There was a excellent SHM research article on the issue of 'what is the best law school' in 2002 that I read after it was sent to me by the aunty.
I'm really annoyed because I can’t find it on the net.
Essentially the article said that there was not much at all between UNSW and Usyd. That UNSW is known for having modern courses and 'small group' (yeah 42 is such a small grounp
) teaching. However it did note that usyd is still THE 'sandstone university' with a much larger alumnus than any other law school in NSW.
The 1988 assessment (I think 1998) only gave good ratings to unsw and monash law schools. Giving all the others very very poor marks. I believe that all the law schools (in particular Sydney) pulled their socks up and improved dramatically. Many, i suspect, feared that usyd was falling behind unsw (which it did during the 90s in the TER's). However with new teaching methods and revamped courses it seems to have finally caught onto the idea of small classes and modern courses. Today there is very little if anything between unsw and usyd. Uysd has a larger alumnus (an older one...all the judges graduated in the 1960s. Usyd was the only law school in NSW (other than ANU))
The article noted that UTS was improving but that it had a long way to go. That UTSs had been working hard to improve its 'image' by putting up the uai's for its law programs. In reality UTS law is only very new ie 10 years old. It hasn't had much time to build a reputation and most of the time all the kids are trying to transfer to usyd or unsw and can't wait to get out of there. Ask Frigid.
Maq law was described by its own dean Ms Atherton as a 'basket case' when she took up her position. This perception was due to the law school being founded on the 'critical studies movement' which led to the perception that maqu didn’t teach much black letter law - and perception counts for much. Also some feel that maqu law is too easy to get into. Not in terms of Uai but in terms of the ease at which a person can transfer into the law course.
Also Maqu once was the leader in the area of Constitutional law. UNSW ended up buying their academics and giving them a fully funded research centre at unsw.
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My personal opinion
UNSW is a very good law school. Controversially the ABC called UNSW the 'most prestigious' law school in Australia...and in many ways we are.
But (quoting from the unsw law school ad thingy)
-UNSW law school has more research centres than any other law school in Australia
-UNSW law and UTS law created Austlii
-no other law school has won more overseas scholarships than unsw law in the past 7 years (Rhodes and Fulbright etc). In the last 7 years unsw has won 5 Rhodes Scholarships - no other law school has matched this.
- UNSW law has above average student satisfaction ratings
Usyd from what I've heard is also excellent. Many would argue that usyd tops unsw due to its prestige (large alumni, age and sandstone)...but in terms of teaching i doubt there is much difference.
