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Updated 6 May 2026.
Quick answer: To study an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at a Group of Eight Australian university, you generally need an ATAR between 97.0 and 99.0. Lower-ATAR pathways exist (some regional universities accept ATARs in the mid-70s), and a postgraduate Juris Doctor (JD) lets you skip ATAR entirely if you complete any undergraduate degree first. Plan around the ATAR you need for your target university — not the lowest one in the country.
What ATAR do you need for law in Australia?
For an undergraduate LLB at a Group of Eight (Go8) university, the typical 2026 cut-offs sit between 97.0 and 99.0. ANU asks for 97.0, Monash for 97.1, UQ for 98.0, UNSW for 97.7, and Sydney for around 99.5 in the combined LLB. Outside the Go8, ATAR requirements drop sharply: many regional and online programs accept students from the mid-70s upwards. The ATAR you "need" is the cut-off for your target university and degree combination — not a national average. Adjustment factors (subject bonuses, equity schemes, regional schemes) often lower the raw ATAR you need by 2–10 points, so check each university's specific scheme.
What's the lowest ATAR for law in Australia?
The lowest published ATAR cut-off for a Bachelor of Laws in Australia is around 68.00 at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), with Charles Sturt and several other regional and online providers sitting between the low-70s and low-80s. Some no-ATAR pathways exist through alternative entry programs and bridging units — Murdoch, for example, offers a unit-based pathway where a 60% mark in a Tertiary Learning Centre course can qualify you for the LLB without an ATAR. These pathways produce the same accredited Bachelor of Laws as a Go8 LLB, but graduate employment outcomes and law-firm reputation vary, so weigh long-term plans against short-term ATAR convenience.
Should you do an LLB undergraduate or a JD postgraduate?
Both paths produce an accredited lawyer in Australia — the LLB takes 4 years straight from school (or 5–6 as a combined degree), while the JD takes 3 years after any undergraduate degree, so 6–7 years all up. Choose the LLB if you're confident in law as a career and want the fastest, cheapest route. Choose the JD if you're not sure, want to study something else first, missed the ATAR you needed, or want a more mature student cohort. Melbourne and Sydney offer JD-only or JD-dominant programs at the top end; UNSW, Monash, ANU, UQ and Macquarie offer both pathways. Combined LLBs (LLB/Arts, LLB/Commerce, LLB/Science) are the dominant on-campus shape because they widen career optionality without lengthening the degree much.
Which Australian universities have the highest law ATAR?
The University of Sydney's combined LLB sits at roughly 99.5, the highest mainstream cut-off in the country. The Melbourne JD requires an ATAR-equivalent of 99.0+ from school-leavers (or a strong WAM if you've already done an undergraduate degree, plus the LSAT). After those, UNSW (97.7), UQ (98.0), Monash (97.1) and ANU (97.0) cluster tightly. The cut-offs move year-to-year by 0.05–0.5 points based on demand. The table below summarises 2026 data — always cross-check on each university's admissions page closer to the time.
Australian law ATAR cut-offs (2026)
| University | Degree | ATAR (or equivalent) |
|---|---|---|
| University of Sydney | Combined LLB | 99.5 |
| University of Melbourne | Melbourne JD (postgrad) | 99.0+ |
| UQ | LLB (Hons) | 98.0 |
| UNSW | Combined LLB | 97.7 |
| Monash | LLB (Hons) | 97.1 |
| ANU | LLB (Hons) | 97.0 |
| UTS | Combined LLB | 91.50 |
| Macquarie | Combined LLB | 92.00 |
| UWA | JD direct-entry from school | 95.0 |
| Curtin | LLB | 80–85 |
| Charles Sturt | LLB (online) | ~75 |
| UniSQ | LLB | ~68 |
What ATAR is required for the Australian National University (ANU) Law program?
For ANU's Bachelor of Laws (Honours), you need a guaranteed-entry ATAR of 97.0. ANU is the only Group of Eight law school based in the national capital, with deep ties to Commonwealth public service and international-law placements. The degree is 4 years standalone or 5–6 years as a combined degree (the most common pairings are Arts, Commerce, Economics, International Relations, and Asian Studies). ANU also runs adjustment-factor programs that can lower the required ATAR by up to 5 points based on subjects, equity, or first-in-family status — worth checking against your specific situation. ANU graduates must complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) post-degree to qualify as a practising solicitor or barrister.
What ATAR is required for Monash University's Law program?
Monash University's Bachelor of Laws (Honours) requires an ATAR of 97.1, making it one of the most accessible Go8 LLBs by a fraction. Monash leans heavily on hands-on clinical legal education through its Faculty of Law clinics — students get real client work in their later years, which Victorian firms recruit for. The degree is 4 years standalone or typically 5–6 years as a combined degree (Monash Law/Arts, Law/Commerce, Law/Science and Law/Engineering are all popular combinations). Monash also offers a JD pathway for postgraduate entrants, and adjustment factors via the Monash Guarantee can reduce the raw ATAR needed for students from low-SES schools or regional Victoria.
What are the entry requirements for the University of Melbourne's Juris Doctor (JD)?
