Juris Doctor
Program code
5734
Available at
Nathan
Gold Coast
Mount Gravatt
Logan
South Bank
Online
Offshore
Other
Duration
2 to 3 years full-time
6 years part-time (online only)
Credit points
240
Indicative fee
$47,000.00* per year (more)
* 2025 indicative annual fee
Important Notes
The Trimester 3 intake will only be available to those students undertaking the Canadian Law major at the Gold Coast campus and online. Commonwealth Supported Places are not available for this intake.
About this program
The Juris Doctor program will prepare you for a rewarding career. It is an alternative to the Bachelor of Laws for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline.
Griffith Law School offers a professional legal curriculum that focuses on core areas of legal practice and the legal skills that lawyers must have. You will have the opportunity to choose law electives based on your interests, including high-level research and clinical courses that emphasise practical legal skills, insights and experience.You will also have the option of completing a major in Canadian Law, International Law or Migration Law.
You will make connections between law and ethics, legal theory, Indigenous issues, and internationalisation. You will also develop interdisciplinary understandings of law and legal work.
You will take courses that cover areas such as crime, contracts, property, corporate law, torts and theories of law.
The major in Canadian Law assists with preparing for meeting the entry requirements for the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada in the legal profession in Canada's common law provinces.
This program can be completed in two years by taking courses across each trimester.
The Juris Doctor is an AQF Level 9 Masters Extended degree.
Attendance information
The Juris Doctor is offered full-time on-campus at the Nathan and Gold Coast campuses and online.
As a full-time student you will generally attend 10-15 hours of scheduled classes per week throughout the trimester. Classes may be scheduled during the day and early evening throughout the week and online.
Some law electives are based at Nathan campus, some at the Gold Coast. A few law electives are run in intensive mode, including in trimester 3. Intensive mode means that classes may be compacted over a week, or over several weekends. Some law electives are 'clinics' which typically involve work off campus. Law electives are not normally undertaken until the final two years of your law degree.
If you are an International student on a student visa, you must ensure that you enrol in a way that will allow you to complete your enrolment within the expected program duration as stated on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
Work-integrated learning
The Juris Doctor provides the opportunity for optional work-integrated learning through its variety of clinic courses.
My career opportunities
A Juris Doctor degree from Griffith is your passport to the world and is recognised as a qualifying degree for admission into the legal profession in many countries around the world.
Prepare for a career as a solicitor or barrister, after gaining professional recognition. You may also find opportunities in business and government in areas such as academia, administration, banking, finance, industrial relations, management and marketing.
Professional recognition
To be eligible for admission as a solicitor, a person must complete an approved Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree (undertaken approved practical legal training via a practical legal training course or supervised traineeship at a law firm) and be able to satisfy the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board and the Supreme Court of their fitness to practise law.
- Queensland Law Society
- Steps to practising law interactive tool outlining the steps to practise law, information on admission and practising law in Queensland, interstate and internationally
Canada: Griffith's on campus Juris Doctor is accepted for entry into the legal profession in Canada's common law provinces, when accompanied by a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. The five Canadian Law courses will help you prepare for the NCA exams while gaining credit towards your degree.
Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak): Students from Sabah or Sarawak who have a Griffith Juris Doctor and wish to return to Sabah or Sarawak to practise law may do so providing they gain admission to practice in an Australian jurisdiction first and then fulfil additional requirements upon their return to Sabah or Sarawak.
Fiji: All Australian law degrees are recognised in Fiji. Graduates must also complete their Practical Legal Training to be admitted to practice law in Fiji.
Papua New Guinea (PNG): All Australian law degrees are recognised in PNG. Graduates that are not citizens of PNG must complete their Practical Legal Training, have three years' post admission experience, and complete three exams on PNG law to be admitted to practice law in PNG.
Brunei: All Australian law degrees are recognised in Brunei. Graduates must also complete their Practical Legal Training to be admitted to practice law in Brunei.
India: Griffith's law degree is recognised for the purposes of admission to legal practice in India.
Please note that different jurisdictions' admission rules and requirements are subject to change. You should carefully examine the relevant legal requirements which are usually available on each jurisdiction's relevant law or bar association's websites.
International students
An International student is one who is not:
- an Australian or New Zealand citizen or
- a Pacific Engagement visa holder or
- a person who has Australian permanent resident status.
Indicative annual tuition fee
The indicative annual tuition fee is calculated based on a standard full-time study load which is usually 80 credit points (two full-time trimesters).
The indicative annual tuition fee is based on current conditions and available data and should only be used as a guide. These fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change.
Tuition fees
- An International student pays tuition fees.
- Students are liable for tuition fees for the courses they are enrolled in as at the census date.
- The tuition fee is charged according to the approved program fee for the trimester in which the student is enrolled.
Program fees for the Juris Doctor (5734)
If the fee rate for your program is not displayed above, please contact Student Connect for assistance.
Changing programs
If an International student changes to a different program they will be subject to the approved program fee for the trimester in which they are enrolled.
Permanent resident status
If an undergraduate student obtains permanent resident status in Australia after commencing study in a program, and the student can provide evidence of permanent resident status prior to the census date (of the trimester in which they are enrolled), the student will be provided with a domestic fee-paying place.
The student may then apply for a Commonwealth supported place at the next admission period provided that the student satisfies the conditions for transfer from a domestic fee-paying place to a Commonwealth supported place as set out in the Fees and Charges Procedure.
If a postgraduate student obtains permanent resident status in Australia after commencing study in a program, and the student can provide evidence of permanent resident status prior to the census date (of the trimester in which they are enrolled), the student will automatically be considered for a Commonwealth supported place (subject to availability) or a domestic fee-paying place as applicable for the program.
If a research student obtains permanent resident status in Australia after commencing study in a program, and the student can provide evidence of permanent resident status prior to the census date (of the trimester in which they are enrolled), the student will automatically be considered for a Commonwealth Government Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset or a domestic fee-paying place as applicable for the program.
Further information
- Fees and Charges Procedure
- 3.6 - Fees for International Students
- 3.9 - Administrative and Miscellaneous Charges
- Cost of studying in Australia