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Cost of Australian law degrees (2020 update)

7 May 2017 37 Comments

How much does a law degree cost in Australia? We’ve collected the data from every law school in the country, calculated the tuition fees (and year on year fee increases) and then ranked them from the cheapest to the most expensive.

It has been difficult to find the realistic cost of a law degree from a university’s website in the past. Thankfully, universities are becoming more transparent and most now provide an indicative cost for the first year of study and for the course in total.

This post has been updated to include 2020 fee information.

Contents

  • 1 The summary – five key findings
  • 2 The list – the cost of law degrees in Australia
  • 3 How to read the table
  • 4 Table Footnotes
  • 5 Other comments and themes
    • 5.1 Transparency is improving
    • 5.2 Unfortunately, law schools don’t disclose the number of CSP places for juris doctor (JD) degrees
    • 5.3 If you’re a full fee student then you can’t put it all on FEE-HELP
    • 5.4 Where can you find one of those cheap, cheap “Bachelor’s degree” courses?
    • 5.5 Why aren’t we all studying through the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board!?
  • 6 The boring stuff
    • 6.1 Method for preparing the table
    • 6.2 Limitations, and what the table doesn’t tell you
  • 7 Are law degrees worth the money?

The summary – five key findings

  1. The cheapest legal education in Australia is provided by the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) in NSW at a total cost of $19,222 over 4 years (part time). This is a diploma but still allows you to practice as a lawyer.
  2. The cheapest law degree in Australia is the three year Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) degree, which could be a graduate entry bachelor’s degree from any university, or the Juris Doctor from the University of Western Australia – the only university that provides a CSP-only JD! Each will cost $34,070 over three years.
  3. The most expensive law degree in Australia is Bond University’s full-fee undergraduate degree at $140,301, but only because it’s a four year degree. Monash Uni is next on the list with its Juris Doctor at $132,668 for three years, just pipping the Australian National University’s JD at $131,351.
  4. Just because it’s a great stat, the shortest law degree on offer is the Bond University Juris Doctor which you can complete in a mere 2 years (4 law subjects per trimester – god help those students!)
  5. The average fee increase per year (on a per subject / credit point basis) for Australian law schools varies significantly. As a benchmark, CSP fees have increased by an average of 1.73% each year since 2017. The Bond University full-fee undergraduate degree was even lower at an average of 1.06% each year. The University of Melbourne had a surprisingly low average of 2.05% each year, and Flinders University JD was much higher at 8.91%. ANU fees jumped 11.81% from 2019 to 2020, and the University of Canberra obviously implemented some kind of fee correction between 2018 and 2019 with a hike of 33%!

The table below sets out the cost for each law school, along with some other relevant information.

The list – the cost of law degrees in Australia

An explanation of the key columns, and further comments on each of the universities, is below the table.

Uni / DegreeTotal cost of degreeCost per subjectFee increase1st year costAvg cost per yearDuration
Australian National University JD (*1)$131,351$4,83011.81%$33,810$43,7833 years
Bachelor's degree (double degree)$57,816$1,3941.80%
$11,155$11,5635 years
Bachelor's degree (graduate entry)$34,070

$1,3941.80%$11,155$11,356
3 years
Bachelor's degree (straight law)$45,837$1,3941.80%$11,155$11,4594 years
Bond University Bachelor's degree (*2)$140,301$4,3401.17%$52,080$50,1072.8 years
Bond University JD (*3)$121,460$4,9300.82%$59,160$60,7302 years
Deakin University JD (*4)$102,934$4,0755.16%$32,600$34,3113 years
Flinders University JD (*5)$95,853$3,8259.10%$30,600$31,9513 years
Legal Practitioners Admissions Board (LPAB) Diploma (*6)$19,222$9302.20%$4,650$4,8054 years (part-time)
Macquarie University JD (*7)$104,198$4,2182.89%$33,748$34,7323 years
Monash University JD (*8)$132,667$5,2505.00%$36,750$44,2223 years
RMIT JD (*9)$121,369$4,8005.26%$38,400$40,4563 years
TOP Education bachelor's degree (*10)$48,000$1,5000.00%$12,000$16,0004 years
University of Canberra JD (*11)$86,521$3,4873.33%$27,900$28,8403 years
University of Melbourne JD (*12)$125,829$5,1362.07%$41,088$41,9433 years
University of New South Wales JD (*13)$126,000$5,2500.00%$42,000$42,0003 years
University of Newcastle JD (*14)$91,675$3,1055.00%
$24,840$30,5583 years
University of Southern Queensland JD (*15)$77,768$3,0805.12%$24,640$25,9223 years
University of Sydney JD (*16)$128,195$5,1875.00%$35,437$42,7313 years
University of Technology, Sydney JD (*17)$127,281$5,9045.00%$38,640$42,4273 years
University of Western Australia JD (CSP only!) (*18)$34,070$1,3941.83%$11,152$11,3563 years

