You can choose a variety of electives from across our elective program, or you can choose to concentrate some or all of your electives within one of our Elective Streams that broadly group electives in areas of focussed study.
Juris Doctor elective streams
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Elective subjects allow you to gain deeper experience in topics of interest to you, or relevance to a professional path you may be interested in pursuing. Electives are taught by experts in their field and research leaders.
The Juris Doctor Elective Streams are set out below. Click on the Stream link to see the subjects available in each stream. The availability of each subject for the next two years is set out to assist you in planning your study program.
Students are encouraged to consider their subject enrolments well in advance, as some electives are offered only once every two years.
NOTE: JD Students are required to take one legal theory subject (6cp) as part of their course. These subjects for JD students are identified with an asterisk (*) below.
An ‘x’ indicates when a subject is offered on the timetabling grids below
Elective Stream 1 – Public Law
Public Law deals with the powers, rights and obligations of the Commonwealth and State governments and the citizens governed by those laws. It includes constitutional, administrative, international and criminal law, and the laws that apply to the responsibility of public officers towards the state, each other, and the public.
Subject no. | Subject name | Aut 24 | Spr 24 | Sum 24/25 | AUT 25 | SPR 25 | SUM 25/26 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
78257 | Australian Discrimination Law | X | X | ||||
78107 | Climate Law & Carbon Markets | X | X | ||||
78284 | Courts & Judges | X | X | ||||
78270 | *Crime, Victims & Criminal Justice | X | X | ||||
78030 | Criminal Sentencing Law | X | X | ||||
76012 | Criminology | X | X | X | X | X | X |
78042 | Environmental Planning and Development Law | X | X | ||||
77938 | Introduction to Taxation Law | X | X | X | X | X | X |
78222 | Law of Slavery and Human Trafficking | X | X | ||||
76111 | Limits on Government Power | X | X | ||||
78248 | Privacy and Surveillance: Law and Policy | X | X | ||||
78245 | Public Health Law | X | |||||
76113 | Regulating Technologies | X | X |
Faculty experts who teach or research in Public Law: Alexandra Grey, Alecia Simmonds, Anita Stuhmcke, Beth Goldblatt, Brian Opeskin, Christine Giles, Elyse Methven, Eugene Schofield-Georgeson, Isabel Karpin, Jane Wangmann, Jennifer Burn, Karen Lee, Karen O’Connell, Katherine Biber, Laurie Berg, Linda Steele, Lisa Billington, Natalie Stoianoff, Nola Ries, Penny Crofts, Robin Bowley, Tracey Booth, Thalia Anthony
Elective Stream 2 – Private Law
Private Law concerns individuals and legal entities and their rights and obligations; the duties they owe each other, when will they be liable for breach and what remedies are available. It is commonly regarded as embracing areas of law known as tort, contract, equity and property law and its content is drawn from common law and statute. It includes fields of law such as corporate and commercial law.
Subject no. | Subject name | Aut 24 | Spr 24 | Sum 24/25 | AUT 25 | SPR 25 | SUM 25/26 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
76086 | Advanced Commercial Transactions | X | X | ||||
76043 | Building and Construction Law | X | X | ||||
78026 | Business and Law in China | X | X | ||||
78220 | Commercial Equity | X | X | ||||
78216 | Competition Law in a Global Context | X | X | ||||
78126 | *Corporate Governance | X | X | ||||
78122 | Corporate Insolvency | X | X | ||||
78181 | Deceptive Trade Practices | X | X | ||||
78246 | Employment Law | X | X | X | X | ||
77930 | Insurance Law | X | X | ||||
78244 | Mergers & Acquisitions Law | X | X | ||||
76116 | Personal Injury Law in Practice | X | X | ||||
78275 | Private International Law | X | |||||
76002 | Sports Law | X | X | X | X | X | |
76517 | Succession | X | X |
Faculty experts who teach or research in Private Law: Allison Silink, Anita Stuhmcke, Brett Heino, Catherine Robinson, Chris Croese, Colin Hawes, David Leary, David Lindsay, Des Finegan, Eugene Schofield-Georgeson, Evana Wright, Francis Johns, George Tian, Grace Li, Honni van Rijswijk, Isabella Alexander, Joellen Riley Munton, Maria Abertos, Michael Rawling, Michael Thomson, Natalie Stoianoff, Renata Grossi, Robin Bowley, Rod Smith, Shaunnagh Dorsett, Teresa Somes.
Elective Stream 3 – Legal Theory, Systems and History
Legal Theory, Systems and History explores the theoretical study of law, embracing what is classically known as “jurisprudence”. Jurisprudence seeks to explain the nature of law and inform our understanding of legal reasoning, legal systems, legal institutions and the role of law in society. This stream also explores different legal systems, aspects of legal history and other questions about law and society, legal philosophy and culture.
Note: The subjects which form the core legal theory subjects in the JD course are marked with an asterisk (*).
