Chief Justice approves USQ Law programs

USQ's new Law programs have received the official go ahead after approval from the Chief Justice and Legal Practitioners Admissions Board.

Head of the USQ Law School Mark Tranter welcomed the news.

'Every law school in the country requires this and for us it has been a process that has been ongoing for 18 months,' he said.

'This was the final tick in the box and it is now full steam ahead for the Law programs at USQ.

'It means that a USQ Law degree will qualify graduates for admission as barristers and solicitors in Queensland and other states.'

Law degrees combined with Arts, Commerce and Business will be offered on-campus at the USQ Toowoomba and Springfield campuses as well as externally from Semester two 2007.

The straight law program will begin in Semester one 2008 and will include elective specialisations in commercial law, general practice, natural resource law and international law.

Mr Tranter added that he was excited about the prospect of Law students graduating from the University.

'I look forward to the first graduates in 2012 applying to become lawyers and solicitors,' he said.

'I know the Attorney General has commented that he is also looking forward to the first law graduates from USQ appearing on the legal scene in Queensland.'

Faculty of Business Dean, Professor Allan Layton, said that USQ could now provide opportunities for prospective students which were previously not available at the University.

'This is a great initiative for USQ generally as well as the Faculty of Business and we expect that there will be strong interest from students, not only locally, but in remote areas and nationally as well,' he said.

'It will provide a very valuable alternative option for those wishing to study Law. For local high school leavers in both the Darling Downs region and in the Springfield area, it means that instead of leaving to go elsewhere, they will now be able to stay closer to home.

'For others in remote areas and/or in employment throughout the region and nationally, it will mean an opportunity to study Law with a university widely-known for its very fine reputation for distance and on-line education.'

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