Griffith University

Juris Doctor

Graduate

Details

University Location Gold Coast, Queensland
City Population 630,000
Student Population 55,000
Int'l Student Population 8,500
Main Campus Gold Coast
Program Campus Gold Coast
Program Duration 2 – 3 years
Estimated Annual Tuition $67,500 AUD (2024 fees; subject to increase)**
Trimester Intakes February, July, November
Next Available Intake July 2024
Application Deadline No set deadline*
CRICOS 00233E
TEQSA PRV12076

Overview

Griffith Law School is ranked among the world’s top law schools and offers a dedicated graduate program for Canadian students pursuing a career in Australia or Canada.

Griffith offers a professional legal curriculum that focuses on core areas of legal practice and the legal skills that lawyers must have. You’ll have the opportunity to choose law electives based on your interests, including clinical courses that emphasize practical legal skills, insights, and experience.

Canadian Law Students’ Association
Hosted at the Gold Coast campus, the Canadian Law Students’ Association is a small but active group. Past events include Thanksgiving dinner and a night at a hockey game. As a Griffith Law student, you’ll receive support and advice from the Canadian Law Student Association and enjoy regular mentoring meetings with the Deputy Head of School for Learning and Teaching, Therese Wilson. Ms. Wilson makes a point of keeping in regular contact with the Canadian cohort and catching up regularly with those who are interested.

International Mooting Experience
Each year, Griffith law students travel to either to Hong Kong or Vienna, to compete against teams from prestigious law schools across the globe in the International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Griffith teams are always top-ranked, and students competing in the competition have also won numerous awards at the competition year after year.

Have a look at what fellow Canadians (and a former OzTREKK student) have to say about the Griffith law program.

Program

The Juris Doctor program will prepare you for a rewarding career. It is an alternative to the Bachelor of Laws for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline.

Griffith Law School offers a professional legal curriculum that focuses on core areas of legal practice and the legal skills that lawyers must have. You will have the opportunity to choose law electives based on your interests, including high-level research and clinical courses that emphasize practical legal skills, insights and experience. You will also have the option of completing a major in Canadian Law, International Law, or Migration Law.

As a Griffith JD student, you’ll make connections between law and ethics, legal theory, Indigenous issues, and internationalization. You will also develop interdisciplinary understandings of law and legal work.

The major in Canadian Law assists with preparing for meeting the entry requirements for the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada in the legal profession in Canada’s common law provinces.

Canadian Law Electives
Griffith offers elective Canadian law courses at the Gold Coast campus that count toward your degree and prepare you for the NCA exams. You will learn from experienced lecturers who can guide you through what’s involved and give you personalized advice on how to prepare.

  • Foundations of Canadian Law
  • Canadian Criminal Law
  • Canadian Constitutional Law
  • Canadian Administrative Law
  • Canadian Legal Professional Responsibility

The Canadian Law electives are only taught at the Gold Coast campus, and only this campus hosts the Canadian Law Students Association. If you choose to study at the Nathan campus, you would need to transfer to the Gold Coast to take the electives toward the end of the program. Alternatively, could choose to study for the NCA exams by yourself, as some students prefer to take advantage of the other electives held at the Nathan campus.

A few law electives are run in intensive mode, including during the summer semester. Intensive mode means that classes may be compacted over a week, or over several weekends. Some law electives are “clinics,” which typically involve work off campus. Law electives are not normally undertaken until the final two years of your law degree.

Please note, students who choose to enroll in the Canadian Law elective areas will complete these courses over Griffith’s Summer Semester (Trimester 3), allowing them to graduate in 2 years’ time.

If you complete the major in Canadian Law you, will be eligible for entry into the legal profession in Canada’s common law provinces, when accompanied by a Certificate of Qualification from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada.

 

 

Admission Requirements

Completed bachelor’s degree
You must have a completed degree with a minimum GPA of 2.7/4.0 (approximately 70%).

The Griffith JD has 2- and 3-year program options.

Canadian Accreditation Accelerated Pathway
Graduate in 2 years (6 trimesters): students who choose to enroll in the Canadian Law elective areas will complete these courses over Griffith’s Summer Semester (Trimester 3), allowing them to graduate in 2 years rather than 3. Please contact OzTREKK to learn more about this option.

Admission Timeline

*While there is no set application deadline, you are encouraged to apply a minimum of 3 months prior to the program start date.

**Fees based on 3 trimesters per year (2-year accelerated program option).

1/3

“The blended teaching method is great for learning at your own pace.”

I really enjoy the class sizes and how everyone becomes close and familiar with each other. The blended teaching method is great for learning at your own pace. I really enjoy the services on campus and how they support students in all ways. They have lots of events and support available to everyone.

Mikayla D
Juris Doctor
Griffith University, 2022

“I’m so glad I made the decision”

I never imagined I'd have the courage to move to a new country and study law but I'm so glad I made the decision. I've learned a lot about myself and grown as a person. The staff is very helpful. Reach out to the Griffith Canadian law students association for additional advice and to guide you when you arrive/throughout your studies. It has worked wonders for me.

Abdullah K
Bachelor of Laws (graduate entry)
Griffith University, 2019

“My mind is blown”

Griffith is an amazingly supportive university. My mind is blown. Can't say I've experienced this type of accommodation elsewhere (and totally unexpected).

Tyler J
Law
Griffith University, 2019