Course Overview

About This Course

Seek admission to legal practice after 3 years with practical training built into your Juris Doctor. Our Juris Doctor with embedded Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (‘JD/GDLP’) is accredited to provide all the academic and practical training required to qualify as a lawyer. We guarantee to arrange your required supervised workplace placement, meaning that after you graduate there will be no further supervision or training required before you can apply to be admitted to start practising law.

You’ll study at Australia’s top clinical law school and gain in-demand professional skills applicable across many professions. We offer competitive tuition fees, and modern learning spaces. Located in Newcastle’s thriving CBD, NUspace is close to Newcastle’s court precinct, making it easy to network with local practitioners and attend court. This degree is not only recognised in Australia. With further study it can help qualify you to practise law in a number of other common law countries, including Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In addition to the compulsory courses required by the Legal Profession Admission Board, you can choose directed courses from a range of areas including: All courses are taught by our highly qualified staff, many of whom have been recognised through national teaching awards. You may also have the opportunity to travel overseas to participate in an international clinical legal externship.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Sydney

55 Elizabeth St, Sydney, NSW 2000

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Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Provider's Published Fee

AUD 30,950 per year (indicative, 2026)

Duration

156 weeks

Intakes

Midyear Session, Trimester 1

Study Mode

Full-time

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Entry to the JD/GradDipLegPrac is available to students who have one of the following qualifications with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.0 or above:
a Bachelor Degree
a Bachelor Honours Degree
a Master's Degree
Students who have gained one of the above qualifications from a University outside of Australia in the discipline of law with a GPA of 4.0 or above can be admitted.
Students with a Bachelor of Laws degree from an Australian University cannot be admitted.
Applicants with one of the above qualifications with a GPA of 3.5 may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students with an overseas law degree qualification can apply for up to 80 units of specified or unspecified credit through recognition of prior learning.
Where a student seeks specified credit for one or more of the eleven courses normally required for admission to practice law in Australia (known as the Priestley 11), then this will be considered where applicants have satisfied the NSW Legal Profession Admissions Board (or the equivalent body in another Australian state) that courses completed at the relevant overseas institution are substantially equivalent to the courses for which they are seeking specified credit.

International students

English language proficiency (IELTS Academic or approved equivalent): overall minimum 7; no sub-test below 6.5.
CRICOS course code: 079631E.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

After graduating, you’ll have the skills to work in roles such as: Graduating with the Juris Doctor (JD) / Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP) gives you the skills and knowledge to practice as a lawyer, and is also the springboard to a range of exciting professional careers. Potential career options include:

• In-House Legal Counsel
• Criminal Prosecutor
• Community Legal Centre Lawyer
• Environmental Lawyer
• Barrister (with further study)
• Policy Analyst
• Barrister
• Compliance Officer
• Corporate Lawyer
• Criminal Lawyer
• Family Lawyer
• Foreign Affairs and Trade Officer
• Human Rights Lawyer
• Industrial Relations Lawyer
• In House Lawyer
• Judge's Associate
• Law Clerk/Paralegal
• Lawyer
• Legal Aid Lawyer
• Lobbyist
• Mediator
• Parliamentarian/Member of Parliament/Politician
• Technical Advisor
• Personal Injury Lawyer
• Policy and regulatory officer / advisor
• Political Advisor
• Prosecutor
• Resource and Regulatory Compliance Manager
• Scientific Patent Examiner/Technical Advisor
• Trade Union Official
• University Lecturer/Academic
• Child Protection Officer
• Contracts Administrator
• Contracts Manager
• Court Officer
• Ethicist
• Fisheries Officer
• Immigration Officer
• Industrial Relations Officer
• International Aid/Development Worker
• Journalist
• Knowledge Manager/Knowledge Management Worker
• Native Title Consultant
• Policy Officer/Analyst
• Political Scientist
• Probation/Parole Officer
• Public Relations Officer
• Speechwriter
• Witness Assistance Officer

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Professional Body

Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB NSW)