Melbourne sits at the top of the postgraduate-only end of the market: the Melbourne Juris Doctor requires either an ATAR-equivalent of 99.0+ for direct school-leaver assured entry, OR a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75% in any completed undergraduate degree, plus an LSAT score. Because Melbourne follows the "Melbourne Model", they don't offer an undergraduate LLB at all — every Melbourne law student does an undergraduate degree first (usually a BA, BCom, or BSc), then the 3-year JD. This makes Melbourne one of the most structurally different law programs in Australia, and the bar for school-leavers is the highest in the country.
What are the requirements for the University of Sydney Juris Doctor and combined LLB?
The University of Sydney offers two paths into law: the combined LLB for school-leavers (cut-off around 99.5 in 2026), and the postgraduate Juris Doctor for graduates of any undergraduate degree (selection based on prior WAM). Sydney's combined LLB is paired with a partner degree — Arts, Commerce, Economics, Engineering, or Science — and runs 5–6 years. Both Sydney pathways produce the same accredited LLB or JD qualification; the difference is the entry mechanism, not the destination. Sydney has the highest school-leaver bar in the country, but the JD provides a second window for high-achieving graduates who didn't get the ATAR first time around.
What ATAR is required for the University of Queensland (UQ) Law program?
UQ's Bachelor of Laws (Honours) requires an ATAR of 98.0. UQ is the only Go8 law school in Queensland and the dominant choice for QCE students aiming for top-tier law. The degree is 4 years standalone or 5–6 years as a combined LLB/Arts, LLB/Commerce, LLB/Business Management, LLB/Engineering, or LLB/Science. UQ runs an extensive mooting program (international moot-court competitions) and partners with the Crown Solicitor's Office and Brisbane commercial firms for placements. UQ accepts adjustment factors via the QTAC EAS (Educational Access Scheme) for students who experienced difficult circumstances during Year 12.
What ATAR is required for the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Law program?
UNSW's Bachelor of Laws is offered almost exclusively as a combined degree with an ATAR cut-off of 97.7. The most common combinations are LLB/Commerce, LLB/Arts, LLB/Science, LLB/Economics, and LLB/Engineering. The 5–6 year structure is designed to widen graduate career paths beyond strict legal practice — many UNSW law graduates end up in management consulting, investment banking, or policy. UNSW also runs a postgraduate JD as a flexible second-chance pathway, and adjustment factors through HSC Plus or Equity Scholarships can reduce the raw ATAR needed by 2–5 points for eligible NSW students.
What are the entry requirements for UWA, UTS, and Macquarie law programs?
Outside the top Go8 cluster, three Australian universities run highly-respected law programs at slightly lower ATAR thresholds: UWA offers JD-direct-entry from high school with assured entry at ATAR 95.0, then completion of an undergraduate degree, then 3 years of JD; UTS runs combined LLB programs at around ATAR 91.5 with strong industry placement in NSW commercial firms; Macquarie offers combined LLB programs at around ATAR 92.0 with options including LLB/Psychology and LLB/Cognitive and Brain Sciences. All three are nationally accredited — graduates can practise law anywhere in Australia after PLT — but the law-firm pipeline at top-tier commercial firms is strongest from the Go8.
What HSC, VCE, and QCE subjects are best for law?
No university in Australia requires a specific Year 12 subject as a prerequisite for law. The strongest subject combinations for ATAR maximisation and law-school readiness are English Advanced (NSW) or English (Standard EAL/Lit) (VIC) plus a humanities pair — typically Modern History, Legal Studies, or Economics — and one strong scaler like Mathematics Advanced/Methods. Legal Studies in Year 12 is useful but never mandatory. Universities scale subjects, so doing Legal Studies because it "looks like law" while struggling in it costs more ATAR than skipping it. The genuine predictors of law-school success are reading volume, structured-argument writing, and the ability to sit with dense source material — habits any humanities-leaning combination will build.
Do you need to do Legal Studies in Year 12 to study law?
No. No Australian law school requires Year 12 Legal Studies as a prerequisite. First-year LLB and JD courses assume zero prior legal knowledge — every student starts from scratch in Foundations of Law and Introduction to Legal Method. What helps in first-year law is strong essay-writing technique, comfort with extended reading, and the ability to construct a logical argument under time pressure. If you genuinely enjoy Legal Studies and would score well in it, it's a fine choice; if you'd score 5+ ATAR points higher in Modern History, Economics, or English Extension instead, take those. The ATAR you walk in with matters far more than which Year 12 subjects you took.
Is law harder to get into than medicine in Australia?
For school-leavers, medicine is harder to get into than law at most Australian universities. Medical undergraduate programs typically require an ATAR of 99.0–99.95 plus a UCAT score, an interview (MMI), and meeting prerequisite subject minimums. Top-tier law programs require an ATAR of 97.0–99.5 with no UCAT, no interview, and no compulsory prerequisite subjects. Sydney's combined LLB at 99.5 and the Melbourne JD at 99.0+ approach medicine's ATAR territory but without the gatekeeping tests. The trade-off: more medical school places exist than top-tier law-firm graduate positions, so getting into law is easier than getting a job at a top-tier law firm. See our ATAR for medicine guide for the full medicine comparison.
What's the difference between an LLB, a combined LLB, and a JD?