How to read the table

The table can be a little misleading if you don’t consider the variability in fee increases and course structures. Here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Degree: The name of the university and kind of law degree.
  • Total cost of degree: The total cost for the duration of the degree (ie, to complete every subject) including fee increases each year based on the “fee increased” column. See lower in the post for an example. Of course, in the future, universities migth increase or decrease their fees (which means the table will underestimates or overestimate the total, respectively).
  • Cost per subject: This is the cost per subject (or the indicative cost where a university charges fees by way of credit points, where each subject is usually 6 credit points). This column is probably a good indicator of the “most expensive” law school at any given time.
  • Fee increase: This is the fee increase from 2019 to 2020.
  • 1st year cost: The cost of tuition for the first year of law school based on the university’s suggested course structure. Some universities have one or two less subjects in the first year to allow students to get used to studying law. For any university that fails to provide a suggested structure, which aren’t many, I’ve taken the average for each year (eg if there are 24 subjects over 3 years, I have assumed 8 subjects for the first year).
  • Average cost per year: This is the “Total cost of degree” divided by the “Duration” in years. The main purpose of this is so you can compare the average cost (including fee increases) against the “indicative cost per year” provided by universities. In the past, the indicative cost provided by universities have been quite misleading because they rarely included any fee increases in the calculation, or failed to follow their own course structure and adjust for fewer subjects in the first year (which means there are more subjects in later years, which obviously cost more because of fee increases). Thankfully, most indicative fees now seem to include these adjustments, but still seem to underestimate the price when compared to my calculations.
  • Duration: The number of years to complete the degree according to the recommended course structure.

Table Footnotes

There is no way to do this well, but the footnotes below correlate to the (*1), (*2) markers in the “Uni / degree” column.

  • Footnote #1: Australian National University – Annual indicative cost is $38,520, which is around $5,000 too low (and would still low even if the fee increase was around 5.09%, which is what it was over the previous two years).
  • Footnote #2: Bond University LLB – No indicative cost information (though this was provided a few years ago). Already flag 2021 fees so students have certainty there.
  • Footnote #3: Bond University JD – No indicative cost information (though this was provided a few years ago). Elective units slightly more expensive than core units. Already provide 2021 fee information which is great.
  • Footnote #4: Deakin Uni JD – Indicative cost at $32,600 per year which is around $2,000 too low.
  • Footnote #5: Flinders Uni JD – Indicative cost of $31,500 per year which is pretty much right on.
  • Footnote #6: LPAB – The Fees for LPAB are to “enrol” in a subject, and include tuition & examination for that subject. They are set on 1 July each year which makes it a little difficult to calculate – for convenience and given they are so much cheaper that universities, I’ve calculated costs in the table on basis that the 1st year fees are those applicable at start of year.
  • Footnote #7: Macquarie University JD – Indicative cost of $33,748 per year, which is around $1,000 too low. Fees are based on credit points, where each subject has 10 credit points. Credit point structure has changed from 2019.
  • Footnote #8: Monash University JD – Annual indicative cost of $42,000, which is about $2,000 too low. Unfortunately don’t have 2019 fee information so I’ve assumed a 5% fee increase. Very difficult to find subject cost information from the JD webpage.
  • Footnote #9: RMIT JD – Indicative annual cost of $38,400, which is ~$2,000 too low. RMIT does a good job at clearly stating that fees will be adjusted with time (and also state they will not exceed 7.5% per subject). RMIT also provides a total course indicative cost of $115,200 (~$6,000 too low).
  • Footnote #10: TOP Education LLB – Total course indicative cost of $48,000, which is actually correct because course fees have not increased over the last 4 years (so the fee increase is 0.00%). Unclear why this is.
  • Footnote #11: University of Canberra JD – Indicative annual fee of $27,900, which is pretty close (~$1,000 too low). Fees are on a credit point basis (not per subject).
  • Footnote #12: University of Melbourne JD – Provides an indicative annual fee of $35,108 for full fee + bursary on the webpage, but following the link it says the indicative cost for the first year is $41,088. The latter is very close. Melb Uni gets bonus points for flagging that this is a “first year fee”, and bonus points again for flagging that the total indicative course fee of $128,320 includes 5% indexation each year. This is actually higher than Melb Uni’s increases since 2017 which have been around 2% per year. The only uni on the list that overestimates the total fee (by around $3,000). Credit point structure for fees.
  • Footnote #13: UNSW – The indicative first year fee is $42,000, and the indicative fee to complete the degree is $129,600. Bonus points for stating that there will be a “percentage increase for every year of the program” (though doesn’t say what it is). The indicative total is higher than my total course fee of $126,000 because there was no increase in subject cost from 2019 to 2020 (which means I’ve been multiplying by 0.00% for the “increase”). If you took a 3% fee increase then UNSW’s indicative total would be spot on. Credit point structure for fees.
  • Footnote #14: University of Newcastle JD – Indicative annual fee for first year (8 subjects) is $24,830. However, 2nd and 3rd years have 10 subjects each so the first year fee, while correct, isn’t particularly helpful. The average yearly fee is $30,558. Embedded PLT program. Unfortunately don’t have 2019 fee information so I’ve assumed a 5% fee increase.
  • Footnote #15: University of Southern Queensland JD – Indicative first year cost of $24,640, which is around $1,000 too low. Flags that fees can vary from year to year. Some electives are a little cheaper than others, so the overall cost of the law degree may end up being marginally cheaper than my calculation.
  • Footnote #16: University of Sydney JD – Indicative annual cost of $40,500 which is around $2,000 too low. The uni also states that fees are subject to annual review and will increases each year, and that the indicative fee is for a full time load. Unfortunately don’t have 2019 fee information so I’ve assumed a 5% fee increase. Already flags the 2021 fees which helps provide certainty.
  • Footnote #17: University of Technology, Sydney JD – No indicative course cost. The way the fees need to be calculated is quite convoluted, with the course requiring 144 credit points, where each subject is either 6 or 8 credit points, and each credit point costing $861. The suggested course structure has 6 subjects in the first year (totaling 46 credit points of 6 and 8 credit point subjects), 7 subjects in the second year (totaling 48 credit points), and 8 subjects in the third year (totaling 50 credit points). The “per subject” cost in the table is a blended cost. Unfortunately don’t have 2019 fee information so I’ve assumed a 5% fee increase.
  • Footnote #18: University of Western Australia JD – The “average” fee per year of $9,094 is totally out (~$2,000 low), but who cares when the university offers all of its JD places on a CSP basis!

