Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration

The main aim of the proposed JD/MBA program is to assist students to develop their capacity to manage effectively the complex interactions between the worlds of law and business in a wide range of private, public and government organisations.

The program covers all topic areas required for admission to legal practice in Australia and provides a broad grounding in all aspects of business management, enabling students to gain an understanding of the nature of general management and the role of the manager.

Students undertaking the program will gain:

• Analytical tools, concepts and knowledge of management from the fields of accounting, economics, finance, information management, marketing, operations and the social and behavioural sciences;
• Skills to analyse and develop strategy for an enterprise as a whole, considering its context;
• Skills to develop the capacity to diagnose managerial problems, in order to identify innovative solutions and to make decisions on a wide range of management responsibilities, often in complex environments;
• The ability to understand the wide and varied range of issues involved in implementing decisions in practice, including an understanding of cultural, social and political environments, and the moral context of legal and managerial decisions;
• High level personal and interpersonal skills through working with small and large groups;
• Judgement, leadership and diplomacy skills;
• Skills in negotiation, policy analysis, advocacy and mediation;
• Intercultural communication skills;
• The ability to take responsibility for aspects of their own learning progress through syndicate participation and application of their own professional experience through case and class discussion and presentations, thereby also building self confidence;
• Skills in identifying and responding to ethical dilemmas;

• Skills in reading and comprehending legal materials, notably reports of decided cases and legislation;
• Logical analysis and reasoning skills;
• Oral presentation skills in both legal analysis and argument as well as business presentations;
• Writing skills, including proficiency in developing an argument and supporting it with properly cited authority;
• Research skills, including computer-aided research;
• Skills in understanding the interrelationship of facts and law, and in identifying the factual information needed to sustain legal propositions;
• Strategic skills in considering a range of options in response to a legal problem, and then in identifying those options that best meet the needs of the client;
• Interdisciplinary skills in relating legal materials and problems to non-legal areas of discourse, particularly within the management of organisations;

The JD degree consists of 24 subjects, of which 17 are compulsory, and essential for eligibility for admission to legal practice in Australia. The MBA consists of 18 subjects, of which 150 points are compulsory.

The JD/MBA combines the compulsory subjects from each degree with three electives drawn from the MBA and five electives from the JD; a total of 462.5 points which is equivalent to 37 subjects.

Classes at both Schools will generally be scheduled between 8am and 5:30pm on weekdays. Some MBA subjects may be taught on weekday evenings or weekends.

Compulsory Subjects

Electives

JD Electives (choose 62.5 points)

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/current/MC-JURISD

MBA Electives (choose 37.5 points)

https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/current/MC-BA

1. The Selection Committee will evaluate the applicant's ability to pursue successfully the course using the following criteria –
• an undergraduate degree in any discipline other than law, or (for applicants seeking a common law qualification) a degree in law from a non-common law jurisdiction; and
• performance on the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT); and
• performance on Law School Admissions Test (LSAT); and
• at least two years documented full time work experience following completion of their degree; and
• local candidates may be required to attend an interview; overseas and interstate applicants may be interviewed by telephone.

2. The Selection Committee may call for referee reports and employer references to assist in the selection process.

3. The interview is for eliciting information on the following matters-
• standard of academic record;
• nature and length of employment experience;
• achievements subsequent to graduation;
• reasons for seeking admission;
• interpersonal and communication skills;
• maturity and motivation.

4. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

5. International applicants who obtained their undergraduate degree more than five years prior to their application may be required by the Selection Committee to provide evidence of continuing adequate English language ability.
Applicants obtained their undergraduate degree in an institution where instruction and assessment is not in English must achieve the following minimum English language minimum standards, within 24 months prior to application –
• a score of 610 or more in the American TOEFL, including an Essay Rating Score of 5.0 in the TWE, or a score of 253 in the computer-based TOEFL; or an overall band score of 7.0, or more, in the IELTS with a minimum band score of 7.0 in the Academic Writing Module.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The Juris Doctor is accredited as fulfilling the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Victoria by the Council of Legal Education. Mutual recognition legislation generally allows lawyers admitted in Victoria to gain admission to practice in other States and Territories of Australia.