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Overview

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 … For more content click the Read more button below. 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:Corporations lawDevelop the skills to specialise as a corporate legal expert. Study incorporation, corporate governance and the various methods of financing.Criminal lawBuild your understanding of the criminal legal system and process. Learn how to apply the law to real-world scenarios and provide legal advice.Constitutional lawDiscover how government power is distributed, exercised and controlled. Learn about federalism, grants and taxation, the ‘external affairs’ power, and express and implied constitutional rights.International lawBuild your understanding of international laws and interpretation. Understand state responsibility, dispute settlement, self-determination, jurisdiction and immunities.

Portfolio

Office of the Provost

School

La Trobe Law School

Course coordinator

Oz Susler

Location(s)

City Campus

CRICOS code

084540K

Course instance contact

Oz Susler

Course duration (full time)

3 years

Course duration (part time)

6 years

Study level

Postgraduate

AQF level

Level 9 - Masters Degree

Available only as an exit award

No

Study options

Domestic

International onshore

Completion requirements

Complete a total of 360 credit points comprising 16 law core subjects and 8 law electives.

Complete three years of equivalent full-time study.

The accelerated option allows full-time domestic and international students to complete the degree in less than three years by completing electives in Summer and Winter Semesters.

Course structure
360 credit points

Level one120 credit points
Level two120 credit points
Level three120 credit points

Course intended learning outcomes

On successful completion you will be able to:
1.
Demonstrate appropriate understanding and competence in the prescribed areas of knowledge required for admission into the legal practice in Victoria, Australia
2.
Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of legal knowledge that includes the fundamental areas of legal knowledge, the Australian legal system and underlying principles and concepts, including international and comparative contexts
3.
Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of the broader contexts within which legal issues arise including the principles and values of justice, ethical practice in lawyers' roles and contemporary developments in law, and its professional practice
4.
Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of approaches to ethical decision making and an ability to recognise and reflect upon, and a developing ability to respond to ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts
5.
Demonstrate an ability to recognise and reflect upon the professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice and appropriate dispute resolution and in service to the community
6.
Demonstrate sophisticated cognitive and creative skills, including an ability to identify and articulate complex legal issues and apply legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate jurisprudential and practical responses to legal issues
7.
Demonstrate the intellectual and practical skills needed to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, legal methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions, as well as to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues
8.
Communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences and collaborate effectively in teams
9.
Learn and work with a high level of autonomy, accountability and professionalism and adopt a reflective approach to their own capabilities and performance

Course features

Work based learning (placement) requirements

Elective placement opportunities (Work Based Learning)
During this course, you will have the opportunity to participate in a Work Based Learning (WBL) placement experience, designed to allow you to extend your formal academic learning beyond the classroom. The WBL experience will provide the opportunity to bring your learning from the university into a work environment and test out your knowledge in a professional real-world environment. Some courses include compulsory WBL subjects, however, we also offer a range of elective WBL subjects, both cross-discipline and subject-specific. La Trobe University will source placements for some subjects, while others will require you to source your own placement. If you are required to source your own placement, dedicated staff will guide and support you through the process. Elective WBL subjects generally involve an application process and Subject Coordinator approval. The location and number of hours undertaken can vary considerably depending on the activity and the discipline area. Please refer to the individual subject entries for more information. Regional students are eligible to access additional support under the Regional Reward program

Work integrated learning opportunities

Career development learning, Industry informed curriculum, Industry presentations, Professional simulations

Career outcomes

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:

  • Barrister or solicitor*
    • Advocate for justice as you prepare cases, represent clients in court, assist in creating and reviewing contracts, and provide advice on legal issues.
  • Policy advisor
    • Provide trusted advice as you identify policy needs, review existing legislation, research and analyse policy options and assess the impacts and feasibility of policies.
  • Community services manager
    • Make a difference in your community as you work with community members and other stakeholders to propose, oversee, analyse and improve programs and services.
  • Legal consultant
    • Provide commercial, technical and timely legal advice to a range of clients, including multinational corporations. Liaise with stakeholders, solve legal problems and conduct research.
  • In-house counsel
    • Combine your legal expertise with other interests as you work as a dedicated legal practitioner in a business or other organisation.

*upon meeting additional requirements set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB).

Professional recognition

The 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.