Sydney Law School
Encyclopedia
Sydney Law School is the law faculty of the University of Sydney
and is regarded as one of the most prestigious institutions of legal education
in Australia
and the Asia Pacific. Located in the main Camperdown
campus of the University, with some operations at the St. James Campus, it was one of the first established law schools in Australia
and is home to the largest academic law library in the country.
Sydney Law School is currently ranked by the Social Science Research Network
(SSRN) as the top law school
in Australia
and 22nd in the world . In terms of legal research, the SSRN also ranks Sydney Law School 4th among the top international law schools . And as of 2011, the QS World University Rankings ranks Sydney Law School 11th among law schools in the world. The School has approximately 1700 undergraduate students, 1500 postgraduate coursework students and 100 postgraduate research students. There are now 24 chairs including the Challis Chairs of Law, Jurisprudence and International Law. In 2010, the School replaced its graduate-entry LLB program with the Juris Doctor
.
Recently, Sydney Law School won the prestigious international mooting competition, the Philip C. Jessup Cup 2011, defeating Columbia Law School
in the finals .
Sydney Law has produced a large number of luminaries in law and politics, including four Prime Ministers and 23 Justices of the High Court
. The school has also produced 22 Rhodes Scholars.
On 30 April 2009, the new Law School building was officially opened by Quentin Bryce
, Governor-General of Australia
. Also in attendance were Robert French
, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Murray Gleeson
, immediately past Chief Justice of the High Court, Jim Spigelman, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and Malcolm Turnbull
, leader of the Federal opposition.
The Law School building on Phillip Street in the centre of Sydney's legal and business district was the home of Sydney Law School until early 2009. While the faculty is now located in the New Law School building on the main Camperdown campus of the university, classes and some other functions continue to be hosted on the St. James campus.
The campus is bounded by Elizabeth Street
, King Street
, and Phillip Street
. It is in the heart of Sydney
's legal and business districts. It faces the Supreme Court of New South Wales
. The building consists of 13 dedicated levels, three of which are underground. Levels one and two house "Harvard-style" lecture theatres. Level three houses a staff car park and other amenities. Level four is the ground entrance level, and houses the assembly hall, a foyer, and some offices. Level five housed University of Sydney Union
premises, including the office of the Sydney University Law Society (SULS). Levels seven to ten formerly housed the Sydney University Law Library. Level 12 was the Law School's Information Desk.
The building was constructed in 1969 in the brutalist
architectural style. Busts of classical orators and jurists adorn the Phillip Street entrance, while the University of Sydney crest is found on the Elizabeth Street and Phillip Street entrance. The Law School building is located near St. James railway station
and is serviced by a bus stop outside its entrance on Elizabeth Street.
Institute of Jurisprudence, the Ross Parsons Centre of Commercial, Corporate and Taxation Law, and the Sydney Centre for International and Global Law (SCIGL) as well as the Australian Network for Japanese Law (ANJeL).
Externally, Sydney Law School has partner programs with many of the world's leading law schools and is the only law school in Australia, to have a law exchange programme with Harvard Law School
, as well as several other notable Ivy League and Russell Group
law schools including: Cornell Law School
, the University of Glasgow
and the University of Bristol
. Sydney Law School was also the 2007 winner of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
A number of other student societies at the University of Sydney
also cater to law students. These include the Korean Law Students Society at the University of Sydney (KLUS), which caters to Korean ethnic students, formed in 1997, and the St. Thomas More Society, which caters to Catholic students.
. Many justices of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
are alumni of Sydney Law School. There is also a justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
among the ranks of Sydney Law School alumni. The following is a list of prominent alumni:
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
and is regarded as one of the most prestigious institutions of legal education
Legal education
Legal education is the education of individuals who intend to become legal professionals or those who simply intend to use their law degree to some end, either related to law or business...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the Asia Pacific. Located in the main Camperdown
Camperdown, New South Wales
Camperdown is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Camperdown is located 4 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the Inner West region...
campus of the University, with some operations at the St. James Campus, it was one of the first established law schools in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and is home to the largest academic law library in the country.
