For over a decade, Lawyers Weekly has shone a light on the rising stars aged 30 and under who have worked hard to establish their careers and demonstrated a passion for the law and dedication to propelling the industry forward.

To view the full list of finalists for the 2023 Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30 Awards, click here.

This year, a record number of finalists were chosen from 780 submissions, with 290 finalists selected across 30 categories. The winners will be announced at a black-tie gala ceremony at The Star in Sydney on Friday, 2 June 2023. Click here to buy your tickets.

Last year, the University of Sydney Law School had the most finalists at 31. This year, a different university led the charge with 29 finalists.

Below is the full list of the universities that have the greatest number of 30 Under 30 finalists, whether that be current students or alumni.

10. University of Technology, Sydney

“This announcement that UTS has come in the top 10 for law schools with a record number of finalists in the 30 Under 30 Awards confirms the very positive feedback I regularly receive from law firms, judges, NGOs, government and alumni about the high quality of UTS law graduates. Articulate, work-ready, industry-focused, and good team players are just some of the positive attributes listed.

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“It’s always gratifying to see our graduates go on to achieve great things in their respective fields, and this is an example of that. These nominations speak to the high calibre of UTS students, both past and present. It’s a testament to their hard work, dedication, and talent that so many of them have been recognised as finalists in this competition. It’s clear that UTS is producing graduates who are making a significant impact in their industries and beyond, and it demonstrates the talent and dedication of UTS law students and alumni,” she told Lawyers Weekly.

“Looking forward, we’re excited to see the outcome of the competition and are confident that our students and alumni will continue to do us proud. We’re grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their educational journey and look forward to seeing all they will achieve in the future.”

9. La Trobe University, Melbourne

La Trobe's dean, Professor Fiona Kelly, said: "The Law School is very proud to see a large number of our alumni making outstanding contributions to the profession across a wide range of specialities. The result is testament to the high calibre of our students and the excellent education they receive at La Trobe."

"This result confirms that the La Trobe law degrees provide a high quality legal education, with particular attention given to the development of practical legal skills through embedded employability tasks and a diverse range of clinical placements. These opportunities begin early in the degree, with La Trobe remaining the only Victorian Law School to offer a placement to second year students," Professor Kelly said.

"We are very proud of our alumni for this remarkable achievement and wish all of the finalists the best of luck." 

8. Deakin University, Victoria

“We are very proud to see such a wide range of Deakin Law School alumni recognised as finalists in this year’s 30 Under 30 Awards, affirming the high calibre of our graduates.

“Deakin Law School graduates are in demand across a wide range of practice areas. We are renowned for our teaching quality, focused on the knowledge and skills that are in demand across the legal profession,” she said.

“Our undergraduate and postgraduate programs use strong work-integrated learning principles to produce well-rounded, quality legal professionals who help progress our school’s strategic mission to be a catalyst for positive change. We are fortunate to benefit from the generous support of our alumni community who are committed to contributing toward the development of the next generation of lawyers.”

7. University of Wollongong, Wollongong

Acting dean of the School of Law at UOW, Associate Professor Niamh Kinchin, congratulated the alumni on becoming 30 Under 30 finalists.

“We are humbled and inspired by the impact of our alumni. UOW law graduates are a special bunch. When they leave us, they enter the legal profession with amazing work ethics supported by a genuine dedication to social justice and equity,” she said.

“They are innovative and tenacious and are a testament to the dedicated academics of the law school and the supportive environment that UOW is known for. We couldn’t be more proud.”

6. Bond University, Queensland

Executive dean of Bond University faculty of law Professor Nick James said he was “delighted to learn that Bond University is in the top 10 schools with graduates selected as finalists for the 30 Under 30 Awards”.

“With its focus on practical legal skills and professional identity formation, Bond Law has always worked hard to facilitate and support our law students’ transformation into successful, ethical and resilient legal professionals. This accolade is further evidence that our approach works,” he said.

“While the law school at Bond University is relatively small, our focus on the quality of the student experience and our commitment to high-quality teaching has resulted in exceptional feedback from employers and students. Our graduates are ambitious, capable, and resilient legal professionals with successful careers and a commitment to the public good, and this is reflected in the number of Bond Law alumni in this year’s 30 Under 30 Awards. I am immensely proud of this outcome.”

5. Monash University, Melbourne

4. University of Sydney, Sydney

3. University of NSW, Sydney

“The Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards 2023 are such great awards — it is really important to celebrate the achievements of young lawyers and the contribution they are already making to the profession and the broader community. UNSW is proud to have so many talented students and alumni recognised as finalists,” he said.

“We do believe that our distinctive teaching tradition and our focus on the responsibilities of membership of the legal profession gives our graduates an outlook and skill set that strongly equips them for success in their chosen field. In particular, we emphasise the value of initiative and adaptability so that UNSW graduates will be well-placed to respond to the changing nature of legal work in the years ahead.”

2. Queensland University of Technology, Queensland

“We are thrilled to hear that so many of our alumni have been named as finalists in the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards, recognising the best and brightest young lawyers from around the country. The volume of finalists from QUT Law is testament to our commitment to real-world practical legal education,” she told Lawyers Weekly.

“A QUT Law graduate enters the workforce with a strong foundation in contemporary legal knowledge, well-equipped to contribute to the advancement of the legal profession from the outset of their career. With opportunities to experience work-integrated learning right from the commencements of their studies, QUT law students are prepared to meet the challenges of modern legal practice. We are proud of this outstanding achievement of our most recent alumni and wish all of the finalists the best of luck.”

1. Macquarie University, Sydney

Speaking to Lawyers Weekly, dean of Macquarie Law School Professor Lise Barry said that it was exciting to see the school’s ratings reflected in the 30 Under 30 finalist numbers.

“Macquarie Law School is thrilled to see so many of our graduates named in the 30 Under 30 Awards. This is a real testament to the calibre of students that we attract, and to our law school staff and our philosophy of teaching,” she said.

“Macquarie Law School rates the highest in Sydney for overall student experience, skills development and teaching. It’s wonderful that this translates to such notable success for our students beyond graduation.”

Lawyers Weekly also reached out to the University of Sydney and Monash Law School for comment, but did not receive responses in time for publication.

Click here to view the full list of award categories.

For more information about the 30 Under 30 Awards, click here.