The Course
The Melbourne JD is a three-year course, taught over six semesters and delivered only on a full-time basis. Acceleration is possible by taking subjects in the summer and winter breaks, subject to approval, leading to completion of the course in just over two years. The teaching year begins in February. Students should apply in the preceding year.
The course comprises 24 subjects, of which 17 are compulsory. Students usually remain in the same cohort to complete the compulsory subjects. The remaining subjects are chosen by students from a wide range of options available for the Melbourne JD and the Melbourne Law Masters.
Standard course structure – three years
The standard three-year course format enables students to take advantage of other educational, professional and social opportunities during the summer and winter breaks, including seasonal clerkships, international exchanges, internships, mooting and Law Review editorial work.
Time of year | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| February (Intensive) | Legal Method & Reasoning (Foundation Subject) | ||
| Semester 1 | Principles of Public Law | Administrative Law | Evidence & Proof |
| Torts | Trusts | Legal Ethics | |
| Obligations | Criminal Law | Elective Subject | |
| Dispute Resolution | Elective Subject | Elective Subject | |
| Semester 2 | Constitutional Law | Corporations Law | Legal Research |
| Contracts | Remedies | Elective Subject | |
| Property | Elective Subject | Elective Subject | |
| Legal Theory | Elective Subject |
Further information on compulsory subjects
Further information on elective subjects
Accelerated course structure
The Melbourne JD can also be accelerated, at varying speeds, with approval from the School.
| Time of year | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January/February (Intensive) | Elective subject | Elective subject | |
| Elective subject | Elective subject | ||
| February (Intensive) | Legal Method & Reasoning (Foundation subject) | ||
| Semester 1 | Principles of Public Law | Administrative Law | |
| Torts | Trusts | ||
| Obligations | Criminal Law | ||
| Dispute Resolution | Elective subject | ||
| July (Intensive) | Evidence & Proof | Legal Ethics | |
| or Elective subject (such as International Law) | Evidence and Proof or Elective subject | ||
| Semester 2 | Constitutional Law | Corporations Law | |
| Contracts | Remedies | ||
| Property | Legal Research | ||
| Legal Theory | Elective subject |
Further information on compulsory subjects
Further information on elective subjects
JD/MBA – three-year course
The Melbourne JD is also available as a combined course with the MBA program offered by Melbourne Business School. Students must take 15 subjects from the MBA (10 compulsory subjects and five elective subjects) and 22 subjects from the JD (17 compulsory subjects and five optional subjects). Details, including course structure and selection criteria, are available online at:
www.jdmba.unimelb.edu.au