All three produce an accredited lawyer in Australia. The single-degree LLB is 4 years of law only (rare on-campus — UWA, regional and online providers). The combined LLB is 5–6 years of law plus a partner degree (Arts, Commerce, Science, Engineering — the dominant on-campus shape at UNSW, Monash, ANU, UQ, UTS, Macquarie). The JD is 3 years of postgraduate law done after any undergraduate degree (the only path at Melbourne, an option at UNSW/Monash/ANU/Sydney/UWA). All three are accredited by the relevant state Legal Practice Board after the PLT capstone — the LLB and JD are equivalent at career-entry, with the difference being whether you study law alongside another field or after one.
How can ATAR-targeted tutoring help you reach a law-school cut-off?
Reaching a 97+ ATAR for law isn't about cramming the last six months — it's about lifting your subject scaling and writing technique consistently across Year 11 and 12. Personalised online tutoring works because a tutor diagnoses exactly which English essay structures, which Legal Studies extended-response patterns, or which Maths topics are costing you ATAR points, then drills the gap. Tutero's tutors are A$65/hour, work weekly with the same student, and most are recent top-ATAR graduates who finished Year 12 in the same system 2–6 years ago. See our guide on how to achieve your dream ATAR for the broader playbook.
Bottom line
If you want to study law at a Group of Eight university, plan for an ATAR between 97.0 and 99.5, aiming for the cut-off of your specific target university. The LLB is the fastest, cheapest path; the JD is the flexible-and-expensive path; combined LLBs widen career optionality. Lower-ATAR pathways exist through regional, online, and adjustment-factor schemes — they produce the same accredited Bachelor of Laws, with the trade-off being top-tier graduate-job pipelines. The ATAR is one input among many; what genuinely predicts a law career is the reading, writing, and argumentation habits you build in Year 11 and 12 and carry into university.
Related reading
- How the ATAR is calculated
- ATAR for medicine in Australia
- ATAR for engineering in Australia
- How to achieve your dream ATAR
Ready to lift your ATAR for law?
Tutero matches every student to a recent top-ATAR graduate who finished Year 12 in the same state — A$65/hour, no contracts, weekly online sessions on the laptop you already own. Find a tutor for HSC, VCE, QCE, or any senior curriculum.
Plan around the ATAR you need for your target university — not the lowest one in the country.
Plan around the ATAR you need for your target university — not the lowest one in the country.
Updated 6 May 2026.
Quick answer: To study an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at a Group of Eight Australian university, you generally need an ATAR between 97.0 and 99.0. Lower-ATAR pathways exist (some regional universities accept ATARs in the mid-70s), and a postgraduate Juris Doctor (JD) lets you skip ATAR entirely if you complete any undergraduate degree first. Plan around the ATAR you need for your target university — not the lowest one in the country.
What ATAR do you need for law in Australia?
For an undergraduate LLB at a Group of Eight (Go8) university, the typical 2026 cut-offs sit between 97.0 and 99.0. ANU asks for 97.0, Monash for 97.1, UQ for 98.0, UNSW for 97.7, and Sydney for around 99.5 in the combined LLB. Outside the Go8, ATAR requirements drop sharply: many regional and online programs accept students from the mid-70s upwards. The ATAR you "need" is the cut-off for your target university and degree combination — not a national average. Adjustment factors (subject bonuses, equity schemes, regional schemes) often lower the raw ATAR you need by 2–10 points, so check each university's specific scheme.
What's the lowest ATAR for law in Australia?
The lowest published ATAR cut-off for a Bachelor of Laws in Australia is around 68.00 at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), with Charles Sturt and several other regional and online providers sitting between the low-70s and low-80s. Some no-ATAR pathways exist through alternative entry programs and bridging units — Murdoch, for example, offers a unit-based pathway where a 60% mark in a Tertiary Learning Centre course can qualify you for the LLB without an ATAR. These pathways produce the same accredited Bachelor of Laws as a Go8 LLB, but graduate employment outcomes and law-firm reputation vary, so weigh long-term plans against short-term ATAR convenience.
Should you do an LLB undergraduate or a JD postgraduate?
Both paths produce an accredited lawyer in Australia — the LLB takes 4 years straight from school (or 5–6 as a combined degree), while the JD takes 3 years after any undergraduate degree, so 6–7 years all up. Choose the LLB if you're confident in law as a career and want the fastest, cheapest route. Choose the JD if you're not sure, want to study something else first, missed the ATAR you needed, or want a more mature student cohort. Melbourne and Sydney offer JD-only or JD-dominant programs at the top end; UNSW, Monash, ANU, UQ and Macquarie offer both pathways. Combined LLBs (LLB/Arts, LLB/Commerce, LLB/Science) are the dominant on-campus shape because they widen career optionality without lengthening the degree much.
Which Australian universities have the highest law ATAR?
The University of Sydney's combined LLB sits at roughly 99.5, the highest mainstream cut-off in the country. The Melbourne JD requires an ATAR-equivalent of 99.0+ from school-leavers (or a strong WAM if you've already done an undergraduate degree, plus the LSAT). After those, UNSW (97.7), UQ (98.0), Monash (97.1) and ANU (97.0) cluster tightly. The cut-offs move year-to-year by 0.05–0.5 points based on demand. The table below summarises 2026 data — always cross-check on each university's admissions page closer to the time.
