Course summary
If you want a legal degree with a difference and to make a difference as a legal professional, you need to know how the law operates and why. This double degree expands your career opportunities in law to encompass social justice, policy development, politics and analysis.
Together with core units that prepare you for qualification as a lawyer, you can choose elective units in areas such as human rights, race and the law, animal law, climate law and policy, psychiatry, psychology and the law, and ecological jurisprudence.
There is an option to complete electives at academically rigorous and rewarding summer law schools in Byron Bay and the Gold Coast and undertake work placements and law mooting as part of your studies.
As a graduate, you may consider a career not just in the legal profession, but also in government service, law enforcement and the corporate sector.
The Bachelor of Laws fulfils the academic requirements for admission to the legal profession. Professional admission authorities also require law graduates of all universities to complete practical legal training or similar to practise as a lawyer. Applicants who do not have the required entry mark are encouraged to apply for the Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies. If those students achieve the required grade point average during that course, they may then apply for transfer into the double degree.
In addition to the core units, which comply with professional accreditation requirements, the program includes unique core units such as the philosophy of law and environmental law that reflect the School of Law and Justice’s focus on justice and critique.
There are no majors in the Bachelor of Laws degree; however, a diverse range of law-based elective units is available. Students may choose elective units to suit their interests and professional aspirations including areas as diverse as human rights, race and the law, animal law, climate law and policy, psychiatry, psychology and the law and ecological jurisprudence.
The Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies consists of a range of law units and elective units, including areas such as Australian Politics, the Australian Legal System, Global Social Movements and Social Policy.
| Graduate Attribute | Course Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| Intellectual rigour | Demonstrate the intellectual and practical skills needed to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues. |
| Creativity | Apply legal reasoning, critical analysis and research to generate appropriate responses to legal problems. |
| Ethical practice | Demonstrate an understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making and an ability to recognise, reflect upon, and respond to ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts. Demonstrate an ability to recognise and reflect upon the professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice and in service to the community. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between law and sustainability. |
| Knowledge of a discipline | Demonstrate an understanding of a broad and coherent body of knowledge that includes the fundamental areas of law, the Australian legal system, and underlying principles and concepts, including international and comparative contexts, and the broader contexts within which legal issues arise. Demonstrate an understanding of the international and comparative contexts in which legal issues arise. |
| Lifelong learning | Learn and work independently. Reflect on and assess their own capabilities and performance, and seek and make use of feedback as appropriate, to determine personal and professional development needs and achievements. Access, manage and evaluate sources of information relevant to legal research and practice |
| Communication and social skills | Communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences. Collaborate effectively and constructively with others. |
| Cultural competence | Apply an understanding of Australian Indigenous perspectives to all aspects of legal professional practice. |
Law students can undertake voluntary legal experience and professional placement with legal firms or offices, to complement their practical legal skills and become familiar with the issues facing working lawyers.
The Bachelor of Laws fulfils the academic requirements for admission to the legal profession. Professional admission authorities also require law graduates of all universities to complete practical legal training or similar to practise as a lawyer.
Students who intend to practise law outside Australia should check with the relevant country’s admission body to confirm their practising requirements.
Course overview
Course code
3206107
Course abbreviation
BLJSt, LLB
Credit points
480
Equivalent units
40
Domestic duration
5 years full-time; 10 years part-time
International duration
5 years full-time
Availability details
Domestic
| Location | Session | UAC code | QTAC code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Lismore | 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Online | 1 | N/A | N/A |
Domestic fees
International
| Location | Session | Annual Fees | CRICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | 1 | N/A | N/A |
| Lismore | 1 | $26,800 ($3,350 per unit) | 026999M |
Course requirements
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies, Bachelor of Laws, students must complete 40 units (480 credit points), comprising:
- 22 core units (264 credit points); and
- 1 University-wide Major (96 credit points), excluding the Law and Justice Major and 10 Law electives (120 credit points); or
- 12 Law electives (144 credit points) and 6 Law or University-wide electives (72 credit points).
Bachelor of Laws with Honours
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Laws with Honours, students must:
- fulfil the requirements of the Bachelor of Laws; and
- complete the units LAW10181 - Legal Research: Context, Perspective and Method and LAW00524 - Independent Legal Research; and
- achieve a satisfactory standard of academic performance in law units as determined by the School Board, School of Law and Justice.
Class of Honours
The Bachelor of Laws with Honours may be awarded in the following classes:
- First Class Honours;
- Second Class Honours (Division I); or
- Second Class Honours (Division II).
Exit Awards
Students may be eligible to exit with the Bachelor of Laws or the Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies upon completion of the requirements of the single degree.
Advanced Standing
Units from the Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) and the Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies may only be credited if they are units in this course or were completed prior to admission.
