Key facts
Duration
3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Locations
OnlineCourse overview
The Deakin Juris Doctor (JD) combines its commercial focus with the development of practical skills essential to contemporary legal practice. Designed for non-law graduates, this intellectually-stimulating course is offered fully online after an initial compulsory three-day Induction program held in Melbourne, in February.
The Deakin JD goes beyond the teaching of legal knowledge and practical skills, to the development of a broader understanding of the policy informing the law, focusing on current policy issues and developing skills in the use of legal theory and legal research methods.
Your assignments might include problem-based written advice, an oral bail application, an assignment focusing on the implementation of procedural rules, preparation of a memorandum of advice, oral court submissions and a file management project. Group assignment work is also a feature of some units to ensure you develop the important skills necessary to work as part of a team.
The Deakin JD meets the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Victoria. A person wishing to practice as a lawyer is also required to complete a 12-month traineeship program or six-month legal practice course and demonstrate that they are a ‘fit and proper person’.
The Deakin JD course is designed to produce first-class commercial law practitioners by providing comprehensive training in each of the major areas of legal practice and systematically embedding research, theory and policy considerations throughout the curriculum. A distinctive feature of the course is its orientation towards commercial law.
Leading, practising lawyers help shape our courses, so everything you learn is relevant to the industry and preparing you for a career in law.
Key dates
Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 3 2026 close 18 October 2026
Current Deakin students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
- Award granted
- Juris Doctor
- Year
- 2018 course information
- Deakin code
- M729
- Level
- Higher Degree Coursework (Masters and Doctorates)
- Approval status
- This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Discover the Deakin Juris Doctor
Watch our Juris Doctor webinar, where course experts Dr David Tan, Professor Marilyn McMahon and past student Cameron MacRae explore what makes our postgraduate Juris Doctor unique. Learn about the 100% online learning model, career pathways and networking opportunities available at Deakin.
Course structure
To complete the Juris Doctor, students must attain a total of 24 credit points, including 17 core units and 7 elective units. Each unit (think of units as 'subjects') is equal to 1 credit point.
Students are introduced to research tools and techniques in core units of the course where they learn analytic skills and the practical application of those skills in professional contexts. They must also complete advanced level units and a capstone unit that require them to integrate the skills learnt over their course of study and produce applied pieces of research with reference to prevailing literature.
This course includes an initial compulsory three-day Induction program held in Melbourne, in February 2018 (please refer to 'Additional course information' below.)
plus:
From Trimester 3 2018:
It is highly recommended that students who commence in Trimester 3 attend:
an optional one-day Induction Program on-campus in Melbourne in October 2018.This program will be live-streamed and recorded.
plus:
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Cloud (online)
- Start date: November
- Available at:
- Cloud (online)
*part time study only
Note: Trimester 3 study is available part-time only.
This course includes an initial compulsory three-day Induction program held in Melbourne, in February (please refer to 'Additional course information' below).
From Trimester 3 2018
Optional (but highly recommended) campus based Induction Program which is live-streamed and recorded, and held for two days in the T1 induction and for one day in the T3 induction, plus online pre-recorded presentations
All commencing students are required to attend a compulsory three day Induction program.
2018 Dates:
28 February: 8.45am - 5.00pm
1 March: 8.45am - 5.00pm
2 March: 9.00am - 12.00pm
Venue: Burwood Corporate Centre, Burwood Campus, Deakin University.
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Mandatory student checks
Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.Workload
As a student in the Faculty of Business and Law, you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Participation requirements
Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
This course includes an initial compulsory three-day Induction program held in Melbourne, in February (please refer to 'Additional course information' below).
International students studying through the Cloud Campus may not be granted a visitor visa to complete mandatory onsite components of the course.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.
Work experience
This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.
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Recognition of prior learning
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the Credit for Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Credit for prior learning into the Master of Laws (Juris Doctor) may be granted to students who have successfully completed appropriate Masters-level law studies in Juris Doctor programs offered at other universities.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Estimated tuition fee - full-fee paying place
$30,800 for 1 yr full-time* - Full-fee paying place
Learn more about fees and your options for paying.
Estimated tuition fee - (CSP) ?Enrolling in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) means the Australian Government pays part of your course fees directly to Deakin, and you pay a 'student contribution'.
Not applicable
The available fee places for this course are detailed above.
Tuition fees are determined by your enrolment:
- If you are offered a full fee paying place, your tuition fees are calculated based on your course.
- If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, your tuition fees are calculated depending on the units you choose. Not all courses at Deakin have Commonwealth supported places available.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing the first year of this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Credit for Prior Learning.
* One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together 8 credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.
You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the Handbook.
Learn more about fees and available payment options.
FEE-HELP
You may be eligible for the Government's FEE-HELP scheme. This scheme covers your tuition fees and can help make studying significantly more affordable.
It's similar to HECS-HELP, but designed for full-fee place courses. It doesn't matter how much you earn, you may still be eligible for FEE-HELP.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship can open the door to new opportunities. Whether you have something unique to offer or simply need a bit of extra support to reach your goals, we’re here to help. Scholarships can assist with course fees, living costs and study materials – so you can focus on achieving your best. Explore the range of opportunities and find the right fit for you.
Postgraduate bursary
We love welcoming Deakin alumni back to continue their journey with us. If you're starting a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible for a 10% discount on your enrolment fees, applied per unit. It's our way of supporting your next step.
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
To apply, create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal details and education experience, upload supporting documents and submit. Need help? Play this video, or contact one of our friendly future student advisers on 1800 693 888 or submit an online enquiry.
Readmission into law courses
All students seeking readmission into law courses must be readmitted into the latest version of a course. Please note that students readmitting may be required to pick up additional units or repeat units where prior studies were undertaken at Deakin more than 5 years ago; or where units were undertaken in a previous course version. This is due to units no longer being current so that students will have satisfied the requirements necessary for admission to the legal profession.
Career outcomes
A Juris Doctor is a qualification that offers un-equalled career opportunities. In addition to opportunities within law firms, which range from small rural and regional general legal practices through to large national or international practices, law graduates may enter other industries such as business (e.g as a corporate lawyer, company administrator or business manager); government service (as a lawyer with departments or authorities as diverse as the Attorney Generals Department, the office of Parliamentary Counsel, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Australian Securities Commission); industrial relations, public administration; academic; or in law reform (as a law reform commissioner).
Professional recognition
Deakin's Juris Doctor is designed to satisfy the academic qualifications necessary for admission to the legal profession. In Victoria these have been set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). In addition to satisfying the academic qualifications, a person seeking admission to the legal profession in Victoria is required to have satisfactorily completed certain practical legal training requirements and must be considered a fit and proper person to be admitted to the legal profession.
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities | Develop an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge, including: |
| Communication | Develop high level communication skills, including: |
| Digital Literacy | Use technologies to identify, locate, evaluate information for complex problem solving scenarios as well as communicating legal solutions, including: |
| Critical thinking | Exercise critical thinking |
| Problem Solving | Develop sophisticated |
| Self-management | Develop high level capacities to: |
| Teamwork | Develop high level |
| Global Citizenship | Develop a sophisticated awareness of, and a high level capacity to, apply legal knowledge in different environments and global contexts, including: |
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*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
