Juris Doctor courses

Earn your Juris Doctor online and get qualified for a range of legal careers

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Introduction to Juris Doctor

Have you studied something else but realised the law is your calling? A Juris Doctor could be the perfect solution for you.

Compare Juris Doctors from leading Australian law schools through Open Universities Australia. We’ll help you earn your qualification at a flexible pace, so that you can continue to work full or part-time in your current career.

Once you graduate from this course, you will satisfy the educational requirements needed to practice as a lawyer in Australia. As a Juris Doctor graduate, you can pursue a career in any area requiring legal expertise.

Are you ready to take the first step?

Explore Juris Doctor courses
Open Universities Australia student Lisa wearing professional clothes in a business setting.
Lisa studied a Juris Doctor with RMIT University through Open Universities Australia

Discover Juris Doctor courses

Online Juris Doctor degrees

RMIT University

Juris Doctor

PostgraduateRMI-JDR-MAS

Your postgraduate path to a career in law

Study method
100% online
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Macquarie University

Juris Doctor

PostgraduateMAQ-LAW-MAS

Change-making expert knowledge of the law

Study method
Online & on-campus
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Flinders University

Juris Doctor

PostgraduateFLI-JRS-MAS

Take up a flexible law degree that works for you

Study method
100% online
Duration
3 years full time or part time equivalent
View all bachelor degrees

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Juris Doctor study FAQs

What type of degree is a Juris Doctor, and how does it differ from a Bachelor of Laws?

A Juris Doctor is a postgraduate law degree. It covers the same material as a Bachelor of Laws but is designed for those with an undergraduate degree in a non-law discipline.

It’s assessed at a masters degree level.

On the Australian Qualifications Framework, the Juris Doctor is classified as a masters degree.

What will I learn in a Juris Doctor?

In your Juris Doctor, you will learn about the core areas of legal practice and gain an in-depth understanding of Australia’s legal system.

Your studies will cover the ‘Priestley 11’, which are 11 law subjects you must complete if you would like to apply for admission to practice as a lawyer.

Those subjects are:

  • Administrative law

  • Civil procedure

  • Company law

  • Contracts

  • Criminal law and procedure

  • Equity and trusts

  • Ethics and professional responsibility

  • Evidence

  • Federal and state constitutional law

  • Property

  • Torts

What is the workload like?

When you complete your course online through Open Universities Australia, you have complete control over how many subjects you take at once. You can study as little as a subject per semester, making it simple to integrate studying into your work and home life.

A Juris Doctor involves more reading than your average postgraduate course, so you should ensure you can allocate around 15 to 20 hours of study per subject per week to completing your course.

If you need a break, you can also put your studies on hold until you’re ready to resume.

Do I need any prior legal knowledge to enrol?

No. A Juris Doctor degree is for students who have never studied law.

How much does it cost to study a Juris Doctor?

The cost of your online Juris Doctor will depend on the university you study with. Course fees can vary anywhere from $43,000 to $115,000.

Online Juris Doctors are covered by the Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP). If you’re eligible, you can apply to defer all or part of your upfront tuition fees. You will only pay your fees back when your income reaches a certain threshold.

It’s important to note that there is a cap on how much you can borrow through HELP during your study life. If your tuition fees push you above the limit, you may be required to pay the outstanding amount upfront. You can read more about your borrowing limit at StudyAssist.

How long does it take to complete a Juris Doctor course online?

It takes 3 years of full-time study to earn a Juris Doctor online. You can finish your course in 3 years, or take your time moving through the subjects—it’s up to you!

Can I practice law after completing a Juris Doctor course?

Your Juris Doctor alone will not qualify you to practice law. Once you graduate, you still need to complete supervised Practical Legal Training (PLT) or a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice before you can apply for admission to practice.

What other career paths can I explore?

A Juris Doctor can lead to a variety of legal careers within law firms, community legal centres, not-for-profit organisations, corporations and government.

You could go on to become a:

  • Lawyer/solicitor specialising in an area of your choice

  • Barrister

  • Judge or judge’s associate

  • Legal officer

  • In-house legal specialist

You don’t have to practice law to benefit from a Juris Doctor. Legal knowledge is highly sought after in many areas, including business, banking, recruitment and politics. We even have alumni who have applied their skills in the film and healthcare industries.

Your online Juris Doctor can also complement your existing skills and qualifications.

How do I enrol?

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

What related study fields can I explore?

If you’re not convinced a Juris Doctor is the right move for you, don’t worry. We’re here to help you find a study path that’s exciting and fulfilling for you. Consider these related study areas:

If you’re still unsure, book a consultation with our friendly team of student advisors. They’ll help you find the right study pathway for you.

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We’re here to guide you to the right uni course

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Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation helping every Australian to access thousands of university courses.

Over 532,578+ students have enrolled in university through us since 1993.

How we can help you

Studying through Open Universities Australia means we take care of the guesswork and administration of university study, so you can focus on learning.

You don't need a strong academic history to go to uni

We make it possible for everyone to start university through single subjects, regardless of ATAR or study experience. These subjects are covered by government loans, and can be used to upskill or gain entry into a qualification.

You have the flexibility to start at multiple points during the year

We’re not restricted by a traditional academic calendar, so you can enrol when it suits your life. You also have total control over how you study. You can scale up (or down) your study load and even pause your course if you need to.

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As a not for profit, we have your best interests at heart. Our advisors are here 7 days a week to guide and support you. It’s our priority to get you qualified with the university of your choice.

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