Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business

Overview

Think like an entrepreneur. Move like a lawyer. Our Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business is the only double degree in Victoria that specialises in commercial law and intellectual property law. 

Learn about trademarks, patents and designs, copyright, misleading or deceptive conduct, and competition law. Plus, gain essential skills in next-gen business management and operations.

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.

When combined with the Bachelor of Business, graduates will have developed the core knowledge and skills essential to business management and operations in the 21st Century. Graduates are entrepreneurial thinkers with the theoretical and practical knowledge required to operate effectively in diverse settings such as not-for-profits, government, small businesses and corporate organisations.

The amalgamation of these two comprehensive degrees produces graduates that are highly capable candidates for a broad range of career opportunities, expanding beyond law and business.

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

Upon successfully completing the Bachelor of Business students, will be able to:

• define and integrate theoretical principles applicable to a business discipline and apply those principles in a range of practices
• systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources in order to make informed judgements on options for innovatively solving a range of problems that arise in business contexts
• formulate creative solutions that are fit for purpose and demonstrate cognisance of the impact of business decisions on the environment, economy and society
• use legal, ethical, and social frameworks to support diversity and equity regarding gender, Indigeneity, and multiculturalism when developing authentic business content
• communicate a range of business arguments by evaluating and implementing alternative communication strategies as appropriate to the audience
• build on and continuously develop the intellectual independence to be critical and reflective learners, cognisant of new technologies
• work collaboratively in diverse groups.

Career opportunities

Graduates will be entrepreneurial thinkers with 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.

Furthermore, graduates may wish to seek employment in a wide range of fields such as accounting, business analysis, entrepreneurship, finance, human resources, international business, management, marketing, public relations or tourism.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Business (with an Accounting major ; and Accounting and Finance major) is professionally accredited through CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ). Graduates are therefore eligible to apply for membership of these professional bodies and Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).Graduates  are eligible to receive a number of exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and from The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).The Bachelor of Busines is also  accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. The alumni of AACSB accredited business schools are among the world’s most influential leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs impacting business, government, and non-profit sectors. Only the top six per cent of business schools worldwide are AACSB accredited.

The Bachelor of Business (with a Financer Major) is recognised under the CFA Institute Affiliated University and covers at least 70% of topics contained within the Level I CFA program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) topics including CFA Institute Codes of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

The Bachelor of Business (with a Financial Planning Major)  is a FAS-approved course, making it a recognised pathway towards becoming a registered financial planner. Graduates will satisfy the education standards prescribed by FAS to be able to provide financial advice in Australia, subject to meeting other registration requirements prescribed by FAS (including completion of a Professional Year for Provisional Relevant Providers and passing a National Adviser Exam).

The Human Resource Management major (in the Bachelor of Business)is accredited by the Australian HR Institute (AHRI). Accreditation is reviewed every three years by the AHRI National Accreditation Committee. Students applying for this course can be assured that the quality of core units map onto the Australian HR Capability Framework for HR Practitioners and Academics, a recognised benchmark of HR best practice and standards.

Course rules

To qualify for the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business, students must complete 500 credit points comprising:

• Twenty (20) Core Law units (250 credit points)
• Four (4) Law Elective units (50 credit points)
• Three (3) Professional Experience units in law (0 credit points)* (450 Professional Experience hours)
• Five (5) Business Fundamentals core units (62.5 credit points)
• Three (3) Business Practice units (37.5 credit points)
• Choice of a Business discipline Major (75 credit points – 100 credit points)
  • Seven (7) units of study from the Accounting Major (87.5 credit points) OR
  • Seven (7) units of study from the Business Administration Major (87.5 credit points) OR
  • Six (6) units of study from the Financial Planning Major (75 credit points)** OR
  • Eight (8) units of study from one of the following Business disciplines: Business Analytics and Analysis, Finance, Human Resource Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Marketing, Sports Management
• Elective units (0 - 25 credit points) based on Major selected
  • One (1) elective when undertaking the Accounting or Business Administration Major (12.5 credit points)
  • Two (2) electives when undertaking the Financial Planning major (25 credit points)
  • No electives when undertaking the remaining business majors

**The Financial Planning major is only offered via Swinburne Online (SOL), noting that this double degree is not offered at that location. Hawthorn students may do this major via SOL is they wish (International students to check if this affects any Visa arrangements).

Students complete no more than 200 credit points (16 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 575 credit points comprising:

• Twenty (20) Core Law units (250 credit points)
• Four (4) Law Elective units (50 credit points)
• Three (3) Professional Experience units in law (0 credit points)* (450 Professional Experience hours)
• Five (5) Business Fundamentals core units (62.5 credit points)
• Three (3) Business Practice units (37.5 credit points)
• Choice of a Business discipline Major (75 credit points – 100 credit points)
  • Seven (7) units of study from the Accounting Major (87.5 credit points) OR
  • Seven (7) units of study from the Business Administration Major (87.5 credit points) OR
  • Six (6) units of study from the Financial Planning Major (75 credit points)** OR
  • Eight (8) units of study from one of the following Business disciplines: Business Analytics and Analysis, Finance, Human Resource Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Marketing, Sports Management
• Elective units (0 - 25 credit points) based on Major selected
  • One (1) elective when undertaking the Accounting or Business Administration Major (12.5 credit points)
  • Two (2) electives when undertaking the Financial Planning major (25 credit points)
  • No electives when undertaking the remaining business majors

Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 537.5 credit points comprising:

• Twenty (20) Core Law units (250 credit points)
• Four (4) Law Elective units (50 credit points)
• Three (3) Professional Experience units in law (0 credit points)* (450 Professional Experience hours)
• Five (5) Business Fundamentals core units (62.5 credit points)
• Three (3) Business Practice units (37.5 credit points)
• Choice of a Business discipline Major (75 credit points – 100 credit points)
  • Seven (7) units of study from the Accounting Major (87.5 credit points) OR
  • Seven (7) units of study from the Business Administration Major (87.5 credit points) OR
  • Six (6) units of study from the Financial Planning Major (75 credit points)** OR
  • Eight (8) units of study from one of the following Business disciplines: Business Analytics and Analysis, Finance, Human Resource Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, Marketing, Sports Management
• Elective units (0 - 25 credit points) based on Major selected
  • One (1) elective when undertaking the Accounting or Business Administration Major (12.5 credit points)
  • Two (2) electives when undertaking the Financial Planning major (25 credit points)
  • No electives when undertaking the remaining business majors

* 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/Bachelor of Business consists of 500 credit points. Units normally carry 12.5 credit points (cps). A standard annual full-time load comprises 100 credit points and a part-time load comprises 50 credit points.

This course requires students to complete 450 hours Professional Experience.

The volume of learning of the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business is typically 5 years. For students who complete a Professional Placement the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business consists of 525-600 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/Bachelor of Business with a 6-month placement is typically 5.5 years.

The volume of learning of the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business with a 12 month placement is typically 6 years

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business is 250 credit points (normally 20 units), 150 credit points maximum from Law discipline and 100 credit points from Business discipline.

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. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

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. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

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. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.