Sydney Law School is currently ranked by the Social Science Research Network
Social Science Research Network
The Social Science Research Network is a website devoted to the rapid dissemination of scholarly research in the social sciences and humanities. SSRN is viewed as particularly strong in the fields of economics, finance, accounting, management, and law. SSRN was founded in 1994 by Michael Jensen ...
(SSRN) as the top law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and 22nd in the world . In terms of legal research, the SSRN also ranks Sydney Law School 4th among the top international law schools . And as of 2011, the QS World University Rankings ranks Sydney Law School 11th among law schools in the world. The School has approximately 1700 undergraduate students, 1500 postgraduate coursework students and 100 postgraduate research students. There are now 24 chairs including the Challis Chairs of Law, Jurisprudence and International Law. In 2010, the School replaced its graduate-entry LLB program with the Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
.
Recently, Sydney Law School won the prestigious international mooting competition, the Philip C. Jessup Cup 2011, defeating Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in the finals .
Sydney Law has produced a large number of luminaries in law and politics, including four Prime Ministers and 23 Justices of the High Court
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
. The school has also produced 22 Rhodes Scholars.
New Law School building
Sydney Law School has changed locations several times in the past, but has always remained in the centre of the city because of the tradition of teaching by practitioners, and for easy access to the courts and members of the profession. However, the University of Sydney asserts that with changes in the mode of teaching, the advantages of being integrated into the University's main campus have been deemed by them to outweigh the convenience of a central location. Consequently, a new law school was constructed at the main Camperdown campus, adjacent to Fisher Library and on the site of the former Edgeworth David building. Completed in February 2009, the faculty administration began occupation in mid-February, prior to classes beginning in early March.On 30 April 2009, the new Law School building was officially opened by Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO is the 25th and current Governor-General of Australia and former Governor of Queensland....
, Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
. Also in attendance were Robert French
Robert French
Robert Shenton French, AC is Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy....
, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Murray Gleeson
Murray Gleeson
Anthony Murray Gleeson AC QC is a former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Biography:Gleeson was born in Wingham, New South Wales, the eldest of four children...
, immediately past Chief Justice of the High Court, Jim Spigelman, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2004, and was Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party from 16 September 2008 to 1 December 2009.Turnbull has represented the Division...
, leader of the Federal opposition.
St. James campus
The campus is bounded by Elizabeth Street
Elizabeth Street, Sydney
Elizabeth Street is a street in Sydney, Australia.-Description and history:Elizabeth Street runs south from Hunter Street, past Hyde Park and David Jones, Central station and through the inner city suburbs of Surry Hills, Redfern, Waterloo and Zetland...
, King Street
King Street, Sydney
King Street is today the central thoroughfare of the suburb of Newtown in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It's in this street that the residents of the area are most visible, confirming Newtown's reputation as a cosmopolitan community with a higher than average concentration of students,...
, and Phillip Street
Phillip Street, Sydney
Phillip Street is a street in the central business district of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. While the street runs from King Street in the south to Circular Quay in the north, the present street is effectively in two sections, separated by Chifley Square...
. It is in the heart of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's legal and business districts. It faces the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
. The building consists of 13 dedicated levels, three of which are underground. Levels one and two house "Harvard-style" lecture theatres. Level three houses a staff car park and other amenities. Level four is the ground entrance level, and houses the assembly hall, a foyer, and some offices. Level five housed University of Sydney Union
University of Sydney Union
The University of Sydney Union is the student-run services and amenities provider at the University of Sydney. The Union's key services include the provision of food and beverages, live music and other entertainment, the Verge Arts Festival and other cultural activities, Orientation week and...
premises, including the office of the Sydney University Law Society (SULS). Levels seven to ten formerly housed the Sydney University Law Library. Level 12 was the Law School's Information Desk.