Australian law ATAR cut-offs (2026)
| University | Degree | ATAR (or equivalent) |
|---|---|---|
| University of Sydney | Combined LLB | 99.5 |
| University of Melbourne | Melbourne JD (postgrad) | 99.0+ |
| UQ | LLB (Hons) | 98.0 |
| UNSW | Combined LLB | 97.7 |
| Monash | LLB (Hons) | 97.1 |
| ANU | LLB (Hons) | 97.0 |
| UTS | Combined LLB | 91.50 |
| Macquarie | Combined LLB | 92.00 |
| UWA | JD direct-entry from school | 95.0 |
| Curtin | LLB | 80–85 |
| Charles Sturt | LLB (online) | ~75 |
| UniSQ | LLB | ~68 |
What ATAR is required for the Australian National University (ANU) Law program?
For ANU's Bachelor of Laws (Honours), you need a guaranteed-entry ATAR of 97.0. ANU is the only Group of Eight law school based in the national capital, with deep ties to Commonwealth public service and international-law placements. The degree is 4 years standalone or 5–6 years as a combined degree (the most common pairings are Arts, Commerce, Economics, International Relations, and Asian Studies). ANU also runs adjustment-factor programs that can lower the required ATAR by up to 5 points based on subjects, equity, or first-in-family status — worth checking against your specific situation. ANU graduates must complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) post-degree to qualify as a practising solicitor or barrister.
What ATAR is required for Monash University's Law program?
Monash University's Bachelor of Laws (Honours) requires an ATAR of 97.1, making it one of the most accessible Go8 LLBs by a fraction. Monash leans heavily on hands-on clinical legal education through its Faculty of Law clinics — students get real client work in their later years, which Victorian firms recruit for. The degree is 4 years standalone or typically 5–6 years as a combined degree (Monash Law/Arts, Law/Commerce, Law/Science and Law/Engineering are all popular combinations). Monash also offers a JD pathway for postgraduate entrants, and adjustment factors via the Monash Guarantee can reduce the raw ATAR needed for students from low-SES schools or regional Victoria.
What are the entry requirements for the University of Melbourne's Juris Doctor (JD)?
Melbourne sits at the top of the postgraduate-only end of the market: the Melbourne Juris Doctor requires either an ATAR-equivalent of 99.0+ for direct school-leaver assured entry, OR a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75% in any completed undergraduate degree, plus an LSAT score. Because Melbourne follows the "Melbourne Model", they don't offer an undergraduate LLB at all — every Melbourne law student does an undergraduate degree first (usually a BA, BCom, or BSc), then the 3-year JD. This makes Melbourne one of the most structurally different law programs in Australia, and the bar for school-leavers is the highest in the country.
What are the requirements for the University of Sydney Juris Doctor and combined LLB?
The University of Sydney offers two paths into law: the combined LLB for school-leavers (cut-off around 99.5 in 2026), and the postgraduate Juris Doctor for graduates of any undergraduate degree (selection based on prior WAM). Sydney's combined LLB is paired with a partner degree — Arts, Commerce, Economics, Engineering, or Science — and runs 5–6 years. Both Sydney pathways produce the same accredited LLB or JD qualification; the difference is the entry mechanism, not the destination. Sydney has the highest school-leaver bar in the country, but the JD provides a second window for high-achieving graduates who didn't get the ATAR first time around.
What ATAR is required for the University of Queensland (UQ) Law program?
UQ's Bachelor of Laws (Honours) requires an ATAR of 98.0. UQ is the only Go8 law school in Queensland and the dominant choice for QCE students aiming for top-tier law. The degree is 4 years standalone or 5–6 years as a combined LLB/Arts, LLB/Commerce, LLB/Business Management, LLB/Engineering, or LLB/Science. UQ runs an extensive mooting program (international moot-court competitions) and partners with the Crown Solicitor's Office and Brisbane commercial firms for placements. UQ accepts adjustment factors via the QTAC EAS (Educational Access Scheme) for students who experienced difficult circumstances during Year 12.
What ATAR is required for the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Law program?
UNSW's Bachelor of Laws is offered almost exclusively as a combined degree with an ATAR cut-off of 97.7. The most common combinations are LLB/Commerce, LLB/Arts, LLB/Science, LLB/Economics, and LLB/Engineering. The 5–6 year structure is designed to widen graduate career paths beyond strict legal practice — many UNSW law graduates end up in management consulting, investment banking, or policy. UNSW also runs a postgraduate JD as a flexible second-chance pathway, and adjustment factors through HSC Plus or Equity Scholarships can reduce the raw ATAR needed by 2–5 points for eligible NSW students.
What are the entry requirements for UWA, UTS, and Macquarie law programs?
Outside the top Go8 cluster, three Australian universities run highly-respected law programs at slightly lower ATAR thresholds: UWA offers JD-direct-entry from high school with assured entry at ATAR 95.0, then completion of an undergraduate degree, then 3 years of JD; UTS runs combined LLB programs at around ATAR 91.5 with strong industry placement in NSW commercial firms; Macquarie offers combined LLB programs at around ATAR 92.0 with options including LLB/Psychology and LLB/Cognitive and Brain Sciences. All three are nationally accredited — graduates can practise law anywhere in Australia after PLT — but the law-firm pipeline at top-tier commercial firms is strongest from the Go8.
