The College of Law emerged from the revolutionary thinking of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, ideas that supported structured education and training as a foundation for positive social change. Founded in 1973, the College owes much of its creation to the landmark Ormrod Report, and specifically its revelation on the new demands for legal education that had arisen in the previous two decades.
Ormrod produced a simple three stage learning approach to legal education:
Stage 1: The Academic Stage
Stage 2: The Practical Stage
Stage 3: The Continuing Education Stage
Quickly adopted by legal professions in most jurisdictions derived from English common law, this model eventually led to the abolition of the antiquated apprenticeship system by the NSW Law Society (LSNSW) and the creation of the College as a replacement.
After offering our first course to students in 1974 from our base in St Leonards, we haven’t looked back.
Affiliation with the Ku-ring-gai College of Advanced Education (KCAE) and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) assured the College vital Commonwealth funding and the opportunity to evolve within the university sector.
Over the next two decades, the College built a fine scholarly tradition (with the impeccable College Quality Framework one of many achievements), but the continuing intellectual development of the organisation was stifled by an antiquated constitution.
Then the 1990’s came along and changed everything.
A spate of education reforms and funding cuts led in May of 1994 to the NSW Legal Practitioners Admission Board handing down a decision that effectively deregulated the College’s monopoly.
The LSNSW disaffiliated with UTS and a single Board of Directors unified the College into the organisation of the practising profession it is today.
The experience gained through the College’s evolution, coupled with the highest academic standards, and a magnificent professional reputation assured the institution a positive future.
Now, with a portfolio stretching across Australia and the Tasman, the College is set to extend its reach around the globe, offering premier Continuing Legal Education through collaboration with professional associations and close adherence to the educational principles that inspired its creation and guard its values.