| AQF Level |
Level 9 Masters by Coursework Degree (Extended) |
| CRICOS Code |
079539A |
| Overview and Aims of the Program |
The Macquarie Law School’s Juris Doctor (JD) is a postgraduate degree which satisfies the educational requirements necessary to practice as a legal professional in New South Wales. The JD continues the School’s tradition of providing interdisciplinary perspectives on the study of Law so that students appreciate the role of law in its broader context through a historical, theoretical and practical study of law.
The JD is offered through a flexible delivery model with substantial online content including lectures, readings, assessment tasks and other resources for guided learning. This allows students to work in their own time and to take responsibility for their own learning. Students may study full time or part time, on campus or through distance education.
As well as equipping graduates to practice law, the JD focusses on the development of skills in research, communication, writing and problem solving. The possibility of specialization in a number of streams such as human rights, international law, environmental law and corporate and commercial law further broadens the educational experience and career opportunities. |
| Graduate Capabilities |
The Graduate Capabilities Framework articulates the fundamentals that underpin all of Macquarie’s academic programs. It expresses these as follows:
Cognitive capabilities
(K) discipline specific knowledge and skills
(T) critical, analytical and integrative thinking
(P) problem solving and research capability
(I) creative and innovative
Interpersonal or social capabilities
(C) effective communication
(E) engaged and ethical local and global citizens
(A) socially and environmentally active and responsible
Personal capabilities
(J) capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
(L) commitment to continuous learning |
| Program Learning Outcomes |
By the end of this program it is anticipated you should be able to:
1. demonstrate advanced and integrated understanding of a broad and complex body of legal knowledge sufficient to satisfy professional educational requirements for the practice of law in Australia (K)
2. appreciate the broader context to which law and legal principles have application including interdisciplinary, international and comparative perspectives (K, E)
3. recognize and reflect upon ethical issues of professional practice and exercise incisive judgment in the practice of law and the application of legal knowledge in other professions. They will understand their responsibilities to their clients, to the courts and to the public and will be willing to take responsibility for the availability and quality of access to justice for all sectors of society (E, J)
4. engage in high level critical thinking and exercise judgment in the recognition and resolution of legal problems (T, P)
5. apply sophisticated legal research skills to the resolution of specific legal problems and to the formulation and articulation of law and policy reform (P, E)
6. communicate clearly and effectively in both oral and written forms to specialist and generalist audiences; work as an effective member of a team where required (C)
7. appreciate that law is a dynamic tool in the regulation of society and the relationship between individual members of society and between individuals and the State (E)
8. carry out independent research, self-directed learning and the develop new and creative ideas and solutions (P, J). |
| Learning and Teaching Methods |
The Juris Doctor is a post graduate degree aimed at qualifying students to apply for admission as a legal professional in New South Wales. Its role as a professional qualification dictates the inclusion of a substantial body of prescribed doctrinal content which all law students need to master in order to be eligible to practice law in New South Wales. This body of prescribed content is found in the Legal Profession Admission Rules enacted by the New South Wales Parliament. The degree contains a mix of core, compulsory units which, for the most part, cover the prescribed material and 7 electives which may be taken in one of 5 specialisation streams.
In addition to the development of doctrinal knowledge, the JD program aims to develop professional skills important in the practice of law. These include research, communication, time management, critical analysis and professional judgment. Personal attributes such as honesty, empathy and integrity are also stressed. Through the development of these skills and attributes graduates will become competent to assess current legal issues and also to make judgements about the role of, and need for law reform in the future in order to achieve social aims.
The degree is delivered through a blended learning approach aimed at maximising both flexibility and pedagogy. Material which, in a traditional law degree, would have been delivered by face to face lectures is now made available online and includes a mix of recorded audio and video content and links, as well as guided reading and self-assessment tasks such as quizzes and short answer questions. There is an emphasis on learning by doing rather than on a model where the lecturer is responsible for delivery of all content. Through gradual development of skills of research, analysis and writing students are expected to become independent learners as is appropriate at post-graduate level.
Face to face teaching in tutorials and seminars is offered to internal students through weekly 90 minute seminars and to external students through intensive on campus sessions comprising 1x2 day block and a single day held late in the semester. The face to face tutorials are used to consolidate the learning that students have undertaken off-campus. Students are expected to attend tutorials prepared to answer and raise questions, interact with the tutor and with other students and, where appropriate to make group or individual presentations.
