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Juris Doctor (MC-JURISD) // Course structure
You’re currently viewing the 2018 version of this course
About this course
Coordinator
Anna Chapman
Contact
Melbourne Law School
Currently enrolled students:
• General information: law.unimelb.edu.au/students/jd
• Contact Stop 1
Future students:
• Further information: law.unimelb.edu.au/study/jd
• Make an enquiry
Course structure
The Melbourne JD comprises 24 subjects.
Compulsory Subjects
Sixteen are compulsory, enabling the School to provide its students with cumulative learning, by integrating both subject matter and skills across and between semesters. These subjects are organised so as to ensure a balanced range in each semester, between which linkages can be made. In addition, subjects in both private and public law build progressively over the semesters, contributing to the effectiveness of the learning experience.
In the first of the JD students are grouped into cohorts for compulsory subjects. This enhances the collegial experience of, and learning communities forged between, students during their time in the School and establishes bonds that will continue long after graduation.
Elective Subjects
The remaining eight subjects are chosen by students from a wide range of optional subjects offered by the School. These vary from year to year, enabling the School to respond to changes in the law and legal thinking and giving students access to the latest developments in research by some of the leading scholars in the School.
Standard course structure - 3 years
In its standard form, the degree is taken over three years. This 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.
Flexible course structures - 2.5, 3.5, or 4 years
The Melbourne JD can also be accelerated by students with outstanding results with approval from the Law School, by utilizing the summer and winter break periods to complete additional JD subjects. The Melbourne JD can also be extended up to four years, subject to Law School approval. This flexibility 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. These opportunities are necessarily more limited for accelerating students.
Subject options
Melbourne JD - Course Structure
The below subjects are structured based on the 3 year JD course structure. For students completing the JD in 2.5, 3.5, or 4 years, alternative course structures can be found on the Melbourne Law School website.
The Standard 3 Year Course Structure
Year 1 - Foundation Subject
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Year 1 - Compulsory Subjects
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50026 | Obligations | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90140 | Disputes and Ethics | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50028 | Constitutional Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50029 | Contracts | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50025 | Torts |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
November (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50031 | Legal Theory |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
November (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Year 2 - Compulsory Subjects
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50032 | Administrative Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50033 | Trusts | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50030 | Property | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50034 | Criminal Law and Procedure | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50035 | Corporations Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50037 | Evidence and Proof |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Winter Term (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Year 3 - Compulsory Subjects
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50039 | Legal Research |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50036 | Remedies |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
November (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
JD Electives Available in 2018
During the JD, students must complete 100 credit points of elective study.
Students following the Standard 3 Year Course Structure would generally complete:
- 2 electives in Year 2
- 6 electives in Year 3
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50055 | Advocacy |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
November (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS90059 | Commercial Law in Practice | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50115 | Commercial Restitution | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50063 | Competition Law |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50084 | Construction Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90074 | Copyright and Designs | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90136 | Criminal Institutions | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50050 | Cross-Border Litigation | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50051 | Deals | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50080 | Deals In Asia Pacific | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50118 | Democracy, Law and Civil Liberties | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90004 | Disability Human Rights Clinic | November (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90037 | Economic and Business Law in Asia | November (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50064 | Employment Law |
February (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50070 | Encounters: Meeting of Laws in Australia | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90079 | Entertainment Deals | February (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50078 | Environmental Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50068 | Equality and Discrimination Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50067 | European Civil Law | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50047 | Family Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50071 | Global Lawyer | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90133 | Health Law and Ethics | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50093 | Insolvency Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50045 | Institutions in International Law | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50128 | Intellectual Property & Popular Culture | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50073 | International Capital Markets | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50094 | International Commercial Law & Disputes | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90060 | International Criminal Justice Clinic | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50049 | International Human Rights Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50042 | Jessup Moot | August (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90008 | Law and Indigenous Peoples | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90006 | Law and Legal Practice in Asia | February (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90033 | Law Apps | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90036 | Legal Drafting | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50059 | Legal Internship |
January (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
June (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
November (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50096 | Media Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90039 | Mediation | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50060 | Melbourne Journal of International Law |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50058 | Melbourne University Law Review |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50106 | Murder | January (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50131 | Negotiations |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
December (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS90107 | New Technology Law | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50127 | Philosophical Foundations of Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90134 | Property Law and the City | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50116 | Public Interest Law Clinic |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50041 | Public International Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50101 | Refugee Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90135 | Rights and Freedoms in Malaysia | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90108 | Start-Up Law | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50102 | Street Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50126 | Sustainability Business Clinic | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50046 | Taxation Law and Policy |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50075 | Trade Mark Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Optional: Melbourne Law Masters (MLM) Elective
Information on how to apply for this opportunity can be found on the Melbourne Law School website.
