5 leading law schools that are shaping the legal world

30 Mar 2017

Even with the rise of new occupations in fields like digital media and computer programming, many prospective students remain keen to pursue a respected legal career. Law is often defined as a challenging, competitive and incredibly high-pressure discipline, but if you’re looking for a profession that’s intellectually stimulating, you’ve come to the right place!

Even if you decide you don’t want to be a lawyer, a degree in this field will still come in handy, equipping you with valuable skills that are needed in almost every industry. As a law student, you’ll learn to research, present ideas, communicate effectively, write, and form critical analysis and opinions of everything you read. And these are just a few of the transferable skills you can apply to several other sectors…

And with law-based degrees, students are usually exposed to a wide ranging curriculum that covers everything from geo-politics in international law to family-based and contract law. These subjects equip students with a vast legal knowledge which comes in handy when it comes to working for international organisations.

So, for prospective students looking for a motivating career or who simply love the law and everything it stands for, a job in this sector may just be for you. To get you started, we’ve compiled 5 leading law schools helping shape the legal world…

SCHOOL OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND (UNE) – AUSTRALIA

Image courtesy of the University of New England

As the country’s most experienced provider of law-based distance education, the School of Law at UNE gives students the chance to pursue a world-class law education no matter where they are or study on campus at Armidale.

The flexibility offered by the school makes it the most accessible law institution in Australia, with students who may not have considered a law education due to family or work commitments now being able to do so without having to worry about physically attending classes. At UNE, you have the chance to study your degree entirely online, on-campus or via a combination of the two.

Students at UNE School of Law can choose to pursue several Common law undergraduate degrees, a Master of Laws, a Master of Natural Resource Governance or even a PhD. Besides its flexibility, the School emphasises small class sizes and tutorials to ensure all students have the chance to speak one-to-one with its world-leading academics in person, on the phone, or by Skype or email, depending which method works best for you. Achieving five-star ratings for student satisfaction and support by The Good Universities Guide 2017, it’s safe to say your future is in good hands with Law at UNE.

SCHOOL OF LAW, SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY (SNU) – SOUTH KOREA

Since opening in 1895, SNU has a earned reputation for producing graduates who go on to become leaders of the Korean legislature, administration and judiciary. The School of Law, which has been ranked the best Law School in Korea by HanKook Economic Daily, also boasts one the highest rates of students who have passed the bar examination. At SNU School of Law, students will focus on general legal knowledge in the areas of legal theory and practice to develop intellectual and analytical skills, as well as practice the interpretation of law.

Image courtesy of Seoul National University

The School offers postgraduate degrees and law school programmes in the following study areas: Basic Law, Constitutional Law, Civil Law, Commercial Law, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, International Law, Social Law and Intellectual Property Law. Students also benefit from excellent facilities, including the Library which features approximately 157,035 books and 471 types of periodical publications. On top of that, the Department is home to the Law Research Institute which publishes academic books, journals and annotations of legal judgements, including the respectable Journal of Korean Law.

FACULTY OF LAW, MONASH UNIVERSITY – AUSTRALIA

Whatever your career aspirations may be, you’ll be glad to know that a Monash Law degree will help you take the first step in the right direction. A degree from this institution prepares you to practice as a barrister or solicitor, to provide advice as an in-house counsel to an organisation, or to pursue a career in international relations politics, business management or social justice advocacy. The Faculty offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees with specific specialisations, as well as study enhancement opportunities with partner universities – including Monash University in Malaysia.

With a law degree from Monash, students can pursue a career in the legal industry working in national and international firms or in the government sector. But if your ambitions lie elsewhere, a Monash law degree provides a stepping stone into other fields such as science and engineering, environmental protection and development and non-government organisations. Besides providing comprehensive programmes, the Law School is known for its work with dedicated research centres such as the Australian Centre for Justice Innovation, the Centre for Commercial Law and Regulatory Studies, and the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law.

Image courtesy of Monash University

NEBRASKA COLLEGE OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN – USA

Understanding how the cost of higher education factors into a student’s decision to study abroad, the College of Law aims to eliminate that worry by offering students an excellent education at a reasonable price. What makes the college an alluring study destination is the flexibility it offers students. You can choose to pursue a broad-based curriculum that include courses in space, cyber and telecommunications law, global legal practice, legal studies as well as joint degree programmes.

In addition to that, the Faculty incorporates practical skills training such as skills exercises in doctrinal classes and extended case simulations to externships and clinics where students represent real clients. You’ll also have the chance to observe trials and hearings conducted at the Law College by the Nebraska Supreme Court and the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals. And with Lincoln as the state capital of Nebraska, students have the chance to work in legislature, administrative agencies, prosecutors’ offices and courts before even graduation. If you’re lucky, you’ll have the opportunity to present oral arguments before the Nebraska Supreme Court and the Nebraska Court of Appeals.

FACULTY OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY – CANADA

When it comes to innovative education, no one does it like the University of Calgary. Realising that law students today need a wider range of skills and competencies to thrive in a fast-paced and everchanging legal market, the Faculty of Law consistently reviews its courses to ensure the Calgary Curriculum gives student the competence needed to understand concepts, methods, analysis, reasoning and critical perspectives in and about the law, and be able to apply theory into the real world.

Designed with input from students, alumni and industry leaders, the courses offered are rigorous and relevant. The Faculty offers the Juris Doctor (JD) programme which can be completed within three years’ full-time or six years’ part-time study. Additionally, the School has an International Energy Lawyers Programme (IELP), a joint JD programme with the University of Houston Law Centre, that allows students to earn both Canadian and American law degrees in four years. And to ensure that students are ready for the real world, the faculty provides clinical programmes to develop experience in negotiation, advocacy and debate techniques required to do well.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International