Law school headed in right direction

New Head of the USQ Law School Professor Geraldine Mackenzie is confident the University's Law programs will deliver something unique to prospective students.

Professor Mackenzie, who is also a criminal barrister, recently started at USQ after nearly two decades with the School of Law at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and said that the new USQ Law programs have enormous potential.

'Here at USQ we are offering innovative and flexible courses for students and this is a great opportunity for those wishing to study Law,' Professor Mackenzie said.

'Even though the Law degree is new, our staff have been teaching Law in our business programs for 35 years and are very experienced.

'USQ also has an individual appeal for students and this is something that we are going to focus on in the Law program.'

With one of her own children currently at university, Professor Mackenzie said that the program would be particularly appealing to both parents and students in the areas around Toowoomba and Springfield.

'I know that I want my children to study close to home, so that I can be near them and also because it can be expensive to send them away.

'With USQ now offering Law, it gives students across the Darling Downs, Ipswich and Western Brisbane areas the option to stay close to home and get the same opportunities as those at larger city universities.'

Renowned for distance education, USQ is also offering the Law program externally for those unable to study on-campus.

Local law firms have also recognised the potential that the USQ Law program has and are working closely with the University.

'The local firms have been very supportive of the new Law degree and they see that by working with us they can try to address the problem that they have with getting trained professionals,' Professor Mackenzie said.

'This is a win-win situation for USQ and the profession.'

As Semester One 2008 draws closer, Professor Mackenzie was looking forward to welcoming USQ's first Law students.

'The Law program is a huge plus for Toowoomba and Springfield and is something that has been coming for a long time,' she said.

'Both the profession and the community have been calling for it and this is an exciting concept for Toowoomba and Springfield and is certainly a program that is designed for the 21st Century.'

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628