Subject no. | Subject name | Aut 24 | Spr 24 | Sum 24/25 | AUT 25 | SPR 25 | SUM 25/26 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
76037 | Advanced Criminal Law | X | X | X | X | ||
76016 | Advanced Revenue Law | X | |||||
78218 | *Animal Law and Policy in Australia | X | X | ||||
78126 | *Corporate Governance | X | X | ||||
78239 | *Feminist Perspectives on Law | X | |||||
76081 | Gender and Law | X | X | ||||
76109 | History and Theory of International Law | X | X | ||||
78238 | *History & Theory of IP | ||||||
76068 | Indigenous Peoples and the Law | X | X | ||||
76057 | Judgement and the Rule of Law | X | X | ||||
76008 | Jurisprudence | X | X | X | X | X | X |
78274 | *Just Tech | X | |||||
78235 | *Justice | X | |||||
78210 | *Law and Literature | X | X | ||||
76117 | Legal Reasoning | X | X | ||||
78241 | *Reading the Law: Language Power and Ideology | X | |||||
78039 | Wickedness and Vice | X | X |
Faculty experts who teach or research in Legal Theory, Systems and History: Alecia Simmons, Ana Vrdoljak, Anthea Vogl, Beth Goldblatt, Brett Heino, Catherine Robinson, Colin Hawes, Elyse Methven, Eugene Schofield-Georgeson, Frances Simmons, Honni vanRijswijk, Isabel Karpin, Isabella Alexander, Jane Wangmann, Jenni Millbank, Jessie Hohmann, Karen O’Connell, Katherine Biber, Katheryn Greenman, Laurie Berg, Linda Steele, Lisa Billington, Maxine Evers, Michael Thomson, Miranda Kaye, Nicole Watson, Patrick Lenta, Penny Crofts, Ramona Vijeyarasa, Renata Grossi, Roberto Buonamano, Sara Dehm, Sacha Molitorisz, Shaunnagh Dorsett, Sophie Riley, Teresa Somes, Teri Libesman, Thalia Anthony, Tracey Booth, Trish Luker..
Elective Stream 4 – Legal Practice and Dispute Resolution
Legal Practice and Dispute Resolution offer specialised electives that examine different areas of legal practice and the resolution of disputes. These subjects form a valuable foundation for professional practice in the discipline of law. They are also relevant to Practical Legal Training (PLT), which is also offered at UTS.
Subject no. | Subject name | Aut 24 | Spr 24 | Sum 24/25 | AUT 25 | SPR 25 | SUM 25/26 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
76086 | Advanced Commercial Transactions | X | X | ||||
76047 | Advanced Contracts | X | X | ||||
78727 | Australian Family Law | X | X | X | X | ||
76012 | Criminology | X | X | X | X | X | X |
79771 | Dispute Resolution | X | X | X | X | ||
78246 | Employment Law | X | X | X | X | ||
77745 | Negotiation | X | X | X | X | ||
76116 | Personal Injury Law in Practice | X | X | ||||
78285 | Refugee Law and Practice | X | X | ||||
78266 | Special Topics in Disruptive Technologies and the Law | X | X | ||||
78290 | Strategic Litigation Practice | X | |||||
76517 | Succession | X | X | ||||
77890 | Trade Marks Practice | X | X |
Faculty experts who teach or research in Legal Practice and Dispute Resolution: Alexandra Grey, Anthea Vogl, Christine Giles, Des Finegan, Eugene Schofield-Georgeson, Evana Wright, Genevieve Wilkinson, Jane Rawlings, Jackie Jones, Linda Steele, Maria Abertos, Maryam Tabari, Maxine Evers, Miranda Kaye, Robin Bowley, Sara Dehm, Stuart Lowe, Thalia Anthony.
Elective Stream 5 – Intellectual Property, Media and Technology
IIntellectual Property, Media and Technology address ideas, innovation and technology in a variety of different ways. Intellectual Property laws protect ideas and innovations that create valuable forms of intangible personal property through copyright, design, trade mark and patent laws. Increasingly technology impacts the nature of these forms of property and the laws that protect and regulate them. Media law deals with the expression of ideas in the press.
Subject no. | Subject name | Aut 24 | Spr 24 | Sum 24/25 | AUT 25 | SPR 25 | SUM 25/26 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
77903 | Copyright Law | X | |||||
77893 | Design Law and Practice | X | X | ||||
78015 | Global Aspects of Intellectual Property | X | |||||
78238 | *History & Theory of IP | ||||||
78188 | Intellectual Property Commercialisation | X | |||||
76084 | Intellectual Property: Copyright and Designs | X | X | ||||
78184 | Intellectual Property: Law and Policy | X | |||||
76085 | Intellectual Property: Trade Marks and Patents | X | X | ||||
78259 | International Intellectual Property Moot (Oxford) | X | X | ||||
78258 | IP and Human Rights | X | |||||
78186 | IP and Traditional Knowledge | X | |||||
78274 | *Just Tech | X | |||||
76019 | Media and Digital Platform Regulation | X | |||||
77898 | Patent Law | X | X | X | X | ||
78248 | Privacy and Surveillance: Law and Policy | X | X | ||||
78266 | Special Topics in Disruptive Technologies and the Law | X | X | ||||
77889 | Trade Marks Law | X | X | X | X | ||
77890 | Trade Marks Practice | X | X |
Faculty experts who teach or research in Intellectual Property, Media and Technology: Andrew Mowbray, David Lindsay, David Leary, Derek Wilding, Evana Wright, Francis Johns, Genevieve Wilkinson, George Tian, Grace Li, Honni vanRijswijk, Isabella Alexander, Jane Rawlings, Karen Lee, Kris Wilson, Maryam Tabari, Maxine Evers, Natalie Stoianoff, Ramona Vijeyarasa, Sacha Molitorisz.
