Monash University

Juris Doctor

Graduate

Details

University Location Melbourne, Victoria
City Population 5.3 million
Student Population 86,000
Int'l Student Population 30,000
Main Campus Clayton
Program Campus City
Program Duration 3 years
Estimated Annual Tuition $46,500 AUD (2024 fees; subject to increase)
Trimester Intakes January, May, August
Next Available Intake May 2024
Application Deadline Rolling admissions*

Overview

The Faculty of Law at Monash University has one of the largest law libraries in Australia and a moot court designed as a real courtroom for practicing trial work.

Monash Law School offers high-quality teaching by leading academics and practitioners who are experts in the teaching of law and legal practice. Additionally, the Monash Juris Doctor offers an interactive learning environment, small class sizes, and innovative teaching.

As a clinical law school, Monash is committed to providing the highest standard of legal education and training. Through its two community legal centres, students learn vital skills relating to the practice of law while providing an important service to local communities.

The Monash Law City Campus is a stunning learning environment created for Monash Law Master’s and Monash JD programs and is situated in the heart of Melbourne’s legal precinct near the bustling intersection of Lonsdale and William Streets, home to the Supreme Court of Victoria, County Court of Victoria, and Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

​The facility provides substantial space for both staff and students with high-quality teaching facilities and quiet study areas. Student amenities include a library node, a multi-purpose lounge, and a kitchen, all conducive to creative and independent learning.

Take a tour through the Monash Moot Court.

Program

The Monash JD has three intakes per year (January, May, and August) and is taught in trimesters. The program comprises 24 units including

  • 16 compulsory units required for admission to legal practice; and
  • 8 elective units.

Each trimester runs for approximately 12 teaching weeks. All units are taught in a small seminar-style format that facilitates interactive learning and lively class debate. The specialized knowledge and advanced skills are imparted in later-year elective units.

As a Monash JD student, you’ll be able to choose from elective units from the Monash Law master’s program:

  • Commercial and corporate law
  • Criminal law and forensics
  • Dispute resolution
  • Global society and human rights
  • Health law and community
  • Labour and employment law
  • Public sector governance and regulation
  • Technology and innovation
  • Transnational economic regulation

Monash JD graduates may be able to obtain credit for up to four units towards a master’s degree, allowing them to complete a LLM within a further six months.

Clinical Legal Education
Monash’s Clinical Legal Education Program is designed for undergraduate and postgraduate law students seeking real-world experience as lawyers. This means you work with real clients, on real cases, all while gaining course credit towards your degree.

Want to know what’s really great? You can help the community while learning invaluable practical legal skills, gaining work experience (great for your CV), and you can do all this for credit toward your law degree. Monash is the first law school in Australia to offer a guarantee like this for its students.

Depending on your placement opportunity, you can work directly with clients, solicitors, and other professional staff, gaining real life experience and skills that cannot be taught in the classroom. Ultimately, you will develop a profound understanding of your legal coursework material, the social dynamics of a legal workplace, the challenges faced within the legal sector and how the law serves the broader community.

Monash Clinical Guarantee
Monash guarantees their law students a place in the clinical legal education program to build their knowledge, experience, and confidence. From 2018, Monash Law has offered a guaranteed clinical education experience for all students who wish to incorporate a practical component credited toward their Monash Law degree.

Learn more about Monash Law School’s clinical legal education.

Admission Requirements

Completed bachelor’s degree
You must have a completed undergraduate degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.1/4.0 (approximately 75% or higher) to apply.

or

You must have a completed undergraduate degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7/4.0 (approximately 70%), and an LSAT score of 150+ (taken within the last 5 years of applying for admission).

Admission Timeline

*Applications are assessed on a rolling-admissions basis and are assessed as they are received. You are encouraged to apply a minimum of 3 months prior to the program start date.

1/4

“Monash offers an excellent law program”

Monash offers an excellent law program and provides great organized activities. Monash is currently lacking other Canadian students. Lecturers have all been awesome so far. Can't think of anything I have disliked about the program.

Monash University Jacob L
Juris Doctor
Monash University, 2023

“The program is fantastic.”

I do like my university. I'm currently finishing up my first courses here but I have enjoyed the university thus far. The program is fantastic. It's very engaging and there is a lot of reading involved but the lecturers and librarians have ensured that we are given all the tools and resources we need to do well.

Monash University Amogh K
Juris Doctor
Monash University, 2019

“…great networking opportunities”

The small cohort, and how you get to know everyone by name. It is located in the heart of the legal precinct and gives great networking opportunities for that reason.

Monash University Safia E
Juris Doctor
Monash University, 2019

“The school has a peer mentor program which I really like. It’s great to have a student ahead of you that you can ask for guidance from.”

I only have good things to say about my program so far. The class sizes are great and the school really eases you into the program. I find that everything is really manageable so far. The school has a peer mentor program which I really like. It's great to have a student ahead of you that you can ask for guidance from.

Monash University Simran S.
Monash University, 2018