Other comments and themes

Transparency is improving

The primary reason for making the first edition of this post (in 2017) was that universities were doing a terrible job at being transparent with overall cost of law degrees. All you would get is a cost per subject, and then you needed to calculate the rest yourself, including trying to predict what fee increases would apply (usually well in excess of inflation).

Universities are providing a lot more transparency now. Most will provide an indicative cost per year (and the better ones provide an indicative total course fee which builds in estimated fee increases). Overall, my calculations show they still underestimate the costs a little, but at least this information is now available for prospective students.

Unfortunately, law schools don’t disclose the number of CSP places for juris doctor (JD) degrees

While most JD places are full fee, universities invariably keep a few places open for CSP students, and many dangle the carrot that if you do well enough in your first year, then you can apply to transfer from a full fee to CSP place in your second or third year.

But how many CSP places are there (20%, 10%, 5%, less?), and how many students successfully transfer from a full fee to CSP place (surely very few)? No university (that I saw) openly discloses this information.

Universities say that the number changes from year to year, but it wouldn’t be hard to simply state how many places were offered each year over the previous, say, five years, or to provide an average.

There should definitely be some more transparency on this point for prospective students.

If you’re a full fee student then you can’t put it all on FEE-HELP

My other post “how much does a law degree really cost?” looks at the other kinds of fees and expenses that you will pay at law school. Spoiler – there are a lot. This post also covers what you need to know about FEE-HELP, and importantly the “FEE-HELP gap”.

In short, if you’re a full fee student then you can put your fees on FEE-HELP and pay the fees back later. However, the FEE-HELP limit for 2020 is $106,319, so if you apply for any of the courses listed above that exceed this limit then you will need to pay the gap before you can finish your degree (usually in the last year). That could be up to ~$30,000, depending on the university you attend!

This issue is more well known these days and some universities offer to cover this gap, or provide scholarships to assist.

Where can you find one of those cheap, cheap “Bachelor’s degree” courses?

In the table above, I’ve included three catchall Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) degrees:

  • Avg CSP bachelor of laws (graduate entry) – this is a degree that you can apply for if you have already completed another bachelors degree. It’s a 3 year degree.
  • Avg CSP bachelor of laws – this is the typical “straight law” degree that will last for 4 years.
  • Avg CSP bachelor of laws (double degree) – this is a typical double degree course lasting for 5 years. It does not include the cost of the second degree (which can vary depending on discipline).

There is so much variability within undergraduate and graduate entry bachelor of laws degrees that it’s easier to make a few assumptions here. For the purposes of this table, it’s $11,155 per year multiplied by the number of years in the degree (including the fee increase from last year applied to each further year).

Update: The Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan just announced that these fees could be increased by about 28% next year for law degrees (new students only)! By way of comparison, the fees for CSP places between 2017 – 2018 increased by 1.49%, between 2018 – 2019 by 1.90%, and between 2019 – 2020 by 1.80%.

