COURSE CURRICULUM

The Juris Doctor at ACU is a postgraduate professional law degree designed for students who already hold an undergraduate qualification and wish to pursue a career in law. This program provides a rigorous and comprehensive legal education, equipping students with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to excel in the legal profession. The course combines foundational and advanced legal studies with hands-on experience, emphasizing ethical practice and community contribution through pro bono work. In the first year, students build a solid grounding in core legal principles with units such as Foundations of Law and Legal Research, Contract Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, and Torts, before progressing to subjects like Australian Public Law, Commercial Law, Business Organisations, and engaging in Community Legal Engagement Pro Bono. In the second year, the focus shifts to more complex areas of law including Statutory Interpretation, Property, Evidence, Civil Procedure, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Land Law, Constitutional Law, and Legal Theory, alongside practical experience through the Pro Bono/Legal Professional Experience unit. The final year deepens expertise with units such as Administrative Law, International Law, Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Equity and Trusts, and a selection of elective law units that allow for specialisation according to career interests. Across all years, the program emphasizes the development of critical thinking, analytical reasoning, research, and professional competencies, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for diverse legal careers. Students who complete 120 credit points of law units with a grade point average of 5.75 or above may apply for an honours pathway to pursue advanced legal research. Graduates of the Juris Doctor emerge as confident, ethical, and skilled legal practitioners ready to make a meaningful contribution to the legal profession and to society more broadly.