How to study law online in Australia

Thinking about studying law online? 

You might be wondering, “is it even possible to study law online?” Or maybe, “could I actually handle it?” 

After helping thousands of students realise their dreams, some might say I’m a little biased, but I’d answer “yes” to both questions. It’s all about figuring out how to make studying law online work for you.

Is online law study right for you? 

Studying law online can be just as advantageous as studying law in person, because you graduate with the same degree, level of education and prospects. (Yes, really!).

In fact, online law degrees offered by recognised Australian universities undergo the same rigorous accreditation processes as their on-campus counterparts. 

Then there are the many lifestyle benefits.  

Studying online is ideal if you: 

• Have a busy home life you’ll need to juggle while studying 
  Including a full-time job, kids at home, or caring responsibilities for ageing parents. Studying law online allows you to watch lectures and chip away at learning activities when it suits you, without dropping the ball elsewhere. 
• Want to prove your ability from the comfort of home 
  A study area like law can make just about anyone feel a smidge of imposter syndrome. But with online study, you’ll feel a little less exposed, and a little more comfortable.  
• Want to feel out the workload before committing 
  Online study is a great avenue for starting with just one subject. Law typically requires a large amount of reading, so you can see how it feels before committing to more.  
• Are comfortable keeping yourself on track 
  It’s no secret studying online requires a level of motivation often not required of on-campus students. While there’s no universal formula, if you're good at setting objectives and managing your time, you already have the right mindset.  

What does studying law online actually look like? 

If you haven't already, I recommend checking out our guide to what studying law is really like.  

In an online version of a course, you’ll still attend classes, analyse cases, discuss legal issues and put your knowledge into practice. The main difference is that you’ll do this through a Learning Management System, with more flexibility around when and where you study. 

What to expect from your coursework 

As an online student, you will: 

• watch recorded lectures or attend live online classes 
• read and analyse cases and legislation 
• research legal questions using online databases 
• discuss cases and legal issues with classmates 
• work through hypothetical legal problems 
• prepare written arguments or legal documents 

Technology allows universities to adapt activities you might associate with a physical law school for online students. In other words, you'll still take part in practical learning activities like moot courts, negotiations, role-playing and simulated legal scenarios, just through video platforms like Zoom instead.  

Some online law degrees also offer professional placements, giving you the opportunity to gain experience in a workplace near you where legal work is performed. I recommend checking the course description for your chosen course to see if this is an option. 

How flexible is online law study? 

Studying law online is just as flexible as studying anything online, really. You’ll have weekly topics you need to read-up on, lectures to 'attend' (whether that be listening to, or watching them), and discussion forums to contribute to.  

While you need to learn specific content during allocated weeks, submit assignments and respond to forum discussions at prescribed times, the studying part happens when (and where) it suits you best. 

How do you stay connected when studying law online? 

Online students can miss some of the spontaneous interaction that happens on campus. You won’t necessarily have someone sitting beside you to discuss a tricky case with after class. 

That makes it important to actively seek out opportunities to connect, whether that means making an effort to join live lectures online, contribute to discussion forums or organise online study groups with classmates. 

Universities can also help you connect with the wider legal profession.

Andrew Hemming, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Southern Queensland, says: 

We share opportunities we receive from law firms and government agencies with our students. These opportunities are available to both our on-campus and online students.

Taking part in these opportunities can help you build connections beyond the virtual classroom. 

What law qualifications can you study online? 

You can study a wide range of law subjects and degrees online. Through Open Universities Australia, these include:  

• Single subjects in law 
• Undergraduate Certificate in Law 
• Diploma of Paralegal Studies 
• Diploma of Legal Studies 
• Diploma of Conveyancing (Law and Practice) 
• Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) 
• Bachelor of Legal Studies 
• Bachelor of Laws (3 Years of 4 Years) 
• Bachelor of Commerce (Business Law) 
• Graduate Certificate of Laws 
• Graduate Diploma in Laws 
• Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice 
• Master of International Law Studies 
• Master of Australian Migration Law and Practice 
• Master of Laws in Enterprise Governance 
• Juris Doctor 

Entry requirements and alternative pathways 

Often when people think of the more 'difficult' courses to get into, law comes to mind. But there are plenty of options for getting started, particularly when you choose to study through Open Universities Australia.  

We have what we like to call ‘open enrolment subjects’, also known ‘Open Access’. With this pathway, you can get going without entry requirements. Of course, the further qualified you’d like to become in law, the more entry requirements do come into play. If you’re looking to jump straight into a bachelor degree or Juris Doctor for instance, you’ll need to prove adequate previous study.  

The good news, however, is that in many cases you can complete these requirements by starting with single subjects through us here at Open Universities Australia. Read more about the alternative pathways into university.

Which online law course is right for you? 

If you're mulling this over, you might find this a helpful way to think about it: 

Our law degree guide can help you compare your options in more detail. 

How long does it take to study law online? 

This depends on the type of course in law you’re looking at. Let’s break it down with some approximate durations: 

Remember, these are estimations and do vary depending on the specific course and university you’d like to study with. 

If you're studying with the aim to practice law, you might like to read more about how long it takes to become a lawyer.  

Costs and funding options 

Law courses range in costs, but at the time of writing, entry level single subjects general sit between $2,300-$2,500 for most universities. An undergraduate certificate can be around $8,500-$9,000.  

If you’re looking at a bachelor, graduate certificate or Juris Doctor the indicative first year fees sit around $17,000-$20,000. Again, these vary depending on the university and specific course you choose.  

The good news is, there are a range of funding options available, with HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP on offer if you’re eligible. These options mean you take out a loan through the Australian Government, deferring your course fees until you’re earning over the minimum threshold. Once you do earn that amount, you pay your fees back incrementally. Here at Open Universities Australia, you can even do this for single subjects.  

This is something myself and my fellow student advisors can help you with over the phone. Find out more about student loans.  

Online vs on-campus study in law  

Let’s do a final recap of the differences, so you can see them in black and white:  

At the end of the day, one isn’t better than the other – and you don’t even have to commit to one for the entirety of your course if you want to switch to online or on-campus down the track. It’s all about what makes sense for you right now.  

How to get started studying law online 

My advice is to look around the Open Universities Australia website first. Our Law & Justice study online section and Law & Justice career guide are both great places to start. 

From there, I’d recommend booking a consultation with myself or one of the other student advisors I work with. Our advice is totally unbiased and free.

If you’re already set on law as your ideal area of study, you can go right ahead and book a Choose a Course Consultation. During this call, we’ll help you choose the exact law course to reach your goals.  

FAQs about studying law online