Collaboration and discussion of issues is encouraged both in and out of the classroom. Online tutorial programs such as Blackboard collaboration have been trialled and tutors are continuing their efforts to provide an inclusive environment for external students, who make up a large proportion of the student body. |
| Assessment |
The broad ambit of the Juris Doctor requires the implementation of a variety of assessments. Graduates need to develop a range of skills and competencies; assessment tasks across the program are aimed at the development of these skills which are:
• the acquisition and comprehension of doctrinal content, jargon and reading skills
• skills of interpretation and critical analysis across a broad range of areas of law
• the ability to resolve both simple and complex legal problem situations through the application of appropriate legal resources
• oral and written communication with the ultimate aim of a high level of sophistication in both
• the development of personal and interpersonal skills such as professional judgment, time management, skills in negotiation on behalf of oneself and ones clients, maturity, integrity and empathy.
In accordance with university policy each unit requires at least 3 different assessment tasks. Both formative and summative tasks are set with the level of difficulty increasing throughout the degree. Units early in the degree concentrate on introductory skills of research, problem solving, communication and analysis. Tasks include:
• self assessed short answer questions and quizzes designed to test grasp of doctrinal content. Examples; Laws 802 Criminal Justice and Public Policy, Laws803 Obligations I – Contracts and Law891 International Law.
• Statutory interpretation: many areas of law require detailed interpretation of statutory provisions. Assessment tasks aimed at developing or testing these skills are used in the foundational unit Laws802 Criminal Justice and Public Policy.
• Hypothetical problem solving: these tasks require students to apply their learning to hypothetical problem scenarios, often based on actual cases. Students must apply analytical skills to choose the area of law to apply or distinguish and provide appropriate advice. Examples: Laws 803 Obligations I – Contracts, Laws 809 Property.
• Analysis: the ability to critically assess theories and influences on the development of the law from the fields of philosophy, sociology and economics, among others is an important aspect of legal education at Macquarie Law School. Students are expected to develop their analytical skills from early in the degree in units such as Laws805 Theories of Law and Justice .
• Research tasks: students are required to independently research an area of law in order to write a research essay, policy document or law reform proposal.
• Effective oral and written communication is developed through compulsory class participation in tutorials and seminars. Students are expected to make an informed contribution to class discussion on material which has been delivered online or studied independently.
As students progress through the JD assessment tasks are scaled to increasingly more sophisticated levels. The emphasis is increasingly on independent research, critical analysis and policy formation with all elective units containing a substantial (at least 40%) research task. |
| Recognition of Prior Learning |
Macquarie University may recognise prior formal, informal and non-formal learning for the purpose of granting credit towards, or admission into, a program. The recognition of these forms of learning is enabled by the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy and its associated Procedures and Guidelines. For recognition of prior informal and non-formal learning, please refer to the relevant RPL Plan, which describes the evidential requirements and approval processes for recognising prior learning for entry or credit in this program.
For undergraduate RPL plans visit www.goto.mq.edu.au/nonschoolrpl
For postgraduate RPL plans visit www.goto.mq.edu.au/pgrpl |
| Support for Learning |
Macquarie University aspires to be an inclusive and supportive community of learners where all students are given the opportunity to meet their academic and personal goals. The University offers a comprehensive range of free and accessible student support services which include academic advice, counselling and psychological services, advocacy services and welfare advice, careers and employment, disability services and academic skills workshops amongst others. There is also a bulk billing medical service located on campus.
Further information can be found at www.students.mq.edu.au/support/
Campus Wellbeing contact details:
Phone: +61 2 9850 7497
Email: campuswellbeing@mq.edu.au
www.students.mq.edu.au/support/health_and_wellbeing/contact_us |
| Program Standards and Quality |
The program is subject to an ongoing comprehensive process of quality review in accordance with a pre-determined schedule that complies with the Higher Education Standards Framework. The review is overseen by Macquarie University's peak academic governance body, the Academic Senate and takes into account feedback received from students, staff and external stakeholders. |
| Graduate Destinations and Employability |
Graduates will hold the educational qualifications necessary to apply for admission as a legal professional (barrister or solicitor) in New South Wales. Practical legal training is also required.
Employers of JD graduates include law firms, community legal centres and corporate advisory firms. Graduate opportunities also exist with banks and other financial institutions, State and Federal public service departments and industry (as in house counsel).
The emphasis on the development of skills such as research, writing, critical thinking, negotiation and communication as well as a rigorous grounding in doctrinal learning equips JD graduates to succeed in a broad range of graduate job environments or to achieve promotion in their existing roles.
Macquarie Law School has strong relationships with stakeholders in the profession such as practitioners, politicians and policy makers. |
| Assessment Regulations |
This program is subject to Macquarie University regulations, including but not limited to those specified in the Assessment Policy, Academic Honesty Policy, the Final Examination Policy and relevant University Rules. For all approved University policies, procedures, guidelines and schedules visit www.mq.edu.au/policy. |
| External Benchmarks |
PLOs for this program align with the approved Threshold Learning Outcomes by the Council of Australian Law Deans for the Juris Doctor and satisfy accreditation requirements for legal practice. |
| Accreditation |
This is an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accredited qualification. |
