
Banner image: Sculpture "Within Without" by James Turrell (2010) / ANU
A Juris Doctor (JD) provides students with a law degree that opens doors to a diverse range of professional careers in Australia and around the world.
In addition to equipping you with an understanding of the law and the contexts in which it operates, the JD places a significant emphasis on building your high-level research skills through opportunities to conduct independent legal research.
The JD gives you additional advantages in establishing your career or providing a strong continuation for postgraduate study.
Programs and Courses
Managing your program
The Juris Doctor program consists of 144 units in total (24 courses of 6 units) or the equivalent of three years full-time study, distributed as follows:
- 15 compulsory courses (90 units)
- 9 Law elective courses (54 units)
Including a Work-Integrated Capstone Course (6 units) from the list on our website.
Study Plans
Students who wish to go on Exchange should follow the modified study plan on the ANU Global Exchange Program webpage.
All courses available during the year are listed on the ANU Law School Course search website.
ANU Law School Course search
Study Plans and Graduation Checks
Students who wish to vary the recommended study plans for their degree, or would like confirmation that their future enrolments meet graduation requirements, must download the "Proposed Study Plan 2026–2030" by clicking the button below.
Proposed Study Plan 2026–2030Once downloaded, follow the instructions in the document and email the completed form to enquiries.clgp@anu.edu.au for verification. The College Student and Education Support team will review your proposed plan and respond within 3–5 business days.
Specialisations
Students may complete one or more of the specialisations listed below as part of their Law degree by undertaking four courses from the published list. Please note that specialisations are optional and not required for graduation.
Juris Doctor students may choose specialisations from both the Undergraduate and Postgraduate streams, provided these fit within their program orders.
Undergraduate
- Corporate and Commercial Law
- International and Comparative Law
- Law Reform, Environmental and Social Justice
- Public Law
Postgraduate
Other useful information
International Student Legal Orientation (ISLO)
The International Student Legal Orientation (ISLO) is a non-credit program for international and inbound exchange law students. It comprises a series of visits to key legal institutions and landmarks in Canberra, along with compulsory on-campus sessions designed to introduce students to Australian institutions relevant to the study of law.
Read moreCanvas
Canvas is ANU’s new Learning Management System, where you can access course materials, readings, lecture recordings, and submit assignments. You’ll be granted access to your courses on Canvas within 24–72 hours after enrolling via ANUHub.
Canvas
Census date
The following standard census dates apply at ANU:
- First Semester Census Date is 5 April
- Second Semester Census Date is 31 August
Each course in a non-standard session has its own individual census date. Please look up course code on ANU Program and Courses to find the census date for that course.
Read more
Class summaries
A class summary is produced for each course. This document contains vital information including materials, texts, learning outcomes, and details on assessment and must be read by the student. It is available under the class tab of your course in Programs and Courses website, and on the Canvas course site at least two weeks prior to the course start date.
Course cancellation
Students will be notified by email as early as possible when a course has to be cancelled or changed. Every effort will be made by the ANU Law School not to cancel courses unless absolutely necessary or due to circumstances beyond our control.
Disestablished program Resources
My Timetable
MyTimetable is the ANU official timetabling system enabling you to view the timetable for your enrobed courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials.
- Timetable Planner - Opens mid-December (Semester One) and mid-June (Semester Two). This is not for allocation, but for planning only. It provides an opportunity to plan your timetable prior to the opening of MyTimetable.
- Student Allocation- Opens two weeks prior the semester start date
Online course information
From Semester 1 2024, all compulsory courses in the ANU Law School Juris Doctor will be delivered on-campus only. Students will then benefit from the on-campus postgraduate student experience and become part of our vibrant campus community.
Some elective courses in the Juris Doctor will remain available online. In the latter years of their degree, students may elect to study some of their courses online (subject to the availability of online elective courses).
Practical Legal Training and Admission to Practice
Practical Legal Training for ANU Students
As the ANU School of Legal Practice has now closed, a list of PLT providers has been compiled to assist graduating students.
- Flinders University
- Leo Cussen Centre for Law
- Queensland University of Technology
- The College of Law
- The Piddington Society
- University of Adelaide-Law Society of South Australia
- University of New South Wales
- University of Tasmania
- University of Technology Sydney
You can find the steps on how to get admission to practice here.
Program fees
All students will receive an invoice on ANUHub. Your invoice will indicate the cost of your course tuition, and the due date for payment.
Eligible domestic students may apply for FEE-HELP through ANUHub to defer their fees to the Australian Taxation Office. Ensure you apply for FEE-HELP before the course Census Date or you will need to pay your fees upfront.
A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university or higher education provider where the government pays part of your fees. The University has a limited number of these placements.
Scholarships, Bursaries and Grants
ANU and the ANU Law School offer a variety of Scholarships, Bursaries and Grants to support your studies.
ANU Law School ScholarshipsANU ScholarshipsWhether students need emergency accommodation, assistance with medical bills, or support to participate in a non-credit extracurricular activity, ANU offers a range of financial support options. You can find a list on our webpage here.
University terms and enrolment deadlines
Students must enrol themselves for each term by the appropriate deadline.
Due to limited places in some courses and tutorial selections, we recommend that students enrol in their courses as early as possible, ideally before the course start date. Below, you'll find the University terms and their corresponding enrolment deadlines.
Study Period One
| Term | Period | Deadline to enrol |
|---|---|---|
Summer session | January - March | See the Study tab for your course on Programs and Courses |
Semester One | February - May | Monday of week two at 11:59pm |
Autumn session | April - June | See the Study tab for your course on Programs and Courses |
Study Period Two
| Term | Period | Deadline to enrol |
|---|---|---|
Winter session | July - September | See the Study tab for your course on Programs and Courses |
Semester Two | July - October | Monday of week two at 11:59pm |
Spring session | October - December | See the Study tab for your course on Programs and Courses |
For more information on enrolments, please visit our Enrolment Information and guideline webpage.
Enquiries
College Student and Education Support team
(02) 6125 3483