Bachelor of Laws
Course handbook
On this page you will find:
General Information
Overview
The Bachelor of Laws satisfies the academic requirements for admission to practice as a lawyer in the Victorian and Australian Federal legal systems as set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board.
Please be advised that non-academic requirements must also be satisfied for admission to practice and that no law degree allows graduates to practise straight away.
All laws graduates must also complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) prior to applying for admission to practice as a lawyer. Swinburne offers the opportunity to complete this PLT at the same time as completing your Bachelor of Laws via the Leo Cussen Centre for Law Swinburne Program.
Double degree options
You can also study Laws in a double degree with Arts, Business, Business Analytics and Analysis, Computer Science, Criminal Justice and Criminology, Engineering, Media and Communication, or Science.
Study structure
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Laws requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.
Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.
Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.
Units of study | Unit code |
---|---|
Core units | |
Introduction to Australian Law and Statutory Interpretation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10010 |
Contract Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10011 |
Torts 1
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10014 |
Commercial Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10013 |
Torts 2
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10025 |
Legal Writing
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10026 |
Criminal Law and Procedure
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10015 |
Property Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20013 |
Evidence
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20009 |
Land Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20014 |
Legal Technology and Innovation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20040 |
Trade Marks and Related Rights
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20011 |
Federal and State Constitutional Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20012 |
Administrative Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20010 |
Copyright
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20043 |
Patents and Designs
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30011 |
Equity and Trusts
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30012 |
Company Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30013 |
Legal Practice and Professional Conduct
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30015 |
Civil Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30029 |
Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 150 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).
You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for either 6 or 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.
Units of study | Unit code |
---|---|
Professional placement - Major (12 months) | |
Integrated Professional Placement A – Law
Academic unit |
LAW20021 |
Integrated Professional Placement B – Law
Academic unit |
LAW20022 |
Work Experience in Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20001 |
Work Experience in Industry B
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20002 |
or | |
Professional placement - Minor (6 months) | |
Integrated Professional Placement A – Law
Academic unit |
LAW20021 |
Work Experience in Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20001 |
Note: Students who undertake a professional placement in law do so in lieu of the Professional Experience in Law units. This option may change the course duration and the number of elective units required to complete the degree.
Students must choose 4 specialised elective units to complete the course.
- LAW20007 International Commercial Law
- LAW20024 Law and the Media
- LAW20033 Taxation Law
- LAW20035 Public and Private International Law
- LAW20036 Competition Law and Policy
- LAW20037 Asian Commercial Law
- LAW20038 Privacy in Law and Society
- LAW20039 Indonesia Law, Governance and Culture Study Tour
- LAW20041 Advanced Criminal Law and Sentencing
- LAW20042 Advanced Intellectual Property Law
These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.
- ACC10007 Financial Information for Decision Making
- ENT10001 Entrepreneurship and Opportunity
- ENT10002 Creativity and Innovation
- ENT20006 Lean Startup Springboard
- FIN10002 Financial Statistics
- FIN20014 Financial Management
- FIN20016 Ethics and International Finance
- GAM10002 Principles of Game Design
- GAM20001 Introduction to Games Production
- HRM10004 Human Resource Practices
- HRM20016 Dynamics of Diversity in Organisations
- INF10024 Business Digitalisation
- INF10025 Data Management and Analytics
- INS10001 Connecting with Culture: Indigenous Australian Experiences
- INS10002 Unlearning the Past: Indigenous Australian History
- INS20001 Indigenous Representations
- INS20002 International Indigenous Perspectives
- MGT10009 Contemporary Management Principles
- MGT20007 Organisational Behaviour
- POL10002 International Politics
Outcomes and course rules
Learning outcomes
The Bachelor of Laws provides an accredited qualification in law and educates students to meet the challenges of a profession and society that are increasingly diverse, complex and technologically sophisticated. It provides a rigorous and intellectually challenging legal education that develops and enhances legal knowledge and a broad range of skills necessary for legal practice; promoting respect for the Rule of Law and adherence to ethical conduct and professional responsibility.
