Career Outcomes
The Juris Doctor has been constructed to enable graduates to take leading positions in the public and private sectors. Our graduates are now employed in top law firms throughout Australia and across 38 countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore, as solicitors in private practice, barristers, government lawyers, in-house counsel and academics. Students are encouraged to emphasise specific areas of study that they feel best serve their proposed career paths.
Attendance
Most students undertake four subjects per semester. You may, however, enrol in fewer subjects and extend your degree over a longer period.
Note that due to professional admission requirements, JD students may not overload and must take a minimum of six semesters to complete the degree.
Bond's teaching methodology involves a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, examinations, projects, presentations, assignments, computer labs and industry projects.
The Juris Doctor program is not eligible for Austudy as the program is considered masters equivalent. International students are required to study a minimum of 30 credit hours (three subjects equivalent) per semester to fulfil Australian study visa requirements.
Professional Recognition
The Juris Doctor degree is an approved degree for purposes of admission as a barrister or solicitor in all Australia jurisdictions. (Students are always advised to confirm admission requirements in the particular jurisdiction in which they wish to practise). In conjunction with futher study, the degree can also be used to gain admission internationally.
Industry Experience
The Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House (QPILCH)
runs an administrative law clinic as a Bond elective subject.
Students research cases and write submissions on behalf of QPILCH. The Faculty strongly encourages students to complete clerkships or work experience with law firms during their holidays, but these do not form part of course requirements.
Combined Degrees
Combined degrees are encouraged and take between three and four years full-time to complete. The Juris Doctor can be combined with most other postgraduate awards. Popular combinations include the MBA, Master of Accounting, Master of Arts and Master of International Relations.
Course Structure
Students must complete 19 compulsory subjects, including all the ‘Priestley Eleven’ areas required to practise law in Australia:
- Australian Legal System
- Legal Skills
- Principles of Tortious Liability
- Principles of Contractual Liability
- Law of Obligations
- Civil Remedies
- Criminal Law and Procedure A
- Criminal Law and Procedure B
- Constitutional Law
- Property Law
- Land Law
- Equity
- Personal Property Transactions
- Business Associations
- Corporations Law
- Administrative Law
- Evidence
- Civil Procedure
- Legal Ethics and Professional Conduct*
- Bookkeeping and Trust Accounts*
* denotes half subject
Plus 5 Master’s level law electives which include:
- Australian Government and Politics
- Advanced Commercial Negotiation
- Banking and Finance Law
- Basic Trial Advocacy
- Competition Law
- Copyright and Entertainment Law
- Dispute Systems Design
- Electronic Commerce and the Law
- Employment and Labour Relations Law
- Equitable Remedies
- Family Law
- Human Rights Law
- Immigration Law
- Industrial Property Law : Trade Secrets, Designs, Patents and Trademarks
- Information Technology and the Law
- International Banking and Finance Law
- International Contracts
- International Commercial Arbitration
- International Criminal Law
- International Investment Transactions
- International Law
- International Trade Law System
- International Trade Transactions
- Law and Medicine
- Media and Telecommunications Law
- Mediation
- Miscarriages of Justice
- Negotiation
- Principles of Taxation Law
- Public Interest Law Clinic
- Succession
- Takeovers and Securities Regulation
- Taxation of Business Entities
- Taxation of International Business
- Theory and Principles of Dispute Resolution