Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Laws

The University of New England offers a flexible approach to the study of law.

UNE boasts one of Australia's largest law schools outside a capital city, as well as being an early adopter of innovative technology in the delivery of its law programs.

The Bachelor of Laws is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board of NSW for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW and mutual recognition legislation extends admission to other Australian jurisdictions.

Course Aims

The Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Laws degree seeks to produce graduates who demonstrate a multi-disciplinary scientific understanding and sound knowledge of regional, national and global environmental issues, and how these impact on the environment and its management. Students will attain well-developed field and laboratory technical and scientific competencies that provide them with the technical and professional skills to choose a career path in areas of environmental science and natural resource management. The degree also provides graduates with a professionally accredited Law degree with, and a critical and progressive approach to, the existing law and legal system equipped with the necessary technical and specialist skills including:1. understanding and knowledge of Australian law and awareness of indigenous, international and theoretical perspectives;2. competence in using legal research and analytical skills that equip them to work in the legal profession or in a broad range of law related occupations;3. the ability to take a strategic approach to problem solving by applying critical and innovative thinking to complex legal issues and situations;4. competence in oral and written communication;5. the ability to work independently and in groups; and6. professional judgement and knowledge of the ethical responsibilities associated with having completed a law degree.7. LLB with Honours: And a comprehensive understanding of theoretical, comparative or interdisciplinary research to examine law's effect on society and the effectiveness of the Australian Legal System.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: BEnvSc component: demonstrate a coherent understanding of environmental science by: articulating the scientific basis for environmental science and explaining why current scientific knowledge is both contestable and testable by further inquiry; and explaining the role and relevance of environmental science in society; exhibit depth and breadth of scientific knowledge of Environmental Science by: demonstrating well-developed knowledge of the conceptual and theoretical scientific basis of environmental science; and demonstrating a broad knowledge of multi-disciplinary scientific principles relevant to environmental science; critically analyse and solve scientific problems by: gathering, synthesising and critically evaluating information from a range of sources; designing and planning an investigation; selecting and applying practical and/or theoretical field and/or laboratory techniques or tools in order to conduct an investigation; and collecting, accurately recording, interpreting and drawing conclusions from scientific data; be effective communicators of environmental science by: communicating scientific results, information or arguments, to a range of audiences, for a range of purposes, and using both written and oral delivery modes; and be accountable for their own learning and scientific work by: being independent and self-directed learners; working effectively, responsibly and safely in an individual or team context; and demonstrating knowledge of the regulatory frameworks relevant to their disciplinary area and personally practising ethical conduct. LLB component: demonstrate a sound knowledge of the fundamental areas of law prescribed by the admitting authorities; a wide range of legal and theoretical concepts, values and principles; and have an awareness of international law and an appreciation of Indigenous legal issues; communicate in an effective and persuasive manner an argument, advice or opinion that is clear, coherent and logically sustainable, to both legal and non-legal audiences, both orally and in writing; demonstrate an awareness of global legal, political and social perspectives; demonstrate an ability to design a research strategy and access legal resources including using practical applications that respond to the factual, legal, theoretical and policy issues, to achieve a considered outcome that represents an evaluation of the data generated; demonstrate an appreciation that the law will change and the need for both self-directed and professional legal education that seeks to ensure the currency of legal knowledge; demonstrate an ability to identify issues and apply legal knowledge and principles to complex problems and projects, with a view to constructing relevant, creative and ethically appropriate responses; demonstrate an ability to apply principles of professional and social responsibility in formulating considered responses to ethical issues that require an analysis and evaluation of a diverse range of values, norms and behaviours in the professional, societal and global contexts; demonstrate an ability to engage with others in a way that respects diverse opinions and perspectives to achieve relevant and efficient outcomes that reflect the contribution of all those involved; and demonstrate an ability to critically reflect upon and analyse law's effect on society and, where appropriate, develop arguments for reform. LLB with Honours students: demonstrate a sound knowledge of the fundamental areas of law prescribed by the admitting authorities; a wide range of legal and theoretical concepts, values and principles; and have an awareness of international law and an appreciation of Indigenous legal issues; communicate in an effective and persuasive manner an argument, advice or opinion that is clear, coherent and logically sustainable, to both legal and non-legal audiences, both orally and in writing; demonstrate an awareness of global legal, political and social perspectives; demonstrate an ability to design a research strategy and access legal resources including using practical applications that respond to the factual, legal, theoretical and policy issues, to achieve a considered outcome that represents an evaluation of the data generated; demonstrate an appreciation that the law will change and the need for both self-directed and professional legal education that seeks to ensure the currency of legal knowledge; demonstrate an ability to identify issues and apply legal knowledge and principles to complex problems and projects, with a view to constructing relevant, creative and ethically appropriate responses; demonstrate an ability to apply principles of professional and social responsibility in formulating considered responses to ethical issues that require an analysis and evaluation of a diverse range of values, norms and behaviours in the professional, societal and global contexts; demonstrate an ability to engage with others in a way that respects diverse opinions and perspectives to achieve relevant and efficient outcomes that reflect the contribution of all those involved; demonstrate an ability to critically reflect upon and analyse law's effect on society and, where appropriate, develop arguments for reform; conceive, plan and implement an independent programme of legal research that could take a theoretical, comparative or an interdisciplinary approach; develop and present an oral summary of an independent programme of legal research; and produce a written thesis that demonstrates original thinking, a high level of research skills and the ability to write critically.