The building was constructed in 1969 in the brutalist
Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture is a style of architecture which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, spawned from the modernist architectural movement.-The term "brutalism":...
architectural style. Busts of classical orators and jurists adorn the Phillip Street entrance, while the University of Sydney crest is found on the Elizabeth Street and Phillip Street entrance. The Law School building is located near St. James railway station
St. James railway station, Sydney
St James is an underground railway station on the City Circle line in Sydney, Australia. The station is located under the northern end of Hyde Park, and is named after nearby St James Church...
and is serviced by a bus stop outside its entrance on Elizabeth Street.
Law links
Internally, Sydney Law School encompasses many of the state's legal fraternities, centres, and legal research institutes, and jointly hosts the Australian Centre for Environmental Law (ACEL), the Centre for Asian and Pacific Law in the University of Sydney (CAPLUS), the Centre for Health Governance, Law and Ethics, the Institute of Criminology (University of Sydney), the Julius StoneJulius Stone
Julius Stone was Challis Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law at the University of Sydney from 1942 to 1972, and thereafter a visiting Professor of Law at the University of New South Wales and concurrently Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law at the Hastings...
Institute of Jurisprudence, the Ross Parsons Centre of Commercial, Corporate and Taxation Law, and the Sydney Centre for International and Global Law (SCIGL) as well as the Australian Network for Japanese Law (ANJeL).
Externally, Sydney Law School has partner programs with many of the world's leading law schools and is the only law school in Australia, to have a law exchange programme with Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, as well as several other notable Ivy League and Russell Group
Russell Group
The Russell Group is a collaboration of twenty UK universities that together receive two-thirds of research grant and contract funding in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1994 to represent their interests to the government, parliament and other similar bodies...
law schools including: Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School
Cornell Law School, located in Ithaca, New York, is a graduate school of Cornell University and one of the five Ivy League law schools. The school confers three law degrees...
, the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow School of Law
The School of Law at the University of Glasgow provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Law, and awards the degrees of Bachelor of Laws , Master of Laws , Master of Science , Master of Research and Doctor of Philosophy , the degree of Doctor of Laws...
and the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
. Sydney Law School was also the 2007 winner of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
Publications
The following publications are produced by the Sydney Law School Law Publishing Unit:- Sydney Law ReviewSydney Law ReviewThe Sydney Law Review is a peer-reviewed law journal established in 1953.- External links :* ]]...
- Current Issues in Criminal Justice
- Asia Pacific Journal of Environmental Law
- Australian International Law Journal
Student organisations
Two student organisations operate in association with Sydney Law School. The Sydney University Law Society (SULS), formed in 1902, represents all law students at the University. The Chinese Law Students Society (CLSS), formed in 2004, provides services with a more international outlook.A number of other student societies at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
also cater to law students. These include the Korean Law Students Society at the University of Sydney (KLUS), which caters to Korean ethnic students, formed in 1997, and the St. Thomas More Society, which caters to Catholic students.
Alumni
Over its 150 year history, Sydney Law School has produced a diverse and prominent group of alumni. It has produced four prime ministers and 23 out of 41 justices of the High CourtHigh Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
. Many justices of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
are alumni of Sydney Law School. There is also a justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
Constitutional Court of South Africa
The Constitutional Court of South Africa was established in 1994 by South Africa's first democratic constitution: the Interim Constitution of 1993. In terms of the 1996 Constitution the Constitutional Court established in 1994 continues to hold office. The court began its first sessions in February...
among the ranks of Sydney Law School alumni. The following is a list of prominent alumni:
High Court of Australia
- Chief Justices of the High Court of AustraliaHigh Court of AustraliaThe High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
(in chronological order):- Sir Garfield BarwickGarfield BarwickSir Garfield Edward John Barwick, was the Attorney-General of Australia , Minister for External Affairs and the seventh and longest serving Chief Justice of Australia...
- Sir Anthony Mason
- Murray GleesonMurray GleesonAnthony Murray Gleeson AC QC is a former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Biography:Gleeson was born in Wingham, New South Wales, the eldest of four children...
