Juris Doctor

Do you want a career in the law?Our Juris Doctor is an intensive, graduate entry law degree designed for non-law graduates.

The Monash JD recognises the specific needs of graduate entrants and teaches the knowledge and skills available only from one of Australia's leading law schools.

We offer small class sizes and innovative teaching to promote interactivity and in depth learning.

All classes are taught at the city-based Monash Law Chambers, located in the heart of Melbourne's legal precinct.

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 the 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 complete at least one commercial law unit and a professional project and will also 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.

Qualifications

An Australian undergraduate degree (or equivalent) with at least a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.0 on a 7 point scale, or qualification/experience or satisfactory substitute that the faculty considers to be equivalent.

OR

An undergraduate degree (or equivalent) with at least a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7 point scale and a LSAT score of 150+ (taken within 5 years prior to applying for admission). If, in addition to a bachelor degree (or equivalent) you have incomplete studies in a law admission degree course, a minimum GPA of 5.0 on a 7 point scale in the law studies, with no fail result in the final year, is required.

English requirements

English language requirements are met by an applicant having studied in an institution where English is the language of instruction and assessment for the entire institution and have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of one years full-time (two standard full-time semesters) of either:

1. a university undergraduate award program; or
2. a program that has been assessed as being taught at an equivalent level to Monash University undergraduate study; or
3. Postgraduate study as specified above

Minimum English language requirement:

• IELTS 7.0 overall (no band lower than 6.5)
• TOEFL Paper-based test: 587 with TWE of 4.5
• TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 94 overall with minimum scores: Writing 24, Listening 20, Reading 19, and speaking 20.

University entrance requirements

Minimum entrance requirements for admission to Monash University Australia.

Learning outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9 and Monash Graduate Attributes. Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to demonstrate:

100.

Knowledge

• an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge that includes:
• the fundamental areas of legal knowledge, the Australian legal system, and underlying principles and concepts, including international and comparative contexts
• the broader contexts within which legal issues arise
• the principles and values of justice and of ethical practice in lawyers' roles
• contemporary developments in law, and its professional practice.
• the fundamental areas of legal knowledge, the Australian legal system, and underlying principles and concepts, including international and comparative contexts
• the broader contexts within which legal issues arise
• the principles and values of justice and of ethical practice in lawyers' roles
• contemporary developments in law, and its professional practice.

200.

Ethics and professional responsibility

• an advanced and integrated understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making
• an ability to recognise and reflect upon, and a developing ability to respond to, ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts
• an ability to recognise and reflect upon the professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice and in service to the community
• a developing ability to exercise professional judgement.

300.

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.

400.

Research skills

• 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.

500.

Communication and collaboration

• communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences
• collaborate effectively.

600.

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.