A law degree in Australia — offered as a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or a Juris Doctor (JD) — is one of the most prestigious and intellectually rigorous qualifications available to Australian students. The LLB is a four-year undergraduate degree open to high school leavers with a competitive ATAR, providing a thorough grounding in Australian law across areas such as criminal law, constitutional law, property law, contract law, and equity. The Juris Doctor (JD) is a three-year postgraduate professional law degree designed for graduates who already hold a bachelor's degree in any discipline, making it an ideal pathway for career changers and those who wish to bring interdisciplinary expertise to legal practice. Both degrees satisfy the academic requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia, though graduates must also complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) before they can be admitted to the bar. Topics studied span public and private law, domestic and international legal frameworks, dispute resolution, legal ethics, and specialisations such as corporate law, family law, environmental law, intellectual property, and human rights law. Key employers of law graduates include private law firms (from boutique practices to global firms), federal and state government departments, the Australian Public Service, courts and tribunals, community legal centres, in-house legal teams at corporations, and non-government organisations.

For the LLB (undergraduate), applicants are assessed primarily on their ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank). Entry is highly competitive: top-tier universities typically require ATARs ranging from 95 to 99.5, while other accredited institutions may accept scores from the mid-80s or above. Some universities also require or consider supplementary admission tests — for example, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is used at certain institutions, while others may conduct personal interviews or require a personal statement. English proficiency requirements apply to all schools, and most require completion of an English subject in Year 12 to a specified level. Alternative entry pathways are available at many institutions, including foundation programs, diploma courses, and equity adjustment schemes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

For the Juris Doctor (JD, postgraduate), applicants must hold a completed bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised institution. Most universities require a minimum GPA of around 5.0 on a 7-point scale (or equivalent), and some of the most selective programs additionally require a competitive LSAT score, a strong weighted average mark (WAM), or a personal statement. International and domestic students studying a JD must also demonstrate English language proficiency, typically through an IELTS score of 6.5 to 7.0 overall (with no band below 6.0), or equivalent results in TOEFL or PTE Academic. Some institutions offer part-time or flexible study options for the JD to accommodate working professionals.

Once academic qualifications are complete, all graduates who wish to practise law must complete an approved Practical Legal Training (PLT) program — commonly a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice — before being admitted as a legal practitioner in their state or territory. The PLT typically takes six months to one year and focuses on practical skills including legal drafting, interviewing, and workplace simulations.