Course structure and plans

Melbourne Law School offers a variety of course plans to provide students with the necessary flexibility to tailor their studies to their broader needs and goals.

Course structure

The JD course comprises 24 subjects, including 16 compulsory subjects required for admission to legal practice within Australia. The remaining eight subjects are chosen by students from a wide range of optional subjects offered by the School.

The various course plans enable students to take advantage of other educational, professional and social opportunities during the summer and winter breaks, including seasonal clerkships, international exchanges, internships, mooting and Law Review editorial work. Where students have significant non-study commitments, less intensive course plans offer a path to fully integrate study alongside such other obligations.

Note: Full-time students who are receiving Centrelink payments are advised to check their eligibility if they extend beyond 3.5 years as they are required to maintain a certain study load to be eligible. Part time students are unlikely to be eligible for Centrelink payments.

Course advice for part-time students: If you plan to study on a part-time basis and experience issues with prerequisites, please ensure that you check JD course planning on the JD LMS Community and review the video and advice for part-time students on the appropriate sequencing of core JD subjects.

Students may also use the new My Course Planner tool for assistance with planning their studies.

3 year course plan

^ This subject will be offered alternatively as an intensive during July.

Extended 3.5 year course plan

^ This subject will be offered alternatively as an intensive during July.

# This elective may be moved to an earlier study period.

Extended 4 year course plan

^ This subject will be offered alternatively as an intensive during July. Places are quota restricted. Students can enrol into this offering on a first-in basis, based on their date/time of enrolling into the subject.

* This subject will be offered alternatively as an intensive during November/December. Places are quota restricted. Students can enrol into this offering on a first-in basis, based on their date/time of enrolling into the subject  .

Accelerated 2.5 year course structure

The Melbourne JD can also be accelerated by students with outstanding results in the first semester or first year of the JD with approval from the Law School. While students are encouraged to take advantage of other educational, professional and social opportunities, the ability to participate in all of these possibilities will be limited due to the accelerated nature of this course plan.

Course Acceleration - Important Information

Part-time 4 year course plan

This course plan takes advantage of intensive study options alongside two subjects per semester to increase to a six subject study load per year, with a seventh subject in one of the second, third or fourth years of the degree in order to complete in four years.

Part-time 5 year course plan

This course plan allows students to study four or five subjects per year, using intensive offerings of three compulsory subjects and one elective.

Part-time 6 year course plan

This course plan allows students to study four subjects per year with no intensives, excluding Legal Method and Reasoning.

Enrolment resources

• Course planning and advice
• Enrolment and re-enrolment