- Sir Garfield Barwick
Other High/Supreme/Constitutional Courts
- Constitutional Court of South Africa
- Kate O'ReganKate O'ReganKate O'Regan was a judge in the Constitutional Court of South Africa. She was appointed to the bench in 1994 by Nelson Mandela. She hold a B.A. and LL.B. from the University of Cape Town, an LL.M. from the University of Sydney and a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics...
- Justice of the Constitutional Court of South AfricaConstitutional Court of South AfricaThe Constitutional Court of South Africa was established in 1994 by South Africa's first democratic constitution: the Interim Constitution of 1993. In terms of the 1996 Constitution the Constitutional Court established in 1994 continues to hold office. The court began its first sessions in February...
from 1994 to 2009.
- Kate O'Regan
Supreme Court of New South Wales
- The heads of many sections of the NSW Supreme Court are Sydney alumni:
- Tom BathurstTom BathurstThomas Frederick Bathurst QC is an Australian judge. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales from 1 June 2011.-Early years and education:...
- Chief Justice, Supreme Court of NSW - James AllsopJames AllsopJames Leslie Bain Allsop is the President of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the highest court in the State of New South Wales, Australia, which forms part of the Australian court hierarchy.-Education:...
- President of the NSW Court of Appeal - Peter McClellanPeter McClellanPeter David McClellan, AM, is the Chief Judge at Common Law of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the highest court in the State of New South Wales, Australia, which forms part of the Australian court hierarchy. He was appointed to the position in 2005....
- Chief Judge at Common Law, Supreme Court of NSW
- Tom Bathurst
- The following former Chief Justices are Sydney Law School alumni:
- Jim Spigelman - Chief Justice (1998-2011)
- Murray GleesonMurray GleesonAnthony Murray Gleeson AC QC is a former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Biography:Gleeson was born in Wingham, New South Wales, the eldest of four children...
- Chief Justice (1988–1998) - Sir Laurence Whistler StreetLaurence StreetSir Laurence Whistler Street AC, KCMG, QC is an Australian jurist and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.-Family:...
- Chief Justice (1974–1988) - Sir John Kerr - Chief Justice (1972–1974)
- Sir Leslie James HerronLeslie HerronSir Leslie James Herron, KBE, CMG, KStJ was a prominent Australian barrister, judge, chief justice and lieutenant governor of New South Wales. Biographer Martha Rutledge describes him as being “interested, interesting and with a lively sense of humour”, but that he “conducted his court with...
- Chief Justice (1962–1972) - Dr H V Evatt - Chief Justice (1960–1962)
- Sir Kenneth Whistler Street - Chief Justice (1950–1960)
- Sir Frederick Richard JordanFrederick Richard JordanSir Frederick Richard Jordan KCMG was a barrister, chief justice and lieutenant governor of New South Wales.. He was the ninth Chief justice of New South Wales, a state of Australia. Jordan was a distinguished lawyer as well as the Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales...
- Chief Justice (1934–1949) - Sir William Portus CullenWilliam Portus CullenSir William Portus Cullen KCMG was Chief Justice of New South Wales, Australia.-Early life:Cullen was born at Mount Johnston, near Jamberoo, New South Wales, the seventh son of John and Rebecca Cullen. A brother, Joseph Cullen, was a Member of Parliament for both New South Wales and Western...
- Chief Justice (1910–1925)
Other legal professions
- Reg Blanch - Chief Judge of NSW District Court
- Marie Beuzeville BylesMarie BylesMarie Beuzeville Byles is known as a committed conservationist, the first practicing female solicitor in New South Wales, mountaineer, explorer and avid bushwalker, feminist, author and an original member of the Buddhist Society in New South Wales...
- First woman to practise as a lawyer in NSW. - Ada Emily EvansAda EvansAda Emily Evans , Australian lawyer, was the first female law graduate in Australia.-Early life:Evans was born in Wanstead, England , the daughter of architect Henry Evans and his wife Louisa, who came from a family of lawyers...
- First woman in Australia to graduate with an LLB (but not permitted to practise). - Geoffrey RobertsonGeoffrey RobertsonGeoffrey Ronald Robertson QC is an Australian-born human rights lawyer, academic, author and broadcaster. He holds dual Australian and British citizenship....
