Admission to practice

The Monash JD meets the current academic requirements for admission as a legal practitioner. In addition, law graduates must meet the practical legal training requirements for admission. This practical experience can be gained via one of the following means:

• The completion of an approved practical legal training course, such as the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (PDLP) (link to PDLP page) offered by Monash Law School; or
• The equivalent of one year, full-time experience as an articled clerk in a law firm.

Once students have completed the practical requirements, they may apply to the Supreme Court of Victoria for admission. Students should note that following admission, graduates must practise as an employee solicitor for 18 months (if they undertake articles) or 2 years (if they undertake a practical legal training program) before becoming a sole practitioner.

For further information on the guidelines for admission to practice law, please see:

Council of Legal Education
Level 27, 530 Collins St, Melbourne 3000
Phone: + 61 3 9613 8794
Fax: + 61 3 9614 4661
Email: colevic@aar.com.au
Web: Supreme Court (follow the links to the Board of Examiners)

Law Institute of Victoria
470 Bourke St, Melbourne 3000
Phone: + 61 3 9607 9311
Fax: + 61 3 9602 5270
Email: lawinst@liv.asn.au 

Note: The JD is not a professional doctorate and therefore graduates are not permitted to refer to themselves as ‘Doctor’. The appropriate designation is ‘Jane Smith, JD’.