(Caveat: I’m still working on the list below. I originally excluded the universities listed in the table above, but on reflection, this is unhelpful and I need to go back an include them. DYOR.) The following universities offer CSP places (no full fee places) for law degrees:

  • Australian Catholic Univeristy (graduate entry law and undergraduate law degree)
  • Central Queensland University (CQUniversity) (undergraduate bachelors)
  • Charles Darwin University (bachelor of laws – non graduate and graduate entry)
  • Curtin University (undergraduate)
  • Edith Cowan University (undergraduate and graduate entry, double degrees)
  • Griffith University (bachelors of law – non graduate and graduate entry)
  • James Cook University (bachelors of law – non graduate and graduate entry)
  • Murdoch University (undergrad and graduate entry)
  • Queensland University of Technology (bachelor of laws – non graduate and graduate entry)
  • Southern Cross University (undergraduate and graduate llbs)
  • Swinburn University of Technology (undergrad and graduate entry)
  • University of Adelaide (single undergrad, double degree undergrad, grad entry)
  • University of New England (bachelor of laws – non graduate and graduate entry)
  • University of Notre Dame (undergrad with normal and graduate entry, and postgrad graduate entry)
  • University of Queensland (no straight bachelors of laws – UQ only has bachelor of laws (honours))
  • University of South Australia (undergraduate bachelor’s only – no graduate entry)
  • University of Sunshine Coast (non graduate and graduate entry bachelors)
  • University of Tasmania (undergrad and grad entry, undergrad with honours)
  • University of Western Australia (Juris Doctor! I’ve also included this in the table above)
  • University of Wollongong (undergrad and graduate entry)
  • Victoria University (bachelor of laws – non graduate and graduate entry)
  • Western Sydney University (graduate and non graduate entry)

The way universities structure their undergraduate offerings change over time. I can’t quite tell, but I get the impression that more and more universities are not allowing students to enrol into a second undergraduate degree (so if you want to make a change and switch to law, then you will be funneled through the higher cost JD degrees). Make sure you do your own research.

Why aren’t we all studying through the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board!?

The LPAB diploma isn’t particularly well known among those considering law school, despite being the oldest institution providing all the education necessary to become a lawyer. Further, its by far the cheapest legal educational provider. So why aren’t we all studying there?

For whatever reason, the LPAB simply isn’t that well regarded by large private practice employers. I get lots of emails challenging this, and a few people have left comments on the site along the same lines, so I’m just going to say it now – don’t shoot the messenger.

I don’t know why this is the case, but I suspect it’s mainly due to the fact that it’s just not that well known. Unfortunately, people don’t like things that they are unfamiliar with, and employers (especially partners and human resources staff at larger law firms) will stick with the devil they know.

Further, it’s not a university and you don’t get a university degree. Unfortunately, when you combine this with the fact that it’s cheap and not well known, you will find that many people will automatically equate that with a lack of prestige (though that said, many people think the same of the newer universities as well).

I have been meaning to write a separate post on LPAB forever, but in the meantime, do you own research!

The boring stuff

Just for transparency, I’ve set out below how the list has been compiled and calculated. If you think there are any mistakes or that I’ve misrepresented the cost for any university, please let me know!

Method for preparing the table

It’s not rocket science – I looked at the webpage for each law school, collected whatever information was available and then reached out to law faculties where fees were missing (or unclear). If I’ve made assumptions (because I couldn’t find the cost in 2018 or 2019) then these are flagged in the footnotes above.

All the data I’ve collected ends up in an excel sheet, which calculates various fee totals . For example, this is the data for Melbourne Uni:

Calculations for the Melbourne Uni JD.

Rinse and repeat for each Uni.

If you want a closer look at the data, shoot me an email at will at youveenteredlawland.com and I can send you the excel sheet. It’s interesting to browse, but you’ll never get that time back in your life.

Limitations, and what the table doesn’t tell you

The first limitation is that I have no idea how much fees will increase by, so they have been calculated based on the fee increase in the previous year. This might not be the best way to do it and I’m wondering whether I should use an average fee increase based on the previous few years.

For example, if you take the calculations for the Australian National University’s JD, the fees for Year 2 have been increased by 11.81% (because that’s how much the fees increased by in the immediate past year). That is, in Year 2, the 2020 subject cost of $4,830 is multiplied by 11.81% and this new adjusted subject fee is then multiplied by 8 subjects. In Year 3, the $4,830 is multiplied by 11.81% and then again by another 11.81% (because in Year 3 you will have a further set of fee increases), and this new adjusted subject fee is multiplied by 9 subjects.

If the 11.81% is an outlier then this obviously causes problems. You can see below that a fee increase of around 6% might be more appropriate.