Elective Stream 6 – International Law, Human Rights and The Environment
IInternational law considers the rules, norms and standards generally accepted between nations in relation to matters such as war, diplomacy, trade and human rights. International law enables a deeper understanding of our role as global citizens. This stream also includes diverse subjects that address the increasingly global approach to the law with a particular focus on human rights and the environment.
Subject no. | Subject name | Aut 24 | Spr 24 | Sum 24/25 | AUT 25 | SPR 25 | SUM 25/26 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
76024 | Environmental Law | X | X | ||||
78042 | Environmental Planning and Development Law | X | X | ||||
76109 | History and Theory of International Law | X | X | ||||
78258 | IP and Human Rights | X | |||||
78153 | International Commercial Transactions | X | X | ||||
77794 | International Environmental Law | X | |||||
76007 | International Human Rights Law | X | X | ||||
78206 | International Organisations | X | |||||
77716 | International Trade Law | X | X | ||||
78262 | Jessup International Moot | X | X | ||||
78222 | Law of Slavery and Human Trafficking | X | X | ||||
78275 | Private International Law | X | |||||
78285 | Refugee Law and Practice | X | X | ||||
78290 | Strategic Litigation Practice | X |
Faculty experts who teach or research in International Law, Human Rights and The Environment: Alexandra Grey, Ana Vrdoljak, Anthea Vogl, Beth Goldblatt, Brian Opeskin, Colin Hawes, David Leary, Evana Wright, Genevieve Wilkinson, George Tian, Honni vanRijswijk, Jennifer Burn, Jessie Hohmann, Karen O’Connell, Kathryn Greenman, Laurie Berg, Lisa Billington, Matthew Walsh, Natalie Stoianoff, Patrick Lenta, Ramona Vijeyarasa, Roberto Buonamano, Sara Dehm, Sophie Riley, Stuart Lowe, Terri Libesman, Thalia Anthony.
Elective Stream 7 – Health, Families and Children
Health, Families and Children explores how the justice system impacts these areas in different ways. These subjects reflect current areas of focus which include reproduction, disability, health and violence, health and human rights, aging and chronic disease. This stream enables students to deepen their understanding of how the law regulates and intersects with public and private areas relating to individuals and families.
Subject no. | Subject name | Aut 24 | Spr 24 | Sum 24/25 | AUT 25 | SPR 25 | SUM 25/26 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
78727 | Australian Family Law | X | X | X | X | ||
76070 | Biomedical Law and Bioethics | X | X | ||||
78229 | Disability and the Law | X | X | ||||
76081 | Gender and Law | X | X | ||||
78105 | Genetics & the Law | ||||||
77734 | Law and Medicine | X | X | ||||
78150 | Law and Mental Health | X | X | ||||
78245 | Public Health Law | X | |||||
78271 | Special Topics in Elder Law | X | X |
Faculty experts who teach or research in Health, Families and Children: Anita Stuhmcke, Beth Goldblatt, Isabel Karpin, Jackie Jones, Jane Wangmann, Jenni Millbank, Karen O’Connell, Linda Steele, Michael Thomson, Miranda Kaye, Nola Ries, Patrick Lenta, Terri Libesman, Teresa Somes, Tracey Booth.
Electives beyond the classroom
These subjects provide opportunities for students to study beyond the classroom. They also cover areas which are included in the above streams. These subjects offer international and local learning opportunities, such as internships, mooting and short courses. They also offer skills that enable students to be work-ready.
Subject no. | Subject name | Aut 24 | Spr 24 | Sum 24/25 | AUT 25 | SPR 25 | SUM 25/26 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
78263 | Moot | X | X | x | |||
78296 | Postgraduate Exchange Subject 1 | X | X | X | X | ||
78297 | Postgraduate Exchange Subject 2 | X | X | X | X | ||
78298 | Postgraduate Exchange Subject 3 | X | X | X | X | ||
78299 | Postgraduate Exchange Subject 4 | X | X | X | X | ||
78292 | Local Legal Internship Program | X | X | X | x | ||
78295 | Global Professional Experience Project | X | X | X | |||
78293 | International and Comparative Study in Law | X | X | X | X | X | |
78262 | Jessup International Moot | X | X | ||||
78264 | Price International Media Moot | ||||||
78259 | International Intellectual Property Moot (Oxford) | X | X |
In addition please note:
- These subject offerings and subject modes of delivery (online, face to face, etc.), are subject to change or to cancellation without prior notice. These timetabling decisions are made at the discretion of the Faculty and are contingent on enrolments, academic availability and the viability of the subject(s) in question.
- Check your study plan if subjects offered are part of your course.
- Check access conditions for eligibility.