About this program
The Juris Doctor at the University of Sydney Law School is a graduate-entry professional law degree providing a pathway into legal practice for graduates from non-law disciplines or with an overseas law degree. The program develops cultural competency to work with clients and colleagues from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, legal research and technology skills including statutory interpretation and generative AI, and the ability to collaborate ethically with professional peers.
Graduates work across the legal profession and beyond, including as solicitor, barrister, corporate counsel, judge, business strategist, government policy adviser and diplomat, in organisations ranging from international bodies such as the United Nations to small community practices.
Fees & duration
English test scores
Verified sydney.edu.au ↗
Course structure
Study plan in 4 parts
- Year 1: Legal Reasoning and the Common Law Tradition
- Contracts
- Torts
- Criminal Law
- Public Law
- Year 2: Property
- Equity
- Corporations Law
- Evidence
- Administrative Law
- electives
- Year 3: Civil and Criminal Procedure
- Professional Responsibility
- Clinical Legal Education placement option
- advanced electives (options include International Law, Competition Law, Intellectual Property)
- Covers Priestley 11 subjects required for admission to legal practice in NSW
- Practical Legal Training required post-graduation
Career & PR pathway
Occupations this degree typically leads to, and their skilled-migration list status
SolicitorANZSCO 271311
On both MLTSSL and CSOL, but a positive skills assessment is not the same as being able to practise. You must first be admitted to an Australian state legal profession, which for an overseas or JD graduate means passing the assessed academic subjects, completing Practical Legal Training, and being admitted by the state Supreme Court, before the occupation is realistically usable for a visa.
Assessed by VETASSESS
BarristerANZSCO 271111
On both MLTSSL and CSOL, supporting the points-tested 189, 190, and 491 as well as the employer-sponsored 482 and 186. As with Solicitor, a positive skills assessment is not the same as being able to practise: you must be admitted to the bar in an Australian state or territory before the occupation is realistically usable for a visa. Assessed by the state or territory Legal Admissions Authority, not VETASSESS.
Assessed by State or Territory Legal Admissions Authority
List membership changes over time and does not guarantee an invitation. See the skilled occupation lists guide and the points calculator before relying on this for a visa decision.
Admissions
Admission to candidature for this course required: a bachelor's degree from any discipline other than Law. We also welcome applications from law graduates with a degree from a non-common law jurisdiction. These applicants may receive credit for some of their previous studies toward the JD. Domestic students Domestic students are assessed on the better of a combination of a secondary school leaving qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate and completed tertiary study or completed tertiary study by itself. Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking. Where students have completed more than one degree, results from the best degree will be used. Applicants who identify as Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander may be eligible for an admissions pathway. After submitting your course application, please email your confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity documentation to indigenous.recruitment@sydney.edu.au for assessment. International students International students are assessed on completed tertiary study. They are assessed using a minimum rank and offers are made according to this minimum standard.
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