How to find the best online law degree for you in Australia
By Luan KoayPublished on
Not sure which online law course is right for you? Student advisor Luan Koay explains how to compare options based on your career goal, study history, experience and readiness.
How to choose the right online law course
When students ask me how to choose the best online law course, I start by narrowing the decision. Your best option depends on your career goal, study history, workload and whether you need a law degree that meets the academic requirements for admission as a lawyer.
As your student advisor, I’ll ask you:
- Do you want to become a lawyer or do you want legal knowledge for another career?
- Are you ready for a full degree or do you want to test your interest first?
- Have you studied at university before?
- Do you need your study to fit around work or family?
These answers help you compare pathways before you compare individual courses. Through Open Universities Australia, you can explore a wide variety of online law and justice courses, then focus on the options that match your next step.
Find the best path for your situation
Use this table as a shortcut before you compare specific courses.
You are: | The best path for you is: | To learn more, jump to: |
New to university and want to become a lawyer | A Bachelor of Laws | Starting a career in law |
A graduate from a non-law field who wants to become a lawyer | A Juris Doctor | Changing careers into law |
Interested in law, but not necessarily legal practice | Law and justice courses | Starting a career in law |
Not ready for a full degree, or don’t have an ATAR | A single subject or undergraduate certificate | Exploring law before committing |
Already working in law, justice, policy or a related field | A graduate certificate, graduate diploma or masters degree | Using law to advance your career |
Starting a career in law
This is you if: You’re new to law study and want to understand which first step matches your goal. You may be leaving school, returning to study, or starting university for the first time.
I want to become a lawyer
Recommended: An accredited Bachelor of Laws.
A Bachelor of Laws is the standard undergraduate path towards legal practice. Through Open Universities Australia, you can compare online law courses that are accredited by state legal boards. Most Bachelor of Laws courses take three or four years full time, or part-time equivalent.
Before you choose, check:
- whether the course satisfies the academic requirements for admission into the legal profession
- how long the degree will take
- what subjects or specialisations are available
- whether you meet the entry requirements
- what practical legal training you may need later
Requirements vary by state, territory and course, so confirm the details before enrolling.
I want to work in law, but not necessarily as a lawyer
Recommended: A bachelor degree in law and justice.
Not every law-related course is designed to qualify you as a lawyer. If you're a non-law working professional and want legal knowledge for another career, you can compare options in areas like business law, criminology, public policy, human rights, international relations or security.
My advice is to follow your area of interest, then check the course outcomes carefully. A law and justice course can support broader career goals, but it may not meet the academic requirements for legal practice.
I want to study law, but don’t meet the entry requirements
Recommended: A single law subject or undergraduate certificate.
If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a full degree, you may still have options. A single subject or undergraduate certificate can help you test your interest, build confidence and work towards further study.
Some single subjects have no entry requirements. Successfully completing one or two subjects may help you gain entry into a bachelor degree, depending on the course.
An undergraduate certificate in law is an introductory qualification usually made up of four subjects and can often be completed in six to eight months full time, or part-time equivalent, depending on the course. It can help you gain access to a bachelor degree and may even count as credit.
Changing careers into law
This is you if: You already work in another field and are considering law as a career change. You may already have useful skills from your professional experience.
I already have a bachelor degree in another field and want to become a lawyer
Recommended: A Juris Doctor.
If you already have a degree in another field, I’d usually suggest looking at the Juris Doctor before another undergraduate degree. It’s a postgraduate law degree for students who have already studied at university.
I speak to non-law professionals who want to move into law from areas like teaching, business, government, policing, social work, finance, journalism, human resources and community services.
Check accreditation, entry requirements and admission rules before applying.
I already have a bachelor degree in another field and am interested in law more generally
Recommended: A law and justice course or specialised postgraduate option.
If you want legal knowledge for your current field, you may not need a professional law degree. You could compare courses in business law, public policy, human rights, international relations, criminology or security.
