In summary

  • Swinburne Law School celebrated its 10 year anniversary with a commemorative event at Swinburne University of Technology’s Hawthorn campus  

  • Commencing in 2015, the school is highly-ranked globally and has continued to expanded its course offerings

  • Swinburne offers students a unique practical experience with workplace-integrated learning and evidence-based research  

Swinburne University of Technology has celebrated the 10 year anniversary of Swinburne Law School.  

An anniversary event bringing together alumni, current students, careers practitioners and industry partners offered a unique opportunity to reflect on a decade of growth, innovation, and contribution to the legal profession. 

Hearing from Vice-Chancellor Professor Pascale Quester and keynote speaker alum Nathan Toner, attendees learned of Swinburne Law’s journey, including the greatest milestones and challenges.

Swinburne alumni, current students, industry partners and staff enjoyed Swinburne Law School’s 10 year anniversary event  

Swinburne Law School was officially launched in 2015, with the first class being welcomed to campus the following year. Within the first class of students, 83 per cent had secured jobs before graduation, setting themselves up within the workforce. 

The school has significantly grown since then, including offering a Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology since 2019. Law at Swinburne is consistently highly ranked globally, most recently placing within the 51 – 75 range in the subject rankings of the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities.  

“Ten years ago, Swinburne set out with a clear vision. We wanted to build something that would stand apart from the traditional models of legal education. Our Bachelor of Laws program is personal, practical, and deeply embedded in technology,” said Dean and Department Chair of Swinburne Law, Professor Amanda Scardamaglia.  

In an era of legal uncertainty and technical complexity, the Swinburne Law School uses evidence-based research to understand the operation and effects of law reform. This is a high priority as Swinburne sees research as a highly impactful skill that shapes and guides individuals, organisations, businesses and the legal profession.  

Swinburne provides students with practical work experience. This helps students grow their professional networks and develop pathways for work once they have completed their degree. Swinburne’s placement team has established relationships with close to 200 organisations across the legal workforce including law firms, local councils, barristers’ chambers and government bodies. These relationships offer the greatest opportunities for students to enter the workforce.  

“Our placements program is the only experiential law program of its kind in Australia. Our students don’t just learn about the law, they live it,” said Professor Scardamaglia.  

Swinburne has the only law school in the country with Legal Technology and Intellectual Property Law units within the core curriculum, providing foundational knowledge for students to better shape their educational journey. The courses offered at Swinburne are designed to provide students with the opportunity to grow their skills and develop innovative, technological and user-friendly solutions to complex challenges.  

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