Upon successfully completing the Bachelor of Laws, students will be able to:
- apply the principles and doctrines that underpin the fundamental areas of Australian law and the Australian legal systemdescribe and demonstrate the application of ethical and professional responsibility in the practice of the law and a commitment to the pursuit of justice
- build on and continuously develop ethical and professional responsibility in the practice of law and a commitment to the pursuit of justicedescribe and compare the international legal order and the law and legal systems of Australia’s major trading partners
- analyse and evaluate the interdisciplinary contexts in which legal issues arise and the disciplines and policy considerations that influence the content and operation of the law
- interpret issues affecting the legal status and experiences of Indigenous peoples in Australia and apply legal doctrine and other approaches to solve problems in preparation for professional practice acknowledging the culture, traditions and beliefs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other communities
- critically evaluate events or factual situations, identify the legal issues to which they give rise and develop and articulate appropriate and creative responses
- undertake and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources to make judgements to solve complex legal problems with intellectual independence
- effectively communicate persuasive legal arguments to legal and non-legal audiences
- function as an effective member or leader of a team and critically reflect on individual performance and professional development
Career opportunities
Graduates will have the theoretical and practical knowledge required to operate effectively in diverse settings such as law firms and barristers’ chambers, not-for-profit organisations, government, small businesses and corporate organisations. In particular, the specialisation in intellectual property law equips graduates for careers in the new knowledge economy, giving them the skills to work in media and entertainment, design, branding and advertising, and in internet companies and firms advising information-dependent industries.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Laws satisfies the academic requirements for admission to practice as a lawyer in the Victorian and Australian Federal legal systems as set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board. Please be advised that non-academic requirements must also be satisfied for admission to practice and that no law degree allows graduates to practise straight away.
Course rules
To qualify for the Bachelor of Laws, students must complete 400 credit points comprising:
- twenty [20] core Law Units (250 credit points)
- four [4] Law electives (50 credit points)
- three [3] Professional Experiences in law (0 credit points) *
- eight [8] units of Secondary Studies, comprising a co-major, minors and/ or electives (100 credit points)
Students complete no more than 150 credit points (12 units) at Introductory Level (i.e. Stage 1 - eg: LAW1XXXX). A unit of study can only be counted once. Where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternative unit.
Domestic students also have an opportunity to undertake a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Professional Placement. Please note that due to government regulation international students holding a student visa are not able to undertake Professional Placements in this course.
Professional placements
Professional placements are subject to a competitive selection process.
Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 475 credit points comprising:
- twenty [20] core Law Units (250 credit points)
- four [4] Law electives (50 credit points)
- six [6] units of Secondary Studies, comprising a minor and/or electives (75 credit points)
- four [4] units of study from the Professional Placement Co-Major (100 credit points)
Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 437.5 credit points comprising:
- twenty [20] core Law Units (250 credit points)
- four [4] Law electives (50 credit points)
- seven [7] units of Secondary Studies, comprising a minor and/or electives (87.5 credit points)
- two [2] units of study from the Professional Placement Co-Major (50 credit points)
* Please note if a student selects the Business Professional Placement units, the Professional Experience in Law units are required to be completed. If student selects the Law Professional Placement units, the Professional Experience in Law units are waived.
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Laws is 200 credit points (normally 16 units).
Admission criteria
Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.
Extra requirements for this course
Our Swinburne Law School courses provide practical opportunities for students in the classroom and through work experience, and we support our students to find placement opportunities within host organisations. Before graduation, all law students will be required to complete a total of 60 days of professional placements.
Entry requirements
A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)
ATAR
This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.
Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 85 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer.
Educational history
An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course.
Selection rank adjustments
Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne.
Subject adjustments
A study score of 25 in any Business, any Humanities or any LOTE equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 12 points.
Meeting course prerequisites
VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.
ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2024
ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds | ATAR Excluding adjustment factors |
Selection Rank ATAR + any adjustment factors |
---|---|---|
Highest rank to receive an offer | 88.25 | 88.65 |
Median rank to receive an offer | 82.15 | 86.77 |
Lowest rank to receive an offer | 76.15 | 83.05 |
B. Applicants with higher education study
Educational history
An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years.
Meeting course prerequisites
As for Year 12 or equivalent.
C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study
Educational history
An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered.
Meeting course prerequisites
As for Year 12 or equivalent.
D. Applicants with work and life experience
Entire academic record
This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course.
Meeting course prerequisites
As for Year 12 or equivalent.
Student profile
The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.
Semester 1, 2024 | ||
---|---|---|
Applicant background | Number of students | Percentage of all students |
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) | 53 | 84% |
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study | N/A | N/A |
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) |
N/A | N/A |
(D) Recent secondary education: | ||
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) | 10 | 16% |
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) | N/A | N/A |
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) | N/A | N/A |
International students | 0 | 0% |
All students | 63 | 100% |
Notes:
N/A – Students not accepted in this category.
Interested in the Bachelor of Laws?
From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.