Let’s talk Juris Doctor: Our answers to your questions

No. A Juris Doctor Degree is designed for students who have already completed a Bachelor’s degree outside of Law, and want to become a lawyer. We understand the LLB can be challenging. However, if you didn’t meet the required marks, the Juris Doctor isn’t available as an alternative pathway. Our Enrolments team are here to talk through other study or career pathways that might suit you on 1300 145 032

To apply for RMIT Online’s Juris Doctor, you will need to submit your application online here – including all your relevant transcripts. The entry criteria for this program is a Bachelor’s degree in any field (excluding Law ) and a minimum GPA of 2.0 out of 4.0.

The Australian Government may cover part of your tuition through a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP). If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, you will still be required to pay your student contribution. This amount is set on an annual basis by the government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of your individual enrolled courses, not the overall program.  To apply, just indicate that you’d like to be considered for a CSP in your application.  

No, they are not. If you are wanting to apply for a CSP place your best course of action is to apply as soon as possible.

When you enrol into individual units you will then be invoiced for those units. You can place the remainder on HECS help – given you meet the requirements for the loan.

We designed this Juris Doctor to fit around people’s busy lives.  Most classes are recorded, so you can watch them when it suits you. However, please note there is a strong correlation between in person online attendance and student success. Some sessions (and exams) do require attendance, usually after hours on weekdays. Exams are conducted using proctoring software during business hours. It’s important to note that timings do change each Semester.  

The Online and on Campus are two separate programs and accredited differently. Physical places for units may be limited so please contact your Course Coordinator if you wish to attend on campus occasionaly. 

Course materials are supplied on Canvas but you will need to access textbooks. These are available through the library as hard and (sometimes) soft copies, but bear in mind all exams are open-book – so you may wish to purchase the textbooks.

Each unit requires around 10–12 hours of study per week, including all lectures, readings and assessments. 
If you take two units at once, expect 20–24 hours per week. This is the maximum we recommend if you’re balancing study with work or other commitments.

Yes, you can apply for credit transfer, though credit is limited due to the program’s specific outcomes. Eligible subjects need to be law subjects taken through an accredited Law School at Masters Level. Certain courses, the Priestley 11 may not be accredited due to Program and Course Learning Outcomes. Our Enrolment Advisors can help you work through what’s possible based on your past studies. 

You’re almost there! After completing your JD, you’ll need to do: 

• Practical Legal Training (PLT), either as further study or a placement  

• Apply for admission to your state’s legal practice board (e.g VLAB in Victoria) 

• Receive your practising certificate  

You can’t practice law without these final steps, but we’ll help guide you through them. 

Yes. All Australian law degrees cover the Priestly 11 core subjects. 
That said, some states have local laws you’ll need to understand and may require extra study or certifications.

No, you cannot. Summer semesters are made up of elective programs and require pre-requisites. If you wish to study in the summer semester, you will need to have completed at least one semester. 

If you still are unsure about anything or want to follow up with any additional questions, our dedicated team of Enrolment Advisors are ready to help you take the first step into your career in Law!