BH-LAWS v.1 Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

Bachelor honours degrees prepare students to develop broad, coherent and advanced knowledge and skills in a discipline for professional work, research and further learning corresponding to AQF level 8 qualifications.

A Bachelor Honours Degree – which is located at level 8 of the Australian Qualifications Framework – teaches advanced legal research and writing skills and enables Honours graduates to apply a specialised body of knowledge in a specific context. In addition to coursework, it requires the production of a 12,000 word dissertation. The degree provides further opportunities for law graduates in professional fields and can be a pathway towards continuing post-graduate study. The undergraduate Bachelor of Laws degree is the qualification offered by Curtin Law School that meets the academic requirements for admission to legal practice. Bachelor of Laws’ graduates who meet the eligibility requirements may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree. Our Bachelor of Laws (Honours) programme significantly enhances students’ already developed legal skills so that they can conduct sophisticated legal research to solve complex legal problems and contribute to the body of legal knowledge Students who successfully complete the requirements of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree will be awarded First Class, Upper Second Class, Lower Second Class, or Third Class Honours.

Career Opportunities

Law graduates who have graduated with Honours, particularly First Class Honours, are generally better regarded and are more highly sought after by employers than law graduates without Honours. Some employers in the legal profession specifically advertise for law graduates with Honours and are known for recruiting mostly those who satisfy that criterion. Law Honours graduates should have improved career opportunities with top tier legal firms, in government departments and agencies, and with courts and tribunals. Honours can be also a pathway to further learning in a Master of Laws (LLM) program or post-graduate research degrees such as a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks and other essential study materials.

Course Overview Note

Students will be required to take this course on a full-time basis.

Bachelor degrees with honours typically contain a series of units which may include compulsory (core), optional or elective units to cater for student preferences. They may contain a range of majors, streams and/or minors/specialisations for students to choose from to pursue learning in a specialised area of study. They comprise honours-level research within the coursework of the course and are at least four years in duration. Students can take no more than 250 credit points of first year level units.

A Bachelor Honours Degree – which is located at level 8 of the Australian Qualifications Framework – teaches advanced legal research and writing skills and enables Honours graduates to apply a specialised body of knowledge in a specific context. In addition to coursework, it requires the production of a 12,000 word dissertation. The degree provides further opportunities for law graduates in professional fields and can be a pathway towards continuing post-graduate study. The undergraduate Bachelor of Laws degree is the qualification offered by Curtin Law School that meets the academic requirements for admission to legal practice. Bachelor of Laws’ graduates who meet the eligibility requirements may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree. Our Bachelor of Laws (Honours) programme significantly enhances students’ already developed legal skills so that they can conduct sophisticated legal research to solve complex legal problems and contribute to the body of legal knowledge Students who successfully complete the requirements of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree will be awarded First Class, Upper Second Class, Lower Second Class, or Third Class Honours.

Course Learning Outcomes

A graduate of this course can:

1. apply knowledge of legal research methodology, the Australian legal system, statutory rules and case law principles to understand and evaluate current and emerging research in law; contribute to the body of legal knowledge through research

2. critically and creatively analyse complex legal problems to articulate the issues involved and apply legal reasoning to make a considered choice between competing solutions

3. identify, access, assess and synthesise relevant information from primary legal sources such as cases and legislation and secondary sources as journal articles and commentaries (including electronic versions of these sources) and gather relevant oral and documentary evidence

4. communicate the outcome of legal research and analysis effectively, appropriately and persuasively to colleagues, to clients and to other professionals and the broader community

5. use appropriate electronic legal databases for advanced legal research purposes and be able to communicate effectively in electronic forms

6. critically reflect on their own performance as legal professionals, making use of feedback as appropriate and demonstrate intellectual curiosity

7. articulate the similarities and differences between local and other jurisdictions, including interstate and overseas ones, and be aware of the principles of public and private international law

8. demonstrate a highly developed understanding of and be able to articulate distinct concepts of law, justice and human rights, with an awareness of different legal traditions and cultures, particularly indigenous cultures; critically analyse how and where indigenous person and other identifiable social groups are differentially impacted by the legal system

9. critique and reconceptualise the roles of leadership, ethical legal practice and professional integrity when working within a team and independently

Duration and Availability

This honours course is one year full time study.

Location and delivery Mode

The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.

* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.

# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.

Course Organisation Note

All three units are mandatory to achieve the Honours qualification.

YEAR 1 SEMESTER 1

YEAR 1 SEMESTER 2

Applicants for a Bachelor Honours Degree are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at http://study.curtin.edu.au/ and include flexible entry pathways. Any specific course entry and completion requirements must also be met.

Applicants for the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree must have met the requirements for the conferral of a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognised Australian university. Applicants must generally have a Course Weighted Average of at least 70% to be considered for entry into the degree. However the Head of School (or authorised representative) may, in exceptional circumstances, allow entry into the degree to those with a Course Weighted Average of less than 70%. In the calculation of the Course Weighted Average for an applicant with a double degree (or similar), only those units which form part of the LLB will be included. Eligibility is competitive and quota restricted with preference given to students who have completed their LLB at Curtin.

Credit for Recognised Learning

Applications for Credit for Recognised Learning are not considered within this course.

Pathway to Further Study

Graduates with a Bachelor Degree may qualify for entry to some Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Master by Coursework degrees. Graduates with a Bachelor Degree with Honours may also qualify for entry to a Master or Doctorate by Research. For further details, see the University website http://curtin.edu.au.