FAQs

Is law school hard?

Law school is not necessarily harder than any other degree, but the workload has a larger emphasis on reading material such as cases and legislation, as preparation is key for all your classes. The assignments are designed to test your critical analysis when writing legal essays and answering problem based questions as well. Overall, the most important thing is to be organised with good time management to stay on top of things!

What kind of units are taught in law school?

The exact units taught differ by University, however every university in Victoria recognised by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB) covers the Prestley 11 units, which are required to be admitted to practice law in Victoria. 

The Prestley 11 units are: 

  1. Administrative Law

  2. Civil Dispute Resolution

  3. Company Law

  4. Contracts

  5. Criminal Law and Procedure

  6. Ethics and Professional Responsibility

  7. Equity (including Trusts)

  8. Evidence

  9. Federal and State Constitutional law

  10. Property

  11. Torts

For more information, especially regarding which universities are recognised by VLAB see: https://www.lawadmissions.vic.gov.au/qualifications-and-training/academic

There is also a range of law electives available but these often require that some of the core (Prestley 11 units) are completed beforehand. The range of electives offered again depend on which university you decide to enrol with and whether you choose to study an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws or a Juris Doctor. 

At Monash the available law electives can be found here:

Note: these electives may vary each year and may not be up to date at the time of reading. Please exercise due diligence and refer to respective University facilities if you have any questions in this regard.

Below are links to Monash’s course maps to visualise the progression of a law degree at Monash for both single and double undergraduate courses.

Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Course Map 2023 https://www.monash.edu/students/handbooks/maps/2023/map-l3001.pdf

Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Arts Course Map 2023  https://www.monash.edu/students/handbooks/maps/2023/map-l3003.pdf

Should I study a single or double law degree?

The majority of students at Monash study a double degree with law. However the choice depends on a range of factors to consider such as:

  • Single degrees are quicker to complete (4.25 years - so 4 years with some unit overloading) vs 5 years for double degrees

  • Single degrees allow more law electives, offering more opportunities to discover different legal areas and units

  • A double degree provides more diverse units, since single degrees are limited to the law faculty after the first year. This can allow you to explore your interests more and can be less intense than doing four law units each semester.

  • Double degrees can allow greater insight into certain areas (e.g., a commerce-law degree might be useful for corporate lawyers) and potential specialisation in legal practice

  • Many double-degree law students benefit from studying another degree alongside law as it allows students to take a breather from their reading-intense law units.

  • Double degrees expands career options and allows people to work in niche areas. For example, for certain areas of law such as intellectual property law or medical law, though a science background is not a prerequisite, it is definitely an advantage that employers look highly upon.

Should I study LLB or JD?

Many universities offer both the Bachelors of Law (LLB) course and the Juris Doctor (JD) course. LLB is an undergraduate course, whereas the JD is a postgraduate course that begins after the completion of an undergraduate degree in any discipline (e.g. Arts, Science or Commerce). 

People who complete either a LLB or JD both graduate with the same skills and knowledge required to practice law. It is important to note the different requirements to get into either courses and the costs involved in completing each course. 

The following table outlines the differences between the two degrees (excerpt taken from our blog piece “Bachelor of Laws vs Juris Doctor”).

Are there alternative entrances into law school?

There are multiple pathways into law school if you do not start studying law immediately after VCE. These pathways include: 

  1. Internal transfer within university 

  2. External transfer from one university to another 

  3. New “Pathways into Monash Law” : for students that have missed out on the selection rank and identify as indigenous Australian, live in a low socio-economic area or experienced financial hardship.

For more information, please visit our piece: “Pathways into Law”

Can I use a law degree for purposes other than practising law?

Contrary to popular belief, a law degree can be used in a range of different careers outside of practice, including in policy positions, academia, and corporate roles. 

For more information, see our blog post on legal careers, “Law Careers in Non-Traditional Fields”

Why should I study law at Monash?

There are some advantages to studying law at Monash as our law school is the only law school in Australia that offers a guaranteed clinical placement for students.

The Monash Law Clinic, where you can do placement to gain practical legal skills like client interviewing. This allows students to gain valuable experience before they enter their legal careers, post-degree.

What is a law honours degree?

An honours degree is characterised by a research thesis towards the end of your studies, undertaken with supervision from the law faculty and on a topic of your choice. This provides you the opportunity to pursue higher level study and research, like in a master’s degree or PhD. However, even if you plan to only complete a bachelor degree, an honours qualification can develop and demonstrate skills in project management and research, which will benefit your employability as a graduate.

Honours degrees are available in a range of faculties besides law, including science and arts. 

At Monash, whether you are taking a single or double undergraduate law degree, you are required to complete an honours component. This component can be achieved through different avenues such as through researching a thesis, by engaging in professional practice through law clinic opportunities and competitions for those interested in mooting.

Any advice before entering the study of law?

If you are unsure whether you are interested in studying law at University, it may help to take a legal studies class in High School if available. It is important to note that studying law at University is vastly different to that from High School, but is nonetheless a good idea to gauge your legal interest!

It’s important to be proactive, if you are eager to learn more about law, attend court hearings to increase your understanding of procedure and the application of law. Or if you prefer to read, research some cases or legislation that might intrigue you.

Law school relies heavily on reading and critical thinking skills. Communication skills are also indispensable as lawyers need to communicate concisely yet effectively. Attempting to enhance your verbal and written communication skills will go a long way whether it be through debating or writing papers and essays.

It is vital to develop a strong work ethic as early as possible as law school requires dedication and hard work. Maintaining a positive attitude towards your studies will only benefit you in your learning today and in the foreseeable future.

Who should I contact if I have further questions?

If you want to learn more about a law degree, we are here to help! Feel free to browse our other blog posts to learn more about entry requirements, career options, and other common questions. We are also running an event on 9 September this year where we will have a fantastic panel of expert speakers, as well as other students, for you to meet and connect with.

Otherwise, talking to your school careers advisor and going to university open days are helpful resources as well.

Written by

Alexander George Murray-Xenidis, Sotir Stojanovic, Sunyoung Jung and Jiahao Rao