Here is the short version. For an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws at a top, Group of Eight university, you generally need a high ATAR, roughly 97 to 99.5. But many other universities accept far lower ATARs, some from the mid-70s. The postgraduate Juris Doctor, or JD, does not use ATAR at all, since you do a degree first. So plan around the ATAR your target university needs, not the highest one in the country.
Law cut-offs scare a lot of students, and the headline numbers are high. But those numbers only describe a handful of universities, and there are many ways into law.
Below is the real picture, top to bottom. To explore your options, use our law ATAR calculator.
Key takeaways
- Top universities ask for a high ATAR, roughly 97 to 99.5.
- Many other universities accept far lower, some from the mid-70s.
- The postgraduate JD does not use ATAR at all.
- Cut-offs vary by university and change each year.
- Law is usually studied as a combined degree.
- Plan around your target university, not the highest cut-off.
What ATAR you really need
The answer depends entirely on the university. For an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws at a top, Group of Eight university, the bar is high, roughly 97 to 99.5. Sydney's combined law sits at the very top, around 99.5.
But that is only the top end. Many other universities accept far lower ATARs, with some regional and online programs taking students from the mid-70s upward. So the ATAR you need is not one number, but a range.
Approximate cut-offs by university
Here is a rough guide to recent undergraduate law cut-offs at some well-known universities. These are approximate and change each year, so treat them as a guide only.
| University (undergraduate LLB) | Approx. recent ATAR |
|---|---|
| University of Sydney (combined) | Around 99.5 |
| University of Queensland | Around 98 |
| UNSW | Around 97 to 98 |
| Monash University | Around 97 |
| ANU | Around 97 |
| Many regional and other universities | From the mid-70s upward |
Approximate, recent figures only. Cut-offs vary by university and change each year. Melbourne does not offer an undergraduate LLB.
The pattern is clear: the most competitive universities sit in the high 90s, while many others are far more accessible. For the lower end, see our guide on the lowest ATAR for law.
The LLB versus the JD
There are two ways to become a lawyer, and only one uses your ATAR. The undergraduate Bachelor of Laws, or LLB, is direct from school and ATAR-based. The postgraduate Juris Doctor, or JD, comes after any bachelor's degree and does not use ATAR.
So if your ATAR is not at the top, the JD route lets you study any degree first, then enter law. Both produce an accredited lawyer. See our LSAT and JD guide.
The choice between them is worth thinking through, because they suit different students. The LLB is faster and cheaper: you go straight from school, and in a combined degree you finish law and a second field in five years or so. The trade-off is the ATAR bar and committing to law at 17. The JD adds a full undergraduate degree first, so it takes longer and costs more, but it removes the ATAR entirely, lets you test whether law is really for you, and is valued by some employers for the maturity and breadth it brings. Entry to the JD is based on your university grades (GPA) and often the LSAT, an admissions test, not your Year 12 results. In practical terms: if you have a strong ATAR and are sure about law, the LLB is the efficient path; if your ATAR falls short or you are undecided, the JD is a genuine second door that leads to exactly the same qualification.
Want to see your realistic law options?
Try the law ATAR calculator →Law is usually a combined degree
Most students do not study law on its own. The common shape is a combined, or double, degree, such as law with arts, commerce, or science. This widens your career options without adding much time.
In a combined degree, the law part usually sets the higher entry bar. The cut-off depends on the combination and the university. See our guide on combined law degrees.
The combination you pick is a real strategic choice, not just a label. Law with commerce or economics points towards corporate, commercial and financial law and is popular with the big firms. Law with arts lets you build a major in politics, languages, criminology or international relations, which suits public policy, human rights and government work. Law with science or engineering opens intellectual property, patent and technology law, a smaller but well-paid niche. Because the law component sets the cut-off, the second discipline rarely raises the ATAR bar much, so you can often add a field you are passionate about at little extra cost in entry score. One practical point: some universities let you transfer between combinations, or add law after starting another degree, if your first-year results are strong, so the combination you enter with is not always final.
Routes around a high cut-off
A high cut-off at one university does not end your options. You can choose a university with a lower ATAR requirement, use the JD route after another degree, or look at alternative entry such as transfers and adjustment factors.
The transfer route deserves special mention because so few students use it. Many universities reserve places for students who start a related degree, do well in first year, and then transfer into law based on their university GPA. This means an ATAR that falls a few points short of the direct cut-off is not the end: a strong first year can get you in through the side door, and your degree still says the same thing at the end. Adjustment factors work in parallel, since bonus points for subjects, regional background or equity can lift your selection rank above a cut-off you would miss on your raw ATAR. And because law cut-offs vary widely between universities, the same student who misses out at a Group of Eight school may comfortably clear the bar at another respected law school. Every accredited law degree qualifies you to practise, whichever route you take.
Common questions
What ATAR do you need for law in Australia?
For an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws at a top, Group of Eight university, generally the high 90s, roughly 97 to 99.5. Many other universities accept far lower ATARs, some from the mid-70s. The postgraduate JD does not use ATAR.
Do you need 99 for law?
Only at the most competitive universities. Sydney's combined law sits around 99.5, but many other universities have far lower cut-offs, some from the mid-70s. Plan around your target university, not the highest number.
Which universities have the highest law cut-offs?
The top, Group of Eight universities, with Sydney's combined law around 99.5 being among the highest. UNSW, Queensland, Monash, and ANU also sit in the high 90s. Figures are approximate and change each year.
Is law harder to get into than other degrees?
At the top universities, yes, the cut-offs are among the highest. But law is widely available, and many universities have far more accessible cut-offs. The difficulty depends entirely on which university you choose.
Does the JD use ATAR?
No. The postgraduate Juris Doctor comes after any bachelor's degree and does not use your ATAR. It is assessed on your university results, and sometimes the LSAT. So the JD is a route into law that does not depend on your Year 12 result.
Check your law options
See realistic pathways into law based on your ATAR. Free, and no signup.
Open the law ATAR calculator →Related guides
This guide is general information for students and parents, not formal admissions advice. ATAR cut-offs, degree structures and entry rules vary by university and change every year. The LSAT applies only to some postgraduate JD programs, not undergraduate law. Any figures here are approximate and based on recent years, so always confirm the current details with each university and your state admissions centre (such as UAC, VTAC, QTAC, SATAC or TISC). Reviewed by the ATARCalculators Editorial Team.