Springfield welcomes USQ law program

Around 70 people attended the launch of USQ's law program at the University's Springfield campus last Wednesday July 11, 2007.

Members of the regions legal community, leading Springfield business people as well as several Ipswich City Councillors were on had for the launch, which marked the establishment of the new law program.

'There were members of the Springfield and Ipswich legal and business community and Councillors Paul Tully and David Morrison from the Ipswich City Council at the launch,' Head of the USQ Law School Mark Tranter said.

'The President of the Queensland Law Society, Megan Mahon and President of the Bar Association of Queensland Martin Daubney S.C. were also in attendance.'

The launch heard addresses form the University Deputy Chancellor John Dornbusch, Vice Chancellor Professor Bill Lovegrove, Chair of the Law School Advisory Committee, Solicitor and former Law Society head George Fox and Mr Tranter.

'Those who attended were very impressed by the proposed law program and the University's presence in Springfield.'

Currently one of the fastest growing areas in South East Queensland, Mr Tranter said that it was important that students in Springfield were given the opportunity to study law.

'Springfield is an important commercial and residential initiative in the areas of Ipswich and Western Brisbane and it has a big future,' he said.

'USQ is part of that future and we want the law program to be an option for students who will study at the campus.'

The law program will be on offer at USQ's Toowoomba and Springfield campuses from Semester one 2008.

'By offering law, USQ will give people on the Darling Downs and Western Brisbane region an alternative and it will open up a gateway to lawyers in regional areas,' Mr Tranter said.

'The USQ law program will also offer its courses externally, only the second University in Queensland to do so, and that will create further options for those wishing to study law.'

Elective specialisations within the law program include commercial law, general practice, environmental and natural resource law and international law.

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