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Career Pathways

Become a lawyer

Be practice-ready for the modern legal landscape

How long will it take?

3 years Bachelor degree
Add
3 years Juris Doctor

Why study with us?

A career in law begins with an undergraduate degree in any discipline followed by the Melbourne JD (Juris Doctor) graduate course.

The Melbourne JD comprises of 24 subjects, including 16 compulsory subjects and 8 elective subjects.

Melbourne Law School is ranked No. 1 in Australia and No. 11 in the world by QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021, and No. 1 in Australia and No. 5 in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2023.

Career outcomes

Career outcomes

The Melbourne JD is well-regarded by a wide range of employers around the world and can be used to pursue a variety of careers in different sectors.

Melbourne Law School graduates work as:

  • Judges, judges’ associates and others in the judicial sector
  • Barristers and public prosecutors
  • Lawyers in law firms
  • In-house and corporate lawyers
  • Lawyers in the community sector (ie community legal centres)
  • Lawyers in not-for-profit organisations (ie human rights NGOs)
  • Government lawyers
  • Policy analysts and advisers in government
  • Management consultants
  • Merchant bankers
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Parliamentarians

Professional accreditation

  • The Victorian Council of Legal Education (Victorian Legal Admissions Board)

The Melbourne JD leads to admission to the legal profession in all Australian jurisdictions and can be used as a basis for seeking admission in many overseas jurisdictions.

In order to practise as a lawyer in Victoria you will need to undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) for 6-12 months with a PLT provider or supervised legal training, usually in the form of a one-year traineeship with a law firm after completing the Melbourne JD. A candidate then has to be admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of an Australian state or territory, and then obtain a practising certificate, generally issued by the local legal professional body.

Further information on practising law in Australia and overseas.

What can I study?

What are the study options?

Standard entry

1. Undergraduate degree

Applicants to the Melbourne JD (Juris Doctor) must first complete an undergraduate degree in any discipline other than law. Studying an undergraduate degree followed by the JD means you'll graduate with a higher-level qualification than a traditional double degree.

2. Graduate degree

Students who are in the final year of their undergraduate degree are welcome to apply to commence the JD in the following year. Selection will be will be based on all tertiary results available at point of application.

Other entry pathways

Graduate Degree Packages

The University also offers guaranteed entry to high–achieving domestic and international students who have completed an Australian Year 12 or the IB in Australia based on your ATAR.

Discover more about Graduate Degree Packages

Melbourne Chancellor's Scholars

Melbourne Chancellor's Scholars are guaranteed a place into the graduate degree of their choice following successful completion of their undergraduate degree.

Discover more about Melbourne Chancellor’s Scholars

Scholarships

The University offers a range of scholarships at both undergraduate and graduate level.

Find a scholarship that's right for you

Guaranteed entry

Guaranteed entry means you’ll have the peace of mind of a secure graduate pathway with us without having to make any big decisions from Year 12. You will also be able to leave Melbourne with an undergraduate qualification if you decide further study isn’t right for you.

Discover more about guaranteed entry

Looking for personalised advice?

Find out more about our graduate degrees and get support with your application. Speak to our expert staff online, via phone or at an upcoming event. You can also register to learn more about your course options and opportunities via email.

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Why study at the University of Melbourne

Industry-ready skills

Industry-ready skills

Deepen your knowledge, sharpen practical insights and gain international perspectives in specialised legal fields to the highest global standard.

Taught by leading experts

Taught by leading experts

Learn from leaders from all branches of the legal profession across Australia, distinguished legal scholars and practitioners from many parts of the world and the Law School’s own experienced staff.

Flexible learning options

Flexible learning options

Choose from more than 160 subjects and 27 specialist legal areas at the cutting edge of law, legal thinking and practice.

Talk to us

Please speak to our expert staff to discover more about our learning opportunities and get support with your application.