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Canberra, Australia’s capital and political heart, is the ideal location for ambitious law students. Here, in a city where federal laws and policies are made, you’ll have unrivalled access to real-world learning opportunities – the kind that gives you some of the best law education in the world.
The Australian National University (ANU) College of Law is Australia’s national law school. Since 1960, it has built a reputation for excellence in legal education, research and community outreach. Today, it is ranked 21st in the world for law and legal studies (Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024) and is the only university established by the Parliament of Australia. The location is a bonus; students are near the High Court of Australia, Commonwealth courts, and federal agencies, with access to legal practitioners, members of the judiciary, and government policymakers.
Many of these experts are ANU Law alumni themselves, having graduated from the college’s suite of postgraduate programs. All offer pathways into various industries in multiple countries, enabling students to acclimatise to any legal context and make ethical judgments, thanks to ANU Law’s all-encompassing legal education.
Bhavani Kannan, a Master of International Law and Diplomacy student, travelled to Geneva, Switzerland as part of her course. “It was an invaluable opportunity,” she said. “Meeting representatives from international organisations and NGOs whose daily lives revolve around the intersection of diplomacy and international law reinforced the importance of doing this program.”
The best part? You don’t need an undergraduate law degree to take these programs. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a cognate discipline and relevant professional experience are welcome to join. “I had no previous experience in this space and undertook the degree purely out of interest,” said Joshua Pearson, a senior consultant at KPMG Australia. “I chose to study this degree because I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of negotiation and communication in theory and practice, as well as a grounding in prominent international law.”
ANU College of Law welcomes applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a cognate discipline and relevant professional experience. Source: Australian National University
Programs that provide a unique understanding of current law and policy
Master of Laws
ANU’s Master of Laws is a popular choice for its flexibility. Those looking to deepen their law acumen or explore a new area of practice may opt for this degree; it’s also suitable for those who wish to gain deeper legal knowledge to bolster their careers in public policy, regulation, management, and more
You can choose to specialise in areas such as human security law, international law, new technologies law, private and commercial law, and public law. Alternatively, build your own degree plan by selecting courses that fit your interests and career aspirations.
Master of International Law and Diplomacy
If you seek to become a future leader of both diplomatic and legal practice in a changing geopolitical world, the multidisciplinary Master of International Law and Diplomacy is for you. This two-year, full-time program is great for those interested in exploring the nuances of diplomacy and international law, its contemporary challenges, and the unique dynamics between multiple actors, including states, civil service departments, intergovernmental organisations, non-government organisations and multinational corporations.
As you build a sound understanding of the theory and practice of international law, you’ll sharpen a suite of soft skills as well. These include critical thinking, negotiation, persuasion and advocacy, effective research and writing skills, and more. This broad cross-section of knowledge and skills has helped graduates become leading financial and legal scholars and policy-makers.
Master of Financial Management and Law
The Master of Financial Management and Law provides a deep understanding of finance and its related systems from a legal perspective. You’ll learn about legal and regulatory contexts and the frameworks that shape financial sector activity and decision-making. Building on this new knowledge, you then learn how to evaluate complex problems, concepts and theories as well as research and write with a financial, legal or regulatory focus.
This program is a joint course by the ANU College of Law and the ANU College of Business and Economics. It’s suitable for those looking to work, or already working in financial and advisory firm, policy and regulatory bodies.
Juris Doctor
Come from a non-law discipline? Opt for ANU’s internationally recognised Juris Doctor program, an all-encompassing degree that enables you to be admitted as a legal practitioner in Australia and some other jurisdictions. The program incorporates foundational legal studies with a practical, hands-on approach. There is a wide range of electives from various contemporary topics to choose from, such as environment and climate law, international trade law, financial markets and takeovers, information technology law, and more.
What you learn from these courses are then tested and applied in various practical learning opportunities. You can experience law in action through clinical studies, internships and research projects. The program also includes the option of spending a semester studying n the US, Europe, or over 130 other locations.
ANU College of Law students evolve into lawyers and agents for social change, improving public policy and enhancing global diplomacy. Source: Australian National University
Graduate career-ready
An education at ANU will take you far. The university in #1 in Australia for graduate employability, according to the Times Higher Education Global Employability Ranking 2023-24, with its law alumni achieving excellence in various industries.
“The ANU Juris Doctor is an incredibly useful program with the flexibility to pursue several career pathways,” says Kriti Jha, a Senior Government Officer in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government’s Strategic Policy team. “I hope to steer my professional pursuits towards meaningful work where I can use my economics, social work and law skills.”
Shontelle Grimberg, who recently graduated with a Master of Laws (LLM) specialising in International Law and Human Security, is set to continue practising as an environment and planning lawyer in Auckland. “Going forward in my career, I have a particular interest in addressing environmental, climate change and development issues that impact Indigenous peoples worldwide,” she says.
Indeed, you will graduate ready to create impact in various fields. As an ANU College of Law graduate, you’ll join the ranks of over 21,000 professionals, a prestigious alumni network actively making meaningful contributions as agents for social change, improving public policy, and enhancing global diplomacy in Australia and beyond.
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