The Melbourne JD

Melbourne Law School is Australia's first law school and with experience gained over 150 years continues to be a leader and innovator in teaching the next generation of skilled legal professionals.

Taught at a graduate level, the Melbourne JD equips graduates with the analytical skills and intellectual maturity to take a leading role in contemporary legal practice, the business world, government or community organisations.

Graduating with a law degree from world-renowned Melbourne Law School means that wherever your career takes you, your degree will be recognised as exceptional - both nationally and internationally.

JD students will:

• Join other engaged and enthusiastic students in discussion-based classes and enrich each other's education.
• Build skills for employment in the 21st century by collaborating and interacting with other students in group work.
• Be a part of a tight-knit community of graduates and learn alongside your supportive classmates.
• Have the opportunity to join societies, edit journals, attend public lectures, and participate in cultural events, moots and art competitions.
• Build a network for life through connections to your student peers, Law School alumni, mentors and university staff.

The Melbourne JD is taught over six semesters under the standard three-year structure, with options for flexible study (subject to approval by the Law School). The curriculum is designed specifically for graduate students, with opportunities to study new and emerging areas of law in a range of specialised topics. The JD comprises 24 subjects, of which 16 are compulsory.

Further information on the Melbourne JD

Melbourne Law Masters

The Melbourne Law Masters is a graduate law program of the highest quality that is available for both law and selected non-law graduates.

A suite of general and specialist masters degrees and graduate diplomas offer the opportunity to study at one of the finest law schools in the world. Distinctive features of the Melbourne Law Masters include the expertise of the teaching staff, small class sizes, a diverse student body, a rich blend of national and international perspectives, support services tailored to the needs of graduate students, excellent facilities and an extraordinary range of subjects at the cutting edge of developments in law and legal thinking.

Further information on the Melbourne Law Masters

Communications Law

The specialisation in communications law was developed to provide students with an advanced understanding of the existing and developing law affecting the media and communication industries and its impact on the publication of information, ownership, services and technology. Attuned to the rapid and evolving development of communications technologies, the program provides a valuable insight into this vibrant area of law. Melbourne Law School has a high level of expertise in communications law, as well as a dedicated research centre, the Centre for Media and Communications Law, which is a useful resource for students.

Further information on the masters program in Communications Law

Master of Intellectual Property Law

Melbourne Law School’s specialisation in intellectual property (IP) is one of the largest and most respected specialist IP law programs in the world. Its extensive range of challenging, cutting-edge subjects covers the spectrum of IP protection regimes, and are practically focused and theoretically rigorous. Many of the specialisation's subjects are accredited by the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board (TTIPAB). This program is ideal for those seeking accreditation as a patent and/or trade marks attorney in Australia and New Zealand, as well as for those seeking to develop or expand their expertise in intellectual property law generally.

Further information on the Master of Intellectual Property Law

Melbourne Law Doctorates

The CMCL welcomes students interested in undertaking a research in a range of legal areas, including media, communications, intellectual property, journalism, contempt, privacy, art and law, and law and economics. The CMCL may be available to supervise sociological, doctrinal, law and economics, theoretical and empirical research papers.

If you are interested in undertaking a Research Higher Degree with the CMCL, please contact us to discuss your proposal.

Further information on the Research Higher Degree program

Breadth Subjects

CMCL and IPRIA teach in a number of breadth subjects;

Owning Ideas: Creation, Innovation and the Law
Free Speech and Media Law
Privacy Law and Social Networks

Past Events

A brief history of centre events.

View More