Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts

Victoria University

About

This course is designed for students of the Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Arts who have shown strong academic ability in law.

During this course you’ll study the compulsory academic requirements to practise law, as well as areas of the law which interest you.

We make sure you’re work-ready through authentic experiences with public-sector authorities such as the Magistrates’ Courts, and private law firms.

When you graduate you'll have the academic requirements in law required to practise law;

on completion of the Practical Legal Training requirements you can apply to be admitted to practise law in Australia.

You'll also have the skill, knowledge and professional acumen across a range of Arts specialisations, which will enable you to choose from professions outside of the legal sector, including roles in corporate, government, community and non-government organisations.

An honours degree in law demonstrates high academic achievement, and can be completed in the same timeframe as a Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Arts.

Structure

To attain the Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts students will be required to complete 480 credit points consisting of:

  • 96 credit points of First Year Core Law units
  • 132 credit points of Professional Core Law units
  • 36 credit points of Law Elective studies
  • 24 credit points of Law Honours studies
  • 96 credit points of Arts Major studies 1

AND

  • 96 credit points of Arts Major studies 2

OR

  • 2 x 48 credit points of Arts Minor studies
  • Note: Students are required to complete only one pair of capstone units in their degree (either ACX3005 Graduating Project 1 & ACX3006 Graduating Project 2 or ACX3007 Studio Project 1 & ACX3008 Studio Project 2). Students should select the capstone units offered for their preferred major and then replace the capstone units in the second major with 2 Level three units from a related Discipline major.

To be awarded a Bachelor of Laws with Honours: Students who enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws prior to 31 Dec 2014 may apply to undertake the unit Advanced Legal Research Dissertation in their later years in this degree based on the aggregate of points attributed to the top two thirds of units so listed shall then be calculated and a grade point average determined. Students will be further assessed on an outline of a proposed thesis topic and availability of a college based or college affiliated supervisor. Students will be awarded a Bachelor of Laws with Honours (Class H1, H2A, H2B or H3) based on their aggregate of points and overall mark in Advanced Legal Research Dissertation.

To be awarded a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (For students enrolled post 1 January 2015):Students in any Bachelor of Laws course may apply to transfer into any Bachelor of Laws (Honours) course if the selection criteria is met.

Course structure and units

First Year

  • Australian Legal System in Context Unit code BLB1101 Credits12
  • Contracts 1 Unit code BLB1102 Credits12
  • Legal Research Methods Unit code BLB1114 Credits12
  • Torts Unit code BLB1115 Credits12
  • Criminal Law Unit code LLW1001 Credits12
  • Criminal Investigation, Procedure and Sentencing Unit code LLW1002 Credits12
  • Legal Writing and Drafting Unit code LLW1003 Credits12
  • Legal Interpretation Unit code LLW1004 Credits12

Year 2

  • Real Property Law Unit code BLB2125 Credits12
  • Corporations Law Unit code LLW2004 Credits12
  • Constitutional Law Unit code LLW2005 Credits12
  • Commercial Law Unit code LLW2008 Credits12

12 credit points of Law Elective studies

36 credit points of Arts Major studies 1

Year 3

  • Australian Administrative Law Unit code LLW3000 Credits12
  • Equity and Trusts Unit code LLW3008 Credits12

12 credit points of Law Elective studies

60 credit points of Arts Major 1

Year 4

  • Lawyers' Ethics and Professional Responsibility Unit code LLW3009 Credits12
  • Civil Procedure Unit code LLW4000 Credits12
  • Evidence Unit code LLW4007 Credits12

60 credit points of Arts Major studies 2

Or

60 credit points of Arts Minor studies 1 and Arts Minor studies 2

Year 5

  • Internships and Law Practice Unit code LLW4008 Credits12
  • Interviewing and Advocacy Unit code LLW4009 Credits12
  • Advanced Legal Research Methods Unit code LLW5900 Credits12
  • Advanced Legal Research Dissertation Unit code LLW5901 Credits12

12 credit points of Law Elective studies

36 credit points of Arts Major studies 2

Or

36 credit points of Arts Minor studies 1 and Arts Minor studies 2

Law Electives

  • Taxation Law Unit code BLB3134 Credits12
  • Family Law in Society Unit code BLB3136 Credits12
  • Australian Employment Law Unit code BLB4135 Credits12
  • Public International Law Unit code BLB4143 Credits12
  • Human Rights Law Unit code BLB4145 Credits12
  • Wills and the Administration of Estates Unit code BLB4146 Credits12
  • Indigenous People of Australia and the Law Unit code LLW2009 Credits12
  • Privacy and Media Law Unit code LLW2010 Credits12
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution Unit code LLW3002 Credits12
  • Australian Migration Law Unit code LLW3007 Credits12
  • Australia’s Visa System Unit code LLW3010 Credits12

