Jonathan Augustus, ALSA president, said this week that there was plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that subjects weighted on a 100 per cent exam and 24-hour take-home exams were contributing to high levels of student depression.

"There is a common trend among law schools all around Australia and that is the impact of subjects which depend on a single 100 per cent exam on student mental health," he said.

"I have seen students stay awake all night; I have seen students crying. Students have certainly suffered trauma and anxiety because they were so stressed they actually couldn't continue studying. It's certainly not the sole reason students are getting depression, but it doesn't help. We see no real reason why a subject needs to have a 100 per cent exam or a take-home exam," added Augustus.