Start with the outcome you want. If you want legal practice, check accredited pathways. If you want legal knowledge for another role, compare subjects, course level and workload.
Explore postgraduate law and justice coursesUsing law to advance your career
This is you if: You already work in law, justice, policy or a related field and want to build deeper expertise.
I want to build law skills quickly
Recommended: A short course in law.
If you want to upskill in a specific area, compare the short courses in law available through Open Universities Australia.
A short course can help you build transferable skills, including critical thinking, ethical judgement, problem-solving and attention to detail. It can also help you test whether further study fits your goals.
Explore short courses in law and justiceI want a recognised qualification
Recommended: A graduate certificate or graduate diploma in law.
A graduate certificate or graduate diploma can be a lower-commitment way to extend your skills. These options may suit you if you want legal knowledge for your current role, or if you want to move into a related area.
Before choosing, compare the course focus, entry requirements, workload and whether it can lead into a masters degree.
I want to specialise or prepare for more senior roles
Recommended: A masters degree in law or law and justice.
A masters degree may suit you if you want to deepen your expertise in a specific legal, justice or policy area. You can explore areas such as business law, criminal justice, criminology, forensics, human rights, international relations, public policy, and security and counter-terrorism.
If you need help narrowing it down, book a consultation with a student advisor and we’ll talk you through it.
Explore masters degrees in law and justiceExploring law before committing
This is you if: You are interested in law, but not ready to enrol in a full degree.
I want an introduction to law only
Recommended: A single law subject.
A single subject can help you test your interest, see how study fits into your life and build confidence before committing to a full qualification.
If you complete a subject successfully, it may also help you work towards entry into a degree. Credit rules vary, so check the course page before enrolling.
Explore single subjects in law and justiceI’m not sure I’m ready to study law
Recommended: An enabling course.
If you’re feeling unsure about starting university, you’re not alone. An enabling course can be a practical way to ease into study and build your confidence before beginning your degree.
Studying law can open up a wide range of career pathways, from legal practice to roles in business, government and policy. An enabling course gives you the chance to build your study skills before you begin, so you can start your degree feeling more prepared and confident.
Explore enabling coursesCompare online law course options
Use this table to compare the main online law study options before you choose.
Qualification | Best if... | Typical study time | Previous study required? | Can it lead to legal practice? |
Single subject | You want to test your interest | 3-4 months | No | Not on its own, but it may lead to a bachelor degree |
Undergraduate certificate | You want a shorter pathway option | 6-8 months full time | No | Usually no, but it may lead to a bachelor degree |
Bachelor of Laws | You want to become a lawyer and have not completed a degree | 3-4 years full time | No | Yes, where accredited |
Juris Doctor | You want to become a lawyer and already have a degree | 3 years full time | Yes | Yes, where accredited |
Graduate certificate or graduate diploma | You work in law, justice, policy or a related field | 6 months to 1 year full time | Yes | Usually no, unless specified |
Masters degree | You want advanced knowledge or leadership options | 2 years full time | Yes | Usually no, unless specified |
From here, you can browse law and justice courses through Open Universities Australia.
Need help choosing the right online law course?
Choosing an online law course can feel like a big decision, but you don’t have to compare every option on your own.
Start with your goal, then check the qualification level, accreditation, duration, workload, fees and entry requirements.
If you're still unsure, book a Choose a Course consultation with a student advisor. We can help you compare online law degrees, single subjects and pathway options, so you can choose a practical next step.
About the author
FAQs about online law courses
What is the best law qualification for professionals who want to work outside the legal sector?
The best qualification depends on the field you want to work in. If you want legal knowledge for another career, you may not need a standard law degree.
You could compare options in business law, criminology, public policy, human rights, international relations or security.
When is a postgraduate law qualification better than an undergraduate degree?
A postgraduate law qualification may suit you if you already have an undergraduate degree. In that case, a Juris Doctor may be more relevant than starting another bachelor degree.
If your goal is legal practice, check accreditation, practical legal training requirements and admission rules in the state or territory where you want to practise.
