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Juris Doctor

Course resolutions

The course resolutions detailed in this page apply to all courses included in the table below under section 1 (course codes).

These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2021 (the 'Coursework Policy'), the Learning and Teaching Policy 2019, the Resolutions of the Faculty, University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021, the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 and the Academic Integrity Procedures 2022. Current versions of all policies are available from the Policy
Register: http://www.sydney.edu.au/policies

1 Course codes

Code Course title
MAJURDOC-01 Juris Doctor

2 Attendance pattern

The attendance pattern for this course is generally full time. The University of Sydney School Law School will make a limited number of places available to part time candidates.

3 Admission to candidature

Admission to candidature for the Juris Doctor requires a bachelor's degree from any discipline other than Law. Students are assessed on a combination of a secondary school leaving qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents) and completed tertiary study. English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English. Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking.

(2) Admission to candidature for the Juris Doctor under the Dual Law Degree Pathway is determined in accordance with the agreement between the University of Sydney Law School and the partner institution. Applicants are assessed on their incomplete law degree from the partner institution. English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English. Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking.

4 Requirements for award

(1) The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in the Sydney Law School Juris Doctor Table.

(2) To qualify for the award of the Juris Doctor a candidate must complete 144 credit points taken from the Sydney Law School Juris Doctor Table, including:

(a) 102 credit points of core units of study (including specified units of study worth 0 credit points); and

(b) 42 credit points of elective units of study comprising:

(i) a maximum of six units of study taken from Electives Part 1, and

(ii) a minimum of one unit of study taken from Part 2.

(3) Students may apply to take up to a maximum of 24 credit points of LAWS6000/JURS6000 units of study as elective units of study.

(a) Enrolment in LAWS6000/JURS6000 units will be subject to availability and any unit pre-requisites or assumed knowledge, which may include relevant industry experience or prior specialist study.

(b) Enrolment in LAWS6000/JURS6000 units is only permitted after a candidate has completed 96 credit points towards the Juris Doctor.

(c) Students may only enrol in LAWS6000/JURS6000 units listed in the Juris Doctor Elective units of study Table.

(d) Any credit given for advanced learning Masters units will reduce students' ability to take further LAWS6000/JURS6000 units of study.

(4) All candidates will be required to complete a capstone experience in their final year which is a unit of study designed to draw together and synthesize prior learning and experience, and form the basis for further intellectual and professional growth. This requirement will be met by completion of a Jurisprudence elective. Other electives taken in final year which may meet this requirement include external placements, mooting activities or research projects.

5 Cross-institutional study

(1) In addition to the provisions for cross-institutional study described in the resolutions of the University of Sydney Law School, cross-institutional study is only available under the following terms:

(a) Candidates are not permitted to undertake any core unit or Part 2 elective (Jurisprudence) on a cross-institutional basis;

(b) Candidates must have completed a minimum of 48 credit points towards the Juris Doctor before undertaking any cross-institutional study;

(c) Candidates can receive a maximum of 24 credit points for cross-institutional study;

(d) Candidates must satisfy the usual progression rules and maximum enrolment requirements;

(e) The proposed cross institutional unit must be offered within another Juris Doctor or Master of Laws program at a law school approved by Sydney Law School.

(f) Candidates who apply in their penultimate year cannot enrol in more than 12 credit points of cross-institutional study in that year.

(g) Candidates who apply in their penultimate year cannot enrol in a cross-institutional unit that is offered within a Master of Laws program.

(h) Candidates must complete 96 credit points of the Juris Doctor at the University of Sydney Law School, and therefore eligibility for cross-institutional study requires consideration of the amount of credit granted for previous study under 8 below.

(2) Cross-institutional study is regarded as a form of credit for the purposes of 8 below.

(3) The resolutions on cross-institutional study apply to study on exchange or study abroad that is undertaken during the final year of the degree.

6 Suspension, discontinuation and lapse of candidature

Candidates are entitled to suspend their candidature for up to one year on each occasion. A suspension of more than one year must be approved by the Associate Dean and will only be approved in cases of serious illness or misadventure.

7 Progression rules

(1) Candidates are required to complete the Juris Doctor units of study in the order listed in the University of Sydney Law School Juris Doctor Table.

(2) LAWS5000 Foundations of Law is assumed knowledge for all other Juris Doctor units of study. Candidates must have successfully completed or be concurrently enrolled in LAWS5000 in order to enrol in any other Juris Doctor unit of study.

(3) Candidates enrolled in the full-time stream must pass all Year One core units of study before proceeding to Year Two.

(a) Candidates must pass all Year One and Year Two core units of study before proceeding to enrol in any elective units with the following exception:

(i) A candidate who is in Year Two and has completed 48 credit points of core units and is enrolled in 24 credit points in each semester may substitute one core unit of study for one elective unit of study in each semester.

(ii) Where such a replacement has occurred, a candidate must enrol in the deferred core unit(s) in Year Three of the program.

(iii) A candidate may not enrol in more than two electives in total in Year Two.

(4) Candidates enrolled in the part-time stream must pass all Year One and Year Two core units of study before proceeding to Year Three.

(a) Candidates must pass all core units in Years One, Two, Three and Four, before proceeding to enrol in any elective units of study with the following exception:

(i) A candidate who is in Year Four and has completed 72 credit points of core units and is enrolled in 12 credit points in each semester may substitute one core unit of study for one elective unit of study in each semester.

(ii) Where such a replacement has occurred, a candidate must enrol in the deferred core unit(s) in Year Five of the program.

(iii) A candidate may not enrol in more than two electives in total in Year Four.

8 Credit

(1) Candidates must complete 96 credit points of the Juris Doctor at the University of Sydney of Sydney Law School. A candidate may be granted a maximum of 48 credit points towards the requirements of the Juris Doctor.

(2) These credit provisions apply to credit for previous study, cross-institutional study and units of study undertaken on international exchange. Credit is available on the following terms:

(a) Specific credit will only be granted for equivalent core units of study undertaken as part of a Juris Doctor degree at an approved Australian law school.

(b) Except as provided in 8(3) below, a maximum of 24 credit points of non-specific credit may be granted for elective units undertaken as part of a Juris Doctor or Masters degree at a law school approved by Sydney Law School.

(c) A candidate may be granted credit for law units which have similar assessment and workload requirements to units offered by the School.

(3) Candidates may be granted up to 42 credit points of unspecified credit only in the following circumstances:

(a) Candidates who have completed a law degree or equivalent professional legal qualification from a recognised law school outside Australia; or

(b) Candidates who are admitted into the Dual Law Degree Pathway.

Students granted up to 42 credit points of non-specific credit in these circumstances will be required to complete all core units listed in the University of Sydney Law School Juris Doctor Table.

(4) A candidate may not be granted credit for units of study:

(a) for which the result is Terminating Pass, Conceded Pass or equivalent; or

(b) which have been relied upon to qualify for the award of another degree or qualification, except for:

(i) units of study which were taken as part of a completed overseas legal qualification; or

(ii) candidates admitted to the Dual Law Degree Pathway; or

(iii) LAWS6000/JURS6000 units of study which were taken as part of a completed Masters degree or other postgraduate qualification at the University of Sydney Law School.

(c) which were undertaken as part of Bachelor of Laws degree except for:

(i) units of study which were taken as part of a completed overseas legal qualification; or

(ii) candidates admitted to the Dual Law Degree Pathway.

9 Transitional provisions

(1) These resolutions apply to candidates who commence their candidature on or after 1 January 2021 and students who commenced their candidature prior 1 January 2021 who elect to proceed under the resolutions.

(2) For all students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2021 may complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement.