Commerce/Law at UoM

[ajs13]

Just wondering, with commerce/law at melbourne uni, do you need to do really well in commerce to get into the JD, because this is what I've heard in the forums, online etc.

However, the VTAC course search website says this:

No minimum weighted average mark (WAM) is required in the Bachelor of Commerce to progress to the Juris Doctor and applicants are not required to sit the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Students who successfully complete the Bachelor of Commerce will automatically progress to the Juris Doctor.

Does this mean that you actually get into the JD automatically when you get the required atar for comm/law?
Also, I've heard the fees are quite expensive. How does it stack financially to monash's comm/law double degree?

thanks

[LifeisaConstantStruggle]

IIRC the graduate package for JD at Melb has a WAM requirement of 75% for any undergrad degree (provided that you're eligible for it after year 12 i.e. 99+ ATAR), I don't know if this has been changed or not but I do know of something. This does NOT guarantee you a CSP even though you don't need to sit the LSAT, which means that your JD fees will be pretty expensive (~$40k a year without subsidies/bursaries). If you want the CSP which reduces your fees to $10k+ you'd need to sit the LSAT and everything. If money is not an issue for you you can definitely do Melbourne for the good industrial connections + prestige of BComm and JD at UniMelb, but if it is then I guess Monash is a more realistic pathway, though it might be a setback depending on the person, still a very good uni tho! Plus, you're almost guaranteed to graduate with both degrees if you don't stray off and not give a fuck. So it's up to you.

[sdfg]

Hey ajs13,

- That's for people with a chancellor's scholarship, which requires a 99.90+ ATAR. They don't have to sit the LSAT to get into the JD and are guaranteed a CSP spot (i.e. the cheaper government-subsidised spot) irrespective of their grades in their Bachelor's Degree.
- The only other guaranteed pathway is through the graduate degree packages, which requires a 99.00+ ATAR. You won't have to sit the LSAT but will need to maintain at least a 75% average throughout your Bachelor's if you want a guaranteed full-fee paying place in the JD. Note: full-fee paying place - this is significantly more expensive than a CSP place (around 4x more) and if you want a CSP place, you'll need to apply for the JD as if you're not going through a guaranteed pathway. This involves doing well in your Bachelors and the LSAT to be competitive as possible for those highly coveted CSP places.
- Monash is a bit cheaper than Melbourne since you finish a year earlier, but this is largely contingent on getting a CSP JD place for Melbourne. Cause if you don't and end up with a full-fee, then Monash is way, way cheaper than Melbourne since it's undergrad and by default a CSP place (for domestic students).

[Orb]

With all this in mind, if you do end up deciding to focus on the commerce side (and not law), Monash's Commerce degree is relatively inferior when it comes to employment prospects.

It's more difficult to join top firms from Monash Comm and the development opportunities are more lacking.

[ajs13]

Hey ajs13,

- That's for people with a chancellor's scholarship, which requires a 99.90+ ATAR. They don't have to sit the LSAT to get into the JD and are guaranteed a CSP spot (i.e. the cheaper government-subsidised spot) irrespective of their grades in their Bachelor's Degree.
- The only other guaranteed pathway is through the graduate degree packages, which requires a 99.00+ ATAR. You won't have to sit the LSAT but you'll need to maintain at least a 75% average throughout your Bachelor's if you want a guaranteed full-fee paying place in the JD. Note: full-fee paying place - this is significantly more expensive than a CSP place (around 4x more) and if you want a CSP place, you'll need to apply for the JD as if you're not going through a guaranteed pathway. This involves doing well in your Bachelors and the LSAT to be competitive as possible for those highly coveted CSP places.
- Monash is a bit cheaper than Melbourne since you finish a year earlier, but this is largely contingent on getting a CSP JD place for Melbourne. Cause if you don't and end up with a full-fee, then Monash is way, way cheaper than Melbourne since it's undergrad and by default a CSP place (for domestic students).

much, much clearer now. thanks

With all this in mind, if you do end up deciding to focus on the commerce side (and not law), Monash's Commerce degree is relatively inferior when it comes to employment prospects.

It's more difficult to join top firms from Monash Comm and the development opportunities are more lacking.

Yeah I was thinking on focusing more on the commerce side in relation to employment. That said, if I had the opportunity to do Comm/Law at Monash and the opportunity to do just Commerce at Melbourne, would you still recommend the comm at melbourne? thanks

MOD EDIT: Double posting

[Orb]

much, much clearer now. thanks

Yeah I was thinking on focusing more on the commerce side in relation to employment. That said, if I had the opportunity to do Comm/Law at Monash and the opportunity to do just Commerce at Melbourne, would you still recommend the comm at melbourne? thanks

MOD EDIT: Double posting

I would, if that's your preference.
If you were strongly leaning becoming a lawyer, then Monash might be more suitable

[exit]

Actually on top of the options listed, there is a graduate degree package at 99.80 ATAR that  gives you a guaranteed CSP JD spot after your undergraduate. If you do Commerce, you might also be eligible for the Commerce Achievement Scholarship worth $15000. It's pretty new so not many people know about this.

https://scholarships.unimelb.edu.au/awards/commerce-achievement-scholarship