What HSC, VCE, and QCE subjects are best for law?
No university in Australia requires a specific Year 12 subject as a prerequisite for law. The strongest subject combinations for ATAR maximisation and law-school readiness are English Advanced (NSW) or English (Standard EAL/Lit) (VIC) plus a humanities pair — typically Modern History, Legal Studies, or Economics — and one strong scaler like Mathematics Advanced/Methods. Legal Studies in Year 12 is useful but never mandatory. Universities scale subjects, so doing Legal Studies because it "looks like law" while struggling in it costs more ATAR than skipping it. The genuine predictors of law-school success are reading volume, structured-argument writing, and the ability to sit with dense source material — habits any humanities-leaning combination will build.
Do you need to do Legal Studies in Year 12 to study law?
No. No Australian law school requires Year 12 Legal Studies as a prerequisite. First-year LLB and JD courses assume zero prior legal knowledge — every student starts from scratch in Foundations of Law and Introduction to Legal Method. What helps in first-year law is strong essay-writing technique, comfort with extended reading, and the ability to construct a logical argument under time pressure. If you genuinely enjoy Legal Studies and would score well in it, it's a fine choice; if you'd score 5+ ATAR points higher in Modern History, Economics, or English Extension instead, take those. The ATAR you walk in with matters far more than which Year 12 subjects you took.
Is law harder to get into than medicine in Australia?
For school-leavers, medicine is harder to get into than law at most Australian universities. Medical undergraduate programs typically require an ATAR of 99.0–99.95 plus a UCAT score, an interview (MMI), and meeting prerequisite subject minimums. Top-tier law programs require an ATAR of 97.0–99.5 with no UCAT, no interview, and no compulsory prerequisite subjects. Sydney's combined LLB at 99.5 and the Melbourne JD at 99.0+ approach medicine's ATAR territory but without the gatekeeping tests. The trade-off: more medical school places exist than top-tier law-firm graduate positions, so getting into law is easier than getting a job at a top-tier law firm. See our ATAR for medicine guide for the full medicine comparison.
What's the difference between an LLB, a combined LLB, and a JD?
All three produce an accredited lawyer in Australia. The single-degree LLB is 4 years of law only (rare on-campus — UWA, regional and online providers). The combined LLB is 5–6 years of law plus a partner degree (Arts, Commerce, Science, Engineering — the dominant on-campus shape at UNSW, Monash, ANU, UQ, UTS, Macquarie). The JD is 3 years of postgraduate law done after any undergraduate degree (the only path at Melbourne, an option at UNSW/Monash/ANU/Sydney/UWA). All three are accredited by the relevant state Legal Practice Board after the PLT capstone — the LLB and JD are equivalent at career-entry, with the difference being whether you study law alongside another field or after one.
How can ATAR-targeted tutoring help you reach a law-school cut-off?
Reaching a 97+ ATAR for law isn't about cramming the last six months — it's about lifting your subject scaling and writing technique consistently across Year 11 and 12. Personalised online tutoring works because a tutor diagnoses exactly which English essay structures, which Legal Studies extended-response patterns, or which Maths topics are costing you ATAR points, then drills the gap. Tutero's tutors are A$65/hour, work weekly with the same student, and most are recent top-ATAR graduates who finished Year 12 in the same system 2–6 years ago. See our guide on how to achieve your dream ATAR for the broader playbook.
Bottom line
If you want to study law at a Group of Eight university, plan for an ATAR between 97.0 and 99.5, aiming for the cut-off of your specific target university. The LLB is the fastest, cheapest path; the JD is the flexible-and-expensive path; combined LLBs widen career optionality. Lower-ATAR pathways exist through regional, online, and adjustment-factor schemes — they produce the same accredited Bachelor of Laws, with the trade-off being top-tier graduate-job pipelines. The ATAR is one input among many; what genuinely predicts a law career is the reading, writing, and argumentation habits you build in Year 11 and 12 and carry into university.
Related reading
- How the ATAR is calculated
- ATAR for medicine in Australia
- ATAR for engineering in Australia
- How to achieve your dream ATAR
Ready to lift your ATAR for law?
Tutero matches every student to a recent top-ATAR graduate who finished Year 12 in the same state — A$65/hour, no contracts, weekly online sessions on the laptop you already own. Find a tutor for HSC, VCE, QCE, or any senior curriculum.
FAQ
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Online maths tutoring at Tutero is catering to students of all year levels. We offer programs tailored to the unique learning curves of each age group.
We also have expert NAPLAN and ATAR subject tutors, ensuring students are well-equipped for these pivotal assessments.
We recommend at least two to three session per week for consistent progress. However, this can vary based on your child's needs and goals.
Our platform uses advanced security protocols to ensure the safety and privacy of all our online sessions.
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Yes, we offer a range of resources and materials, including interactive exercises and practice worksheets.
Plan around the ATAR you need for your target university — not the lowest one in the country.
