As young Australians finish their exams, many are grappling with the big decision of where to study their degree. For many regional students, that means leaving home and going to a big city. But one of the best law degrees in the country is in a regional area – Hobart. Professor of International Law Tim McCormack taught at Australia’s #1-ranked Law program at Melbourne University for 28 years, but he says Tasmania’s law degree is better. And mainland students seem to be catching on. Jane, a residential college affiliated with the University of Tasmania, has seen a 300% increase in enrolments from students studying law from last year.
McCormack is the Course Coordinator of the Bachelor of Laws at the University of Tasmania (UTAS). A graduate from UTAS with honours in Law in 1982, McCormack is internationally renowned. He is the former Special Adviser on War Crimes to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. He says Australian law students are paying big bucks to live and study in Melbourne, and they have no idea what they are missing out on.
“UTAS is the fourth-oldest law school in Australia, with a 132-year teaching tradition. The size of the school relative to its mainland counterparts creates the perfect environment for young minds to thrive,” says McCormack. “And we have a shortage of lawyers in Tasmania, so every graduate gets a job.”
“The lecturer-to-student ratio is so much lower at UTAS, which means a much more encouraging and supportive learning experience. This translates to fewer students falling through the cracks. There is more opportunity to get extra help and assistance and be treated like an individual, not a number,” says McCormack.
“At big mainland universities, students will be one of 350 or 400; they won’t get to know all their professors and teaching is often done by junior academics and PhD students. Even the academics don’t know each other, because there are 100 of them. At UTAS, we have our best teachers in the room. We know our students, and our students know us.”
McCormack explains that the culture at big universities is ultra-competitive. “Students are desperate to stand out,” he says. “Our students don’t have that kind of pressure, which improves the study environment.”
The ultimate university experience: Jane College + UTAS
Students also have the opportunity to stay at Jane College, which McCormack says, combined with Law at UTAS, is the ultimate university experience. Jane is a residential student college affiliated with the University of Tasmania.
“I was a resident tutor at Jane when I was 22. I couldn’t believe what other students were missing out on. It was so much fun. Meals are provided so students don’t have to worry about their meals, they have their own study space, they can retreat to their room, but have amazing activities together.
“This broader life experience is important in their education as well – mixing with other young minds, experiencing diversity of thought.”
“I’ve maintained my connection with Jane, and I am now a Fellow of the college. I interact with the resident law students, and they can reach out to me for help if they need it.”
UTAS Law student and Jane Resident, Sophie Lamb, says, “There are so many opportunities, especially as a law student. We have special guest lecturers, practising barristers and even had the Chief Justice for dinner! It is very inspiring and gets you thinking about different choices and careers in law. At university, you learn the content. Being at Jane has helped me understand what a career in law is really like.”
“UTAS has a really unique advantage as the only law school in the state - we have many amazing opportunities to connect with legal professionals that you simply wouldn’t get at a mainland university. From networking events with local lawyers to lunches with the new Chief Justice Chris Shanahan, UTAS provides a real connection to the profession that is hard to match anywhere else. I’ve only been in law school for two years and through Jane and UTAS I’ve had the opportunity to meet both of the Chief Justices we have had in that time - you can’t get much better than that!”
“I am impressed how everyone comes together as a community. I am so glad I came to Jane. It feels like I am getting the true university experience.”
Unique learning experiences
UTAS offers other unique experiences that mainland students are missing out on, including a placement at the International Criminal Court and regular moot court experiences.
The law faculty in Tasmania also has a one-of-a-kind scholarship, the Tim Hawkins Memorial Scholarship, that sees one student each year go on a 12-month placement to the International Criminal Court, The Hague.
For 14 years (2010-2024), McCormack was Special Advisor on War Crimes to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. When Tim Hawkins was tragically killed in the 2002 Bali Bombings, his family and the University jointly established the Tim Hawkins Memorial Scholarship. Past recipients of the scholarship used to go to the Court as McCormack’s legal assistant. Now that McCormack has finished in his role at the Court, the scholarship recipients have the choice of placement in either the Chambers (with the judges) or in the Office of the Prosecutor.
“Students go as interns for 12 months, covered by $25,000 and their return airfare. But you’ve got to be a UTAS Law graduate to be eligible for it. I don’t know of anything like this at other Australian universities.”
McCormack also explains that there are fewer, opportunities for moot court competition experiences in other States, which he says is “pretty appalling”.
“I want every law student to have the experience of participating in a national moot court competition. Here at UTas Law School, if you want to, you can. And we punch well above our weight in terms of results. Our 2025 Championship Moot Team made the Grand Final and mooted in the High Court of Australia."
McCormack is taking a moot court team to the Jessup International Law Moot Competition in Canberra in February 2026.
“We’ll spend the next three months working on the case, which was released in September. As soon as exams finish the fun starts. We’ll be under the pump from late November to mid-February.
“In 20-40 years from now, these students will say this was the highlight of their law degree. There is no substitute for it.”
Combined degrees offered nowhere else
Students can study double degrees in Tasmania, combining law with Antarctic Studies, Agriculture, Wilderness Studies or even Music.
“Every field of human activity and endeavour is regulated by some sort of policy and regulatory framework. The Ag industry for example is heavily regulated. Someone who understands how Ag and law work would be incredibly valuable in that sector,” says McCormack.