The Melbourne Juris Doctor (JD) is a graduate law degree that has set a benchmark for legal education in Australia. You may apply if you already have an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than law, will complete an undergraduate degree in a discipline other than law in the year you apply, or if you have a law degree from an overseas jurisdiction.

Graduating with an undergraduate degree in another discipline, followed by a graduate degree in law, will give you a higher level of qualification than a traditional double degree.

The Melbourne JD equips you with the skills and knowledge to take a leading role in a range of careers including legal practice, business, government and community organisations.

You will be taught by respected academics who are recognised as national and international experts in their fields. They will draw on legal research and practice to deliver an intellectually challenging and practically focused degree.

Your JD experience will be as much about your fellow students as your teachers. You will study in seminar-style, discussion-based classes on campus with students from a range of undergraduate and cultural backgrounds, adding new perspectives and approaches to your learning.

The degree commences with an orientation program and an intensive summer subject prior to Semester 1, making it easier to get to know your classmates, develop friendships and build your network.

You will be supported to develop your legal skills by the Ian Malkin Centre for Legal Academic Skills. The Centre offers a range of workshops, small group skills classes, one on one consultations, and study guides that are designed to support your learning outside the classroom.

You can also take advantage of other educational, professional and social opportunities offered at Melbourne Law School, including clinics, internships, mooting, witness and mediation competitions, and international exchanges.

The Juris Doctor (JD) course comprises 24 subjects, including 16 compulsory subjects, and upon successful completion leads to admission to legal practice within Australia.

You can pursue particular areas of interest through your elective subject selection. Melbourne Law School’s elective offerings are extensive and continually evolving to reflect current developments in law and legal practice. Examples of electives include commercial law, international human rights law, environmental law, intellectual property law and new technology law. You also have the opportunity to undertake two subjects from the Melbourne Law Masters program as electives.

Melbourne Law School offers a variety of course structures to provide you with the flexibility to tailor your studies. The full-time course is three years in duration.  If you study part time, you can complete the degree in four to six years. You can also accelerate to two and a half years, subject to approval. Each year, all study commences with a February intensive subject, Legal Method and Reasoning.

Time commitment

Most JD subjects are taught during either Semester 1 or Semester 2 of the academic year. Some classes are taught on a more intensive basis during the summer or winter non-teaching period. The total time commitment listed in the Handbook for each subject includes classes, pre-reading, asynchronous learning activities and assessment tasks.

For compulsory subjects, the total time commitment is 144 hours per subject, including between 36 and 48 hours of class time. Classes for the compulsory subjects taught across the semester are typically timetabled throughout the day, including later in the day. This means that whether you choose to study full time or part time, you have flexibility to build a schedule for your studies.

In elective subjects, the standard time commitment is 144 hours per subject, including 36 hours of class time (with some variations). The timetable for electives will vary depending on each subject, but there will be a selection of subjects timetabled later in the day to suit students who require additional flexibility. Students can also take electives as intensives in summer and winter.

Single subjects for overseas practitioners

A limited number of subjects are available as single subjects for overseas qualified applicants from a recognised institution who hold a professional entry academic qualification in law. Single subjects are not available to students with an Australian qualification. Learn more

The Melbourne JD leads to admission to the legal profession in all Australian jurisdictions and can be used as a basis for seeking admission in many overseas jurisdictions.

To practice as a lawyer in Victoria you will also need to complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) or supervised legal training, be admitted by the Supreme Court of Victoria and obtain a practising certificate. The Melbourne Law School offers JD students the opportunity to get a head start on satisfying the PLT requirements through legal internships and our clinic program. More information about Australian and international admission requirements can be found here.

The Melbourne JD is well-regarded by a wide-range of employers and can be used to pursue a variety of careers in different sectors.

The Melbourne JD graduates have strong employment outcomes with a 97% full-time employment rate*.

_{*Melbourne Law School class of 2019 graduate survey (conducted 18 months after completion of the degree, with a 90 per cent response rate)}

Melbourne Law School graduates work as:

• Judges, judges’ associates and others in the judicial sector
• Barristers and public prosecutors
• Lawyers in law firms
• In-house and corporate lawyers
• Lawyers in the community sector (i.e., community legal centres)
• Lawyers in not-for-profit organisations (i.e., human rights NGOs)
• Government lawyers
• Policy analysts and advisers in government
• Management consultants
• Merchant bankers
• Entrepreneurs
• Parliamentarians

In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed: A tertiary degree in a discipline other than law or a degree in law from an overseas jurisdiction.

IELTS (academic English Only): 7.5 overall, with no band less than 7.0
TOEFL Internet-based test: 100+ ; Writing 27; Speaking 24; Reading 24; Listening 24;
Pearson Test of English Academic: 76+ No communicative skill below 68
Cambridge English: Advanced/ Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): 190 + No skill below 185