Schedule of units
Course progressions
Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1, Session 1 | |||
| Part-time students should complete the first two units in Year 1, Session 1. The remaining two units should be completed in Year 2, Session 1. | |||
| LAW00051 - Legal Research and Writing | Introductory | ||
| LAW00111 - Legal Process | Introductory Note 2 | Note 2 | |
| LAW10001 - Contract Law I | Introductory | ||
| LAW10002 - Australian Criminal Law I | Introductory | ||
| Year 1, Session 2 | |||
| Part-time students should complete the first two units in Year 1, Session 2. The remaining two units should be completed in Year 2, Session 2. | |||
| LAW10003 - Contract Law II | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10004 - Australian Criminal Law II | Intermediate | ||
| LAW72002 - Torts | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00054 - Family Law Practice | Intermediate | ||
| Year 2, Session 1 | |||
| LAW00520 - Jurisprudence | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00118 - Environmental Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00527 - Corporations Law | Intermediate | ||
| POL10244 - Australian Politics | Introductory | ||
| Year 2, Session 2 | |||
| LAW00112 - Constitutional Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW71005 - Property Principles | Introductory | ||
| LAW72009 - Principles of Equity | Advanced | ||
| SOC00112 - Social Policy | Introductory | ||
| Year 3, Session 1 | |||
| LAW72005 - Evidence | Advanced | ||
| LAW72001 - Civil Litigation and Procedure | Intermediate | ||
| POL20001 - Analysing Policy Problems | Intermediate | ||
| 1st Unit from Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| Year 3, Session 2 | |||
| LAW00117 - Administrative Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW00519 - Professional Conduct | Advanced Note 2 | Note 2 | |
| POL00005 - Ideas and Ideals in Politics | Intermediate | ||
| 2nd Unit from Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| Year 4, Session 1 | |||
| 3rd Unit from Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| 4th Unit from Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| 5th Unit from Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| 6th Unit from Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| Year 4, Session 2 | |||
| 7th Unit from Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| 8th Unit from Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| 9th Unit from Law Electives | |||
| 10th Unit from Law Electives | |||
| Year 5, Session 1 | |||
| 11th Unit from Law Electives | |||
| 12th Unit from Law Electives | |||
| 1st University-wide Elective OR Law Electives | Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| 2nd University-wide Elective OR Law Electives | Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| Year 5, Session 2 | |||
| 3rd University-wide Elective OR Law Electives | Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| 4th University-wide Elective OR Law Electives | Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| 5th University-wide Elective OR Law Electives | Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| 6th University-wide Elective OR Law Electives | Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1, Session 2 | |||
| LAW00051 - Legal Research and Writing | Introductory | ||
| LAW00111 - Legal Process | Introductory Note 2 | Note 2 | |
| LAW10004 - Australian Criminal Law II | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00054 - Family Law Practice | Intermediate | ||
| Year 2, Session 1 | |||
| LAW10001 - Contract Law I | Introductory | ||
| LAW10002 - Australian Criminal Law I | Introductory | ||
| LAW00520 - Jurisprudence | Intermediate | ||
| POL10244 - Australian Politics | Introductory | ||
| Year 2, Session 2 | |||
| LAW10003 - Contract Law II | Intermediate | ||
| LAW72002 - Torts | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00112 - Constitutional Law | Intermediate | ||
| SOC00112 - Social Policy | Introductory | ||
| Year 3, Session 1 | |||
| LAW00118 - Environmental Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00527 - Corporations Law | Intermediate | ||
| POL20001 - Analysing Policy Problems | Intermediate | ||
| 1st Unit from Law Electives Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| Year 3, Session 2 | |||
| LAW71005 - Property Principles | Introductory | ||
| LAW72009 - Principles of Equity | Advanced | ||
| POL00005 - Ideas and Ideals in Politics | Intermediate | ||
| 2nd Unit from Law Electives Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| Year 4, Session 1 | |||
| LAW72005 - Evidence | Advanced | ||
| LAW72001 - Civil Litigation and Procedure | Intermediate | ||
| 3rd Unit from Law Electives Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| 4th Unit from Law Electives Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| Year 4, Session 2 | |||
| LAW00117 - Administrative Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW00519 - Professional Conduct | Advanced Note 2 | Note 2 | |
| 5th Unit from Law Electives Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| 6th Unit from Law Electives Law Electives OR University-wide Major Unit | |||
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year1, Session 3 | |||
| LAW00051 - Legal Research and Writing | Introductory | ||
| LAW00111 - Legal Process | Introductory Note 2 | Note 2 | |
| Year 2, Session 1 follow the course progression for Session 1 commencement excluding the completed units. | |||
Notes
| Note 1: | University-wide Electives include electives from any degree at Southern Cross University but does not include the following units: LAW10157 - Australian Legal System, LAW10159 - Principles of Contract Law, LAW00052 - Introduction to Land Law, LAW00053 - Foundations of Torts, LAW00050 - Criminal Process, LAW00128 - Interviewing, Negotiation and Ethics, LAW00150 - Introduction to Business Law, LAW00004 - Company Law, LAW00058 - Litigation Practice, LAW00107 - Conveyancers Professional Practice, LAW00108 - Legal and Conveyancing Practice, LAW10068 - Law and Government Decision Making, and LAW10158 - Introduction to Evidence and Advocacy. However, candidates who have completed any of these units prior to enrolment in this degree may apply for advanced standing in up to a maximum of six of the above as “University-wide electives” but not as “Part B Law Electives”. |
