Whether you want to accelerate your career by adding legal skills to your repertoire, or you want to help shape the future of law as a barrister or solicitor; the Flinders JD is for you.
Duration:
3 years
Delivery mode:
Online
Availability:
Full-time
Part-time
Start dates:
March
July
SATAC code:
2CM207
Annual indicative fees (2024):
$33,800 (Full fee paying)
FEE-HELP available
Entry requirements:
Applicants must hold one of the following:
Why study a Juris Doctor?
Our JD is designed for the busy
It is the only law degree in South Australia accredited to be delivered 100% online
Build a personalised schedule and have complete control your study
Learn from nationally and internationally renowned experts in the field
An internationally-recognised professional legal qualification
Completing a JD, followed by Practical Legal Training (PLT), qualifies you to practise law anywhere in Australia and in some other jurisdictions
Non-law graduates welcome
First year
A typical first year may include:
A range of core topics that will give you a solid foundation on which to build your knowledge of the law. These include an overview of the Australian legal system, an introduction to legal analysis and problem solving, contract, corporate law, criminal law, torts, dispute resolution, and property, equity and trusts.
Second year
A typical second year may include:
Core topics including constitutional law, administrative law, evidence, advanced legal research, real property law, advanced dispute resolution, and ethics and regulation of the legal profession, plus one option topic.
Third year
A typical third year may include:
Two core topics that focus on bringing your learning into the real world, including a law reform project and integrating knowledge and skills for practice.
Option topics
A diverse range of option topics are available to deepen your knowledge of the law:
You could explore topics like insolvency law, intellectual property, international human rights, or the relationship between international law and international relations. You’ll also have the freedom to select a range of option topics.
Start your studies with a Graduate Certificate in Laws
Ready to launch your legal career? Begin your journey with our Graduate Certificate, offering a flexible pathway to deepen your understanding of law. The perfect stepping stone to mastering the fundamentals in just 6 months.
Continue to further study with the Graduate Diploma in Laws
What's next for your legal career? Elevate your career with our comprehensive 1-year Graduate Diploma in Laws, tailored to align with your professional and personal interests in law or continue your pathway to becoming a lawyer.
The future of law is dynamic. Exciting. Absorbing. We’ll equip you with the skills you need to excel in an environment where legal issues are rapidly evolving, and new ways of thinking are key.
Our JD will prepare you for how the law is adapting to meet complexities around new industries and technologies, and give you insight into the issues shaping the future of law.
This world-class learning experience is delivered 100% online. Study when and where you choose, part-time or full-time.
"The JD was the most practical university degree I have undertaken.
If you want a degree that encourages autonomy, with self-paced learning that is underpinned by the best contemporary learning materials and processes available, with high calibre academics delivering real life scenarios to identifying and resolving legal problems, then the Flinders JD is the degree for you."
Kyron Johnson
Department of Premier and Cabinet, Tasmania
"The JD was the most practical university degree I have undertaken.
If you want a degree that encourages autonomy, with self-paced learning that is underpinned by the best contemporary learning materials and processes available, with high calibre academics delivering real life scenarios to identifying and resolving legal problems, then the Flinders JD is the degree for you."
Kyron Johnson
Department of Premier and Cabinet, Tasmania
First year
A typical first year may include:
A range of core topics that will give you a solid foundation on which to build your knowledge of the law. These include an overview of the Australian legal system, an introduction to legal analysis and problem solving, contract, corporate law, criminal law, torts, dispute resolution, and property, equity and trusts.
Second year
A typical second year may include:
Core topics including constitutional law, administrative law, evidence, advanced legal research, real property law, advanced dispute resolution, and ethics and regulation of the legal profession, plus one option topic.
Third year
A typical third year may include:
Two core topics that focus on bringing your learning into the real world, including a law reform project and integrating knowledge and skills for practice.
Option topics
A diverse range of option topics are available to deepen your knowledge of the law:
You could explore topics like insolvency law, intellectual property, international human rights, or the relationship between international law and international relations. You’ll also have the freedom to select a range of option topics.
The Flinders JD is a launchpad to a world of career opportunities. The course will enhance your value to current and future employers, and transform you into a legally literate leader – the type of employee currently in-demand across a range of industries.
If your goal is to become a practising lawyer, the course satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia.
*Upon completion of Practical Legal Training.
