Course summary

In the fight for justice, you need knowledge, integrity and perseverance. This degree embraces all these qualities as you learn how the law works, why specific laws exist, and how our laws impact on others.

The Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies is an excellent degree for those wanting to work in policy development, paralegal positions, conveyancing, and in the justice sector. It provides a thorough practical grounding in legal knowledge and a strong understanding of Australian and international politics and society. If you have already been working professionally in the fields of law and justice, this course will extend your knowledge, skills and expertise. The conveyancing major, which is accredited by New South Wales Fair Trading, enables you to become a licenced conveyancer in NSW.

Our graduates can envisage career roles across the justice and social policy sector, as well as the public service. Students who want to become lawyers may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Laws during or at the completion of their studies.

Alternatively, students can choose to graduate with the Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) after completing the required 16 units.

In the fight for justice, you need knowledge, integrity and perseverance. This degree embraces all these qualities as you learn how the law works, why specific laws exist, and how our laws impact on others.

The Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies is an excellent degree for those wanting to work in policy development, paralegal positions, conveyancing, and in the justice sector. It provides a thorough practical grounding in legal knowledge and a strong understanding of Australian and international politics and society. If you have already been working professionally in the fields of law and justice, this course will extend your knowledge, skills and expertise. The conveyancing major, which is accredited by New South Wales Fair Trading, enables you to become a licenced conveyancer in NSW.

Our graduates can envisage career roles across the justice and social policy sector, as well as the public service. Students who want to become lawyers may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Laws during or at the completion of their studies.

Alternatively, students can choose to graduate with the Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) after completing the required 16 units.

The course consists of core and elective units, including Australian Politics, the Australian Legal System, Global Social Movements and Social Policy. Students can choose to study a major in Conveyancing.

Additional information: Some elective units, when studied online, require students to attend on-campus workshops.

Course Learning Outcome

Apply critical judgement including analysis, reasoning, and appropriate directed research to legal issues and challenges in paralegal, professional social and political contexts.

Apply these skills to a broad and diverse range of legal topics.

Apply legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate responses to legal problems in paralegal, professional and political contexts.

Apply these skills to a broad and diverse range of legal topics.

Demonstrate an understanding and evaluate issues with reference to principles of social justice and legal ethical frameworks.

Understanding the relationship between law and sustainability.

Apply these skills to a broad and diverse range of legal topics

Demonstrate an understanding of a broad and coherent body of knowledge relating to the paralegal, professional and social contexts of the fundamental areas of law, the Australian legal system, and underlying principles and concepts.

Learn and work independently within broad parameters.

Reflect on and assess their own capabilities and performance.

Access, manage and evaluate sources of information relevant to legal issues in social and political contexts.

Communicate appropriately and effectively, both orally and in writing.

Collaborate effectively and constructively with others.

Apply an understanding of Australian Indigenous perspectives to all aspects of legal professional practice.

Students can undertake voluntary legal experience and para-professional placement with legal firms or offices to complement their practical legal skills and become familiar with the issues facing working paralegals.

When studied with the conveyancing major, this is a recognised educational qualification for a licensed conveyancer in NSW and is accredited by NSW Fair Trading. For licensing requirements, and details of mandatory additional work experience required to enable registration, enquiries should be made to NSW Fair Trading.

Note that each Australian state or territory has its own legislation regulating conveyancing practice, except QLD where only qualified solicitors are legally permitted to engage in conveyancing.

The subject ‘LEGL2012 - Mediation Practice and Procedure’, meets the training and assessment threshold requirements as specified in the National Mediator Accreditation System. As such, Southern Cross University is recognised as an Education and Training Provider Member of the Mediation Standards Board. Upon successful completion of the unit, students may apply to a Registered Mediation Accreditation Body (RMAB) to finalise their accreditation.

Course overview

Course code

3006110

Course abbreviation

BLJSt

Credit points

288

Equivalent units

24

Duration

3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

Duration

3 years full-time

Availability details

Domestic

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Gold Coast Session 1 N/A N/A
Online Session 1 N/A N/A

Fee information

Commonwealth supported

International

Location Teaching period Annual Fees CRICOS
Gold Coast Session 1 $28,000 ($3,500 per unit) 022342G
Online Session 1 N/A N/A

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 students must complete the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points), comprising:

  • 12 core units (144 credit points),
  • the Conveyancing Major (96 credit points) and 4 Law electives (48 credit points), or
  • 10 Law electives (120 credit points) and 2 Law or University-wide electives (24 credit points), or
  • 4 Law electives (48 credit points) and a Shared Major (96 credit points), excluding the Law and Justice Major.

Exit Award

Students may be eligible to exit with an Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) after completing the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points), comprising 8 core units and 8 elective or major units.

Schedule of units

Title Note

Core Units
LEGL1004 - Australian Legal System
LAWS2055 - Criminal Process
LEGL1001 - Legal Research and Writing
LEGL1002 - Interviewing, Negotiation and Ethics
LEGL2007 - Principles of Contract Law
LEGL2001 - Introduction to Land Law
LEGL2002 - Foundations of Torts
LAWS2056 - Family Law Practice
POLT1001 - Australian Politics
SOCI2007 - Global Inequality and Development
POLT3004 - Global Social Movements
SOCI1005 - Social Policy

Electives

Course progressions

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment

Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search.

Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors

Notes

Note 1: Attendance and participation in the workshop/s for this unit is mandatory. A student who cannot attend at the scheduled time must contact the Unit Assessor promptly to negotiate to determine if an acceptable alternative arrangement can be put in place, documenting reasons that warrant Special Consideration, or else the student may fail the unit.
Note 2: Participation in the workshop/s for this unit is normally expected and strongly encouraged. However, any students who cannot participate at the scheduled time may be able to view or download a recording from MySCU Blackboard.
Note 3: Attendance at a compulsory 3 day workshop is required in order to meet the training and assessment requirements prescribed by the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS).