve the corruption. First was to shut down the law school completely, second was to phase out the law school and third, which was preferred and applied, was to remove all staff members and make radical changes in line with state procedure to solve the issue. Sydney University, a notable G8 University, also came into contact with similar criticisms from the same report, but did not face the same level of scrutiny.[7] There have been no further problems to this scale within the law school to date.
See also
- Category:Macquarie Law School alumni
References
- ↑ http://students.mq.edu.au/notices_events/notices/undergrad_curriculm_2010_faq/
- ↑ http://www.law.mq.edu.au/about_us/
- ↑ http://www.law.mq.edu.au/staff/academic_staff/natalie_klein/
- ↑ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/whaling-protesters-are-behaving-like-pirates/story-e6frg6zo-1225831542623
- ↑ http://www.handbook.mq.edu.au/2013/Units/UGByPrefix/LAW
- ↑ http://muls.org/publications/
- ↑ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KStWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dOQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5927,4743914&dq=macquarie-law-school&hl=en