And here is the data to calculate the costs for ANU’s JD.

A second limitation is around the “1st year cost” – this is for a first year student in 2020 and varies a lot between the different universities because some universities recommend a light workload for the first year. The only reason I include this number is because a lot of universities use this light-workload year as the basis for their “annual indicative cost”. I think that’s a bit sneaky, and the universities should do better. I’ve also included an “Average cost per year” in the table to address this problem (but again, this builds in the issues with fee increases raised above).

A third limitation is that I haven’t collected the data on double degrees. Obviously, there are heaps of people who study law as part of a double degree, but it’s just too hard to sift through all the information. I tried to do it in 2018 as a “first update” to this post, and it was so painful after around 15 or so universities that I just gave up until now. I think this post still gives everyone enough to start with, and if you want some more info, DYOR.

A fourth limitation is that it is impossible to predict how you will travel through your degree. Maybe you take a semester off, or drop a few subjects to maintain your sanity in your final year. This pushes the degree out and you’ll end up incurring fees in an additional year. Maybe you study part-time, in which case the same issues arise again. At the end of the day, you need to do your own research.

Are law degrees worth the money?

What do you think?

As you can see, the cost of a law degree can vary significantly between universities. Does the cost really reflect the difference in quality of education, or employment outcomes? Should law students be considering the total costs a little more closely these days, or is law school still a good investment?

It would be great to hear your thoughts in the comments section below!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. HEATHER BERNSTEIN says

    25 October 2020 at 11:31 am

    You have missed Notre Dame and Charles Sturt

    Reply
  2. Nusrat says

    24 May 2020 at 4:09 am

    Hi
    I completed my law degree from a UK university and now I want to become a barrister in Australia.LPAB gave me 7 subjects to complete.Now my question is, I don’t get any university that teaches only the specific subjects.could you please help me how can I complete the subjects? Like which university will allow me to do it including PLT.

    Reply
    • Will (You've Entered Law Land) says

      31 May 2020 at 3:45 pm

      Hi Nusrat

      I’m quite sure that all universities will offer single units to study. However, they are usually full-fee so think around the $3,000 to 5,000 mark per subject. Give your local uni a call and speak to the law school.

      You could also complete the subject through LPAB (here: http://www.lpab.justice.nsw.gov.au/). They are far cheaper, and this is probably the better option for you given you’re already legally qualified in another jurisdiction.

      For PLT, there are a few options but the short summary is you’ll probably find College of Law or Leo Cussens as your best bet. Around the $10,000 – $15,000 mark. Do some Googling and let me know if there’s anything else.

      Cheers
      Will

      Reply
  3. Ali says

    6 January 2020 at 7:17 pm

    Hi, could you help me to choose my university? I have some doubts about which one would the best one for me between UNSW, UTS, and Macquarie.
    I got an offer from all of them for the Juris Doctor course. As I already have an overseas LLB, they granted me some credit points too. ( due to LPAB assessment. )

    Reply
  4. Isha says

    4 April 2019 at 6:59 pm

    Hello Will,

    Hope you are doing well.

    I am a lawyer from India and I am looking to become a Solicitor in Australia (NSW). I recently got my qualifications assessed by the Legal Profession Admission Board and they suggested I complete four subjects in addition to PLT. I have been told that PLT is only undertaken after completing the recommended subjects by LPAB. Will you be able to guide me on the best options I have?

    Reply
    • Will says

      6 May 2019 at 11:56 pm

      Hi Isha

      As I understand it, if that’s what LPAB says then that’s what you are going to have to do. Your options are to either undertake those legal subjects with LPAB (if they offer them) or with another university (but I would check with LPAB before you enrol to make sure that the university subjects satisfy the requirements). The difference is that LPAB is self-directed learning – the universities will provide more assistance, but with a much larger cost.

      You can find the universities in NSW here: http://youveenteredlawland.com/list-of-australian-law-schools/. The list is probably a little out of date, but it should be a good starting point.

      Good luck
      Will

      Reply
  5. Rivver says

    20 March 2019 at 4:11 pm

    Hi,

    I know this post is relatively old but ill give it a shot.

    I am really interested in doing a law degree using HECS -HELP. Im interested in the Bachelor of laws (Honours) combined at University of Newcastle. I cant seem to find how much it will cost. Does anyone know?

    I have a little concern as I have already incurred costs on my HECS in a previous degree. My understanding is you can only receive up to $104,000 in HECS. In my calculations, I have roughly $70,000 left on my HECS account.

    Do you know what institutions that are providing Bachelor of Laws degrees?

    Thanks.