Plan around the ATAR you need for your target university — not the lowest one in the country.
Plan around the ATAR you need for your target university — not the lowest one in the country.
The genuine predictors of law-school success are reading volume, structured-argument writing, and the ability to sit with dense source material.
Updated 6 May 2026.
Quick answer: To study an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at a Group of Eight Australian university, you generally need an ATAR between 97.0 and 99.0. Lower-ATAR pathways exist (some regional universities accept ATARs in the mid-70s), and a postgraduate Juris Doctor (JD) lets you skip ATAR entirely if you complete any undergraduate degree first. Plan around the ATAR you need for your target university — not the lowest one in the country.
What ATAR do you need for law in Australia?
For an undergraduate LLB at a Group of Eight (Go8) university, the typical 2026 cut-offs sit between 97.0 and 99.0. ANU asks for 97.0, Monash for 97.1, UQ for 98.0, UNSW for 97.7, and Sydney for around 99.5 in the combined LLB. Outside the Go8, ATAR requirements drop sharply: many regional and online programs accept students from the mid-70s upwards. The ATAR you "need" is the cut-off for your target university and degree combination — not a national average. Adjustment factors (subject bonuses, equity schemes, regional schemes) often lower the raw ATAR you need by 2–10 points, so check each university's specific scheme.
What's the lowest ATAR for law in Australia?
The lowest published ATAR cut-off for a Bachelor of Laws in Australia is around 68.00 at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), with Charles Sturt and several other regional and online providers sitting between the low-70s and low-80s. Some no-ATAR pathways exist through alternative entry programs and bridging units — Murdoch, for example, offers a unit-based pathway where a 60% mark in a Tertiary Learning Centre course can qualify you for the LLB without an ATAR. These pathways produce the same accredited Bachelor of Laws as a Go8 LLB, but graduate employment outcomes and law-firm reputation vary, so weigh long-term plans against short-term ATAR convenience.
Should you do an LLB undergraduate or a JD postgraduate?
Both paths produce an accredited lawyer in Australia — the LLB takes 4 years straight from school (or 5–6 as a combined degree), while the JD takes 3 years after any undergraduate degree, so 6–7 years all up. Choose the LLB if you're confident in law as a career and want the fastest, cheapest route. Choose the JD if you're not sure, want to study something else first, missed the ATAR you needed, or want a more mature student cohort. Melbourne and Sydney offer JD-only or JD-dominant programs at the top end; UNSW, Monash, ANU, UQ and Macquarie offer both pathways. Combined LLBs (LLB/Arts, LLB/Commerce, LLB/Science) are the dominant on-campus shape because they widen career optionality without lengthening the degree much.
Which Australian universities have the highest law ATAR?
The University of Sydney's combined LLB sits at roughly 99.5, the highest mainstream cut-off in the country. The Melbourne JD requires an ATAR-equivalent of 99.0+ from school-leavers (or a strong WAM if you've already done an undergraduate degree, plus the LSAT). After those, UNSW (97.7), UQ (98.0), Monash (97.1) and ANU (97.0) cluster tightly. The cut-offs move year-to-year by 0.05–0.5 points based on demand. The table below summarises 2026 data — always cross-check on each university's admissions page closer to the time.
Australian law ATAR cut-offs (2026)
| University | Degree | ATAR (or equivalent) |
|---|---|---|
| University of Sydney | Combined LLB | 99.5 |
| University of Melbourne | Melbourne JD (postgrad) | 99.0+ |
| UQ | LLB (Hons) | 98.0 |
| UNSW | Combined LLB | 97.7 |
| Monash | LLB (Hons) | 97.1 |
| ANU | LLB (Hons) | 97.0 |
| UTS | Combined LLB | 91.50 |
| Macquarie | Combined LLB | 92.00 |
| UWA | JD direct-entry from school | 95.0 |
| Curtin | LLB | 80–85 |
| Charles Sturt | LLB (online) | ~75 |
| UniSQ | LLB | ~68 |
What ATAR is required for the Australian National University (ANU) Law program?
For ANU's Bachelor of Laws (Honours), you need a guaranteed-entry ATAR of 97.0. ANU is the only Group of Eight law school based in the national capital, with deep ties to Commonwealth public service and international-law placements. The degree is 4 years standalone or 5–6 years as a combined degree (the most common pairings are Arts, Commerce, Economics, International Relations, and Asian Studies). ANU also runs adjustment-factor programs that can lower the required ATAR by up to 5 points based on subjects, equity, or first-in-family status — worth checking against your specific situation. ANU graduates must complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) post-degree to qualify as a practising solicitor or barrister.
What ATAR is required for Monash University's Law program?
Monash University's Bachelor of Laws (Honours) requires an ATAR of 97.1, making it one of the most accessible Go8 LLBs by a fraction. Monash leans heavily on hands-on clinical legal education through its Faculty of Law clinics — students get real client work in their later years, which Victorian firms recruit for. The degree is 4 years standalone or typically 5–6 years as a combined degree (Monash Law/Arts, Law/Commerce, Law/Science and Law/Engineering are all popular combinations). Monash also offers a JD pathway for postgraduate entrants, and adjustment factors via the Monash Guarantee can reduce the raw ATAR needed for students from low-SES schools or regional Victoria.
