Law will become a postgraduate 
Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
The University of Western Australia is one of several leading universities around the world that are reviewing their course structures to match the changing needs of students in a new era.
What is the UWA restructure?
The University has undertaken a comprehensive review of its course structures and is moving to a new and greatly simplified framework for its degrees.
The move is based on the report of the Review of Course Structures, Education for Tomorrow’s World, developed through a highly consultative two-year process involving not only university staff and students but also business, government, professional and wider community input. The University’s governing body, the Senate, approved the recommended changes at its December 2008 meeting, which followed Academic Board endorsement of the principles in the report. The Vice Chancellor has confirmed that the introduction of the new framework will commence in 2012.
What does it mean for the Faculty of Law and its students?
Law will become a postgraduate degree. This means that a student will have to complete an undergraduate degree before being able to commence a law degree. The pre-admission law degree – currently the LLB - will become a three-year postgraduate degree known as a Juris Doctor (JD). Enrolling in combined law degree courses (such as Law/Arts or Law/Commerce) will no longer be possible.
Law as a postgraduate degree is already the structure for many international law degrees including in law schools in the USA and Canada. The UWA Law School is at the forefront of this change in Australia as increasing numbers of leading Australian law schools adopt a JD degree.
When does the JD commence?
The first intake for the JD will probably be in 2013.
What if I am currently enrolled in a combined UWA law degree?
The restructure will not affect your LLB degree and you will still be able to graduate with a combined degree.
What if I am planning to do a combined law degree in 2010?
You will still be able to enrol in a combined degree (e.g. Law/Arts etc.) and graduate with a combined degree.
More detailed information about the UWA future framework and the Law School's Juris Doctor (JD) will be made available and widely publicised in late 2009 or early 2010.