    Reply
  6. Habib says

    22 November 2018 at 10:32 pm

    Hi Will,

    i am currently doing my penultimate year in law at Victoria Uni. Does HECS still help with the payments if i have a full time job or will they ask me to pay?

    thank you very much

    Reply
    • Will says

      7 May 2019 at 8:30 am

      Your question isn’t very clear, but if I understand you correctly, eligibility for HECS doesn’t depend on employment so you won’t be asked to pay course fees by Vic Uni just because you get a full time job while you’re studying.

      Cheers
      Will

      Reply
  7. Rebecca says

    14 November 2018 at 8:43 am

    The Legal Profession Admission Board course is the traditional law course and it is also the cheapest. It is very demanding & requires a lot of personal dedication unlike some university courses which I’ve noted provide a few more resources and concessions to their law students. The only difference is that you graduate with a Diploma in Law rather than an LLB.

    http://www.lpab.justice.nsw.gov.au/Pages/diploma-law-course/diploma-law-course.aspx

    Reply
  8. Stevie says

    16 October 2018 at 3:37 am

    Thanks for this amazing info!
    My question is – should I pay full fee for the Monash JD or accept a CSP place at La Trobe or VU? Some people seem to say it’s crazy to pay full fee, and others say it’s crazy to bother doing a JD anywhere else than Melb or Monash (in Vic).

    Reply
  9. Cathyn says

    25 September 2018 at 5:56 pm

    I come from a nursing back ground and did my masters in business. I have just commenced my masters in business law. The university would not give me any credit status. Once I finish my masters degree, I still cannot practice law. How do I get to practice law?

    Reply
    • Adam says

      10 October 2019 at 3:58 pm

      You need to complete the Priestley 11. These are eleven law subjects as a minimum required to be successfully completed for candidate status for admission into practice as a legal practitioner in Australia. Contact law universities.

      Reply
  10. rirififiloulou says

    29 December 2017 at 5:48 am

    Hi,

    I m French and I m interested by doing a Juris Doctor. Do you think I have much more career opportunities by choosing an expansive and famous law school (Melbourne university for ex) instead of choosing a cheaper and less well known uni?

    Thank you!

    Reply
  11. Shez95 says

    4 December 2017 at 7:30 pm

    Just saw Sam Gupta’s questions above and my suggestions is that you contact the WA Law Society and they will be able to advise you as to whether the LPAB course is acceptable for admission as a practitioner in WA – I would think that you may need to do some more WA-centric subjects given the differences in laws of our states. I have an interstate friend who had completed her MBA some years ago and is also considering Law studies and I have given her the advice I have included in the tail-end of the novel I have written, above 🙂

    Reply
  12. Shez95 says

    4 December 2017 at 7:21 pm

    Hi Will,
    I can give some figures and examples as I have employed, coached, mentored and supervised Law students. I transferred into (from an early stage of LLB) and successfully undertook the then USyd Law Extension Committee and Joint Examinations Board Dip Law studies (SAB/BAB) in the mid to late 80s as the attendance etc were more malleable for my working and domestic situation, then. I returned to complete the College of Law 6 months Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies (now the PLT), some years later, when I decided to leave In House Corporate work and go out into private practice.

    Whilst people, even then, used to look down their noses at the SAB qualifications , you only had to remind them that there was a current sitting High Court Justice who got his qualifications through the SAB plus we showed our true worth on the courtroom floor and especially in appeal cases. Additionally following process in Real Property, Conveyancing and Administrative Law work was easier as our exams where all closed book and like ‘pulling the proverbial hen’s teeth’.

    I practised for quite some years before retiring ‘semi-early’ to pursue other things and have mentored and assisted some students. I have figures at my fingertips where a student attended a private College for the first year of tertiary studies and undertook 9 mixed Arts/Business/Law subjects – costing $23,970 with the additional loan fee of $647 per subject – on FEE HELP; then 2 years at Uni to obtain a BA with a Law faculty major (8 Law subjects included at approx. $1330, 4 x Business subjects at $1315 4 x politics/Arts subjects at $788each ) – CSP so total of $17,485. Completed undergrad in just under 3 years and graduated in early 2015. Commenced JD at UTS – no CSP – and FEE HELP limit exceeded at $125,000 with loan fees – there is still another at least 12 months with 10 subjects still left to get that JD and before the PLT.

    In discussions with other students the same subjects appear to be where the students are being failed even with change of coordinators – the mentality is still the same as the Universities will not call one of its own to account for the high fail rate instead blaming students!

    My advice then is if you can get a CSP place in a graduate law course offer say from UOW or ACU – or MQU sometimes offers a LLB as a tag on – then take it up as the full fee paying places are not worth the paper if you have to repeat 2 or 3 subjects and you find that it is the same subjects that students are failing. Once you have graduated accept whatever legal work is available even if it means starting as a junior/grad in an In House compliance or government legal policy or strategy position. The smaller firms may pay less but the experience can be generalist and is wide-ranging – so great for you as you climb the ladder to where you eventually want to go and this vision changes over the years, in practice, particularly as general counsel.