Graduate Attributes

Knowledge of a Discipline BEnvSc component: Students will develop a strong multi-disciplinary scientific understanding of regional, national and global environmental issues and principles, and a well-developed capacity for analysis. They will obtain knowledge from lectures, reading materials and by direct experience in practicals and field excursions. Students will be expected to know key terms and concepts to the extent that they can demonstrate and apply them in assessments. Knowledge will be assessed in examinations for some units, and in online tests, practical tasks, oral presentations, essays and reports. Environmental systems are part of the biosphere, the global perspective is drawn upon in all areas involved with understanding, applying and evaluating environmental information. Knowledge is built upon from information gathered from environmental systems throughout the world. Thus teaching will draw upon case studies and examples from ecosystems across the globe. Students develop the global context of the discipline and its ability to minimise or solve problems. Interaction with students from all over Australia and overseas will assist in developing students' understanding of global issues. LLB component: Knowledge of the discipline is taught, practised and assessed in both core units and electives; in particular the fundamental discipline areas prescribed by the admitting authorities are taught in the core units. Students will demonstrate an understanding of these key areas that lead to accreditation as a barrister or solicitor in Australia. Students will also be encouraged to consider the law through indigenous, theoretical and international perspectives. Although the focus of an Australian law degree is Australian law, Law units will often provide information about relevant law in other areas of the world in order to encourage a critical perspective. Legal resources may include international law, comparative material such as case-law and legislation from other jurisdictions and also social, political and economic perspectives. LLB with Honours students: Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of one particular area of law that the student has selected to research for their Honours thesis. Communication Skills BEnvSc component: Students are taught and assessed on a range of different communication types appropriate to science graduates. There is emphasis on the ability to provide clear and accurate descriptions of environmental issues; on writing reports of technical and scientific investigations; and on presenting critical reviews of knowledge. Within the core and prescribed units communication tasks address a range of different audiences and use oral, written and electronic presentation. LLB component: Both oral and written communication skills will be practised and assessed throughout the course. In particular, students will develop skills in legal writing and argument. These skills will benefit participants' ability to communicate with both clients and colleagues in both legal and non-legal contexts. LLB with Honours students: Communicate effectively and confidently orally and in written forms to present well-reasoned arguments, challenge existing theories and defend new ideas and theories in various modes based on doctrinal or interdisciplinary research. Problem Solving BEnvSc component: Students are taught in the scientific context of researching the background to a problem, formulating one or more hypotheses in environmental science to be tested, and drawing conclusions from the results of those tests. Many practical assignments are based around this approach. Problem solving skills are also developed in field and laboratory settings where students decide the best approach to performing tasks. This will prepare students for dealing with and solving real-world problems that arise in environmental science and management. LLB component: This graduate attribute is taught, practised and assessed throughout the course using scenarios requiring students to identify legal issues, apply the law, and construct relevant, creative and ethically appropriate solutions. Students are also encouraged to respond and apply these problem-solving skills to broader societal projects. LLB with Honours students: Manage a project by identifying critical issues and conceptualising problems, critically analyse data collected and other relevant information and formulate recommendations and potential solutions. Information Literacy BEnvSc component: Students will be taught how to access the literature (especially on-line resources), how to evaluate the robustness of literature sources (discrimination skills) and how to critique available information. Students will then practise these skills through the generation of reports, and oral presentations in relation to environmental science. LLB component: Students will be required to identify, access and navigate complex databases to retrieve primary and secondary material. This requires them to obtain a high level of information literacy. Students will also be required to critically evaluate this information to complete assessment tasks. LLB with Honours students: Demonstrate an understanding of relevant research methodologies and techniques and their appropriate application within law and other disciplines, and use information collected or generated to construct new concepts or create new understandings. Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility BEnvSc component: Students are taught ethical practices in relation to the discipline, including respecting intellectual property rights, ethical behaviour in fieldwork and assessment tasks, and honesty and trust as the basis of the cooperative endeavour of science. Students will be encouraged to act ethically and be socially responsible. These are underlying principles of the discipline of environmental science which reduce, minimise or prevent harm to the environment and its multiple inhabitants. Legal obligations and responsibility will also be integrated into the teaching content. LLB component: Students are taught to recognise and reflect upon ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts and to develop their ability to exercise professional judgment. Students are also encouraged throughout the course to reflect critically on the impact of the law on society. Lifelong Learning BEnvSc component: Students gain confidence in their ability to search for and find sources of information relevant to the discipline. Students will develop the ability to identify, evaluate and implement personal learning strategies and/or study skills in pursuit of ongoing personal and professional development. LLB component: Equips students with the skills needed to ensure the ongoing currency of their legal knowledge; appreciate law as a tool for social justice; and have an understanding that law is a dynamic discipline. Independence and Collaboration BEnvSc component: Teamwork is used in classes at all levels, especially in practical work in the field and laboratory. Students develop the skills to work cooperatively, define and achieve common goals, take initiative and assume responsibility for tasks. Students will learn in a professional forum to discuss, calmly and rationally, ideas and concepts, sometimes controversial and sometimes from different points of view. This, in addition to the ability to use the language of the discipline in reasoned argument, is one of the aims of online discussions. LLB component: Students are encouraged to learn and work independently, and where appropriate to collaborate effectively. Students are also encouraged to communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences.