University of Newcastle Juris Doctor (JD)/Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice Overview

The University of Newcastle in Australia Juris Doctor (JD) program and the embedded Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the University of Newcastle is designed to equip you with the knowledge, clinical experience and qualification for admission into legal practice in Australia.

At the University of Newcastle Law school you will study the Juris Doctor (JD) concurrently with the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, allowing you to develop both high level academic and legal skills, whilst also providing practical and real-world experience.

Offered at a postgraduate level, Newcastle’s Juris Doctor (JD) prepares you to be a career ready graduate with the skills and extensive knowledge to become a leader in Australian and global legal practice.

Graduates can gain entry into the legal profession without any further study.

Completing the Juris Doctor (JD) will see you contribute to the University of Newcastle Legal Centre, working on real cases and providing an important service to the community.

In today’s competitive employment market, employers are looking for highly qualified graduates with a wide range of skills. Even if you do not want to become a lawyer, Newcastle’s Juris Doctor (JD) will provide you with a multifaceted skill and knowledge base to help you in your chosen career. It will enhance your academic and professional qualifications and make you a more desirable employee.

Experience a personalized learning environment with University of Newcastle’s Law School

Students at Newcastle’s Law School in Australia will study in a collegial, interactive learning community with highly qualified and award-winning academic staff dedicated to your success. Students will experience a friendly and supportive learning environment and you will benefit from a balanced student-teacher ratio, which creates a personalized learning environment.

You can expect at Newcastle’s Law School in Australia:

• Small tutorial class sizes
• Dedicated and accessible teachers
• A collegial student community

Is The University of Newcastle’s Juris Doctor (JD) for you?

First-rate classroom tuition combined with practical, hands-on experience prepares and qualifies you to enter legal practice immediately after completing your Juris Doctor (JD) / Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

The University of Newcastle’s law school is the first in Australia to offer an integrated learning experience. Your degree integrates experiential learning and skills training with the conventional legal curriculum.

Professional placement

The University of Newcastle’s Legal Centre encourages you to pursue professional placements at external law firms and other organizations that you may be interested in joining at the completion of your studies. To help you arrange placements, you can take advantage of the many external relationships held by the University.

Gain experience through national competitions:

University of Newcastle law students have a competitive reputation and frequently excel in national law competitions. Recent highlights include:

2013 – Grand finalist in the ALSA mooting competition

2012 – Two students represented Australia in the International Client Counselling Competition in Dublin

2011 – Grand finalists in the ALSA client interviewing competition

2008 – Won the prestigious Kirby Cup at the Australian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) conference. The Kirby Cup, named in honour of cup sponsor Justice Michael Kirby, tests your ability to argue a case for law reform based on real issues of social concern.

University of Newcastle’s Juris Doctor (JD)/ Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice Courses

The Juris Doctor (JD) / Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice comprises 280 units (i.e 28 x 10 unit courses), which includes 200 units of core courses including the Legal Practice courses, plus 80 units of directed courses chosen from a list of 27 courses (subject to availability).

Students can choose directed courses that they are interested in from a range of areas including:

Custom legal clinics

You will gain in-depth practical experience by participating in customized Legal Clinics exploring the below areas.

• Consumer credit

Specialized understanding of the fundamental concepts of consumer credit and bankruptcy law will be developed in this clinic where cases involving persons who are dealing with unmanageable debts and the prospect of personal insolvency will be considered. Research, communication, drafting and advocacy skills will be developed in the specific context of credit and bankruptcy law but will also be transferable to other legal contexts.

• Criminal law

Opportunities will be presented to participate in defence work preparing cases and assisting in representation of clients at the local courts in the Newcastle area under the supervision of a Legal Centre lawyer. Skills will be developed in client interviewing, fact investigation, strategy, tactics and ethics in criminal defence work, which will also be transferable to other litigation contexts.

• Natural resources law

Experience practical application through both litigious and non-litigious enforcement practices of the key legislative instruments relevant to Australia’s natural resources – water, native vegetation, forests, minerals, threatened species and land. This clinic will also consider policy making in the environmental and natural resources law field where experience may be gained in drafting submissions to law reform commissions, parliamentary bodies and other organizations.

• Public interest law

Social justice and public interest legal cases will form the basis of the practice in this clinic where opportunities will be presented to develop communication, research, drafting and advocacy skills in the context of these interesting cases.

• Refugee/migration law

Develop skills in dealing with principles, concepts, issues, problems and dilemmas faced in migration law and in claims for asylum. This clinic will involve the potential for gaining experience in communication with clients and organizations, human rights advocacy, detailed legal research and drafting law reform submissions.

Professional Recognition in Canada

The Juris Doctor (JD) / Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice offered at The University of Newcastle’s Law School in Australia is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board of New South Wales.

Graduates of the University of Newcastle’s Juris Doctor (JD) / Graduate diploma in Legal Practice are eligible to apply for licensing in Canada, however, it is critical students understand the requirements needed to complete this process before licensing will be granted.

KOM Consultants understand the process and requirements needed to enter the legal profession in Canada. Contact KOM Consultants for more information

All students applying directly through KOM Consultants will be supported with the latest information on the accreditation process.