    I hope this helps some of you out there. I almost forgot my recent Masters took me just under 12 months and cost me $30,000 from one of the reputable unis, too. My undergrad and other postgrads were undertaken before fees were introduced but I was also supported by my corporate employer through my studies – something which FBT took care of and so are few and far between, now. One thing though – do not rely on recruiters, do the hard yards and start your networking and marketing of yourself from Law school.

    I trust this helps some of you as the Uni staff (mentorships etc), I have had to deal with since 2012, did nothing to instill confidence in me that current Law students or any Uni student was getting the level of mentoring and guidance required. From my actual experience, in my interactions and own recent studies, almost all Law School subjects are also taught (pitched) at the theoretical level rather than at the level where the students could actually hone skills required to practice – so maybe you will all become Legal studies teachers or academics !

    Reply
    • Baby says

      17 July 2020 at 8:37 am

      Hey can you please update this to next year? RMIT is starting a bachelor of laws degree.

      Also, it’s unclear what the cost is for all 30+ law schools. Would love a thorough break down.

      Reply
  13. Sam Gupta says

    1 November 2017 at 3:01 pm

    Hi Will

    Thanks a lot for doing the hard work and putting this information for us.

    I have completed my MBA in 2015 and wants to do my Law degree.

    Murdoch University use to provide JD but not anymore.

    I am thinking of giving LSAT test , do you think it’s worth.

    I am interested in doing JD and don’t mind doing in evening classes. I am looking to do this so I can get a job in the industry. What you suggest.

    Is CSP pathway is good. Is it same as domestic fees.

    I already have Existing HECS loan for my master ( nothing for Bachelor) so I don’t want further excessive debts. What you suggest is the best option for me , I am in WA.

    I have done some units like dispute Management & Resolution, Business law, effective negotiation , will I be able to get credit for that unit.

    Is The Legal Practitioners Admissions Board diploma is acceptable to get admitted in Western Australia.

    I read about some consideration for ethnicity how does it work.

    I am sorry to ask you so many questions but your help / view on this will be highly appreciated.

    Thanks
    Sam

    Reply
    • Gary says

      14 January 2018 at 9:46 pm

      The LPAB is the cheapest. I think each state has the LPAB of nsw so check with the admitting body of that state

      Reply
  14. Ifrah says

    5 October 2017 at 9:21 pm

    Hi Will,

    I am a recent Law graduate from the UK.
    I am planning to convert my degree through an Australian university in order to complete the modules as stated by the legal qualification board.
    I wanted to inquire, after finishing those modules, and I become eligible to apply for a PLT.
    Would you by any chance be able to say which universities charge low fees for doing the PLT, as an international student ? As well as, if I can do it online part time ?

    Thank you,
    Ifrah

    Reply
  15. Vu says

    3 October 2017 at 3:24 pm

    Thank you for your amazing work! Would you be kind to provide further information on the pathway to become solicitors for international student? I am struggling to find accredited courses with affordable price. Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Will says

      22 October 2017 at 8:47 am

      Hi Vu
      If you’re an international student then you will be paying full fees (so remove the CSP places from the above table). I didn’t look at the international student prices for the above law degrees when I was collecting all of the information, but you can probably add on 20-30% (at a conservative guess) to all of the above prices. I think “affordable law degree” is pretty much an oxymoron these days. Good luck!
      Will

      Reply
  16. Jamie says

    13 September 2017 at 7:46 pm

    Great post. Would love a cost list of Bachelor degrees. Those JD prices are the only reason I pursued a grad entry Bachelor of Laws.

    Reply
    • Will says

      22 September 2017 at 8:08 am

      Hi! The cost of all bachelors degrees will be about the same. For a four year course, it’s in the table under “average csp bachelor of laws degree” – a bit over $10k a year, upfront costs paid by the government, and then and paid back to the government by you when you get a job. 😉

      Reply
  17. Kim says

    13 September 2017 at 7:45 pm

    Great site! So glad I found this. I work in local government in a regional area and have to interpret legislation for myself and colleagues on a daily basis, so I want to study law online. I don’t really at this stage intend to practice as a lawyer or seek employment with a private practice legal firm (not ruling it out though). Instead my aim right now is to confidently provide an ‘in house’ legal role for my employer. I have a degree already so was considering a Bachelor of Laws/ graduate entry, or JD. Cost is a consideration as my employer is possibly paying for some of my study (lucky me!). Does the LPAB Diploma provide the same training and qualification as a BLaws or JD?

