Hello all!
Does anyone happen to know where I can study for my LL.M. while my husband enjoys the surf? Are there any LL.M. programs close to good surfing spots?

Cost of living is a big factor, as we will be on a strict budget. Also, we have a school age child, so we would need to be near a school.

I have just started researching LL.M.'s in Australia, but I need to narrow down my selections so I can accomodate all family interests and needs. Your comments on this Board have been most helpful, and I would greatly appreciate any guidance you could provide. My husband is an avid surfer, and I want this experience to be a lifetime experience for all of us.

You'll have access to some great surf (and to LLMs at good universities) over in Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne. You've got Margaret River and other spots over in Perth as well.

Can't really say about access to surf in the other States but in Melbourne, you've got great surf along the coast line on either side of Melbourne, but you have to be prepared to drive at least an hour-ish either way to access well-known places like Bells Beach, Winki Pop, or surf spots at Phillip Island over on the other side of Melbourne. The further you drive, the smaller the crowd.

Melbourne water is cold though, with swells coming in from the storms over in Antarctica but from personal experience, nothing beats waking up in the dark of night in the middle of winter at 3am, driving down the coastline and surfing in the cold cold waters at sunrise for a couple of hours either on your own or with only a couple other just-as-crazy surfers in the water, then driving back to Melbourne in time for work.

The problem is that there seems to be an increase in shark attacks of late, over in the east coast of Australia (presumably where the waters are warmer?).

In terms of LLM, you've got great law schools in Melbourne and Sydney, with UQ in Brisbane and UWA over in Perth.

Cost of living is most expensive in Sydney I believe, with Melbourne second I think. Not sure where Perth and Brisbane stands on this. I can point you to a friend of mine who is also avid surfer has moved here permanently from the US (his decision was made solely based on surfing considerations, or so he would have me believe... ) who also has young family (wife and three young children). Between him and I, we'll have tips and advice for you if you're moving here with family/surfing/study considerations in Melbourne.

Where are you at?

I think if you're considering an LLM near a surfing area it's either Sydney or South-East Qld.

In Sydney there are lots of great spots to surf in the northern beaches, eastern suburbs and cronulla. The cost of living in these areas is also generally a bit more and apart from the eastern suburbs they are all a bit away from the universities (I think).

As a surfer from Qld you could consider UQ, QUT (both Brisbane) and Bond (Gold Coast). While you'd have to check what sort of LLM you want against the idividual unis Bond is pretty much at ground central for surfing in Australia. If your husbands an avid surfer he'll know about Kirra, Burleigh, Snapper Rocks and Duranbah. Unfortunately all a bit crowded but there are plenty of places to surf along the Gold Coast. Also, you could live on the Coast and commute to Brisbane, a train runs directly to the CBD and it is only about an hour drive.

Any more questions feel free.