In a cheating scandal of unprecedented proportions, more than 160 final-year law students at the University of Tasmania are being forced to re-sit their exams.

Just weeks before their graduation, the ABC can reveal some of the fifth-year students cheated in a recent online test on Criminal and Civil procedure.

The university will not say how many students cheated or if it knows the identity of the culprits.

"Students found to have shared information about the assessment will be counselled in line with the university's high academic standards," the university's Deputy Vice Chancellor, David Sadler, said in a statement.

It is not clear if those who are found to have cheated will be expelled, but with no offenders singled out, the entire class is being punished.

The grades they have already earned this semester are set to be wiped from their academic records.

None of the students approached by the ABC wanted to be interviewed but it is understood many are distressed, some even reduced to tears, amid concerns that the entire class is being punished for the actions of a few.

Students will now have to sit additional assessments including an in-class test and a formal exam.

Profession demands honesty: Law Society

Tasmanian Law Society spokesman Daniel Zeeman says even if the cheaters pass, they will face another test of character.

"If you have been guilty of academic misconduct and you deliberately do not inform the court of that prior to your application for admission then you could be struck off because of that type of dishonesty. The court demands honesty," he said.

Mr Zeeman says the culprits will face future career challenges.

"Cheating on an exam for somebody who wants to be a lawyer is a serious issue," he said.

"Firstly it's dealt with by the university itself - many different ways the university might deal with it - but from a practice point of view, if you want to be a practising lawyer you are going to have to disclose that academic dishonesty."

The University of Tasmania's student union is continuing discussions with the Law Faculty about how to punish the cheaters and not the entire class.