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Skills Assessor

State Legal Admission Authority

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units74 units

LAWS6000

Legal System and Method I

LAWS6016

Taxation Law

LAWS6001

Legal System and Method II

LAWS6017

Family Law

LAWS6005

Property

LAWS6018

Commercial Law

LAWS6006

Constitutional Law

LAWS6019

International Human Rights Law

LAWS6007

Administrative Law

LAWS6020

Environmental Law

LAWS6008

Civil Dispute Resolution

LAWS6021

Advanced Criminal Law

LAWS6009

Evidence

LAWS6023

Jurisprudence

LAWS6010

Company Law

LAWS6024

Employment Law

LAWS6011

Professional Conduct

LAWS6025

Environmental/Natural Resources Law Clinic

LAWS6012

Equity and Trusts

LAWS6028

Criminal Law Practice and Procedure

LAWS6013

Public International Law

LAWS6029

Social Justice/Public Interest Clinic

LAWS6014A

Legal Practice 1 - Part A

LAWS6032

Advocacy Skills

LAWS6014B

Legal Practice 1 Part B

LAWS6035

Competition Law and Policy

LAWS6015A

Legal Practice 2 - Part A

LAWS6037

International Environment Law and Policy

LAWS6015B

Legal Practice 2 - Part B

LAWS6038

Law and Economics of Climate Change

LAWS6118

Final-Year Workplace Experience

LAWS6041

Sentencing: Global Theory, Law and Practice

LAWS6120

Torts I

LAWS6043

Advanced Legal Research Project

LAWS6121

Torts II

LAWS6050

Commercial Dispute Resolution

LAWS6130

Criminal Law and Procedure

LAWS6085

International Trade Law

LAWS6140

Contracts I

LAWS6086

Intellectual Property Law

LAWS6141

Contracts II

LAWS6087

Internet Law

LAWS6888

Workplace Experience 1

LAWS6090

Health Law

LAWS6091

Special Interest Topic

LAWS6094

Indigenous Peoples, Issues and the Law

LAWS6095

Law and Religion

LAWS6096

Child Law

LAWS6097

Competitive Mooting

LAWS6098

Equal Opportunity Law

LAWS6099

Sport and the Law

LAWS6100

Workplace Health and Safety Law

LAWS6102

Alternative Dispute Resolution

LAWS6103

International Arbitration

LAWS6104

Human Rights and Climate Change-Induced Human Displacement

LAWS6105

Expert Evidence

LAWS6106

Advanced Communication Skills

LAWS6107

Mediation Skills and Theory

LAWS6108

Corporate Power and Corporate Accountability: Pathways to Socially Responsible Business

LAWS6109

Restorative Justice

LAWS6110

Australian Consumer Law

LAWS6112

Food and Wine Law

LAWS6113

Law for Startups

LAWS6114

Negotiation in a Legal Context

LAWS6116

Legal Innovation and Design

LAWS6119

Renewable Energy Law Clinic

LAWS6123

Elder Law

LAWS6124

Contemporary Issues In Australian Public Law

LAWS6125

Advanced Property Equity and Commercial Law

LAWS6127

Private International Law (Conflict of Laws)

LAWS6128

Native Title Law

LAWS6149

Banking and Finance Law

LAWS6150

Climate Change Law and Policy

LAWS6151

Gender and the Law

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total estimated cost of the Juris Doctor/Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at UoN?

The estimated total course cost is AUD $152,100, comprising a tuition fee of AUD $150,708 and a non-tuition fee of AUD $1,392.

How long does the Juris Doctor/Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice take to complete?

The course has a duration of 156 weeks, as listed on the CRICOS registry for The University of Newcastle.

Does the Juris Doctor/Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice include a work component?

Yes, the course includes a work component of 7.5 hours per week over 38 weeks, totalling 285 hours of work-integrated learning.

Where is the Juris Doctor/Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice delivered?

The course is delivered at The University of Newcastle's Newcastle City campus in New South Wales, which is owned and operated by the provider under CRICOS Provider Code 00109J.

Is the Juris Doctor/Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights?

Eligibility for extended Post-Study Work Rights depends on several criteria including course status, qualification level, duration of 92 weeks or greater, and alignment with priority Fields of Education. This course is a Masters Degree (Extended) with a duration of 156 weeks in the Law field, so prospective students should contact ESOS-PolicyTeam@education.gov.au to confirm current eligibility.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Course Snapshot

Typical Salary (AUD)

Entry-level (0-2 years)$65,000 – $85,000/yr

Early Career (2-5 years)$85,000 – $120,000/yr

Mid-Level (5-10 years)$120,000 – $175,000/yr

Career Paths

Graduate Lawyer / Graduate Solicitor
Solicitor
Barrister
In-House Counsel / Corporate Counsel
General Counsel

Key Skills

Legal research and case analysis
Statutory interpretation and legal reasoning
Written and oral advocacy
Contract drafting and document preparation
Critical thinking and problem-solving

Full course overview

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