What are the entry requirements for the University of Melbourne's Juris Doctor (JD)?
Melbourne sits at the top of the postgraduate-only end of the market: the Melbourne Juris Doctor requires either an ATAR-equivalent of 99.0+ for direct school-leaver assured entry, OR a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75% in any completed undergraduate degree, plus an LSAT score. Because Melbourne follows the "Melbourne Model", they don't offer an undergraduate LLB at all — every Melbourne law student does an undergraduate degree first (usually a BA, BCom, or BSc), then the 3-year JD. This makes Melbourne one of the most structurally different law programs in Australia, and the bar for school-leavers is the highest in the country.
What are the requirements for the University of Sydney Juris Doctor and combined LLB?
The University of Sydney offers two paths into law: the combined LLB for school-leavers (cut-off around 99.5 in 2026), and the postgraduate Juris Doctor for graduates of any undergraduate degree (selection based on prior WAM). Sydney's combined LLB is paired with a partner degree — Arts, Commerce, Economics, Engineering, or Science — and runs 5–6 years. Both Sydney pathways produce the same accredited LLB or JD qualification; the difference is the entry mechanism, not the destination. Sydney has the highest school-leaver bar in the country, but the JD provides a second window for high-achieving graduates who didn't get the ATAR first time around.
What ATAR is required for the University of Queensland (UQ) Law program?
UQ's Bachelor of Laws (Honours) requires an ATAR of 98.0. UQ is the only Go8 law school in Queensland and the dominant choice for QCE students aiming for top-tier law. The degree is 4 years standalone or 5–6 years as a combined LLB/Arts, LLB/Commerce, LLB/Business Management, LLB/Engineering, or LLB/Science. UQ runs an extensive mooting program (international moot-court competitions) and partners with the Crown Solicitor's Office and Brisbane commercial firms for placements. UQ accepts adjustment factors via the QTAC EAS (Educational Access Scheme) for students who experienced difficult circumstances during Year 12.
What ATAR is required for the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Law program?
UNSW's Bachelor of Laws is offered almost exclusively as a combined degree with an ATAR cut-off of 97.7. The most common combinations are LLB/Commerce, LLB/Arts, LLB/Science, LLB/Economics, and LLB/Engineering. The 5–6 year structure is designed to widen graduate career paths beyond strict legal practice — many UNSW law graduates end up in management consulting, investment banking, or policy. UNSW also runs a postgraduate JD as a flexible second-chance pathway, and adjustment factors through HSC Plus or Equity Scholarships can reduce the raw ATAR needed by 2–5 points for eligible NSW students.
What are the entry requirements for UWA, UTS, and Macquarie law programs?
Outside the top Go8 cluster, three Australian universities run highly-respected law programs at slightly lower ATAR thresholds: UWA offers JD-direct-entry from high school with assured entry at ATAR 95.0, then completion of an undergraduate degree, then 3 years of JD; UTS runs combined LLB programs at around ATAR 91.5 with strong industry placement in NSW commercial firms; Macquarie offers combined LLB programs at around ATAR 92.0 with options including LLB/Psychology and LLB/Cognitive and Brain Sciences. All three are nationally accredited — graduates can practise law anywhere in Australia after PLT — but the law-firm pipeline at top-tier commercial firms is strongest from the Go8.
What HSC, VCE, and QCE subjects are best for law?
No university in Australia requires a specific Year 12 subject as a prerequisite for law. The strongest subject combinations for ATAR maximisation and law-school readiness are English Advanced (NSW) or English (Standard EAL/Lit) (VIC) plus a humanities pair — typically Modern History, Legal Studies, or Economics — and one strong scaler like Mathematics Advanced/Methods. Legal Studies in Year 12 is useful but never mandatory. Universities scale subjects, so doing Legal Studies because it "looks like law" while struggling in it costs more ATAR than skipping it. The genuine predictors of law-school success are reading volume, structured-argument writing, and the ability to sit with dense source material — habits any humanities-leaning combination will build.
Do you need to do Legal Studies in Year 12 to study law?
No. No Australian law school requires Year 12 Legal Studies as a prerequisite. First-year LLB and JD courses assume zero prior legal knowledge — every student starts from scratch in Foundations of Law and Introduction to Legal Method. What helps in first-year law is strong essay-writing technique, comfort with extended reading, and the ability to construct a logical argument under time pressure. If you genuinely enjoy Legal Studies and would score well in it, it's a fine choice; if you'd score 5+ ATAR points higher in Modern History, Economics, or English Extension instead, take those. The ATAR you walk in with matters far more than which Year 12 subjects you took.
Is law harder to get into than medicine in Australia?
For school-leavers, medicine is harder to get into than law at most Australian universities. Medical undergraduate programs typically require an ATAR of 99.0–99.95 plus a UCAT score, an interview (MMI), and meeting prerequisite subject minimums. Top-tier law programs require an ATAR of 97.0–99.5 with no UCAT, no interview, and no compulsory prerequisite subjects. Sydney's combined LLB at 99.5 and the Melbourne JD at 99.0+ approach medicine's ATAR territory but without the gatekeeping tests. The trade-off: more medical school places exist than top-tier law-firm graduate positions, so getting into law is easier than getting a job at a top-tier law firm. See our ATAR for medicine guide for the full medicine comparison.
