Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies, Bachelor of Laws

If you want to know not only how the law operates, but also why, then this double degree may be for you.

This five-year double degree program opens a range of career opportunities to people who are passionate about social justice and keen not to just see a difference but also be the difference.

While a law degree provides you with the skills to work in legal practice, the Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies provides a broader range of insights to people with interests in social justice, policy development, politics, and analysis.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities typically include: as barristers or solicitors; or in law-related areas of private, corporate or government organizations.

Professional Recognition

The Bachelor of Laws fulfills the academic requirements for admission to the legal profession, but 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 admission body to confirm their practicing requirements.

The Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies , with a major in Conveyancing, is accredited by NSW Fair Trading. See Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies for more information.

Professional Placement

Law students can undertake voluntary legal experience and professional placement with legal firms or offices, to complement their practical legal skills and become familiar with the issues facing working lawyers.

Major Areas of Study

As part of their Law studies, students study core units, plus select units from an extensive range of electives 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 are no majors in the Bachelor of Laws degree; however, a diverse range of law-based elective units is available.

The Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies consists of a range of law units and elective units, including areas such as Australian Politics, the Australian Legal System, Global Social Movements and Social Policy.

Students can choose to study a major in Conveyancing. See Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies for more information.

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 with key representatives of the legal profession who address issues of contemporary legal practice and professional conduct. For more information, go to law workshops.

If online students choose to study the following elective units, they will need to attend workshops at either the Lismore or Gold Coast campus:

• LAW00057 - Conveyancing Law (a one-day workshop, usually Saturday or Sunday)

• LAW00214 - Mediation and Dispute Resolution (a two-day workshop, usually Saturday and Sunday)

• LAW00216 - Mediation Practice and Procedure (a two-day workshop, usually Saturday and Sunday)

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.