Bachelor of Laws (Graduate)

Whether you are defending a client in court, challenging a ruling in a sports tribunal, building a case to protect the environment, or wanting to kick-start a corporate career, a law degree is an incredibly useful qualification to have.

The graduate entry Bachelor of Laws at Southern Cross University is a three-year degree which meets the requirements for admission as a lawyer throughout Australia. Some graduate-entry students may choose to specialize in fields of law relevant to their previous degree.

Because laws have impacts on so many aspects of our lives, a legal degree is designed to equip you with the fundamentals of good legal practice. In addition, at Southern Cross, our commitment to ethics, social justice, and experience-based learning means that our law students are exposed to a broad range of learning opportunities that aren’t found at many other universities.

This course will equip you with the skills to start a legal career and practice as a lawyer, and will also prepare you for a wide range of careers in corporate management, philanthropic organizations or the private sector.

A small number of units include compulsory on-campus workshops for all students.

Career Opportunities

As barristers or solicitors; or in law-related areas in private, corporate or government organizations. During their careers, they can further develop a specialization in many fields of law such as family law, wills and estate planning, criminal law, corporate law, property, and conveyancing law, town planning and environmental law, employment and industrial relations, commercial law, compensation law, entertainment law and sporting law.

Professional Recognition

The Bachelor of Laws graduate entry fulfills the academic requirements for admission to the legal profession. Professional admission authorities also require law graduates of all universities to complete practical legal training or similar to practice as a lawyer.

Students who intend to practice law outside Australia should check with the relevant country's admissions body to confirm their admission requirements.

Professional Placement

Law students can undertake voluntary legal experience and professional placement with legal firms or offices to build their practical legal skills and develop their professional networks.

Major Areas of Study

Students study core units, plus select elective units to suit their career aspirations. Core units include areas such as Civil Litigation and Procedure; The Philosophy of Law; Environmental Law; Professional Conduct; Evidence; and Australian Criminal Law. Elective units may include areas as diverse as Cyberlaw; Entertainment Law; Victimology; Human Rights; Public Interest Advocacy; Race and the Law; Animal Law; and Ecological Jurisprudence. There is a full list of units on the course structure tab.

Honors are embedded in the Bachelor of Laws degree and requires the completion of two specified Law units in addition to a high academic achievement overall.

Assessment methods

The assessment methods used in this course vary from unit to unit. They may include research proposals, research essays, reports, oral and written presentations, case studies, online and class participation, and examinations. The weighting of assessment marks between assignments and examinations also varies.

Teaching methods

On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including face-to-face lectures and tutorials. Some units offer online activities, classes, pre-recorded and/or live lectures. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

The online study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive online pre-recorded and/or live lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Attendance at an on-campus workshop for the unit Professional Conduct is a requirement of the Bachelor of Laws for both on-campus and online students. During the workshop, students meet key representatives of the legal profession who address issues of contemporary legal practice and professional conduct. For more information, go to law workshops.

Facts, figures, rankings and awards

Southern Cross University is a progressive, young and connected regional research university, with vibrant campuses in northern New South Wales and the southern Gold Coast. We offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and many are available in a dynamic online form. Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

Why SCU?

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 20Bold, progressive and just 23 years of age – Southern Cross University is one of the Asia-Pacific’s Top 100 Universities and one of the world’s Top 50 Generation Y Universities .

Our contemporary campuses, with purpose-built state-of-the-art facilities, are located on the east coast of Australia, at the Gold Coast in Queensland, and in Lismore and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. All are unique regions renowned for their natural beauty and ecological diversity, providing living laboratories for learning and creative hubs for artistic endeavour.

Branch campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are operated in collaboration with EduCo on behalf of Southern Cross University. The University also operates The Hotel School Sydney and Melbourne in partnership with Mulpha Australia. We also deliver degrees with collaborators in China, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

We have a large and diverse range of courses available online, offering interactive and immersive learning experiences wherever our students are.

Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

We aim to produce graduates who are career ready, world ready and digitally literate, and who experience an academic environment distinctive for its personal approach.

The University has a strong focus on industry and community collaboration to produce engaged teaching and research outcomes.

This connectivity is seeing Southern Cross University lead the $13.8m national Farming Together Pilot Program, partnering with the Northern Rivers Co-operatives Alliance and the Australian Government. The University has also introduced an important new Centre for Organics Research with the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

In the latest Excellence in Research for Australia report, Southern Cross achieved outstanding ratings of 'at world standard' or above in 24 research fields. In nine research fields, the University was evaluated at the highest possible classification of 'well above world standard'. This was achieved in the fields of Geochemistry, Oceanography, Environmental Science and Management, Zoology, Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Crop and Pasture Production, Forestry Sciences, Nursing, Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Campuses

Southern Cross University is a vibrant, contemporary Australian university with beautiful campuses on the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour.

Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses (International students)

Southern Cross University's branch campuses at Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth are conveniently located in the central business districts.

Studying at SCU Sydney, Melbourne or Perth gives international students the opportunity to complete undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in three of the world's most liveable cities. Southern Cross University collaborates with EduCo Sydney Branch Pty Ltd for the operation of the SCU Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses.