Bachelor of Laws

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.

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 system 
  
• Build on and continuously develop ethical and professional responsibility in the practice of law and a commitment to the pursuit of justice
• 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. 

All law 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.

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) 

This course requires students to complete 450 hours Professional Experience.

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) 
  
• 5-6 units of Secondary Studies, comprising a minor and/or electives (62.5 – 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.

Volume of Learning

The Bachelor of Laws consists of 400 credit points. Units normally carry 12.5 credit points. A standard annual full-time student load comprises 100 credit points, and a standard part-time load comprises 50 credit points.

The volume of learning of the Bachelor of Laws is typically 4 years.

This course requires students to complete 450 hours Professional Experience.

For students who complete a Professional Placement the Bachelor of Laws consists of 437.5-475 credit points. Units normally carry 12.5 credit points. Units normally carry 12.5 credit points with placement units carrying 25 credit points each. A standard annual full-time student load comprises 100 credit points, and a standard part-time load comprises 50 credit points.

The volume of learning of the Bachelor of Laws with a 6-month placement is typically 4.5 years.

The volume of learning of the Bachelor of Laws with a 12-month placement is typically 5 years

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Laws is 200 credit points (normally 16 units).

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.