Juris Doctor
Our society needs expert legal professionals who are passionate about creating a fairer world.
This is your time to step up - and with La Trobe's Juris Doctor, you'll gain a truly global perspective on law. Learn from our expert academics when you enter our progressive and highly respected law school.
This course is designed for students with a Bachelor's degree in any discipline - so it's perfect for anyone looking to start a career in law with a qualification that opens doors in the industry.
Get a strong foundation in the core elements of law and explore the key principles of legal practice in Australia. Access valuable career opportunities, such as work placements and networking events. Pursue your interests and develop specialist knowledge through our wide range of law electives, including subjects exploring commercial, environmental, health, human rights, and international law.
You won't just benefit from our state-of-the-art facilities and highly personalised study experience. With our 25-year history of educating legal practitioners, you'll graduate as a member of our extensive alumni network - so your professional network could include barristers, solicitors, magistrates, judges and in-house legal counsel for major global organisations.
Our Juris Doctor provides the academic requirements you need to apply for admission to practice law in Victoria. The course also gives you the necessary foundations to practice law internationally.
You'll learn:
The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 9 - Masters Degree.
Please note, the following course structure is indicative and subject to change depending on your course location, offer year or how you tailor your course with specialisations, majors, minors and electives. Structures for the following year are not normally finalised until October, so the sample provided is based on the most recently approved structure. For more information, please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.
To qualify for the award of Juris Doctor, students must complete a total of 360 credit points across 3 years.
Year 1 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Year 2 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Year 3 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Core subjects are required subjects in your course. You need to complete these subjects to attain your degree.
Subject name Subject code Year Credit points ACADEMIC INTEGRITY MODULE LTU0AIM 1 0 CONTRACT LAW A LAW5CNA 1 15 CONTRACT LAW B LAW5CNB 1 15 DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW5001 1 15 LEGAL PROCESS, METHODS AND INSTITUTIONS LAW5PMI 1 15 PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LAW LAW5PCL 1 15 PRINCIPLES OF TORT LAW LAW5PTO 1 15 PROPERTY LAW LAW5FPR 1 15 STATUTORY INTERPRETATION LAW5SIN 1 15 CIVIL DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW5CVP 2 15 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW LAW5CSL 2 15 CORPORATIONS LAW LAW5CPL 2 15 EVIDENCE AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW5EVP 2 15 PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND TRUSTS LAW5EQT 2 15 REAL PROPERTY LAW LAW5RPL 2 15
A range of standalone elective subjects is available in this course. Some electives are recommended for your course, but you may also be able to choose from a range of University-wide electives or electives from other interest areas or disciplines. Note these electives may have their own prerequisites and other requirements. Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook for the subjects available.
The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course structures, electives and options. The delivery of this course can vary between campuses.
To view other campus handbook course details, please select relevant campus in the drop down.
This course satisfies the academic requirements for admission to practise law in Victoria. After graduation, you could work across a range of industries, including in legal practice, the community sector, international development, environmental protection, government, banking and professional services.
Possible roles include:
*upon meeting additional requirements set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB).
Professional recognitionThe Juris Doctor course includes the subjects required by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board to meet the academic requirements for admission to the legal profession in Victoria as an Australian lawyer.
Admission to the legal profession by the Supreme Court of Victoria also requires the completion of practical legal training via either a 12-month period of supervised legal training or completion of an approved practical legal training course (for example, at the Leo Cussen Institute or The College of Law). Candidates for admission to practice must also satisfy the Admissions Board that they are a fit and proper person to be admitted to practice.
International students are advised to obtain assurance of recognition of the course by the relevant professional bodies in their preferred country of practice.
International graduates require a relevant visa to complete a practical legal traineeship and a supervised workplace traineeship in Australia. Please contact the Australian Department of Immigration for details.
Professional registration may require an application to the professional body and may have additional or ongoing requirements beyond the completion of the degree. For further details, including admission to the legal profession and/or relevant visa requirements, please contact the professional body for details.