Taking up the challenge: embedding, mapping and maintaining threshold learning outcomes in the transition to the JD – the UWA experience

Abstract

The University of Western Australia (UWA) has recently undertaken a restructure of all its courses. Under the new courses structure, law at UWA is offered at postgraduate Masters level only, as a three-year professional Juris Doctor (JD) degree rather than as an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB). In planning and preparing for the transition from teaching at an undergraduate Bachelor level to teaching at a postgraduate Masters level, the Law Faculty undertook a major review of its curriculum. An important objective of the review was to ensure that the new JD curriculum satisfies the current learning outcomes standards recently adopted by the Australian regulatory framework. The purpose of this article is twofold. First, the article provides a brief background to the changing legal education environment in Australia in the twenty-first century and considers some of the reasons for the adoption of the JD degree at UWA. Second, the article outlines from a practical perspective the planning, implementation and review processes that have been undertaken by the Faculty in meeting the challenges presented by the transition to the JD degree. The article concludes with a brief comment on the future challenges for the Faculty in implementing and maintaining the renewed curriculum.