| Note 2: | Attendance at a compulsory workshop is required. |
Unit groups
Law Electives
| Title | Level of learning | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students should ensure at least two (2) of the following units are advanced | |||
| ACC00132 - Taxation | Advanced | ||
| ACC00134 - Advanced Taxation | Advanced | ||
| LAW00057 - Conveyancing Law | Intermediate Note 2 | Note 2 | |
| LAW00059 - Welfare Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00061 - Drugs, Crime and the Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00062 - Wills and Estates | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00104 - Employment and Industrial Relations Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW00106 - EEO and OH&S Law and Practice | Advanced | ||
| LAW00119 - Local Government and Planning Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00120 - Victimology | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00121 - Intellectual Property | Advanced | ||
| LAW00122 - Clinical Legal Experience | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00123 - Law Placement | Advanced | ||
| LAW00124 - International Business Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00125 - Information Technology and the Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW00126 - Competition and Consumer Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00214 - Mediation and Dispute Resolution | Introductory Note 2 | Note 2 | |
| LAW00216 - Mediation Practice and Procedure | Intermediate Note 2 | Note 2 | |
| LAW00514 - Criminology | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00516 - Advanced Advocacy | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00521 - International Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00522 - Human Rights | Advanced | ||
| LAW00523 - Commercial Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00524 - Independent Legal Research | Advanced | ||
| LAW00525 - Cyberlaw | Intermediate | ||
| LAW00526 - International Criminal Justice | Advanced | ||
| LAW00529 - Restorative Justice | Intermediate | ||
| LAW01125 - Stock Exchange and Finance Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10160 - Public Interest Advocacy | Advanced | ||
| LAW10166 - Entertainment Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW10167 - International Intellectual Property Law and Public Policy | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10168 - Privacy Law and the Private Sector | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10169 - Human Rights and the Global Economy | Advanced | ||
| LAW10170 - Race and the Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10171 - Mediating Across Cultures | Introductory | ||
| LAW10181 - Legal Research: Context, Perspective and Method | Advanced | ||
| LAW10206 - The Holocaust, Genocide and the Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10207 - Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW10288 - Mooting | Advanced | ||
| LAW10292 - Education and the Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10472 - International Human Rights Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10487 - Animal Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10488 - Crime, Globalisation and Governance | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10489 - Australian Military and National Security Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10490 - Trials and Witnesses | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10491 - Sexual Orientation and the Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW10527 - Comparative Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW10698 - International Trade and Development Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW10727 - Marine Animal Protection Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW30001 - Ecological Jurisprudence | Intermediate | ||
| LAW30002 - Advanced Sports Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW30003 - International Humanitarian Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW30004 - Comparative Criminal Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW30005 - Statutory Interpretation | Advanced | ||
| LAW73003 - Remedies | Advanced | ||
| LAW72011 - Why the State Needs to Kill: law, violence and the production of political authority | Intermediate | ||
| LAW72006 - Climate Law and Policy | Intermediate | ||
| LAW72010 - Property in Land | Intermediate | ||
| LAW72014 - Struggles, Movements, and the Idea of Communism | Intermediate | ||
| LAW72015 - Law, Film and Ideology | Intermediate | ||
| LAW72008 - Indigenous Jurisprudence | Intermediate | ||
| LAW71006 - The Rhetoric of Law | Introductory | ||
| LAW73004 - Legal Fictions: Writing the Law | Advanced | ||
| LAW72007 - International Business Negotiations | Intermediate | ||
| HUM72020 - Indigenous Rights | Intermediate | ||
| LAW73051 - Global Legal Pluralism | Advanced Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| LAW73050 - Jessup Moot | Advanced Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| LAW73049 - Information Environmentalism | Advanced Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| LAW72016 - Crimen Exceptum: The English Witch Prosecution in Context | Intermediate Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| LAW72013 - Wisdom, Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property | Intermediate Note 1 | Note 1 | |
| LAW72021 - Myths for the Future: Law and Climate Fiction in the 21st Century | Intermediate Note 2 | Note 2 | |
| LAWS2027 - Introduction to Chinese Business Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW72018 - Performances and Power in Literature and the Law | Intermediate | ||
| LAW72019 - Justice Framed: Law in Films and in Graphic Novels/Comics | Intermediate | ||
| JUST2006 - Shifting Cultural Paradigms: Law & Literature After Postmodernism | Intermediate | ||
| JUST2012 - The Art of Advocacy: Mooting and Performance Rhetoric | Intermediate | ||