Bachelor of Laws
Southern Cross University
About
Law affects every aspect of our lives, and can be a professional foundation to a myriad of career opportunities both within the law and beyond.Wherever your legal future takes you, from corporate law, defending the accused, or striving for social or environmental justice, this course ensures you have the skills and knowledge to make an impact.In addition to the core units, you can choose from a wide range of electives to shape your studies around your personal and professional interests from areas as diverse as human rights, race and the law, animal law, climate law and policy, psychiatry, psychology and the law and ecological jurisprudence.
An elective in mediation meets national requirements, setting you on the way to becoming a nationally accredited mediator.You may complete units at an academically rigorous and rewarding summer law school in Byron Bay and the Gold Coast and undertake work placements and law mooting as part of your studies.This degree fulfils the academic requirements for admission to the legal profession in Australia.
Professional admission authorities also require law graduates of all universities to complete practical legal training or similar to practise as a lawyer.
Structure
Core Units
| Title | Level of learning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| LEGL1001 - Legal Research and Writing | Introductory | |
| LEGL1005 - Legal Process | Introductory | Note 1 |
| LAWS2002 - Contract Law I | Introductory | |
| LAWS2008 - Australian Criminal Law I | Introductory | |
| LAWS2003 - Contract Law II | Intermediate | |
| LAWS2009 - Australian Criminal Law II | Intermediate | |
| LAWS2005 - Constitutional Law | Intermediate | |
| LAWS2015 - Torts | Intermediate | |
| LAWS2012 - Property Principles | Introductory | |
| LAWS2010 - Environmental Law | Intermediate | |
| LAWS2017 - Principles of Equity | Advanced | |
| LAWS2016 - Evidence | Advanced | |
| LEGL1006 - Jurisprudence | Intermediate | |
| LAWS2007 - Corporations Law | Intermediate | |
| LAWS2013 - Civil Litigation and Procedure | Intermediate | |
| LAWS2006 - Administrative Law | Advanced | |
| LAWS3003 - Professional Conduct | Advanced | Note 1 |
Electives
Choose fifteen (15) elective units, a minimum of nine (9) must be from Law electives and include at least two (2) advanced. Note 2
Entry requirements
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Laws - Undergraduate Entry, students must complete 32 units (384 credit points), comprising:
- 17 core units (204 credit points); and
- 9 Law electives (108 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).
A candidate who has completed the Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) may be granted advanced standing for up to a total of sixteen (16) units into the undergraduate Bachelor of Laws degree.
Learning outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the <a href="/staff/teaching-and-learning/graduate-attributes/">graduate attributes</a>.
| 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. |
Institution
