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Studying Law and living overseas are big dreams that a handful of ambitious and adventurous people share.
While both can be serious undertakings that require monumental commitment and dedication, they do not have to be mutually exclusive. By studying Law overseas, you can combine the two and get a doubly rewarding experience.
In making this commitment though, you must be sure you’re picking a university that combines an excellent standard of teaching with flexible and versatile qualifications so you’re not limited in your choices and opportunities upon graduation.
One place that delivers on all fronts is the Australian National University (ANU) College of Law in Canberra.
International students come from as far afield as India, Malaysia, Canada, Singapore, and South Africa, to study the common law system at Australia’s top-ranked university.
The team of world leading academics committed to legal education and research, the state-of-the-art facilities, and international reputation are just some of the reasons that keep students flocking here.
The courses offer great flexibility in learning with a unique opportunity for undergraduate Bachelor of Laws students to complement their legal expertise with a second undergraduate degree thanks to the University’s offer of Flexible Double Degrees.
ANU has pioneered the Flexible Double Degree so you can satisfy your intellectual curiosity and tailor your studies to prepare for your dream career, giving you a clear advantage when applying for jobs and meaning you get the chance to explore all your passions.
Many international students with a love of Law, such as final year student Amit Poonath, will opt for the postgraduate Juris Doctor (JD) program designed for students who already hold a Bachelor degree or international equivalent in any discipline.
“I realised there is nothing more versatile than a degree in law,” says Amit. “There are people who go into tourism, resource management, government or public policy work after completing a law degree.
“If I end up as a barrister or solicitor I’ll be able to do it because ANU has equipped me with the knowledge, but I’m doing the JD because I want to do everything that isn’t traditionally law.”
While a degree in Law itself is a valuable weapon to have regardless of what industry you eventually choose to go into, the ANU stamp makes it even more prized given the University’s reputation for excellence in education, research and community outreach.
It is this commitment that has earned ANU a spot in the top 20 universities in the world, with ANU Law coming in a remarkable 16th in the world, among the likes of Columbia, Harvard and Oxford.
This quality means that an ANU Law degree carries some serious weight when it comes to looking for that all-too-important first job on graduation. And not just in Australia, as JD student Kayla Capiendo found.
Hailing from Canada, Kayla was eager to get the international experience after her friend told her how much she had enjoyed her time at ANU and how valuable her qualification had proven to be.
“One of my sorority sisters from my undergrad went to Australia to do the JD and she was a big factor in my research,” she said.
“She was an advocate, telling me I should definitely come here, it’s a really good opportunity and now she’s actually back in Canada working at a law firm so that really gave me confidence in the transferability of the qualification.”
The international appeal of the College means the student body is made up of people from across the globe, and this also translates into a rich and diverse alumnus that form a tight knit community for graduates once they leave.
The alumni are already reaping the rewards of an international law education and are there as both evidence of ANU’s successful approach as well as where taking an international direction in your studies can lead you.
One such alumni, who knows better than most the benefits of studying abroad, is ANU Law Associate Dean (International) Associate Professor Jolyon Ford. After completing his Bachelor of Laws in South Africa and his Masters of Laws in the United Kingdom, Ford made his way to ANU to complete his PhD.
“Studying law abroad helps develop awareness of both common features and complex differences across countries’ legal systems,” says Ford. “These insights and the self-awareness developed on exchange remain highly valued by employers in law and beyond.
“The ANU is the ideal choice because of the advisory support available to students, and the choices given our unparalleled range of student mobility agreements with quality English-language and other universities from Brussels to Beijing, Canada to Chile”.
Now you’ve been persuaded of the merits of studying abroad, where better to do it than ANU’s beautiful, safe campus – rich with native flora and wildlife while being situated in the heart of Canberra, Australia’s national capital.
From her home town in Canada, Kayla found the move both exciting and welcoming.
“I love Canberra. I love the size of it and everybody is super friendly,” she says.
“I’m from a mid-sized town in Canada so the size of Canberra appealed to me. I felt very welcomed when I arrived and once my family saw it here they were confident and happy with the city I chose to move to.”
To reap the rewards of a flexible education with an outstanding reputation and global outlook, ANU Law has all you need to get you started.
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