University of Sydney Law School in Australia

Program Overview - Juris Doctor (JD)

University and Faculty:	University of Sydney University of Sydney Law School
Program:	Juris Doctor (J.D.)
University Location:	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
City Population:	5 million
Student Population:	60,000
Campus Location:	Camperdown/Darlington campus (main campus)
Program Duration:	3 years full time
Semester Intake:	February each year
Next Intake:	February 2018
Est. Indicative Annual Tuition:	$44,500 AUD (2017)
Est. Indicative Total Tuition:	$133,500 AUD (based on 2017 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 Juris Doctor 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 the 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 Canadians Like the 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

Professional Certification/Accreditation Information

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

If you complete the Sydney JD, 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.

Click here to access a Sydney Juris Doctor Guide.

Admissions Criteria/Entry Requirements 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.

Successful applicants, who receive an offer of admission to the Sydney JD, normally achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. As a Canadian, please remember there is no standardized GPA scale used by Canadian universities. A 2.8 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 Shannon Tilston at OzTREKK to discuss your academic background and likelihood of being admitted into the Sydney JD.

Total Number of Places in the Program: 155

Total Number of Places for International Students: Up to 55

Application Deadline: Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply a minimum of three months prior to the program start date.

OzTREKK Admissions Officer: Shannon Tilston