Program Overview

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Overview of the Juris Doctor Program

The Juris Doctor (JD) program at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) is a postgraduate degree that provides a pathway to legal practice in Australia. It is designed for individuals who have already completed a tertiary qualification in a field other than law or have a law degree from an overseas institution.

Program Structure

The JD program is a flexible degree that can be completed in three years of full-time study or a maximum of eight years of part-time study. The program consists of 144 units of credit, with 16 core courses, 7 law elective courses, and 1 prescribed theory elective.

Core Courses

The core courses cover a range of topics, including:

• Crime and the Criminal Process
• Criminal Laws
• Lawyers, Ethics and Justice
• Principles of Public Law
• Principles of Private Law
• Introducing Law and Justice
• Legal Research and Writing
• Administrative Law
• Torts
• Contracts
• Business Associations
• Federal Constitutional Law
• Court Process, Evidence and Proof
• Law in the Global Context
• Resolving Civil Disputes
• Land Law
• Equity and Trusts

Law Elective Courses

Students can choose from over 200 law elective courses across diverse areas of practice, including commercial and corporate law, human rights, technology, environmental law, and more.

Prescribed Theory Electives

Students must complete one prescribed theory elective, which can be chosen from:

• Law and Social Theory
• Legal Theory
• Theories of Law and Justice
• Legal Experimentalism

Admission Requirements

Entry into the JD program is based on academic merit. Students must have completed a tertiary qualification at Bachelor, Masters, or PhD level in a discipline other than law, or a degree in law from an overseas institution.

Domestic Applicants

Domestic applicants can apply for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) or full-fee places. CSP are offered to the most competitively ranked applicants, and the remaining eligible applicants will be offered a full-fee place.

International Applicants

International applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree in any discipline, with an overall average of 70% or higher. They may also be eligible for advanced standing.

English Language Requirements

Applicants may be required to provide evidence of their English proficiency, which can be demonstrated through English language tests, prior study in the medium of English, or other qualifications.

Fees and Scholarships

The indicative first-year fee for the JD program is $17,500 for Commonwealth Supported Places and $60,500 for full-fee places. The total indicative fee to complete the degree is $53,000 for CSP and $193,500 for full-fee places. UNSW offers various scholarships, including the AMP Capital Law Equity Scholarship and the Juris Doctor (JD) Equity Scholarship.

Career Opportunities

The JD program can lead to a range of career opportunities, including roles in law, business, media, government, policy, and international relations. Graduates can also pursue further study, such as the Oxford Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) or Master in Laws and Finance (MLF) through the partnership between UNSW and Oxford University.

Accreditation

The JD program is accredited by the Legal Profession Administration Board and satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice.