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Juris Doctor (MC-JURISD) // Course structure
About this course
Contact
Melbourne Law School
Currently enrolled students:
- General information:
law.unimelb.edu.au/students/jd
Future students:
- Further information:
Coordinator
Arlen Duke
Course structure
The Melbourne JD comprises 24 subjects.
Compulsory Subjects
16 subjects 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 full time 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, 4-6 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 and there are several different course structures available for both full time and part time students. 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 full time JD course structure. Alternative course structures can be found on the Melbourne Law School website.
The Full Time 3 Year Course Structure
Year 1 - Foundation Subject
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning | Summer Term |
12.5 |
Year 1 - Compulsory Subjects
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50026 | Obligations | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90140 | Disputes and Ethics | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50028 | Constitutional Law | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50029 | Contracts | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50025 | Torts | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50031 | Legal Theory |
Semester 2
November
|
12.5 |
Year 2 - Compulsory Subjects
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50032 | Administrative Law | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50033 | Equity and Trusts | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50030 | Property | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50034 | Criminal Law and Procedure | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50035 | Corporations Law | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50037 | Evidence and Proof |
Semester 1
July
|
12.5 |
Year 3 - Compulsory Subjects
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50039 | Legal Research |
Semester 1
Semester 2
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50036 | Remedies |
Semester 1
November
|
12.5 |
JD Electives Available in 2021
During the JD, students must complete 100 credit points of elective study.
Students following the Full Time 3 Year Course Structure would generally complete:
- 2 electives in Year 2
- 6 electives in Year 3
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50130 | Advanced Torts | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90186 | Advanced Trusts Law | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50055 | Advocacy |
Summer Term
Semester 1
Semester 2
|
12.5 |
| LAWS90059 | Commercial Law in Practice | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50063 | Competition Law | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50084 | Construction Law | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90074 | Copyright and Designs | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90136 | Criminal Institutions | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50064 | Employment Law |
February
Semester 1
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50078 | Environmental Law | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50068 | Equality and Discrimination Law | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50047 | Family Law | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50093 | Insolvency Law | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50128 | Intellectual Property & Popular Culture | February |
12.5 |
| LAWS50094 | International Commercial Law & Disputes | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50049 | Human Rights Law and Practice | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90036 | Legal Drafting | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50096 | Media Law | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90039 | Mediation | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50106 | Murder | February |
12.5 |
| LAWS50131 | Negotiations |
Summer Term
Summer Term
December
|
12.5 |
| LAWS90107 | New Technology Law | July |
12.5 |
| LAWS90075 | Patents and Trade Secrets | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50127 | Philosophical Foundations of Law | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50041 | Public International Law | July |
12.5 |
| LAWS50101 | Refugee Law | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50119 | Sports Law | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90108 | Start-Up Law | July |
12.5 |
| LAWS50046 | Taxation Law and Policy | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50075 | Trade Mark Law | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50042 | Jessup Moot | August |
12.5 |
| LAWS50060 | Melbourne Journal of International Law |
Summer Term
Semester 1
Semester 2
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50058 | Melbourne University Law Review |
Summer Term
Semester 1
Semester 2
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50071 | Global Lawyer | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90006 | Law and Legal Practice in Asia | October |
12.5 |
| LAWS90033 | Law Apps |
Semester 1
Semester 2
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50059 | Legal Internship |
January
Semester 1
June
Semester 2
November
|
12.5 |
| LAWS90164 | MLS Tax Clinic |
Semester 1
Semester 2
|
12.5 |
| LAWS90189 | NDIS and Disability Benefits Clinic | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50116 | Public Interest Law Clinic |
Semester 1 (Early-Start)
Semester 2 (Early-Start)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS90197 | Consumer Law | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90209 | Indigenous Legal Advocacy Clinic | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90212 | Law and Civil Society in Asia | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90213 | Commercial Data Law | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90214 | Indigenous Law in Aotearoa and Australia | October |
12.5 |
| LAWS90077 | Not for Profits and the Law | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50122 | Animals and the Law | November |
12.5 |
| LAWS50126 | Sustainability Business Clinic | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50114 | New Ideas in Legal Scholarship | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50091 | International Investment Law | February |
12.5 |
| LAWS90228 | International Capital Markets | Semester 1 |
12.5 |
| LAWS50050 | Cross-Border Litigation | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90191 | Treaty: Indigenous-settler Agreements | Semester 2 |
12.5 |
Optional: Melbourne Law Masters (MLM) Electives
Information on how to apply for this opportunity can be found on the Melbourne Law School website.
JD students can apply to take one of their electives from the below MLM subjects available in 2021 (subject to space):
JD Electives Not Offered in 2021
The following subjects have been offered in the JD previously, however will not be available for 2021 enrolments:
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS90161 | Advanced Constitutional Law | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50110 | Advanced Topics in Taxation | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50056 | Climate Change Law | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50115 | Commercial Restitution | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50123 | |||
| LAWS90198 | COVID-19 Assistance Project | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50118 | Democracy, Law and Civil Liberties | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90004 | Disability Human Rights Clinic | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90187 | Economic Analysis of Law | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90037 | Economic and Business Law in Asia | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50067 | European Civil Law | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90133 | Health Law and Ethics | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90188 | Law of Commercial Arbitration | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50108 | Mergers, Acquisitions & Capital Markets | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90190 | Sexualities, Gender, Activism and Law | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50102 | Street Law | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50057 | Copyright and Patents | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90078 | Corporate Governance | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50066 | Cyberlaw | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50051 | Deals | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50080 | Deals In Asia Pacific | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90004 | Disability Human Rights Clinic | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50070 | Encounters: Meeting of Laws in Australia | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90079 | Entertainment Deals | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50069 | Human Rights Lawyering | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90060 | International Criminal Justice Clinic | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90008 | Law and Indigenous Peoples | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50121 | Law and Literature | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90076 | Law and the Holocaust | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90162 | Law of Commercial Cyberspace | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90038 | Law of Elections | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50098 | Law Reform | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50095 | Legal Histories | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90007 | Media Regulation and Freedom of Speech | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50132 | Multiculturalism Religion and the Law | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90134 | Property Law and the City | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90135 | Rights and Freedoms in Malaysia | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50120 | The Rule of Law in Theory & in Practice | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90163 | Why Tax Systems Differ Between Countries | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50056 | Climate Change Law | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS90037 | Economic and Business Law in Asia | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
| LAWS50109 | World Trade Organisation Law | Not available in 2021 | 12.5 |
Last updated: 17 February 2021