Australian law schools and its students are undertaking exciting study opportunities, and so this month, OzTREKK has featured Australian Law Schools are our program of the month! Throughout Australia, more than 30 universities offer professional law degrees, which are open to international students. These include undergraduate and graduate-entry Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programs as well as postgraduate Juris Doctor degrees. As a Canadian seeking to become qualified to practice law, you have a range of study options abroad. As Commonwealth nations, the Australian and Canadian systems are based on English common law, and Australian Law Schools provide a solid foundation for students planning to practise law in Canada (with the exception of Quebec). OzTREKK’s aim is to assist you in choosing the best Australian Law Schools for you.
Both the Juris Doctor and the Graduate-entry Bachelor of Laws are graduate entry law degrees. They are designed to equip students for a career in the legal profession. Students must have completed an undergraduate degree to be eligible for entry into either one of these programs. The J.D. is a fairly recent program offering in Australia. The J.D. originated in the United States and is now offered at some Canadian and Australian universities. The following Australian universities offer graduate-entry Law programs:
Program: Bond University Juris Doctor
Duration: 2 Years (year-round program)
Description: Bond University’s combination of excellent teaching, small classes and an extensive legal skills program differentiates Bond University Law School from other institutions. It provides an exciting learning experience that both challenges students academically and prepares them practically for a legal career. Bond also offers Canadian law subjects which help to meet the NCA requirements. There is also a Canadian Law Students’ Association at Bond University, which is very active on campus!
Program: James Cook University Bachelor of Laws
Duration: 3 Years
Description: The JCU Law School is designed for students who already hold a Bachelor degree in another field and wish to gain a qualification in law. The JCU Law School links up with local law firms and the Community Legal Centre, which offer students opportunities to gain practical legal skills.
Program: Monash University Juris Doctor
Duration: 3 Years
Description: The Monash University Law School is one of the largest and most prestigious law schools in Australia. The Monash University Juris Doctor is an innovative degree which recognizes the needs of graduates who wish to study law, providing the transferable skills and knowledge only a law degree from one of Australia’s leading universities can provide.
Program: University of Melbourne Juris Doctor
Duration: 3 Years (accelerated option available)
Description: The University of Melbourne Law School offers the University of Melbourne Juris Doctor, J.D., which is a graduate law degree of global standard. It leads to admission to practise throughout Australia and gives graduates the skills to take on the world. The University of Melbourne Juris Doctor curriculum is designed to anticipate developments in law in an age of globalization and the Melbourne student body is extraordinarily diverse, coming from all regions of the world.
Program: University of Newcastle Bachelor of Laws
Duration: 3 Years
Description: The University of Newcastle Law School has established a reputation for innovative legal education. The University of Newcastle Legal Centre is the centerpiece of this clinical program. Functioning as both a legal practice and a teaching facility, the Centre provides an intensive clinical placement site for students. By working with the Centre’s solicitors and dealing with real clients with actual legal problems, students gain skills and experience in the practice of law.
Program: University of Queensland Bachelor of Laws
Duration: 3 Years
Description: The University of Queensland Law School is a long established and leading Australian law school. The School is committed to providing high quality undergraduate and postgraduate legal education, and of contributing to the production of lasting and cutting-edge research. The University of Queensland Law School program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive and deep understanding of legal principles and institutions that is distinguished by its rigour, depth and conceptual sophistication.
Practising Law in Canada
When you return to Canada, you will first apply to have your credentials assessed by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA). The NCA makes their assessment on the basis of the applicant’s legal background, both academic and professional. The NCA takes into account such factors as:
• The source country of legal education (common law, civil law or combination)
• Subject matter studied
• Academic marks and standing
• Nature of the degree granting institution
•Professional qualifications
•Length and nature of professional legal experience
Please note that all applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis, because everyone’s application is very unique and different based on their own personal experiences. The major variables affecting NCA rulings appear to be the amount of any pre-law undergraduate studies, the length of the law degree, the amount of any studies undertaken in a Canadian law school, and the marks obtained in the law degree.
If you want to learn more about your Australian Law School options, please contact the OzTREKK Australian Law Schools Admissions Officer, Nicole Buchanan, at nicole@oztrekk.com
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Tags: Australian Law Schools, Bond University, Bond University Juris Doctor, Bond University Law School, James Cook University Bachelor of Laws, James Cook University Law School, Monash University Juris Doctor, Monash University Law School, OzTREKK, Study in Australia, University of Melbourne Juris Doctor, University of Melbourne Law School, University of Newcastle Bachelor of Laws, University of Newcastle Law School, University of Queensland Bachelor of Laws, University of Queensland Law School