GraduateLaw
Juris Doctor
James Cook University, Townsville/Cairns, QLD, Australia
About this program
The Juris Doctor at James Cook University (JCU) is a graduate-entry law degree for students who already hold a bachelor's degree in another field. It takes three years full-time, with an accelerated option to finish in two years through a heavier study load. It is offered at the Townsville and Cairns campuses and through JCU Online.
The degree covers the Priestley 11 areas of law that Australian admitting authorities require, and it is accredited by Queensland's Legal Profession Admissions Board. Graduates still need practical legal training before they can be admitted as lawyers. Alongside Australian law, students develop legal writing, oral advocacy, and ethics and professional responsibility. Teaching draws on practising legal professionals. Students with relevant prior study may receive up to 24 credit points of credit for studies completed in the previous 10 years.
Fees & duration
English test scores
Verified handbook.jcu.edu.au ↗
Course structure
- Juris Doctor 3 year enrolment pattern, Year 1, Trimester 1 (LA5001, LA5002, LA5003)
- Juris Doctor 3 year enrolment pattern, Year 1, Trimester 2 (LA5004, LA5005)
- Juris Doctor 3 year enrolment pattern, Year 1, Trimester 3 (LA5011, LA5013)
- Juris Doctor 3 year enrolment pattern, Year 1, Trimester 3, Select LA5006 or LA5007 or LA5008 (LA5007, LA5006, LA5008)
- Juris Doctor 3 year enrolment pattern, Year 2, Trimester 1 (LA5012, LA5014, LA5009)
- Juris Doctor 3 year enrolment pattern, Year 2, Trimester 2 (LA5010, LA5017, LA5015)
- Juris Doctor 3 year enrolment pattern, Year 2, Trimester 3 (LA5018, LA5019)
- Juris Doctor 3 year enrolment pattern, Year 3, Trimester 1 (LA5020, LA5021)
- Juris Doctor 3 year enrolment pattern, Year 3, Trimester 2 (LA5022, LA5016)
- Juris Doctor 2 year enrolment pattern, Year 2, Trimester 1 (LA5014, LA5012, LA5020, LA5021)
- Juris Doctor 2 year enrolment pattern, Year 2, Trimester 2 (LA5015, LA5017, LA5016)
- Juris Doctor 2 year enrolment pattern, Year 2, Trimester 3 (LA5018, LA5019, LA5022)
- Juris Doctor 2 year enrolment pattern, Year 1, Trimester 1 (LA5002, LA5003, LA5009, LA5001)
- Juris Doctor 2 year enrolment pattern, Year 1, Trimester 2 (LA5010, LA5005, LA5004)
- Juris Doctor 2 year enrolment pattern, Year 1, Trimester 3 (LA5013, LA5011)
- Juris Doctor 2 year enrolment pattern, Year 1, Trimester 3, Select LA7006 or LA5007 or LA5008 (LA5007, LA5006, LA5008)
- List 1 (LA5023, LA5024, LA5025, LA5026, LA5027, LA5028)
- List 2 (LA5029, LA5030, LA5006, LA5007, LA5008, LA5031, LA5032, LA5033, LA5034, LA5035, LA5036, LA5037, LA5038, LA5039, LA5040, LA5041, LA5042)
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
Applicants must hold a completed bachelor degree (AQF level 7 or 8, or equivalent) in any discipline other than law from a recognised tertiary institution; OR a law degree from an overseas jurisdiction that does not entitle the holder to practice law in Australia.
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