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Requisite map

Overview

This is a professional entry master's degree which satisfies the academic requirements for admission to practice as an Australian lawyer. It is also a preparation for diverse careers in and beyond the law, and offers a pathway to doctoral studies. The course provides advanced and integrated knowledge of the principal areas of legal practice, legal concepts and broader perspectives about the law. It develops advanced professional skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, research, communication, collaboration, self-management, ethical awareness and professional judgment. The skills and knowledge learned in the course are applied in a later year professional project. The elective component gives flexibility to choose from a wide range of specialist units, to study overseas, and to undertake clinical learning.

Course structure

Part A. Legal methodology and legal practice24 credit points

You must complete the following units

Part B. Public law30 credit points

You must complete the following units

Part C. Private law42 credit points

You must complete the following units

Part D. Extending expertise: Specialist law electives48 credit points

You must complete 48 credit points which must include one professional law elective from the following list. Law elective units begin with the prefix LAW and suitable units can be identified using the browse units tool in the current edition of the Handbook.

Professional elective units

You must complete at least 6 credit points from the following list of units.

Note: A number of these units are only available via application to eligible students. Please refer to the Handbook for units for further information.

*LAW5083 requires that you have completed at least four elective units and obtained final results of 70% or higher above in each of the four units.

Additional law elective units

To take the total credit points to 144 you may select the remaining credit points from Level 5 postgraduate electives offered by the Faculty of Law. This may include MON5750 Monash Innovation Guarantee. Refer to the special notes to students for further information on the MIG program.
Note: You must complete 72 credit points of units from Parts A, B or C before undertaking law elective units.

The handbook's description of this structure

The course is designed to equip you with basic legal knowledge and skills that are required for admission to legal practice, with the opportunity to develop specialised knowledge in areas of law of your choice. The basic knowledge is imparted through three broad themes: legal methodology and legal practice, public law and private law. The specialised knowledge and advanced skills are imparted in later year elective units.

Part A. Legal methodology and legal practice

This theme includes the nature of law, and particularly statute law enacted by parliaments and common law developed by courts. It also includes the key concepts, principles and methods of research and reasoning that enable lawyers to identify and interpret law and apply it to relevant facts in order to provide legal advice. It covers the law of procedure and evidence that governs judicial proceedings, alternative methods of resolving legal disputes, and the code of ethics that regulates the professional conduct of legal practitioners.

Part B. Public law

Public law includes constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law. It concerns the powers and procedures of the legislative, executive and judicial organs of government, and how they are regulated and controlled by 'the rule of law'. It also concerns the legal relationship between government and individuals, including the protection of individual rights.

Part C. Private law

Private law deals with legal relationships between legal persons, including corporations as well as individuals. It includes the study of property rights, contractual rights and obligations, wrongs (called 'torts') such as trespass and the negligent infliction of injury, and the law of equity and trusts.

Part D. Extending specialised knowledge and advanced skills

In these studies you will add to your expertise by choosing from a broad range of elective law units. Elective law units enable you to develop specialised knowledge and advanced skills in areas of law that suit your own interests, skills and career goals.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 144 points structured into four parts: Part A. Legal methodology and legal practice (24 points), Part B. Public law (30 points), Part C. Private law (42 points) and Part D. Extending expertise: Specialist law electives (48 points).

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Legal methodology and legal practice (24 points)

You must complete:

LAW5000 Australian legal reasoning and methods
LAW5013 Principles of litigation and dispute resolution
LAW5015 Ethics in legal practice
LAW5012 Principles of evidence

Part B. Public law (30 points)

You must complete:

LAW5005 Principles of contract law B
LAW5004 Principles of public law and statutory interpretation
LAW5007 Principles of constitutional law
LAW5014 Principles of administrative law
LAW5001 Principles of criminal law and procedure

Part C. Private law (42 points)

You must complete:

LAW5003 Principles of torts
LAW5002 Principles of contract Law A
LAW5006 Principles of property law
LAW5008 Principles of equity
LAW5011 Principles of company law
LAW5018 Advanced property law
LAW5010 Principles of trusts

Part D. Extending expertise: Specialist law electives (48 points)

You must complete 48 points of elective units which must include one professional elective unit chosen from the list below.

To take the total credit points to 144 you may select the remaining credit points from level 5 postgraduate electives offered by the Faculty of Law. This may include MON5750 Monash Innovation Guarantee (MIG). Refer to the special notes to students for further information on the MIG program.

Law elective units begin with the prefix LAW and suitable units can be identified using the browse units tool in the current edition of the Handbook.

You must complete 72 credit points of units from Parts A, B, or C before undertaking law elective units.

