Entry requirements for law degrees in Australia
By Luan KoayPublished on
There’s more than one way to get into a law degree. Student advisor Luan Koay takes you through ATAR, graduate, mature-age and alternative pathways, helping you choose a next step that suits you.
Can you get into a law degree?
In many cases, yes. Entry requirements vary depending on the course, university and your previous study or work experience.
A high ATAR is not the only way into law. If you don’t meet the requirements straight away, you may be able to start with another qualification, complete pathway subjects or use prior study and work experience to strengthen your application.
Let’s look at the most common entry requirements for law degrees and the pathways available if you’re not eligible yet.
Entry requirements for law degrees at a glance
Your study background will help determine which law courses you can apply for. This table covers the most common entry requirements, but they vary between universities.
Qualification | Typical entry requirements | Alternative entry options | Who usually applies |
Year 12 (with an appropriate ATAR) or recognised prior study | Open Access subjects, an undergraduate certificate or work experience may be accepted | Anyone without a degree who wants to practise law or build legal expertise | |
A bachelor degree or above in any field. Some courses assess your academic average | Generally limited, but work experience may be considered | Career changers who want to practise law or build legal expertise | |
A bachelor degree in any discipline | Relevant work experience (typically at least five years) may be accepted | Professionals wanting knowledge in an area of law, continuing professional development, or a pathway into further postgraduate study | |
A bachelor degree or graduate certificate in any discipline | Relevant work experience (typically at least five years) may be accepted | Professionals across disciplines who want in-depth knowledge in an area of law | |
A bachelor degree or higher, sometimes in a related discipline | Relevant work experience (typically at least five years) may be accepted, but not as common | Professionals across disciplines who want to specialise in an area of law | |
Master of Laws | An accredited Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor | Varies by course | Lawyers and law graduates who want to specialise |
If you want to become a lawyer, you will need to focus on getting into an accredited Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor. These are the only qualifications recognised for admission to legal practice in Australia.
After graduating, you’ll also need to complete practical legal training and meet the admission requirements in your state or territory.
Undergraduate entry requirements
Your school results are only one possible route into undergraduate law. Universities may also consider previous study, work and life experience, or completion of an accepted pathway.
Bachelor of Laws (or a Bachelor of Legal Studies)
School leavers
For those straight out of Year 12, entry is usually based on an ATAR, which is derived from your school results.
The required ATAR can vary considerably between courses. Some Bachelor of Laws accept results in the 70s, while others require scores in the 90s.
Bachelor of Legal Studies courses generally have a lower ATAR, often around 60 to 70, though it's important to note that this degree won't qualify you to apply for admission as a lawyer.
When it comes to prerequisite subjects, they are less standardised than many people expect. There’s no national list of Year 12 subjects that every undergraduate law course applicant must have completed, although some universities require or recommend English. Check the course page for any specific subject prerequisites.
Mature-age and prior-study applicants
If you’re applying later in life, you don’t necessarily need an ATAR. For law degree mature age entry, universities may consider:
- completed or partially completed university study
- a Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma
- relevant work and life experience, where accepted
There are also alternative entry pathways you can follow, which I’ll go into further down.
Your age alone won’t establish your eligibility. I suggest listing the study and experience you already have, then checking which courses will consider it. You may need to provide academic records, employment details or a personal statement.
English proficiency requirements
If English isn’t your first language, or you completed your previous education in another language, you may also need to provide evidence of your English proficiency. This is often done through an approved English language test, such as IELTS.
Postgraduate entry requirements
If you already hold a bachelor degree, you may like to consider postgraduate law.
Juris Doctor
A Juris Doctor usually requires a bachelor degree in another field. That makes it the clearest graduate entry law degree for many career changers. Some universities will also assess your academic average or set a minimum grade point average.
You may need to provide English proficiency evidence if your earlier education wasn’t completed in English. These requirements vary, so check what your chosen course accepts before you prepare the documents.
