The Flinders Law School provides undergraduate degrees in law, a major towards the Arts and Behavioural Science degrees, contributions to the teaching in the Justice and Society degree, law teaching for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the Business School, and postgraduate courses. There are two undergraduate law degrees, the Bachelor of Laws and the Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice. They are available for entry immediately from secondary school or during or after completion of another one, and may usually be taken in combination with another degree. A special sub-quota exists for Indigenous students. The major sequence for BA and BBSc students, and other teaching for Justice and Society students, is in the field of Criminal Justice and some of these topics are available to law students. The undergraduate law degrees incorporate an Honours programme. Postgraduate study is available by way of research degrees (LLM and PhD). An intensive onshore postgraduate suite of courses in International Law and International Relations commenced in 2008.
Many of the Law School's academic staff are active researchers, many with national or international success in their fields. They are involved in a range of external activities that regularly bring them into contact with the legal profession and the broader community. The Law School prides itself on its friendly and relaxed atmosphere, as well as on its commitment to providing high quality teaching and scholarship.
The School was established to help meet an overwhelming demand for University places in law. In 1992 the first 60 undergraduates were admitted into the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme. Since then the size of the intake and the choices available to students has increased dramatically. Most significantly, the Degree of Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice was introduced by the Flinders Law School in 1999 to incorporate practical legal training as part of the undergraduate degree in law. Students are therefore able to complete all requirements for admission to practice as a lawyer as part of their undergraduate education and may meet the costs of their education on a HECS-HELP debt basis avoiding upfront course fees. Part of the delivery of the practical legal training component is achieved through an agreement between Flinders University and The Law Society of South Australia, enabling students to take a topic taught by The Law Society. The incorporation of practical legal training into the degree flows from a philosophy articulated from the establishment of the Flinders law degree whereby skills training is integrated with the study of substantive law topics. These skills enhance the appreciation of the ways in which legal rights and obligations are given effect in practice but are relevant to almost all applications of legal knowledge not restricted to legal practice.
Features of Flinders' practical legal training component include:
As part of the Law School's community involvement, two special lectures are sponsored. The Elliott Johnston Lecture is held during Law Week in mid-May and delivered by an invited guest delivers a lecture on a topic relating to the law and Indigenous people. The Alex Castles Memorial Legal History Lecture is held during alternate years when an invited guest speaker delivers a lecture on a topic relating to the development of the law in Australia. The highly successful Visiting Judicial Fellow programme enables a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, to spend a week in the Flinders Law School and to contribute in various ways to the School's activities. During the law degree students are provided with the opportunity to undertake community service, especially in conjunction with the Southern Community Legal Service and via the elective topic Community Legal Practice.
One thing that has changed little over the past decade is the success of the Flinders law programme. Our graduates have consistently given us high ratings and in turn they are highly valued by employers for the skills they possess. The Law School is now responsible for the popular and innovative Criminal Justice major ensuring that its role in providing high quality education and training will continue to evolve.
Many of the Law School's academic staff are active researchers, many with national or international success in their fields. They are involved in a range of external activities that regularly bring them into contact with the legal profession and the broader community. The Law School prides itself on its friendly and relaxed atmosphere, as well as on its commitment to providing high quality teaching and scholarship.
The School was established to help meet an overwhelming demand for University places in law. In 1992 the first 60 undergraduates were admitted into the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme. Since then the size of the intake and the choices available to students has increased dramatically. Most significantly, the Degree of Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice was introduced by the Flinders Law School in 1999 to incorporate practical legal training as part of the undergraduate degree in law. Students are therefore able to complete all requirements for admission to practice as a lawyer as part of their undergraduate education and may meet the costs of their education on a HECS-HELP debt basis avoiding upfront course fees. Part of the delivery of the practical legal training component is achieved through an agreement between Flinders University and The Law Society of South Australia, enabling students to take a topic taught by The Law Society. The incorporation of practical legal training into the degree flows from a philosophy articulated from the establishment of the Flinders law degree whereby skills training is integrated with the study of substantive law topics. These skills enhance the appreciation of the ways in which legal rights and obligations are given effect in practice but are relevant to almost all applications of legal knowledge not restricted to legal practice.
Features of Flinders' practical legal training component include:
- Practical training topics are integrated with the substantive topics of the course and designed specifically to build on what students have already done
- The course involves a blend of topics taught at Flinders University and at The Law Society of South Australia. The Flinders University topics are delivered by experienced staff from within the Law School (many of whom have a practice background) and practitioners currently working in the profession
- Students are enrolled in a Flinders programme of study with all the consequent rights and privileges
- The course can be taken on a HECS-HELP debt basis.
As part of the Law School's community involvement, two special lectures are sponsored. The Elliott Johnston Lecture is held during Law Week in mid-May and delivered by an invited guest delivers a lecture on a topic relating to the law and Indigenous people. The Alex Castles Memorial Legal History Lecture is held during alternate years when an invited guest speaker delivers a lecture on a topic relating to the development of the law in Australia. The highly successful Visiting Judicial Fellow programme enables a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, to spend a week in the Flinders Law School and to contribute in various ways to the School's activities. During the law degree students are provided with the opportunity to undertake community service, especially in conjunction with the Southern Community Legal Service and via the elective topic Community Legal Practice.
One thing that has changed little over the past decade is the success of the Flinders law programme. Our graduates have consistently given us high ratings and in turn they are highly valued by employers for the skills they possess. The Law School is now responsible for the popular and innovative Criminal Justice major ensuring that its role in providing high quality education and training will continue to evolve.