- Human rights lawyer and author. - Kim SantowKim SantowThe Honourable Justice Geza Francis Kim Santow AO was an Australian Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales Court of Appeal....
- Justice of Appeal in the New South Wales Supreme Court; former Chancellor of the University of Sydney (2001–2007) - Lucy TurnbullLucy TurnbullLucinda Mary "Lucy" Turnbull, née Hughes AO , a former Australian politician and former Lord Mayor of Sydney, is a prominent Australian business leader and company director. Turnbull was the first female Lord Mayor of Sydney, between 2003 and 2004 and was Deputy Lord Mayor, between 1999 and 2003...
- lawyer; former Lord Mayor of Sydney.
Politics
- President of the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
General AssemblyUnited Nations General AssemblyFor two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
(1948–1949), Dr H.V. Evatt - Governors-General of Australia - Sir John Kerr, Sir William DeaneWilliam DeaneSir William Patrick Deane, AC, KBE, QC , Australian judge and the 22nd Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:William Deane was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He was educated at Catholic schools including St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill and at the University of Sydney, where he graduated in...
- Prime Ministers of Australia (in chronological order):
- Sir Edmund BartonEdmund BartonSir Edmund Barton, GCMG, KC , Australian politician and judge, was the first Prime Minister of Australia and a founding justice of the High Court of Australia....
- Sir William McMahonWilliam McMahonSir William "Billy" McMahon, GCMG, CH , was an Australian Liberal politician and the 20th Prime Minister of Australia...
- Gough WhitlamGough WhitlamEdward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
- John HowardJohn HowardJohn Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
- Sir Edmund Barton
- Federal Opposition Leaders (in chronological order):
- Malcolm TurnbullMalcolm TurnbullMalcolm Bligh Turnbull is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2004, and was Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party from 16 September 2008 to 1 December 2009.Turnbull has represented the Division...
- Tony AbbottTony AbbottAnthony John "Tony" Abbott is the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian House of Representatives and federal leader of the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott has represented the seat of Warringah since the 1994 by-election...
- Malcolm Turnbull
- Premier of New South Wales:
- Thomas Bavin
- Neville WranNeville WranNeville Kenneth Wran, AC, CNZM, QC was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 until 1986. He was National President of the Australian Labor Party from 1980 to 1986 and Chairman of both the Lionel Murphy Foundation and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation from 1986...
- During the Australian constitutional crisis of 1975Australian constitutional crisis of 1975The 1975 Australian constitutional crisis has been described as the greatest political crisis and constitutional crisis in Australia's history. It culminated on 11 November 1975 with the removal of the Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam of the Australian Labor Party , by Governor-General Sir John Kerr...
, the leaders of all branches of the Australian governmentGovernment of AustraliaThe Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
were Sydney Law School alumni:- Sir John Kerr, Governor GeneralGovernor-General of AustraliaThe Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
(1974–1977) - Sir Garfield BarwickGarfield BarwickSir Garfield Edward John Barwick, was the Attorney-General of Australia , Minister for External Affairs and the seventh and longest serving Chief Justice of Australia...
, Chief JusticeChief Justice of AustraliaThe Chief Justice of Australia is the informal title for the presiding justice of the High Court of Australia and the highest-ranking judicial officer in the Commonwealth of Australia...
of the High Court of AustraliaHigh Court of AustraliaThe High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
(1964–1981) - Gough WhitlamGough WhitlamEdward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
Prime MinisterPrime Minister of AustraliaThe Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
(1972–1975)
- Sir John Kerr, Governor General
- In 1998 to 2001, again the leaders of all branches of the Australian government were Sydney Law School alumni:
- Sir William DeaneWilliam DeaneSir William Patrick Deane, AC, KBE, QC , Australian judge and the 22nd Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:William Deane was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He was educated at Catholic schools including St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill and at the University of Sydney, where he graduated in...
