The Juris Doctor: The New Law Degree at UWA at UWA Stuart Kaye - - PDF document

The Juris Doctor: The New Law Degree at UWA at UWA

Dean and Winthrop Professor of Law, The University of Western Australia

Stuart Kaye

Why UWA is moving to N C 2012 New Courses 2012

• The model of broad undergraduate studies followed by a postgraduate professional
• The model of broad undergraduate studies followed by a postgraduate professional

qualification is designed to produce well-rounded graduates, as well as provide additional entry opportunities for a wider range of students. – The new model will also remove the need for students to decide on a relatively narrow fi ld f t d t i ht f d h l field of study straight from secondary school.

• Broad education, in-depth knowledge

– The new courses for undergraduates will have a simple but flexible structure which will allow you to study a broad range of subjects in your first year, and develop greater y y g j y y , p g focus as you move through your degree.

• More choices, better choices

– You will no longer have to decide your career path before you start university. You will have the freedom to sample a wide range of subjects particularly in first year that will have the freedom to sample a wide range of subjects, particularly in first year, that will help you to decide which subjects and careers interest you most.

• Highly developed communication and research skills

E l t d t h h t l f d ll i th i h fi ld b t – Employers want graduates who have not only performed well in their chosen field but also have communication and problem-solving skills that set them apart from the

• crowd. To prepare you for success in a global workforce, you will develop your ability to

communicate effectively and learn how to find, interpret and critically evaluate information information.

Why UWA is moving to N C 2012 New Courses 2012

• Community engagement
• Community engagement

– Leadership qualities and a sense of community are expected in a well- rounded graduate. To help you develop these skills you will be encouraged to participate in a structured experience with a not-for-profit organisation. participate in a structured experience with a not for profit organisation.

• More opportunities to study abroad

– The flexibility of the new courses will enable more students to study overseas for one or two semesters. Achievement in a different academic and cultural environment will show employers that you are a self-starter, flexible and adventurous. – Students who study abroad meet people from around the world, develop new friendships and gain a level of independence and confidence highly regarded p g p g y g by employers.

Why is UWA Law School moving to the Juris Doctor?

• Moving into line with practice elsewhere
• Opportunity to immerse students in the law
• Greater coordination of teaching and assessment
• Increasing opportunities for international experience

What is a JD?

• Juris Doctor

– Principal law degree for admission to practice law in the United States and Canada Beginning to appear in the United Kingdom – Beginning to appear in the United Kingdom

• University College London is moving to a joint JD programme in

concert with Columbia Law School

Al i d d i H K – Also introduced in Hong Kong – Increasingly used in Australia – Juris Doctor is undertaken after the completion of a more general undergraduate degree

• Unfortunately, it does not carry with it the right to call yourself

“Doctor”

• There are no prerequisite subjects to undertake, nor does the first

degree have to be taken at UWA

Australian Universities currently teaching the Juris Doctor

li i l i i i i f li

• Australian National University
• The University of Melbourne
• University of Notre Dame Australia
• University of Technology, Sydney
• The University of Sydney
• The University of New South Wales
• University of New England
• Bond University
• Monash University
• The University of Queensland
• CQU (commencing 2012)
• Macquarie University
• RMIT
• USQ
• Murdoch University

Is the JD more expensive? Costs

• Unlike many other Australian JDs, the enrolment in the UWA

Juris Doctor will be supported by the Commonwealth Government under HECS arrangements Government, under HECS arrangements

• Current combined law degrees such as the BA/LLB or

BC /LLB i h l i f 32 l bj i BComm/LLB require the completion of 32 law subject units

• The new Juris Doctor will require 24 law subject units
• At current costs, the Law component of the combined LLB is

$1135 more expensive than the Juris Doctor at 2011 HECS $1135 more expensive than the Juris Doctor at 2011 HECS rates

How will the JD differ from the LLB?

• Intended that the JD be a basis for legal practice, as is the LLB
• Compulsory subjects will have 25% more class time under the

JD than the present LLB

• The course design will permit greater coordination of subjects

The course design will permit greater coordination of subjects, allowing for a more coherent educational experience

– This permits a greater emphasis of legal skills including drafting This permits a greater emphasis of legal skills, including drafting, legal research and advocacy – The overall course is overseen by a course director and each ll b b d year group will be overseen by a coordinator – Greater scope for articulation into international programmes

UWA Law School

• Founded in 1928

– Western Australia’s first law school l ’ f f h ld l h l – Australia’s fifth oldest law school

• High rates of graduate employment, both within the legal

profession and in wider employment profession and in wider employment

• Strong relationship with the legal profession in WA

– Hosting the annual Summer School with the Law Society of WA for practitioners S i titi t hi i t f bj t – Senior practitioners teaching into a range of subjects

Alumni

• Robert Hawke AC, Prime Minister of

Australia 1983-1993

• David Malcolm AC, Chief Justice of

Western Australia 1988-2006

• Robert French AC, Chief Justice of

Australia 2003-present

• Wayne Martin, Chief Justice of

Western Australia 2006-present

• Sir Ronald Wilson AC, Justice of the

High Court of Australia 1979-1989

• John Toohey AC, Justice of the High
• Carmen McClure, inaugural President
• f the WA Court of Appeal 2009-
• Peter Dowding, Premier of Western

y , g Court of Australia 1987-1998

• Malcolm McCusker AO QC, Governor
• f Western Australia 2011-present

g, Australia 1988-1990

• Stephen Smith, current Minister for

Defence

• f Western Australia 2011 present
• Sir Francis Burt, Governor of Western

Australia 1990-1993 & Chief Justice of Western Australia 1977 1988 Defence

• Christian Porter, current Treasurer

and Attorney General (WA) Western Australia 1977-1988

• 19 Rhodes Scholars

Will employers like the JD?

• No evidence from the experience of other Australian law

schools that LLB students are preferred over JD students

• Greater emphasis on legal skills has been sought by the

Profession, and the JD will address this issue

• Ongoing communication between the Law School and the

Profession to ensure that the new programme is understood

• Over 80 years of outstanding law graduates