Appointed Dean of Law in 2017, Professor Tania Leiman pioneered the introduction in 2020 of Flinders Law's highly innovative new undergraduate law curriculum. She is committed to growing legal professionals who can identify opportunities for innovation, understand impacts of emerging technologies and use this knowledge and skill to increase access to justice. Justice requires a focus not just on law and regulation, but on awareness of rights and obligations, viability of economic opportunities for communities, participation and partnerships for shared governance and the sustainability of our environment.
Tania has received multiple individual and team national, university and faculty teaching excellence awards. She is a Teaching Specialist (Clinical Practitioner) with a focus on Clinical Legal Education. She supervises honours students researching the legal implications of emerging technologies.
Tania holds a current unrestricted practising certificate, is a member of the award-winning Flinders Legal Centre's Executive Management and was a supervising solicitor there from 2012-2016.
Tania's current interests include future mobility solutions (including automated vehicles and hyperloop technologies), disruption in the legal profession, artificial intelligence and legal tech, and the future of legal education. She sits as SA representative on the National Advisory Board of the Australian Society for Computers and Law. She serves on the National Transport Commission's Automated Vehicles Industry Insights Group. She is a member of the Legal sub-group of the Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative [ADVI]’s Policy & Risk Group.
Following an earlier career in private legal practice, Tania continues to undertake legal consultancy work, particularly in relation to legal implications of grey fleet & light fleet, and regulatory issues re future mobility technologies.
Publications available here.
Simone is a qualified lawyer with over 13 years' experience in professional private practice. Her professional experience has included commercial litigation; contract negotiation and drafting; business sales and acquisitions; intellectual property; real property; employment law; corporate governance and regulatory compliance.
In addition to her legal experience, Simone has a strong background in legal and business innovation. She has brought this expertise to her teaching practice in the Bachelor of Laws program by equipping students with problem-solving and collaborative skills using design thinking concepts.
In 2023, Simone was appointed as the Dedicated Course Mentor for the Flinders University Juris Doctor program where she serves as a key interface between academic staff and students, helping our Juris Doctor students stay connected and reach their full potential.
Judith graduated from Adelaide Law School and was admitted to practise as a solicitor in New South Wales in 1993. After admission, she was a solicitor, then a legal officer and consultant with the Australian Copyright Council in Sydney. Judith taught at the University of Western Sydney Nepean, Flinders University and Adelaide University before returning to Flinders University to take up the role of Teaching Program Director in Law in 2020 and teach Administrative Law. Judith’s publications can be seen here including: Judith Bannister, Anna Olijnyk and Stephen McDonald, Government Accountability: Australian Administrative Law Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed 2018.
Rob brings a varied and extensive professional background to bear in his teaching and aims to give students insights into real practice situations to help prepare them for their futures.
He has worked as a lawyer, educator, manager, company director and commercial advisor across a broad range of fields including defence, agriculture and health. He has special depth in intellectual property, technology and commercialisation and is particularly interested in the interaction between the development of technology, society and regulation.
"For me, Flinders stood out as a university committed to innovation and technology.
It covered areas of law that are yet to be tested and has certainly equipped me to think ‘outside the box’ when considering legal issues. I think this is one of the most exciting things... it deviates from traditional legal education to reflect law in ‘the real world’.”
Megan Ellis
Assistant Director
Attorney-General's Department
It is a graduate-entry law degree that covers the required areas of knowledge for admission to practise law in Australia. It is a pathway into the legal profession for those who have an undergraduate degree from another discipline, or law degrees from overseas.
Both the JD and the LLB (Bachelor of Laws) satisfy the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia. The difference relates to entry requirements: the JD is designed for those who already have an undergraduate degree, whereas the LLB is for those commencing their tertiary education.
It is the only university in Australia using a problem-based learning approach for the JD.
Students of the program speak positively of the experience. The 2020 Student Experience Survey National Report showed that Flinders JD students rate the overall quality of their educational experience (87%) and teaching quality (91%) very highly.
Possibly. Contact us with details about your studies to date and we’ll get back to you shortly.
Yes, the JD is a highly-recognised qualification internationally. If you intend to practice law in a country other than Australia, studying a JD a good starting point in many instances.
It is a masters-level qualification.
It is one of just a handful of 100% online offerings in Australia for Law.
No, the JD is designed for students who already hold an undergraduate degree. Instead, you can apply to study Law at Flinders.
If you want to practise law in Australia, Practical Legal Training (PLT) is the next step to complete after graduating with a JD or LLB. It is a requirement that helps you transition from your academic studies to real-life legal practice.
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South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
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