, Governor GeneralGovernor-General of AustraliaThe Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
(1996–2001) - Murray GleesonMurray GleesonAnthony Murray Gleeson AC QC is a former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Biography:Gleeson was born in Wingham, New South Wales, the eldest of four children...
, Chief JusticeChief Justice of AustraliaThe Chief Justice of Australia is the informal title for the presiding justice of the High Court of Australia and the highest-ranking judicial officer in the Commonwealth of Australia...
of the High Court of AustraliaHigh Court of AustraliaThe High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
(1998–2008) - John HowardJohn HowardJohn Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
, Prime MinisterPrime Minister of AustraliaThe Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
(1996–2007)
- Sir William Deane
Academic
- 22 Rhodes scholars including:
- Vincent John Flynn 1927
- David Hargraves HodgsonDavid Hodgson (judge)David Hargraves Hodgson AO is a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the highest court in the State of New South Wales, Australia, which forms part of the Australian court hierarchy.-Education:...
1962 - Geoffrey RobertsonGeoffrey RobertsonGeoffrey Ronald Robertson QC is an Australian-born human rights lawyer, academic, author and broadcaster. He holds dual Australian and British citizenship....
1970 - Malcolm TurnbullMalcolm TurnbullMalcolm Bligh Turnbull is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2004, and was Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party from 16 September 2008 to 1 December 2009.Turnbull has represented the Division...
1978 - Tony AbbottTony AbbottAnthony John "Tony" Abbott is the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian House of Representatives and federal leader of the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. Abbott has represented the seat of Warringah since the 1994 by-election...
1981
Arts, media and entertainment
-
- Janet AlbrechtsenJanet AlbrechtsenJanet Kim Albrechtsen is a conservative Australian opinion columnist with the News Limited-owned newspaper, The Australian. From 2005 through 2010, she was a member of the Board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's state-owned national broadcaster.-Early life and...
- Chas LicciardelloChas LicciardelloChas John Licciardello is a comedian from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, best known for being a member of satirical team The Chaser...
- David MarrDavid Marr (journalist)David Ewan Marr is an Australian journalist, author, and progressive political and social commentator. His areas of expertise include the law, Australian politics, censorship, the media and the arts...
- Julian MorrowJulian MorrowJulian Francis Xavier Morrow is an Australian comedian and television producer from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is best known for being a member of the satirical team The Chaser...
- Andrew O'KeefeAndrew O'KeefeAndrew Patrick O'Keefe is an Australian entertainer, best known for being the host of the hit game-show Deal or No Deal. He is also the co-host of Weekend Sunrise....
- Craig ReucasselCraig ReucasselCraig Bruce Reucassel is a television and radio comedian from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He is best known for being a member of satirical team The Chaser...
- Peter WeirPeter WeirPeter Lindsay Weir, AM is an Australian film director. After playing a leading role in the Australian New Wave cinema with his films such as Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Last Wave and Gallipoli, Weir directed a diverse group of American and international films—many of them major box office...
- Janet Albrechtsen
Notable professors
-
- James CrawfordJames CrawfordJames Crawford may refer to:*James Crawford , American basketball player, played in the National Basketball League of Australia*James Crawford , Canadian businessman and MP for Brockville, 1867–1872...
- Former Challis Professor of International Law and Dean - Ron McCallumRon McCallumProfessor Ronald Clive McCallum, AO is an Australian legal academic. He is an expert in labour law, and has served as a Professor and Dean of Law at the University of Sydney...
- Former Blake Dawson Waldron Professor in Industrial Law and Dean - Ivan Shearer - Former Challis Professor of International Law
- Julius StoneJulius StoneJulius Stone was Challis Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law at the University of Sydney from 1942 to 1972, and thereafter a visiting Professor of Law at the University of New South Wales and concurrently Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law at the Hastings...
- Former Challis Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law - George WintertonGeorge WintertonGeorge Graham Winterton was Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Sydney. Prior to his appointment to Sydney University in 2004, he taught for over 28 years at the University of New South Wales...
- Former Professor of Constitutional Law
- James Crawford