ATAR for Law 2026 — What You Need in Australia

Quick answer: For a top undergraduate LLB you generally need an ATAR between 97 and 99.5. Many metropolitan law schools sit at 90 to 96, regional law degrees sit at 75 to 85, and the Juris Doctor lets you study any undergraduate degree first and skip ATAR altogether.

Your ATAR (or the one you're aiming for)

/ 99.95

Enter an ATAR between 0 and 99.95.

Where you stand

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A guide based on indicative 2026 cut-offs. Every Australian law degree is accredited and qualifies you to practise. Cut-offs move year to year, and adjustment factors can lower the ATAR you need. Always confirm with each university.

Indicative ATAR by law school

These are indicative undergraduate LLB figures for 2026. Combined-degree law (Law/Arts, Law/Commerce) usually sits one to three points above straight law at the same university. Cut-offs move year to year by a fraction of a point based on demand.

University	Indicative ATAR	Notes
University of Sydney	~99.5	Combined LLB; highest mainstream cut-off
UNSW (Sydney)	~98	Combined degrees common
UQ (Hons)	97.5	Same for dual degrees including Law
Monash (Victoria)	~97	Guaranteed-entry figure is lower; competitive ~97
ANU (Hons)	97.0	Guaranteed entry; adjustment factors up to 5 points
UTS, Macquarie, Adelaide, UWA	~90–96	Metropolitan law schools
Regional (Charles Sturt, Federation, USQ, UNE)	~75–85	Same accredited lawyer outcome
Melbourne JD / Sydney JD	Postgraduate (~99 equivalent)	After any undergraduate degree

Figures are indicative and change every year. Adjustment factors for subjects, equity or first-in-family status can lower the ATAR you need. Always confirm on the official admissions page for the year you apply.

LLB or JD: two routes to the same job

Both an undergraduate Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a postgraduate Juris Doctor (JD) produce a fully accredited lawyer. The LLB takes four years straight from school, or five to six as a combined degree. The JD takes three years after any undergraduate degree, so six to seven years all up. Choose the LLB if you are confident in law and want the fastest route. Choose the JD if you are unsure, want to study something else first, or missed the ATAR you needed.

Law asks less of you at the gate than medicine

Top law programs need a high ATAR, but there is no UCAT, no interview, and no compulsory prerequisite subjects. The whole bar is the ATAR. That makes the number in the table above the single thing to plan around. Sydney's combined LLB at about 99.5 and the Melbourne JD approach medicine's ATAR territory, but without the extra tests.

If your ATAR is below the Go8 cut-offs

You have good options. Many metropolitan law schools sit at 90 to 96. Regional law degrees sit at 75 to 85 and qualify you to practise just the same. Combined degrees and adjustment factors can lower the effective ATAR you need. And the JD route removes the ATAR barrier entirely. To estimate your ATAR first, use your state tool on the ATAR calculators hub or the ATAR predictor.

Law entry requirements and current cut-offs are published through admissions centres such as UAC, so confirm the latest figures for your chosen university.

ATAR for law — common questions

What ATAR do I need for law in Australia?

For an undergraduate LLB at a Group of Eight university, generally between 97 and 99.5. Many metropolitan law schools sit at 90 to 96, and regional law degrees sit at 75 to 85.

Can I study law with a lower ATAR?

Yes. Regional law degrees accept ATARs in the mid-70s to mid-80s and produce a fully accredited lawyer. The Juris Doctor also lets you study any undergraduate degree first, then law, with no ATAR required.

Which Australian law school has the highest ATAR?

The University of Sydney's combined LLB sits at roughly 99.5, the highest mainstream cut-off. UNSW, UQ, Monash and ANU cluster between about 97 and 98.

Is law or medicine harder to get into?

Top law needs a slightly lower ATAR than top medicine, and law has no UCAT or interview. But there are fewer top-tier law jobs than medical places, so getting the job afterwards is competitive.

What's the difference between an LLB and a JD?

The LLB is undergraduate, four years from school. The JD is postgraduate, three years after any bachelor's degree. Both qualify you to practise law in Australia.

Do I need specific Year 12 subjects for law?

No. Top law programs have no compulsory prerequisite subjects. Strong English and subjects that scale well help your ATAR, which is what law selection is based on.

What ATAR Do You Need for Law in Australia?

Indicative ATAR by law school

LLB or JD: two routes to the same job

Law asks less of you at the gate than medicine

If your ATAR is below the Go8 cut-offs

ATAR for law — common questions

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