Graduate certificate, graduate diploma or masters degree
These postgraduate law qualifications often help those already working in the field to build specialist knowledge.
Most require a bachelor degree, sometimes in a related study area. Selected courses may also consider substantial professional experience in law, policy, policing, security or justice, usually at least five years.
If you’re relying on your work experience, read the criteria closely. Check the type and length of experience required, along with the evidence you’ll need to provide.
What about the Master of Laws (LLM)?
Master of Laws programs are designed for law graduates and require an accredited Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor.
They’re not currently available through Open Universities Australia, but it’s worth understanding this when you browse your options.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) and credit
Applying for recognition of prior learning can save you from repeating equivalent study, but accredited law degrees have stricter limits.
To meet the educational requirements to qualify as a lawyer, you must have successfully completed 11 prescribed areas of academic knowledge, known as the ‘Priestley 11’.
The university and relevant admissions authority will assess whether your earlier law study is equivalent. Even if it doesn’t gain you credit, it may help with being accepted into a course.
What if you don’t meet entry requirements?
Missing the direct entry requirements doesn’t mean law is out of reach. Your best route forward is to follow one of the below alternative entry pathways.
Read more about them in our non-ATAR pathways into university guide.
Begin with Open Access subjects
This pathway is only available through Open Universities Australia and is open to anyone.
It involves completing up to four nominated introductory law subjects online, which allows you to then meet the entry requirements for selected law-related bachelor degrees.
You’ll need to pass all subjects and possibly meet a required grade. If the university then admits you, those subjects will usually count towards your degree.
I recommend it to those who want to see if law is right for them by studying a subject at a time.
Complete an undergraduate certificate
You may prefer an undergraduate certificate if you want to finish with a recognised qualification before moving into a bachelor degree.
Some have no entry requirements, while others consider school, vocational or work experience without using your ATAR.
Undergraduate certificates are usually made up of four subjects and can take 6-8 months to complete full time.
Before you choose one, check which bachelor degree it connects to and how much credit you may receive.
Not all undergraduate certificates within law and justice lead neatly into an accredited Bachelor of Laws.
How can you improve your eligibility?
Start by checking the entry requirements for the specific degree you want to study.
Different universities accept different forms of previous study, work experience and pathway qualifications, so there is no single route that applies to every law course.
Once you know what the course requires, you can focus on the gaps in your application. This may involve:
- finding out whether your previous study or work experience can be considered
- completing pathway subjects or another recognised qualification
- achieving any required grades
- gathering academic records and other supporting documents
Still deciding where to start? Read more about how to choose the best online law course for you.
Explore your study options through us
Wherever you're starting from, there are study options to help you move forward.
Compare online law courses from Australian universities, or contact a student advisor like me if you'd like help understanding entry requirements and choosing a pathway.
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FAQs about entry requirements for law
What is the easiest law degree to get into?
The easiest law degrees to get into are those that allow entry through Open Access subjects. This means you can get started without meeting the usual entry requirements. This option is currently available for select University of New England law degrees offered through Open Universities Australia.
However, the easiest option for you will depend on your background. A course that recognises your previous study, vocational qualifications or work experience may offer a more direct route.
Do I need specific Year 12 subjects to study law?
Not always. Some universities require or recommend English, but there’s no national list of Year 12 subjects required for every law degree.
Can I study law if my ATAR is too low?
Yes, you may still have another way in. Some degrees accept previous study, work experience or nominated Open Access subjects.
Read more about how you can study without an ATAR.
Is it hard to get into a law degree?
Some law degrees are highly competitive, but entry standards vary widely. One university may expect a high ATAR, while another offers entry through previous study or single subjects.
Compare law degree entry requirements for courses that support your goal, rather than judging the whole field by one score.
Do online law degrees have different entry requirements?
Not necessarily. Studying online doesn’t automatically change a course’s entry, English proficiency or previous study requirements. The qualification will be the same as the on-campus version.
However, some online courses available through Open Universities Australia can be easier to access because we work with universities to create alternative pathways in.