Majors

  • Literary Studies Unit code AMALIT
  • Political Science Unit code AMAPOL
  • Sociology Unit code AMASLY
  • History Unit code AMAHIS
  • Visual Art Unit code AMAVSU
  • Communication Studies Unit code AMACOM
  • Writing Unit code AMARIT
  • Digital Media Unit code AMADIG

Minors

  • Writing Unit code AMIWRI
  • Gender Studies Unit code AMIGEN
  • Digital Media Unit code AMIDIG
  • Literary Studies Unit code AMILIT
  • History Unit code AMIHIS
  • International Development Unit code AMIINT
  • Popular Music Studies Unit code AMIPOP
  • Political Science Unit code AMIPOL
  • Sociology Unit code AMISLY
  • Visual Art Unit code AMIVSU
  • Communication Studies Unit code AMICOM
  • Aboriginal Yulendj (Knowledge) and Community Unit code EMIAGL
  • The Entrepreneurial Mindset Unit code AMITEM

Entry requirements

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Admission criteria

The minimum criteria for admission varies depending on your education background. If you’re not sure which criteria applies to you, use the help tool on this page or make an enquiry and we can assist.

Applicants with recent secondary education (within the last 2 years)

  • Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE) or
  • an Australian or overseas equivalent or
  • an International Baccalaureate (IB).

Importance of ATAR for this course

ATAR+

We consider both ATAR and other criteria

NA

ATAR is not a consideration. We use other criteria

Admission criteria

Find out if you meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at VU.

Why is ATAR not applicable?

You will not need an ATAR score to meet the admission requirements for this course. Only the successful completion of your secondary school studies, and any additional prerequisites. Our courses and support programs are designed to prepare students from diverse cultures for success, regardless of their prior experience, ATAR, age, socioeconomic or educational background.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

  • Special Entry Access Scheme (external link) (SEAS) for VTAC applicants.
  • Special consideration for direct applicants.

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET/TAFE) study

This information is for people who have completed an accredited award at an Australian Registered Training Organisation.

Admission criteria

Find out if you meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at VU.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

  • Special Entry Access Scheme (external link) (SEAS) for VTAC applicants.
  • Special consideration for direct applicants.

Applicants with higher education study

This information is for people whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course.

Admission criteria

Find out if you meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at VU.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

  • Special Entry Access Scheme (external link) (SEAS) for VTAC applicants.
  • Special consideration for direct applicants.

Applicants with work & life experience

This information is for applicants who left secondary school more than two years ago and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then.

Admission criteria

Find out if you meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at VU.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

  • Special Entry Access Scheme (external link) (SEAS) for VTAC applicants.
  • Special consideration for direct applicants.

Additional information

Students in any Bachelor of Laws may apply to transfer into the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree once they have completed a minimum 192 credit points and have attained an average mark of Distinction or above i.e. 70–100%. Applicants will be assessed on the top 12 Law units. Students will be further assessed on an outline of a proposed thesis topic and availability of a college based or college affiliated supervisor. Successful applicants will enrol in both Advanced Research Legal Methods and Advanced Legal Research Dissertation instead of 24 credit points of law electives.

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Pathways from VU courses

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Credit for skills and past study

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course coordinator or academic adviser.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

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  1. Integrate conceptual understandings of the Australian legal system, fundamental areas of legal knowledge and relevant specialist bodies of knowledge within the disciplines of law and humanities.  
  2. Review, analyse, adapt and apply broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of law and Arts specialisation areas and underlying principles and concepts in diverse contemporary local and international comparative contexts,  
  3. Identify, articulate and respond to legal issues by analysing and applying information with initiative and judgement in order to both anticipate and creatively solve problems and promote justice in authentic/contemporary professional, community and global settings.  
  4. Exhibit professional accountabilities and ethical judgment, by evaluating, synthesising and adapting knowledge, skills, legal reasoning and research to make appropriate responses to legal issues that reflect the legal, social, political and contextual factors  
  5. Communicate a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and skills appropriate for legal and non-legal audiences, in both oral and written form;  
  6. Reflect on personal learning and skills in relation to career goals and implement effective, creative strategies to promote lifelong learning and pathways to further learning including a commitment to ongoing professional development.  
  7. Apply personal and interpersonal competencies including organisational and collaborative skills, necessary to operate in the immensely divergent and complex global and Australian cultures.  

Institution