Message from the Dean

I welcome all students, staff and visitors in 2005.

The Faculty of Law had its beginnings in 1975 when the then NSW Institute of Technology was invited by the NSW Government to offer an undergraduate course in law. Elements of that course have stood the test of time, and may be distinguished in a number of aspects from other law degrees. These include a strong professional core, a commitment to the development of professional skills and a willingness to accommodate the needs of mature students, particularly those in employment.

The Faculty has since developed combined degree undergraduate programs and also offers postgraduate programs, including the Master of Laws (by coursework), Master of Law and Legal Practice and the SJD (Doctor of Juridical Science), which was the first of its kind in Australia. The Faculty has an ongoing commitment to the provision of free legal services to UTS staff and students and community legal research through the UTS Community Law Centre, which was opened in 1996 and has now extended its services to the Sydney Institute and the wider Ultimo community.

As well, the Faculty, with the University of New South Wales Faculty of Law, jointly operates the Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII), which provides free access to Australasian legal material via the Internet.

1996 was a year of change for the Faculty, with major revisions to the undergraduate Law degree and the introduction of the Legal Practice major as an integral part of the undergraduate program, with progression into the new Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice to complete legal training. With its provision of 'One Stop Legal Education', the Faculty is now recognised as a major innovator of legal education.

During 1997, in addition to the opening of the new premises, the Faculty celebrated 20 years of teaching at UTS, as well as hosting the Australasian Law Teachers Association Conference and a major AustLII Legal Information Technology Conference.

In 2004 the Law Students' Society for the first time organised the 2004 National Australian Law Students' Association Conference which also incorporated the Australian Legal Education Forum.

Since 1997, the Faculty has been in new accommodation at the Haymarket campus. This incorporates a modern moot court, two practice courts and improved computer laboratories.

The Faculty is very proud of its recent successes in national and international student mooting competitions including the Jessup and Vis Moots.

I wish you every success and trust that your stay with us is both enjoyable and productive.

Professor David Barker
Dean