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ACU law school celebrates 10th anniversary
Australian Catholic University’s Thomas More Law School proudly marks a decade of dedication to legal education, underpinned by what the university labelled a strong commitment to social justice and advocacy for those most in need.
Grace Robbie
The Thomas More Law School (TMLS) proudly commemorates a significant milestone by celebrating 10 years of excellence in educating and shaping the next generation of legal professionals.
Since its establishment in Melbourne in 2014, Australian Catholic University’s (ACU) law school has expanded its presence to three additional campuses: North Sydney, Blacktown, and Brisbane.
TMLS, which began as a boutique law school, quickly distinguished itself by its emphasis on social justice, aligning closely with ACU’s broader mission to uphold human dignity.
Over the past decade, TMLS has trained and shaped a generation of lawyers committed to “fight[ing] for the little guy”, with alumni making impactful contributions both in the courtroom and across the broader community.
One of the standout success stories from TMLS’ first decade is that of James Penny, a member of the inaugural graduating cohort of ACU Law School in 2017.
Since graduation, the university detailed, he has built a diverse career, working as a solicitor, a policy officer in local government, and, most notably, becoming the first ACU law alumnus to be called to the Victorian Bar.
Penny credits his time at ACU with sparking his passion for advocating in the face of adversity, where faculty members such as the Honourable Justice Paul Coghlan AO and Graham Thomas KC shared their personal stories and insights from their time at the Bar.
“Some of the original ACU staff were all senior members of the Bar, a lot of them told great war stories, and I became sold on the idea of advocacy,” Penny said.
In addition to its undergraduate and postgraduate law degrees, TMLS has broadened its curriculum to include degrees in criminology and criminal justice, human rights, and specialised graduate programs in Australian Migration Law and Practice.
Reflecting on the school’s achievements, Associate Professor Kunle Ola, interim dean of TMLS, emphasised the law school’s role in shaping ethical, globally minded legal professionals.
“TMLS is more than a law school; it’s a catalyst for positive change.
“We train the next generation of lawyers to be ethical, practical, and globally minded. Our flagship pro bono program is a testament to our commitment to social justice, empowering our students to make a real-world impact,” Ola said.
Recently, Professor Jay Sanderson, the dean of law for the University of the Sunshine Coast, spoke on The Protégé Podcast about the university celebrating their 10-year anniversary, discussed the university’s initiative to transform its law degree program from a traditional four-year course to a more streamlined three-year degree, and delved into the two primary headline issues universities are currently navigating due to their significant impact on law students.