What's the difference between an LLB, a combined LLB, and a JD?
All three produce an accredited lawyer in Australia. The single-degree LLB is 4 years of law only (rare on-campus — UWA, regional and online providers). The combined LLB is 5–6 years of law plus a partner degree (Arts, Commerce, Science, Engineering — the dominant on-campus shape at UNSW, Monash, ANU, UQ, UTS, Macquarie). The JD is 3 years of postgraduate law done after any undergraduate degree (the only path at Melbourne, an option at UNSW/Monash/ANU/Sydney/UWA). All three are accredited by the relevant state Legal Practice Board after the PLT capstone — the LLB and JD are equivalent at career-entry, with the difference being whether you study law alongside another field or after one.
How can ATAR-targeted tutoring help you reach a law-school cut-off?
Reaching a 97+ ATAR for law isn't about cramming the last six months — it's about lifting your subject scaling and writing technique consistently across Year 11 and 12. Personalised online tutoring works because a tutor diagnoses exactly which English essay structures, which Legal Studies extended-response patterns, or which Maths topics are costing you ATAR points, then drills the gap. Tutero's tutors are A$65/hour, work weekly with the same student, and most are recent top-ATAR graduates who finished Year 12 in the same system 2–6 years ago. See our guide on how to achieve your dream ATAR for the broader playbook.
Bottom line
If you want to study law at a Group of Eight university, plan for an ATAR between 97.0 and 99.5, aiming for the cut-off of your specific target university. The LLB is the fastest, cheapest path; the JD is the flexible-and-expensive path; combined LLBs widen career optionality. Lower-ATAR pathways exist through regional, online, and adjustment-factor schemes — they produce the same accredited Bachelor of Laws, with the trade-off being top-tier graduate-job pipelines. The ATAR is one input among many; what genuinely predicts a law career is the reading, writing, and argumentation habits you build in Year 11 and 12 and carry into university.
Related reading
- How the ATAR is calculated
- ATAR for medicine in Australia
- ATAR for engineering in Australia
- How to achieve your dream ATAR
Ready to lift your ATAR for law?
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Plan around the ATAR you need for your target university — not the lowest one in the country.
The genuine predictors of law-school success are reading volume, structured-argument writing, and the ability to sit with dense source material.
Group of Eight Australian universities require an ATAR between 97.0 and 99.5 for an undergraduate LLB or for school-leaver entry to a JD. ANU 97.0, Monash 97.1, UQ 98.0, UNSW 97.7, Sydney combined LLB ~99.5, Melbourne JD 99.0+. Outside the Go8, regional and online programs accept ATARs from the mid-70s upwards (UniSQ ~68, Charles Sturt ~75, Curtin 80–85). Always check the cut-off for your specific target university — adjustment factors can lower the raw ATAR you need by 2–10 points.
The lowest published ATAR cut-off for a Bachelor of Laws is around 68 at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ). Charles Sturt and several other regional and online providers sit between the low-70s and low-80s. Some universities (such as Murdoch) offer no-ATAR pathways via bridging units — score 60% in a Tertiary Learning Centre course and qualify for the LLB. These produce the same accredited Bachelor of Laws as a Go8 LLB; long-term graduate-job pipelines at top commercial firms favour Go8 graduates.
Both produce an accredited Australian lawyer. The LLB takes 4 years from school (or 5–6 as a combined degree) — the fastest and cheapest route if you're confident in law. The JD takes 3 years after any undergraduate degree (so 6–7 years total) — the flexible route if you missed the ATAR you needed, want to study something else first, or want a more mature student cohort. Melbourne is JD-only; UNSW, Monash, ANU, UQ, Sydney, UWA, and Macquarie offer both paths.
No. No Australian law school requires Year 12 Legal Studies as a prerequisite. First-year LLB and JD courses assume zero prior legal knowledge. What helps in first-year law is strong essay-writing technique, comfort with extended reading, and the ability to construct a logical argument under time pressure. Take Legal Studies if you'd score well in it; if you'd score 5+ ATAR points higher in Modern History, Economics, or English Extension instead, take those.
For school-leavers, medicine is harder to get into than law at most Australian universities. Medical undergraduate programs typically require an ATAR of 99.0–99.95 plus a UCAT score, an MMI interview, and prerequisite subject minimums. Top law programs require an ATAR of 97.0–99.5 with no UCAT, no interview, and no compulsory prerequisites. Sydney's combined LLB at 99.5 and the Melbourne JD at 99.0+ approach medicine's ATAR territory but skip the gatekeeping tests.
No university requires a specific Year 12 subject for law. The strongest combinations are English Advanced (NSW) or English plus Literature (VIC), a humanities pair (Modern History, Legal Studies, or Economics), and one strong-scaling Maths or science to push the ATAR. Universities scale subjects, so doing Legal Studies because it 'looks like law' while struggling in it costs more ATAR than skipping it. Reading volume, structured-argument writing, and dense-source-material comfort are the genuine predictors of law-school success.
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