JD students can apply to take 1 of their electives from the below MLM subjects available in 2018:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS90111 | Chinese Competition Law and Policy | October (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70293 | Climate Change Law | April (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70011 | Commercial Applications of Equity | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70230 | Commercial Law in Asia | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70042 | Company Takeovers | September (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90127 | Comparative Indigenous Rights | April (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90014 | Construction Law and Projects in Asia | April (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70202 | Current Issues in Civil Litigation | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70181 | Defamation Law | November (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90018 | Development, Labour and Human Rights | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS70415 | Drugs and the Death Penalty in Asia | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS70073 | Expert Evidence | June (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70080 | Film and Television Law | April (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70106 | Financial Services Law | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70390 | Freedom of Speech | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70151 | Global Health Law | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70031 | Goods and Services Tax Principles | May (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70421 | Health Law and Emerging Technologies | April (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70451 | Health Law and Human Rights | October (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70091 | Human Rights and Terrorism | May (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70391 | Human Rights at Work | April (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90122 | Human Rights in Asia: Current Issues | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70362 | Information Technology Contracting Law | October (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70218 | International Employment Law | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90094 | International IP Dispute Settlement | September (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70242 | Internat.Issues in Intellectual Property | December (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70120 | International Law and Children's Rights | October (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70093 | International Law and Development | May (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70161 | International Petroleum Transactions | May (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70117 | International Sports Employment Law | May (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90095 | International Trade and Competition Law | August (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70122 | Investment, Regulation and Development | April (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70379 | Judicial Reasoning | October (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70197 | Labour Standards and their Enforcement | October (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90119 | Law and Public Administration | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70367 | Law of Democracy | October (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70225 | Medical Litigation | May (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90123 | No longer available | ||
| LAWS90029 | Planning and Building Sustainable Cities | October (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70371 | Principles of Employment Law |
February (On Campus - Parkville)
August (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS90120 | Public Health Law | October (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90063 | Regulating Global Markets | December (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70112 | Remedies in the Construction Context | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70437 | Sports and Competition Law | February (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70059 | Sports Industry and the Law | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70275 | Sports Marketing and Media Law | September (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70130 | State Taxes and Duties | August (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70036 | Superannuation Law | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90130 | Tax Administration | November (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70162 | Tax Reform and Development | June (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70331 | Taxation of Mergers and Acquisitions | October (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70267 | Taxation of Superannuation | February (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70333 | Taxation of Trusts | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90082 | The Legal System: Bases and Challenges | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90116 | US Environmental Law and Policy | March (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70185 | Water Law & Natural Resources Management | September (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90124 | Women, Peace and Security | October (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS70322 | WTO Law and Dispute Settlement | May (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
JD Electives Not Offered in 2018
The following subjects have been offered in the JD previously; however will not be available for 2018 enrolments.
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50110 | Advanced Topics in Taxation | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50130 | Advanced Torts | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90061 | American Constitutional History & Rights | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50122 | Animal Law | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50056 | Climate Change Law | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50088 | Commercial Law In Asia | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50123 | Comparative Law | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50085 | Consumer Protection Law And Policy | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50057 | Copyright and Patents | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90078 | Corporate Governance | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90005 | Corporate Tax | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50125 | Criminal Justice: Drugs in Asia | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50066 | Cyberlaw | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50070 | Encounters: Meeting of Laws in Australia | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS90109 | Histories of International Law | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50069 | Human Rights Lawyering | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50052 | International Criminal Law | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50133 | International Environmental Law | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50091 | International Investment Law | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50121 | Law and Literature | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90076 | Law and the Holocaust | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50117 | Law, Justice & Human Rights in China | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90038 | Law of Elections | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50098 | Law Reform | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50095 | Legal Histories | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90007 | Media Regulation and Freedom of Speech | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50108 | Mergers, Acquisitions & Capital Markets | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50132 | Multiculturalism Religion and the Law | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50114 | New Ideas in Legal Scholarship | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90077 | Not for Profits and the Law | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90075 | Patents and Trade Secrets | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50124 | Private Law: Theoretical Perspectives | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50119 | Sports Law | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50120 | The Rule of Law in Theory & in Practice | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50109 | World Trade Organisation Law | Not available in 2018 | 12.5 |
Last updated: 18 December 2020