    Thanks!
    Kim

    Reply
    • Will says

      22 September 2017 at 8:04 am

      Hi Kim

      The LPAB will provide you with the same qualifications at the end of the day (ie an accredited legal education), but the course delivery is significantly different to what a university provides, which might make a difference for you (especially if your employer is paying)!

      Students in the LPAB basically get a set of course materials to read through in their own time – it’s a very student directed learning experience. At university (on campus or online), there are lecturers and usually more scope to ask questions (either in lectures during the semester or in tutorials).

      So it really comes down to how you want to learn. If you are really only wanting to interpret legislation (rather than learning about, say, contracts, employment law, trusts and equity), then perhaps just picking up a book from your state’s law society might help? Or perhaps an individual subject on interpreting legislation? I think in my degree we had two lectures on it in the whole course – barely anything!

      I don’t have any direct experience with LPAB so you might want to give them a call and confirm the above.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers
      Will

      Reply
      • Gary says

        14 January 2018 at 9:42 pm

        The LPAB course is about half the LLB, courses. The savings could be a good deposit on an LLM.

        Reply
      • Georgia says

        29 February 2020 at 11:00 am

        Hey Will,

        As someone who has been looking into the LPAB Diploma for prospective study, the course is actually delivered face-to-face just like any other regular uni. There are two modes of delivery: weeknight classes (3hr seminars per subject per week on campus at the University of Sydney) and weekend schools (for regional/interstate students). Their lecturers are drawn from the major unis in Sydney or are currently practicing solicitors, barristers or magistrates. Students also get near full access to USYD’s library and resources too.

        Just thought you’d like to know so you don’t spread misinformation.

        Cheers,
        Georgia

        Reply
        • Will (You've Entered Law Land) says

          31 May 2020 at 3:55 pm

          Thanks for the update Georgia – this is very helpful for other readers!

          I’ve got to say, I have received a number of comments and emails from people who are currently studying the LPAB diploma (and past students, now that I think of it), who have championed the program. Whatever my views are, it’s clear that the people who do study the course really enjoy it.

          Will

          Reply
  18. Jessica says

    24 August 2017 at 10:34 am

    Hi Will,

    Do you happen to have a list of the cheapest law degrees that offer online learning?

    Kind Regards,

    Jessica

    Reply
    • Will says

      2 September 2017 at 8:05 am

      Hi Jessica

      I’m pretty sure that online law degrees will be charged at the same rate as on campus degrees! I know you have left some comments, but for everyone else, the list of online law degrees is over here.

      Cheers
      Will

      Reply
  19. Jamie says

    24 June 2017 at 12:55 pm

    Thank you so much for maintaining this amazing website. I am a full time worker looking into studying a law degree online due to work commitment. In you opinion, do you think people look less favourably when a person completing a law degree entirely online? Any feedback would be appreciated!

    Reply
    • Will says

      25 June 2017 at 12:49 pm

      Hi Jamie
      No worries! If you’re applying for the big law firms then I’m pretty sure an on-campus law degree would win the day over an online law degree. However, if you have connections and aren’t looking at the big corporate firms then you will have a much better chance. If you are just looking to study law online to upskill for your current job then I doubt it would be looked on less favourably – you cover the exact same content (well, I’m sure there are some people out there that will still look down on online degrees, despite how many people study online these days). A lot of people say that online degrees wouldn’t be as rigorous, but I don’t see much actual evidence for that, and I certainly don’t have any first hand experience. Maybe ask around for anyone with experience – whirlpool forums might be a good place to start?
      I wrote this post a while ago about online law degrees which goes into everything in a little more detail.
      Good luck!
      Will

      Reply
    • Jonathan Schneider says

      11 April 2019 at 6:38 am

      The Legal Practitioners Admissions Board diploma is actually one of the most prestigious of the degrees on this page and has a High Court Judge amongst its Alumni.
      The LPAB is essentially a scholarship for anyone who wants it but survival in the course is togh and based on Merit. Less than half survive the first semesters.
      I don’t imagine you get any commissions for introducing students though more to the point….

      Reply
      • Will says

        6 May 2019 at 11:48 pm

        Hmm, if this is directed at me then let’s just agree to disagree on the LPAB (given it’s objectively not true – in my humble opinion of course 😉 ).
        And lol re me getting any commissions from this page…

        Reply
        • Rene says

          22 December 2019 at 12:37 pm

          Which I part is not true?

          Reply
          • Will says

            4 January 2020 at 5:21 pm

            Saying that the LPAB is “one of the most prestigious of the degrees on this page”. I’d say it’s not only not one of the most prestigious degrees on this page, but that it’s simply not prestigious at all. (Ugh, double negatives…)

            This came up in response to a comment that I took to be around the perception of online v on-campus degrees, so keep that in mind. If all someone is looking for is prestige then they would just go to a G08 uni.

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