Difficulty getting into a law degree?

[Christiano]

So what's the lowest ATAR score that is required for a degree in law(just by itself)? I'm a bit vague on which universities offer it. I think Victoria Uni offers it, but I hear conflicting information in regards to the clearly in ENTER score, some say its 85 others say it will become 90?? Are law courses competitive?

Is there alternative pathways into getting into law? TAFE courses, transferring from courses with lower ATAR scores required, etc?

Also, is there any extracurricular activities inside/outside of school or things I could do during year 12 that would assist me if I did get into law? Such as debating, etc.

I think I will get ~85 for an ENTER, so i'm not considering law @ monash .. yet.

Thanks in advance!

[jimmy999]

The easiest way to get into Law is via a double degree. If science is your interest, try to Science/Law. If you can't make it straight into Law, you could go into Science, get a high enough average and then transfer into Science/Law. My friend who did Arts/Commerce last year managed to transfer into Science/Law with an average in the 80s. It might be possible to transfer into straight Law, or drop the science bit once you're in Sci/Law

[Christiano]

I've thought about a double degree, however I don't find the extra years too appealing. Can you drop the science part later on if you get into a sci/law degree? And if you do a double degree, does that mean you do twice the amount of work compared to doing a single degree, or is it the same workload, just spaced over 5 years (i believe its 5 years for sci/law)?

[MuggedByReality]

     I think there's also a possibility (though somebody plz back me up) that if you do straight law you can do one subject from a different faculty -thus 25% of your workload would be science, with no extra years.

[Christiano]

     I think there's also a possibility (though somebody plz back me up) that if you do straight law you can do one subject from a different faculty -thus 25% of your workload would be science, with no extra years.

I believe that's called a breadth subject

[Russ]

     I think there's also a possibility (though somebody plz back me up) that if you do straight law you can do one subject from a different faculty -thus 25% of your workload would be science, with no extra years.

I believe that's called a breadth subject

He's not talking about Melbourne, so it can't be the breadth system

[Eriny]

If you do straight law, you can only do 3 law subjects at a time in the first year (or maybe 2? I can't remember) which gives you some space for electives.

[Jshaz]

a lot of people would say that prestiage of unis isnt SO important
but you gotta draw a line; eg, MONASH and MELB are both great unis, so whether you take law at either wont make a different
likewise, deakin also has a great law faculty
VIC uni has a crappy law faculty; dont be desperate to take any place any uni will give. pherhaps do arts at deakin then transfer to law at deakin>

[stonecold]

sorry to sound stuck up or rude, but getting into law doesn't actually seem too difficult, at least not when you compare it to med.  whilst straight law is quite hard (99.35 for 2010 entry to monash), the double degree option brings it down to low 98's, which is quite doable if you put in the effort. 

and really, it is one extra year via a double degree as if you don't get into straight law then you have lost a year anyway.  and honestly, if you want to do law, then just take the double degree.  at least you have guaranteed yourself a placement.  i would kill for a guaranteed med placement, even if it took 2-3 years longer.

moreover, if you're passionate enough about law, then as I previously said, you would jump at the idea of getting the opportunity to study it, even if it takes slightly longer to graduate.

[vexx]

^ As easy as it may be for some to get into law, it is far more difficult to get a job after graduating. Unlike medicine, which is basically guaranteed for local students, law is very competitive to get a job after.. It's what makes the easier entry far less appealing knowing afterwards you may not be able to get a decent job..

[stonecold]

^ As easy as it may be for some to get into law, it is far more difficult to get a job after graduating. Unlike medicine, which is basically guaranteed for local students, law is very competitive to get a job after.. It's what makes the easier entry far less appealing knowing afterwards you may not be able to get a decent job..

true.  then why don't they make it harder to get in to reduce the number of graduates so they can all gain suitable employment?

