Juris Doctor

Program overview

A postgraduate alternative to the Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Bond’s globally recognised Juris Doctor program is specifically designed for aspiring lawyers who have previously completed an undergraduate bachelor’s degree. The program covers broadly the same areas of knowledge as the LLB but can be completed in six semesters rather than eight. With Bond’s accelerated three-semesters-per-year timetable the program can be completed in only two calendar years. 

The Juris Doctor program satisfies the academic requirements for admission as a legal practitioner. Bond University’s Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP) satisfies the practical training requirements for admission, which means your entire journey towards becoming a lawyer can be completed at Bond. 

Bond’s Juris Doctor program presents the law in its global context and enables graduates to practise in multiple jurisdictions, subject to the specific admission requirements of the relevant jurisdiction.

What sets Bond’s Juris Doctor program apart is not only the small classes and personal attention for which Bond is renowned, but also the practical legal skills – legal writing and reasoning, oral communication, advocacy, dispute resolution, negotiation, research, legal ethics, and professionalism – embedded throughout the program. Combined with the many opportunities for practical experience through clinics, internships and mooting, the Bond Juris Doctor will ensure you are ready to practice as a global lawyer wherever you choose to take your degree.

Program code: LA-43055

CRICOS code: 093923J

Program overview

The Juris Doctor is a postgraduate degree for students who have previously completed an undergraduate bachelor's degree in any discipline and are seeking to practise law.  In conjunction with the Graduate Diploma in legal Practice, the Juris Doctor is an approved degree for admission to legal practice.  The Juris Doctor can be completed within two years at Bond University.  Students will complete 24 subjects which will include the foundational law subjects in addition to postgraduate law electives which can be selected to meet your interest areas.  There are also opportunities to gain a specialisation as part of the Juris Doctor.

For international students, the Juris Doctor degree offers a global perspective and provides graduates the opportunity to practise in overseas jurisdictions, subject to the specific admission requirements of the relevant jurisdiction.  Bond offers a six-subject credit towards the Juris Doctor degree to students who have completed a law degree from a non-common law country.

Bond Law has strong links with Canada and has been training Canadian lawyers for more than 25 years. With more than 150 Canadian students studying law at Bond at any given time, our rapidly expanding network of Canadian Bond alumni practise as partners and senior practitioners in Canada and across the world. Future Bond students from Canada can access further information here on studying at Bond University. 

Program code: LA-43055

CRICOS code: 093923J

Championing Change Through Legal Practice

About this program

The Juris Doctor prepares students for a career as a legal professional, both within Australia and overseas. It is an alternative to the Bachelor of Laws for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline. The Juris Doctor provides students with a thorough grounding in essential areas of substantive law and access to a wide choice of law elective subjects, including the option of completing a specialisation. An integrated skills and professionalism program is embedded in the degree and focuses on core legal skills essential to the practice of law. The Juris Doctor provides an engaging learning experience that challenges students academically and prepares them practically for a legal career.

What you'll be studying

  • Year 1

    In your first year, you will focus on gaining an understanding of substantive law by completing the core foundation law subjects. From your first semester and throughout your degree you will gain and cement your understanding of the fundamental areas of legal knowledge, including contemporary developments in law and legal practice, law’s theoretical foundations and the professional practice of law within an ethical framework.

    During this year, consider participating in a mooting experience or internships to gain the necessary legal experience.

Program features

  • Unrivalled access

    Benefit from unrivalled access to the Legal Skills Centre, the first of its kind to integrate the full complement of legal-based training facilities. You will find everything you need for training on-site, with access to purpose-built rooms and courts designed for teaching mediation, negotiation, and advocacy.

  • Legal skills from day one

    With a focus on teaching both substantive law and legal skills, you will learn in a personalised setting and have the opportunity to graduate with a law degree in just two years. As part of the program, you will also have the opportunity to gain a specialisation in an area that interests you.  Specialisations include Climate Law, Legal Innovation and Technology, Dispute Resolution, Canadian Law and Practice, Corporate and Commercial law and Practice and more.

  • Gain practical experience

    While studying the Juris Doctor, you will have the opportunity to gain work experience either in the Bond Legal Clinics Program or through the various legal work experience opportunities offered by the Career Development Centre.

  • Gain credit

    On completion of your Juris Doctor degree, you can decide to continue your studies into a Master of Laws program in the Faculty of Law and may be eligible for credit (depending on the Master program you enrol into).

  • Unrivalled access

    Benefit from unrivalled access to the Legal Skills Centre, the first of its kind to integrate the full complement of legal-based training facilities. You will find everything you need for training on-site, with access to purpose-built suites designed for mediation, dispute resolution, professional legal training as well as video conferencing with the centrepiece a full-scale moot court.

  • Legal skills from day one

    With a focus on teaching both the substance and skills of the law, outstanding legal facilities, the Professional Skills Program, and a limited student intake each year, you will learn in a personalised setting and have the opportunity to graduate with a law degree in just two years.

  • Gain practical experience

    While studying the Juris Doctor, you will have the opportunity to gain work experience either in the Bond Legal Clinics Program or gain experience in a number of firms or organisations, with the personal support of the Career Development Centre.

  • Specialise: Canadian Law

    Graduate with a specialisation in Canadian Law and Practice through Bond Law’s unique and tailored Canadian Law elective subject offering which includes Canadian Criminal Law, Foundations of Canadian Law, Canadian Constitutional Law, and Canadian Administrative Law, in addition to a complimentary online course in Canadian Professional Responsibility.

  • Gain further study credits

    On completion of your Juris Doctor degree, you can decide to continue your studies in the Master of Laws and gain credit into the program.  This will ensure that you complete your Master of Laws in just two semesters.

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Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the essential abilities, knowledge and skills required to successfully complete the program. Learn more about the inherent requirements and make an informed decision about your capacity to undertake the program.

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Hear from our Bondies

  • “My Bond University experience was incredibly rewarding, both academically and socially.  It felt more like being part of a community, rather than a university.  The teaching staff went beyond all expectations to foster relationships of respect, assist learning and encourage academic rigour.  The facilities and the technology throughout the Faculty of Law are world-class and topped off a great experience by making the study of law very accessible.”

    Lachlan Bongers - Juris Doctor alumnus

  • “As a former litigator with a leading law firm in Canada, I really appreciate Bond’s integrated practical skills curriculum.  This is something that most law students don’t get to experience and, in my view, really sets our graduates apart.”

    Lisa Bonin - Assistant Professor
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Hear from our Bondies

  • “As a former litigator with a leading law firm in Canada, I really appreciate Bond’s integrated practical skills curriculum.  This is something that most law students don’t get to experience and, in my view, really sets our graduates apart.”

    Lisa Bonin - Assistant Professor

  • "I really appreciated the dedication and passion from the Bond academic staff I had the pleasure of learning from. With the smaller class and tutorial sizes, you really have the opportunity to get to know your lecturer and the other students in your class on a more personal level. This made studying more engaging and enjoyable."

    Taryn Lovegrove - Juris Doctor alumna

  • “The accelerated degree was definitely a factor in my applying to and attending Bond University. I had completed a four-year degree at the University of Toronto and wanted to start working. Bond University allowed me the opportunity to complete my degree in two years and to have a taste of what I could expect in industry with class assessments (moots, interviews, negotiations, contract drafting).”

    Sunny Gakhal - Juris Doctor alumnus
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  • CRICOS Code: 093922K

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