Course structure

The Master of Laws (Juris Doctor) has three intakes per year, January, May and August. The JD is taught in trimesters, with the first trimester taught at Monash University's Clayton campus. These initial units provide a gradual introduction to the study of law.

Subsequent trimesters are taught at the Monash University Law Chambers, in the heart of Melbourne's CBD and legal precinct at 472 Bourke Street Melbourne. Most trimesters are comprised of two compulsory units. After completing the compulsory units, students then undertake elective units from Monash Law's masters programs. Master units are taught in a variety of formats; in the evenings, in intensive blocks or over the standard university semester. When undertaking these units, JD students are able to study alongside qualified lawyers and other professionals.

The course structure of the Monash JD is ordered to facilitate steady progression through the degree. The course is structured in a well-planned, pre-determined order to ensure students develop the required skills and knowledge to progress through the course successfully while balancing other demands.

All students commence with two units per trimester. After two trimesters, students may:

  • undertake our 'full time course progression' taking three units per trimester over three years; or 
  • undertake our 'standard course progression' over four years or more; or 
  • apply to the Program Director to accelerate their progress to complete the Monash JD in two and a half years where work or other commitments permit.

Students may increase or decrease the number of units taken concurrently in order to shorten or lengthen the duration of their course. Students may also intermit their course with approval from the Program Director.

Students who receive credit/advance standing will need to meet with the JD Student and Programs Coordinator to discuss their course progression.

  Units are taught in pairs on one nominated day
  Units taught on another nominated day
  Electives taken from our Monash Law masters program

Note: Students must choose the elective LAW7331 - Lawyers’ responsibilities to fulfill all the academic requirements for admission as a legal practitioner.

3 year - Full-time course progression (domestic and international applicants)

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Trimester 1
(Clayton)		 Trimester 2
(City)		 Trimester 3
(City)		 Trimester 4
(City)		 Trimester 5
(City)		 Trimester 6
(City)		 Trimester 7
(City)		 Trimester 8
(City)		 Trimester 9
(City)
LAW7212 -
Australian legal
system		 LAW7264 -
Principles of
criminal law
and procedure		 LAW7267 -
Principles of
property law		 LAW7269 -
Principles of
equity		 LAW7275 -
Principles of
corporations
law		 Elective unit LAW7274 -
Principles of
administrative
law		 Elective unit

Elective unit
LAW7079 -
Legal research
and problem
solving		 LAW7428 -
Contract A		 LAW7429 -
Contract B		 LAW7271 -
Principles of
trusts		 LAW7270 -
Advanced
property law		 Elective unit Elective unit

Elective unit
      or
LAW7331 -
Lawyers'
responsibilities

 Elective unit
LAW7266 -
Principles of
torts		 LAW7273 -
Principles of
evidence		 LAW7268 -
Principles of
constitutional
law		 LAW7277 -
Advanced
corporations
law		 Elective unit LAW7272 -
Principles of
civil procedure

4 year - Standard course progression (domestic applicants)

Year 1 Year 2
Trimester 1
(Clayton)		Trimester 2
(City)		Trimester 3
(City)		Trimester 4
(City)		Trimester 5
(City)		Trimester 6
(City)
LAW7212 -
Australian
legal system 		LAW7264 -
Principles of
criminal law
and procedure 		LAW7267 -
Principles of
property law		LAW7269 -
Principles of
equity 		LAW7275 -
Principles of
corporations
law

LAW7268 -
Principles of
constitutional
law

LAW7079 -
Legal research
and problem
solving 		LAW7428 -
Contract A 		LAW7429 -
Contract B 		LAW7271 -
Principles of
trusts		LAW7270 -
Advanced
property law		LAW7266 -
Principles of
torts
Year 3 Year 4
Trimester 7
(City)		 Trimester 8
(City)		 Trimester 9
(City)		 Trimester 10
(City)		 Trimester 11
(City)		 Trimester 12
(City)
LAW7272 -
Principles of
civil procedure		 LAW7274 -
Principles of
administrative
law		 LAW7277 -
Advanced
corporations
law		 Elective unit Elective unit

Elective unit
LAW7273 -
Principles of
evidence		 Elective unit   or
LAW7331 -
Lawyers'
responsibilities

Elective unit

 Elective unit  Elective unit Elective unit

2.5 year - Accelerated course progression (domestic and international applicants)

After two trimesters high performing students may choose to apply to the Program Director to accelerate their progress to complete the Monash JD in two and a half years where work or other commitments permit.