Professional electives

You must complete at least 6 credit points from the following list of units:

LAW4803 Clinical placement
LAW4811 In-house clinical placement: Law reform and systemic change
LAW4813 In-house clinical placement: Client legal assistance
LAW4814 Extended clinical placement
LAW4815 International clinical placement
LAW5050 Professional practice (JD) (12 points)
LAW5052 Professional project
LAW5055 Vis arbitration moot (12 points)
LAW5056 Jessup moot competition
LAW5058 Mooting and advocacy competition
LAW5059 Extension mooting and advocacy competition
LAW5082 Masters research
LAW5083 Extended research (12 points)*
LAW5355 Advocacy

Note: A number of these units are only available via application to eligible students. Please refer to the Handbook for units for further information.

*LAW5083 requires that you have completed at least four elective units and obtained final results of 70% or higher in each of the four units.

Learning outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and Monash Graduate Attributes.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

1
Knowledge
- an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge that includes:
  - demonstrate the fundamental areas of legal knowledge, the Australian legal system, and underlying principles and concepts, including international and comparative contexts
  - appreciate the broader contexts within which legal issues arise
  - apply and appreciate the principles and values of justice and of ethical practice in lawyers' roles
  - appreciate contemporary developments in law, and its professional practice.
2
Ethics and professional responsibility
- demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making
- recognise and reflect upon, and a developing ability to respond to, ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts
- evaluate the professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice and in service to the community
- apply professional judgement in legal contexts.
3
Thinking skills
- identify and articulate complex legal issues
- apply legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate jurisprudential and practical responses to legal issues
- engage in critical analysis and make reasoned and appropriate choices amongst alternatives
- demonstrate sophisticated cognitive and creative skills in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate responses and developing new understandings.
4
Research skills
- apply the intellectual and practical skills needed to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, legal methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions
- identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues.
5
Communication and collaboration
- communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences
- collaborate effectively.
6
Self-management
- learn and work with a high level of autonomy, accountability and professionalism
- reflect on and assess their own capabilities and performance
- make use of feedback to support personal and professional development.

Entry requirements

English language

Monash Level C, that is: IELTS (Academic): 7.0 overall (no band lower than 6.5); or Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 65 overall with no band lower than 58; or TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 94 overall with minimum scores: Writing: 24, Listening: 20, Reading: 19 and Speaking: 20; or Equivalent approved English test

More information

Progression to further studies

Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to a graduate research degree if you choose to complete a research thesis (24 credit points).

Professional accreditation

This degree is recognised by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB).

Notes for students

The requirements for this course have been updated since their initial publication on October 11, 2024. For detailed information about these changes, please go to the 2025 Change register.

Admission to practise: Disciplinary reports

Warning to students of the consequences of cheating or general misconduct

Students should note that a domestic applicant applying for admission to practise law in Victoria is required by the Legal Profession Uniform Admissions Rule 2015 to provide to the Victorian Legal Admissions Board:

a report from the University disclosing any disciplinary action taken against the student during the course.
a statutory declaration stating that the applicant has made full written disclosure of "every matter which a reasonable applicant would consider that the Board might regard as not being favourable to the applicant". This may include an incident of academic or general misconduct, even if it did not lead to disciplinary action.

The Victorian Legal Admissions Board will consider these matters in assessing whether the applicant is a 'fit and proper person to be admitted to the legal profession'.

Monash Innovation Guarantee (MIG)

You can enrich your degree by honing your academic and professional skills through the Monash Innovation Guarantee (MIG). The MIG is your unique opportunity to collaborate with renowned industry leaders and design innovative solutions that result in real social change. MIG will give you the leadership skills you will need to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world and is your chance to make connections before you graduate. The MIG is a 6 credit point unit option. Please refer to the course requirements to see how MIG may fit into your degree. For information on eligibility please see FREE.

Other information

This is a professional entry master's degree which satisfies the academic requirements for admission to practice as an Australian lawyer. It is also a preparation for diverse careers in and beyond the law, and offers a pathway to doctoral studies. The course provides advanced and integrated knowledge of the principal areas of legal practice, legal concepts and broader perspectives about the law. It develops advanced professional skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, research, communication, collaboration, self-management, ethical awareness and professional judgment. The skills and knowledge learned in the course are applied in a later year professional project. The elective component gives flexibility to choose from a wide range of specialist units, to study overseas, and to undertake clinical learning.

Common questions

How long is Juris Doctor?

3 years full time, 144 credit points. At 24 credit points a semester, that is 6 semesters of full-time study.

Where can I study Juris Doctor?

At Monash Law Chambers.

How do I plan my Juris Doctor units?

Open the course in the MonMap planner. It lays out your semesters, checks prerequisites as you drag units in, and tracks the credit points each requirement still needs.

Course details

Qualification: Master's Degree (Extended)
AQF level: Level 9
Credit points: 144
Full time: 3 Years
Part time: 6 Years
Maximum time: 8 years

Faculty: Faculty of Law
CRICOS code: 094912D
Abbreviation: JD
Award title: Juris Doctor
Handbook years: 2020 2021 2022 2023 202420252026 2027