US Trends

what atar do you need to be a lawyer

You usually need a very high ATAR for law in Australia – often in the low‑to‑mid 90s at many universities, and around 96–98+ at the most competitive ones – but there are also lower‑ATAR pathway options.

Typical ATAR for law (Australia)

  • Many Australian law programs set minimum ATARs from about 80 up to the high 90s, depending on the university and whether it is a pure LLB or a double degree.
  • At some of the most competitive universities, published selection ranks for law are commonly around 93–98.

Examples of high entry cut‑offs

  • A number of Group of Eight–style universities list law entry ranks in the mid‑90s or higher (for example, around 96–97+ for some Bachelor of Laws programs).
  • Some pathways linked to programs like the Melbourne JD expect an ATAR equivalent close to 99 from school leavers, or very strong university marks if entering after another degree.

If your ATAR is lower

  • Many universities offer alternative pathways such as:
    • Doing another degree first, then transferring into law.
    • Completing a year in a related course and using your university marks (WAM) to transfer.
    • Using enabling/bridging programs or diploma‑to‑degree pathways.
  • Guides and student stories emphasise that you can still become a lawyer through these routes, even if you do not hit a 95+ ATAR straight out of Year 12.

Beyond ATAR: becoming a lawyer

  • Getting into law at university is only the first step; you also have to finish an accredited law degree and then complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) or supervised workplace training to be admitted.
  • Admission authorities also look at character and fitness , so academic marks alone do not determine whether you can be admitted as a practising lawyer.

TL;DR: For “what ATAR do you need to be a lawyer?”: aim for mid‑90s+ if you want direct entry into a top law school, but remember that many sub‑90 ATAR pathways still lead to the same law degree and legal career.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.