Master of Law overview
A Juris Doctor (JD) qualification can be studied after you complete an undergraduate degree. The JD is the pathway to take for students who wish to work in law but do not have an undergraduate degree in law. A JD gives students the vocational and practical skills to help them excel in the field. Once you have your JD, you are eligible to study a Master of Laws.
The Master of Laws is available for students who already have an undergraduate law degree. Those with their LLB can gain an internationally recognised postgraduate law qualification. The Master of Laws is also know as a Legum Magister or LLM degree, and could open doors with specialised skills and the ability to work in both international firms and multinational firms.
When choosing whether to study a Juris Doctor or an LLM, it’s worth going over each different institution’s course to ensure your education will further your knowledge in the field you wish to work in. While some courses offer broad overviews, others are more specialised for particular branches of the law. There is a comprehensive list of both types of law Master’s degrees here to help you find the course that is most relevant to you.
While you don’t necessarily need the Master of Laws to work as a practicing lawyer, it could be beneficial depending on which area of the law you wish to work in. Those who wish to work in international firms or in complex areas such as taxation, to give a few examples, will benefit from this postgraduate law degree.
Still trying to figure out of the Master of Laws will help advance your career? We have a more in-depth article about the merits and downsides of studying an LLM that you can read here.
Coursework masters
A Coursework masters of Law gives you the chance to expand knowledge in a specific area of the law, or in a broad program with the option to specialise.
Myriad subjects are available from a range of faculties, you can see the full list here.
Research masters
Research masters of law degrees allow you to contribute to academia as well as deepen your knowledge of fascinating fields of study. Often Research may focus on business and law, or your Master of Laws may require you to submit a thesis on the subject of your choice.
Generally, research masters in law can be completed in two years if studied full-time. The majority of your assessment will be based on a thesis in a topic of your choice.
For more information about possible research masters programs in law, click here.
Employment options
As mentioned, a Master of Laws will open up employment opportunities as you get the ability to work in multinational and international firms. A Master of Laws could also open up employment opportunities in more specialised fields such as tax, or whichever other field you choose to pursue.
Scholarships and funding
Look in our scholarship search tool to see if you could get a bursary or scholarship for your Master of Laws.
You also may be eligible for Youth Allowance or Austudy. Read more about financial assistance for your postgrad study here.
Prerequisites and selection process
This will depend on where you wish to study. You will likely need either an undergraduate degree in law or paralegal studies to enrol to study a Master of Laws or Masters of Law. You may need to have achieved a certain GPA depending on your desired university. Check here to find out.