Juris

The Juris Doctor is a graduate entry program (for non-law graduates) that provides students with the opportunity for a comprehensive study of law, not only to prepare for practice as a solicitor or barrister in Queensland but also to examine the legal process and its social, political and economic context.

The program aims to equip students with an academic qualification for professional practice.

While this is a focused program preparing students for professional practice with particular skills in applied legal research, it also builds the special capabilities that a legal education can offer, such as complex problem-solving and policy analysis.

Program objectives

Upon completion of the Juris Doctor students will be able to:

• demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of a coherent body of knowledge that includes the fundamental areas of law, the Australian legal system, and underlying principles and concepts (including international and comparative contexts), the broader contexts within which legal issues arise, the principles and values of justice and of ethical practice in lawyers’ roles, and contemporary developments in law and its professional practice

• demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making, an ability to recognise and reflect upon, and a developing ability to respond to, ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts

• demonstrate an ability to recognise and reflect upon the professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice and in service to the community; and a developing ability to exercise professional judgment

• identify and articulate complex legal issues; and apply legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate jurisprudential and practical responses to legal issues

• engage in critical analysis and make reasoned and appropriate choices amongst alternatives

• demonstrate sophisticated cognitive and creative skills in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate responses

• demonstrate the intellectual and practical skills needed to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, legal methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions, as well as to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues

• communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences; and collaborate effectively

• work with a high level of autonomy, accountability and professionalism; reflect on and assess their own capabilities and performance; and make use of feedback, as appropriate, to support personal and professional development.

• LAW5111 Advanced Legal Institutions and Process
• LAW5112 Advanced Legal Writing and Research
• LAW5113 Advanced Civil Obligations A (Contract and Torts)
• LAW5114 Advanced Law in Context
• LAW5121 Advanced Criminal Law
• LAW5122 Advanced Legal Conflict Resolution
• LAW5123 Advanced Civil Obligations B (Contract)
• LAW5124 Advanced Civil Obligations C (Torts)
• LAW5211 Advanced Constitutional Law
• LAW5212 Advanced Equity
• LAW5213 Advanced Property and Trusts A
• LAW5221 Advanced Administrative Law
• LAW5222 Advanced Public International and Human Rights Law
• LAW5223 Advanced Property and Trusts B
• LAW5224 Advanced Theories of Law
• LAW5311 Advanced Company Law
• LAW5312 Advanced Legal Professional Practice and Ethics
• LAW5321 Advanced Evidence
• LAW5322 Advanced Civil Procedure
• LAW8001 Legal Research Methodology
• LAW5323 Advanced Research Project*

Footnotes

*

Students should have completed 16 core Law courses before enrolling inLAW5323. It is also highly recommended that this course be the last course to complete in the program.

Elective courses

Choose three of the following Law electives. Some law elective courses are to be offered biennially. Students will be advised of the law elective courses on offer for each year.

Course

• ECO3033 Law and Economics
• LAW2107 Environmental Law
• LAW2301 e-Law
• LAW3110 Insolvency and Restructuring Law
• LAW3130 Revenue Law and Practice
• LAW3131 Revenue Law and Practice II
• LAW3404 Banking, Finance and Insurance Law
• LAW3405 Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Law
• LAW3406 Intellectual Property Law
• LAW3421 Family Law
• LAW3422 Succession Law
• LAW3424 Land Contracts
• LAW3441 Energy and Resources Law
• LAW3442 Workplace Law*
• LAW3444 Competition and Consumer Law*
• LAW3463 Private International Law
• LAW3470 Principles of Public Law
• WIL3000 Work Integrated Learning - Law^
• LAW8701 Constitutional Human Rights*
• LAW8703 Comparative Employment Law*
• LAW8704 Corporate Governance Law*
• LAW8705 Cross-border Litigation*
• LAW8706 International Humanitarian Law*
• LAW8707 International Economic Law*
• LAW8118 International Business Law

Applicants to the Juris Doctor program are required to have graduated with a three-year undergraduate degree or equivalent in an area other than law from a recognised institution. International applicants must have met the University's English language requirements or have completed the University's University's ELICOS/EAP programs. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 570 TOEFL iBT® test: 90

Accreditation

The Juris Doctor has been accredited by the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board, Queensland, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland as an approved academic qualification under the Supreme Court (Admission) Rules 2004 (Qld). This will partially satisfy the requirements to practise as a solicitor or barrister in Queensland, or as a lawyer elsewhere in Australia. Intending solicitors and barristers must also complete an approved practical legal training course in order to become admitted to practise law. USQ does not offer practical legal training, but advice on practical legal training programs can be obtained through Ask USQ.