Program Overview - Juris Doctor

University and Faculty:	The University of Sydney Sydney Law School
Program:	Juris Doctor (J.D.)
University Location:	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
City Population:	4.5 million
Student Population:	47,200
Campus Location:	Camperdown/Darlington campus (main campus)
Program Duration:	Three years full-time
Semester Intake:	late February/early March each year
Next Intake:	March 2013
Est. Annual Tuition:	$36,480 AUD (2012)
Est. Total Tuition:	$109,440 AUD (based on 2012 fees)

The Sydney Juris Doctor (JD) is the University of Sydney's graduate-entry law degree. It provides a world-class legal education that prepares students for the global and international environment in which they will provide legal advice. A comprehensive, three-year qualification, it has an unrivalled international focus, drawing on Sydney's Faculty of leading academics and international adjunct faculty members, and its long tradition of engagement with international law and perspectives. Sydney's law students receive an education that equips them for the practice of law in a global, transnational and international marketplace for legal services.

The Sydney JD intends to equip students with the knowledge and skills to operate in a global legal environment and create a pathway for international legal practice. Lawyers need international and comparative legal training to respond to increasingly global problems. There has never been a greater demand for legal advice and innovative approaches to problem solving than today. The Sydney JD will develop the skills of analysis, research, writing and advocacy, and prepare graduates to move with confidence across national boundaries.

The Sydney JD comprises the core legal subjects required throughout the world for professional accreditation coupled with the study of a wide range of elective subjects which allows advanced learning in both specialized fields and law in general. Teaching and learning methodology includes a wide range of formats to allow individual choice, a deep understanding of the law, independent research and the development of the skills and ethics inherent in modern professional practice.

Unique features of program:

The Sydney JD program has a strong global focus on international, comparative and transnational aspects of Law. Students are required to study Public International Law and Private International Law as part of their program. The Sydney Law School equips students with the skills to work in a competitive legal environment of the 21st century, so that they can move with confidence across national boundaries when providing legal advice.

Sydney Law School has a number of university-wide and faculty-specific exchange agreements with universities here in Canada. University-wide agreements have been made with the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto, while faculty-specific exchanges have been set up with Queen's University and the University of Victoria.

As part of the Sydney JD, students have the opportunity to gain practical legal experience and provide vital services to disadvantaged members of our community. The Sydney Law School Social Justice Program exposes students to real-world cases, enabling you to apply knowledge gained in the classroom, and develop practical skills such as researching, case-writing, and client interviewing.

Why Canadian students like this specific program:

• The study of public and private international law as core units
• Exciting exchange opportunities
• Unique off shore study opportunities at locations including Nepal, Shanghai and Europe
• Social justice, mooting, publishing and clinical placement programs
• A wide range of elective subjects
• Teaching by leading academics and scholars, including adjunct faculty from the profession and judiciary
• The Sydney Oxford JD/BCL

Scholarships

Each and every OzTREKK student who applies directly and accepts their university offer via OzTREKK, and commences their studies on campus at the University of Sydney will receive a $500 scholarship from OzTREKK.
Click here for more information about the OzTREKK Scholarship!

Professional certification/accreditation:

The Sydney Juris Doctor (JD) meets the academic requirements to practise as a legal pracitioner in the state of New South Wales, Australia.

If you complete the Sydney J.D., you are eligible to apply to practise law in Canada. It is imperative that you understand the requirements and procedures associated with entering the legal profession in Canada. Contact OzTREKK for information about accreditation.

Entry requirements/Pathways for Canadians:

Students need to have completed a degree in another discipline to apply for entry into the Sydney JD.

Applicants will be assessed on academic performance. Please submit to OzTREKK both your university and high school transcripts with your application. You will be assessed on the basis of 25% recognized high school qualification + 75% tertiary grade point average for a completed degree.

If you have completed a Law School Admission Test (LSAT) test, please submit your LSAT results to assist your application.

Successful applicants, who receive an offer of admission to the Sydney JD, normally achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. As a Canadian, please remember there is no standardized GPA scale used by Canadian universities. A 3.0 is normally a B, but it is difficult to pinpoint the minimum percentage grade required for entry into this program, as grading systems differ at post-secondary institutions in Canada. Contact Nicole at OzTREKK to discuss your academic background and likelihood of being admitted into the Sydney JD.

If you have not achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, but have achieved at least a 2.8 average plus an LSAT or 150 or higher, you will be eligible to receive an offer of admission into this program.

To apply: Applicants must submit a postgraduate coursework application, along with their official transcripts (university and high school) and LSAT scores (if they have them). As assessments are based on academic performance, other documents, such as a resume or personal statement, are not mandatory.

Total Number of Spaces: 155

Total Number of Spaces for International Students: Up to 55

Application deadlines: To be confirmed for March 2013.

OzTREKK Admissions Officer: Nicole Buchanan

Click here to access a Sydney Juris Doctor Guide