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Overview

The JD is a postgraduate level law degree that is recognised for the purpose of admission to practise law. A 144 unit of credit program, it may be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. It is made up of 96 units of credit of compulsory courses, 6 units of credit of prescribed electives and 42 units of credit of free electives. The compulsory courses and prescribed electives cover the areas of study prescribed by the Legal Profession Admission Board (NSW) for recognition of the degree for professional practice.

Students will acquire a sound knowledge base in the discipline of Law due to their completion of a sequence of core courses and a wide range of elective courses.

The JD is a flexible program and can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis. Students can choose their rate of study within program rules (ie. can move between full-time and part-time study). The maximum duration is 8 years.

Faculty Faculty of Law
Campus

Kensington

Study Level

Postgraduate

Typical duration

3 Years

Delivery Mode

Face-to-face

Intake Period

Term 1, Term 3

Academic Calendar

3+ Calendar

Minimum Units of Credit

144

Award type

Masters (Extended)

Award(s)

Juris Doctor - JD

UAC Code

910600

CRICOS Code

068850G

Learning Outcomes

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Graduate Capabilities:

For more information on Graduate Capabilities, please click on this link.

Program Structure

Students must complete 144 UOC as a standalone program.

1. Law compulsory courses - 96 UOC
2. Prescribed elective course - 6 UOC
3. Free elective courses - 42 UOC

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Core Courses

Core Courses description.

Students must take 96 UOC of the following courses.

Law Prescribed Electives

Law Prescribed Electives description.

Students must complete 42 UOC of Prescribed Electives from the following, or from other courses that may be specified by the Faculty:

Note that a candidate's choice of electives must be approved by the Faculty.

Prescribed Electives

Prescribed Electives description.

Students must take 6 UOC of the following courses.

Capstone Experience

All students must complete a capstone experience that provides a synthesis of their prior learning and experience in subject areas required for practice as a lawyer and prepares them for ongoing growth as professionals and further intellectual development. This requirement will be met by completion of a Prescribed Elective in legal theory or by completion of internships, clinics or other experiential learning activities for which JD UOC are awarded

Electives Maturity Requirements

Students must complete 72 UOC in the program before enrolling in Elective courses, except in cases where the enrolment rules of individual Elective courses waive this requirement.

Enrolment Disclaimer

Unless advised otherwise by your program authority, you should follow the rules for the handbook for the year you commenced your program. You are also responsible for ensuring you enrol in courses according to your program requirements. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that a course will count towards your program requirements.

Admission Requirements

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Entry Requirements

For more information about admission requirements for various UNSW programs, visit the following website(s):


Domestic Students International Student

Pathways

Recognition of Achievement

Award with Excellence

Additional Information

Juris Doctor with Distinction Policy

Students who complete the Juris Doctor Program from 2015 onwards (from Summer 2015) will be eligible for the Juris Doctor with Distinction. 
To be awarded the Juris Doctor with Distinction, students:

  1. must achieve a Distinction WAM of 75%. The Distinction WAM will be calculated using the WAM from core courses as 60% and the WAM from elective courses as 40 %, of which courses completed at UNSW ONLY will count towards the Distinction WAM calculation.
  2. NOT been found guilty of plagiarism nor serious misconduct.
  3. NOT have more than one failure in the JD program.

For more information on the Juris Doctor with Distinction, please visit Juris Doctor with Distinction

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students Commonwealth Supported Students International Students

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions
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