Juris Doctor
Your postgraduate path to a career in law. Designed for non-law graduates, this law degree opens doors to a range of professional opportunities where legal qualifications are sought.
About the Course
Build a career in law with our online Juris Doctor program. Benefit from a supportive environment with peers and leading experts to practice concepts and apply new skills, while having the flexibility to study online. The field of law today has evolved and requires professionals who understand not only the foundational legal skills, but also how emerging technology and business disruption intersect with legal frameworks. Through RMIT Online’s prestigious qualification, you'll be able to tailor your learning with a wide range of career electives to follow your interest in these in-demand fields.
By the end of this course, you’ll be equipped with the skills and qualification to embark on a new career in law and related fields. The Juris Doctor is accredited by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board and, once your practical legal training is completed, leads you to admission to the legal profession in Australia.
When you choose to study at RMIT Online, you're opening the door to a wide array of opportunities to engage with industry experts. These avenues include, but are not limited to:
- Participating in mooting at the Old Magistrate's Court (or online)
- Gaining practical exposure to the multidisciplinary legal services, law reform processes and social context of the law through RMIT's Centre for Innovative Justice
- RMIT has a Law Advisory Board which advises on current issues in industry and indigenous engagement. The Board includes senior judges, government legal officers, barristers and partners from top tier law firms.
Course Entry Requirements
An Australian Bachelor’s degree or higher-level qualification in any discipline except an LLB (Common Law), with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (out of 4.0).
International Students
RMIT’s Online Juris Doctor does not meet Australian student visa requirements. For an Australian student visa, you must have an on-campus place in a program of study.
This course is not available to offshore international students.
A minimum IELTS (Academic module) overall score of 6.5, with no band below 6.0; or equivalent. For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit the English language requirements and equivalency information.
Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT University Credit Policy and Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB) requirements. Applicants who have completed or partially completed a similar program at another institution (with entry criteria similar to this program) may be granted some credits or exemptions towards this program.
Australian law degrees are required to include 11 core areas of knowledge – the ‘Priestley 11’. These areas are: Criminal Law and Procedure, Tort, Contract, Property, Equity, Company Law, Administrative Law, Federal and State Constitutional Law, Civil Procedure, Evidence, Professional Conduct.
Exemptions towards the Priestley 11 courses are not possible unless the equivalent Priestley 11 courses have been completed in a postgraduate law program from an accredited law school. Students are advised to seek clarification from the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB) to ensure the credit will not impact admission to legal practice. Credit for all other law courses can only be granted if a course has been completed at an accredited law school.
If you require more information on credit and exemptions please contact RMIT Connect.
Course Structure
Recommended study pattern
Year 1
- Introduction to the Australian Legal System and Legal Methods
- Fundamentals of Contract Law
- Law of Torts
- Criminal Law
- Jurisprudence
- Advanced Contract Law
- Negotiation and Dispute Resolution.
Select and complete 1 course from the list of Approved Law Option courses at the end of this program structure
Year 2
- Administrative Law
- Australian Property Law
- Australian Company Law
- International Law
- Federal and State Constitutional Law
- Civil Procedure
- Law and Technology.
Select and complete 1 course from the list of Approved Law Option courses at the end of this program structure.
Year 3
- Equity and Trusts
- Evidence
- Innovative Justice.
Complete the following 1 capstone course: Legal Practice Management and Professional Conduct
Select and complete 4 courses from the list of approved law option courses.
Electives
- Australian Taxation Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Wills and Succession
- Insolvency
- Labour Law
- Introduction to Family Law in Australia
- Environment and Planning Law Practice
- Competition and Consumer Law
- Health Law
- JD Study Tour (CIJ): Innovative Justice and Court Innovation
- Legal Research Project.
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Juris Doctor students must successfully complete 18 core subjects and six (6) approved law electives for a total of 24 subjects.
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Apply an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge, including competence in the prescribed areas of knowledge, in professional practice.
- Demonstrate 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.
- Practice law in a variety of fields, industry sectors and locations.
- Apply and integrate professional theory with practice in authentic Work Integrated Learning (WIL) contexts, professional contexts and industry settings.
