HOW TO CHOOSE A MASTER OF LAWS IN AUSTRALIA (LLM)
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN AN LLM?
If you’re comparing a Master of Laws in Australia while working full-time, the key question isn’t just which subjects you’ll study. It’s how the program is taught, how you’ll be assessed and whether you’ll be able to use what you learn straight away in practice.
At-a-glance: How to choose a Master of Laws in Australia
This page covers:
WHAT IS A MASTER OF LAWS (LLM) IN AUSTRALIA?
A Master of Laws (LLM) is a postgraduate qualification for practising lawyers. It’s designed to build deeper expertise and strengthen your capability in a specific area of practice.
You can usually study full-time or part-time, and many providers now offer an online Master of Laws. You’ll also see the term “LLM”. In this article, it means the law degree (not AI large language models).
The qualification may be the same on paper, but the day-to-day experience can look very different depending on how the program is built.
WHAT IS THE BEST MASTER OF LAWS IN AUSTRALIA?
There isn’t one “best” Master of Laws for everyone. The right program depends on what you want out of it, and how you’re going to fit it around practice.
Some programs lean academic: theory, research and long-form writing. Others are designed for practical application to day-to-day legal work. The difference is less about the subject names and more about what you want to be able to do with the learning.
If you’re aiming for academic progression, a theory-led program may be the better fit. If you want to sharpen your practice now, an applied approach is usually more relevant.
UNIVERSITY LLM VS PRACTICAL LLM: WHAT'S THE REAL DIFFERENCE?
When lawyers compare postgraduate law programs, the conversation usually starts with subjects, structure and reputation. That’s useful, but it can miss the point.
How will you study, and how quickly will it show up in your work?
Most programs sit in one of two camps.
- Academic programs are structured around legal theory, research and analysis. They suit lawyers who want conceptual depth or a traditional university experience. The trade-off is that the workload can be harder to fit around practice, and assessments can feel further removed from live matters.
- Practical applied programs are designed around how lawyers actually work. They focus on realistic scenarios, applied skills and tasks you can use straight away. They’re typically a better fit if you’re working full-time and need an online format that bends around client demands and deadlines.
| Factor | University LLM | College of Law |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Academic theory and analysis | Practical application in legal work |
| Teaching style | Research-led, academic | Practitioner-led |
| Flexibility | Moderate | High, built for working lawyers |
| Delivery | Often mixed or in person | Fully online |
| Assessments | Essays, research tasks | Practical, scenario-based (e.g. oral assessments, written assessments, short writing activities and reflection activities) |
| Immediate use in practice | Limited | High |
| Best suited to | Academic progression, specialisation | Practising lawyers wanting applied skills |
WHAT MAKES THE COLLEGE OF LAW MASTER OF LAWS DIFFERENT?
The College of Law delivers practical postgraduate legal education for practising lawyers in Australia. The programs are designed to support legal practice, not just academic study.
In practical terms, that means subjects align to the work lawyers do, and assessments are built around realistic scenarios. Teaching is practitioner-led, and delivery is fully online—so you can keep moving even when work gets busy.
You can keep working while you study, and apply the learning to your advice, drafting and decisions on live matters.
STILL WEIGHING IT UP?
Read the articles below to learn more or watch our video for a quick take on when a Master of Laws is worth it.
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5 smart tips for choosing your postgraduate subjects
In this article, we outline five simple strategies to help you choose your postgraduate subjects wisely. So your study pathway supports your career, your lifestyle – and your future.
In this article, we outline five simple strategies to help you choose your postgraduate subjects wisely. So your study pathway supports your career, your lifestyle – and your future.
How to ask your employer to fund your postgraduate study: A guide for lawyers
Thinking about postgraduate study but unsure how to raise it with your employer? This practical guide shows lawyers how to build a strong business case for funding support, framing the benefits to your firm, handling objections, and making the conversation feel less daunting. If you’re ready to invest in your future, this article helps you take the first step.
Thinking about postgraduate study but unsure how to raise it with your employer? This practical guide shows lawyers how to build a strong business case for funding support, framing the benefits to your firm, handling objections, and making the conversation feel less daunting. If you’re ready to invest in your future, this article helps you take the first step.