[Jshaz]

good question. i'd assume the government universites are obligated to take as many students in as their faculities can facilitate. The law faculty must be large, and thus they make a lot of offers. Intersetingly enough, There is a shortage of nurses and doctors in OZ, but the state government hasnt (to my knowledge) expanded the medicine faculty at monash, despite the large number of rejected applications.

oh, andbtwlaw is hard to get into. Monash and Melb are definitley top tier unis for med, and thus its quite difficult to get offers. Likewise, melb law is a top tier law faculty. and it is hard to get into law there. 50CSP offers every year for the JD program IS harder then getting into med at monash. oh, and they also have an LSAT and interview and hav to complete an undergrad. so dont bring up the umat and med interviews

monash is recognised as having a good law faculty, but not a great one. thats why its easier to get in law at monash then at   melb

[stonecold]

good question. i'd assume the government universites are obligated to take as many students in as their faculities can facilitate. The law faculty must be large, and thus they make a lot of offers. Intersetingly enough, There is a shortage of nurses and doctors in OZ, but the state government hasnt (to my knowledge) expanded the medicine faculty at monash, despite the large number of rejected applications.

oh, andbtwlaw is hard to get into. Monash and Melb are definitley top tier unis for med, and thus its quite difficult to get offers. Likewise, melb law is a top tier law faculty. and it is hard to get into law there. 50CSP offers every year for the JD program IS harder then getting into med at monash. oh, and they also have an LSAT and interview and hav to complete an undergrad. so dont bring up the umat and med interviews

monash is recognised as having a good law faculty, but not a great one. thats why its easier to get in law at monash then at   melb

Fair enough.  Regarding med, the Government regulates the number of places available because it is the only profession where they are responsible for paying almost all costs.  Not only do they have to subsidise the degree, which is very expensive, they also have pay for doctors and pharmaceuticals, which is why it is in the Government's best interests to avoid creating too many med places.  More doctors will increase the costs of Medicare and the PBS, as more appointments/consultations will take place and a greater number of medications are likely to be prescribed.

This is like the only useful thing I learnt at the MedEntry lecture.

Government doesn't have to pay for lawyers haha.  Also, I think now there is a major focus on getting more medical professionals in rural areas, both because of shortages and the fact that the votes of rural Australians seems to keep Governments in office.

[mystikal]

good question. i'd assume the government universites are obligated to take as many students in as their faculities can facilitate. The law faculty must be large, and thus they make a lot of offers. Intersetingly enough, There is a shortage of nurses and doctors in OZ, but the state government hasnt (to my knowledge) expanded the medicine faculty at monash, despite the large number of rejected applications.

oh, andbtwlaw is hard to get into. Monash and Melb are definitley top tier unis for med, and thus its quite difficult to get offers. Likewise, melb law is a top tier law faculty. and it is hard to get into law there. 50CSP offers every year for the JD program IS harder then getting into med at monash. oh, and they also have an LSAT and interview and hav to complete an undergrad. so dont bring up the umat and med interviews

monash is recognised as having a good law faculty, but not a great one. thats why its easier to get in law at monash then at   melb

Fair enough.  Regarding med, the Government regulates the number of places available because it is the only profession where they are responsible for paying almost all costs.  Not only do they have to subsidise the degree, which is very expensive, they also have pay for doctors and pharmaceuticals, which is why it is in the Government's best interests to avoid creating too many med places.  More doctors will increase the costs of Medicare and the PBS, as more appointments/consultations will take place and a greater number of medications are likely to be prescribed.

This is like the only useful thing I learnt at the MedEntry lecture.

Government doesn't have to pay for lawyers haha.  Also, I think now there is a major focus on getting more medical professionals in rural areas, both because of shortages and the fact that the votes of rural Australians seems to keep Governments in office.

too bad they dont regulate the amount of pharm graduates and schools openings

[Russ]

50CSP offers every year for the JD program IS harder then getting into med at monash. oh, and they also have an LSAT and interview and hav to complete an undergrad. so dont bring up the umat and med interviews

Don't compare undergraduate to postgraduate, they're completely different things