How Cody Accelerated His Career Through a Master of Laws in Family Law
Read how postgraduate study helped emerging family lawyer Cody McFarlane build practical expertise, confidence and professional judgement through a Master of Laws.
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"The LLM set me up beautifully for accreditation” – Adeline Schiralli, Special Counsel
Adeline Schiralli, Consulting Principal at Keypoint Law (NSW), is a master of Wills and Estates law. Literally. Adeline traces her journey to specialisation, highlighting the College of Law’s LLM as a crucial step to accreditation.
Adeline Schiralli, Consulting Principal at Keypoint Law (NSW), is a master of Wills and Estates law. Literally. Adeline traces her journey to specialisation, highlighting the College of Law’s LLM as a crucial step to accreditation.
"More like a mentorship than a degree" – Max Williams, de Groots Wills and Estates Lawyers
Max recounts his path to discovering his passion in Wills and Estates – and how the College of Law helped him along the way.
Max recounts his path to discovering his passion in Wills and Estates – and how the College of Law helped him along the way.
CAN YOU STUDY A MASTER OF LAWS ONLINE IN AUSTRALIA?
Yes. Many providers now offer an online Master of Laws, and for working lawyers it’s often the most realistic option.
Online delivery means you can keep practising while you study, and fit learning around the week you actually have (not the one you planned). It also makes it easier to apply what you’re learning to live matters as you go.
Many lawyers start part-time and build toward the full qualification. Some begin with a shorter program and progress over time.
CHOOSING AN LLM: PICK THE STUDY MODEL THAT FITS LEGAL PRACTICE
Choosing a Master of Laws isn’t just about picking a provider. It’s choosing a study model that will support your practice while you keep doing the work.
If you want practical improvement and flexibility around practice, look for a program designed for practising lawyers. That’s usually where you’ll see the payoff sooner.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MASTER OF LAWS PROGRAM
Before you decide, step back from course outlines and ask whether the program fits your practice and your week.
Ask yourself:
- Will I use this in my matters next week?
- Can I realistically complete this alongside my job?
- Is the program designed for practising lawyers or academic study?
Most lawyers are fitting study in around billable work, urgent client calls and court deadlines. A program that ignores that reality will be hard to finish.
If time is your main concern, these guides show how lawyers make it work in practice:
IS A MASTER OF LAWS WORTH IT IN AUSTRALIA IN TERMS OF SALARY AND CAREER OUTCOMES?
A Master of Laws is a serious investment of time and money. The practical question is what you get back.
For many lawyers, the return comes down to three things:
- Stronger capability in their practice area
- Clearer career progression
- Increased earning potential
The 2025 Australian Legal Salary Survey surveyed 1,100+ legal professionals in Australia and found that additional qualifications lift base salaries. Lawyers who had completed a Master of Laws reported base salaries around $30,000 higher than those with an undergraduate degree only.
A Master of Laws pays off when it changes how you work.
That can mean drafting faster, spotting issues earlier, and giving clearer advice with less rework. Over time, it can help you move from being the person who can do a bit of everything to being trusted for a specific area.
NEXT STEP: TALK TO OUR TEAM ABOUT THE LLM
If you’re considering a Master of Laws in Australia, look closely at how the program is delivered, not just what’s on the subject list. Relevance, flexibility and immediate application will shape your experience once you enrol.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Entry requirements vary by provider. Most require a recognised law qualification and may also consider relevant legal experience.
The College of Law – Master of Laws
You must hold a recognised law degree (LLB, JD or equivalent) to enrol.
Yes, many providers offer an online Master of Laws in Australia. For working lawyers, online delivery can be the difference between starting and postponing.
Time to complete depends on your study load and the provider’s structure. Many lawyers study part-time and adjust around matters, deadlines and workload.
University programs often emphasise research, theory and academic writing. Practical programs focus on applied skills, realistic scenarios and assessment tasks that mirror legal work.
In a practical Master of Laws, assessments are designed to test application in practice. Depending on the subject, this can include oral assessments, written assessments, short writing activities and reflection activities based on realistic scenarios.
Start with the matters you’re working on now (or the work you’re moving into). This guide helps: 5 smart tips for choosing your postgraduate subjects.
You can enrol online. If you’re enrolling with the College of Law, the steps are here: How to enrol in a postgraduate program.
