Bachelor of Laws
Course handbook
General Information
Overview
The Bachelor of Laws focuses on commercial law with an emphasis on intellectual property law.
You'll learn about trademarks, patents and designs, copyright, the prohibition of misleading or deceptive conduct and competition law.
Upon completion, you'll feel confident protecting the rights of those who innovate or create.
Study structure
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Laws requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.
Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.
Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.
Units of study | Unit code |
---|---|
Core units | |
Introduction to Australian Law and Statutory Interpretation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10010 |
Contract Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10011 |
Commercial Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10013 |
Torts 1
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10014 |
Database, Analysis and Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
INF10002 |
Criminal Law and Procedure
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10015 |
Torts 2
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10025 |
Legal Writing
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10026 |
Evidence
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20009 |
Administrative Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20010 |
Trade Marks and Related Rights
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20011 |
Federal and State Constitutional Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20012 |
Property Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20013 |
Land Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20014 |
Legal Technology and Innovation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20040 |
Copyright
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20043 |
Patents and Designs
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30011 |
Equity and Trusts
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30012 |
Company Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30013 |
Legal Practice and Professional Conduct
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30015 |
Civil Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30029 |
Learning and Communicating Innovative Business Practice
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
COM10011 |
Professional Experience in Law 1
Core unit |
LAW10016 |
Professional Experience in Law 2
Core unit |
LAW20018 |
Professional Experience in Law 3
Core unit |
LAW30016 |
Students must complete 4 Law Electives from the list below
- LAW20007 International Commercial Law
- LAW20024 Law and the Media
- LAW20033 Taxation Law
- LAW20035 Public and Private International Law
- LAW20036 Competition Law & Policy
- LAW20037 Asian Commercial Law
- LAW20038 Privacy in Law and Society
- LAW20039 Indonesia Law, Governance and Culture Study Tour
- LAW20041 Advanced Criminal Law and Sentencing
- LAW20042 US Intellectual Property Law
- LAW30026 Legal Research Project
- LAW30027 Advanced Legal Research Project 1
- LAW30028 Advanced Legal Research Project 2
Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 87.5 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).
If students choose to complete Professional Placement they will choose two or all four units depending on whether the placement is of 6 months or 12 months duration.
- LAW20021 Integrated Professional Placement A - Law
- LAW20022 Integrated Professional Placement B – Law
- WEI20001 Work Experience in Industry A
- WEI20002 Work Experience in Industry B
Recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.
Aims and objectives
The Bachelor of Laws provides an accredited qualification in law and educates students to meet the challenges of a profession and society that are increasingly diverse, complex and technologically sophisticated. It provides a rigorous and intellectually challenging legal education that develops and enhances legal knowledge and a broad range of skills necessary for legal practice; promoting respect for the Rule of Law and adherence to ethical conduct and professional responsibility.
Upon successfully completing the Bachelor of Laws, students will be able to:
- describe and demonstrate the application of the fundamental areas of Australian law and the Australian legal system and of the principles and doctrines that underpin them
- describe and demonstrate the application of ethical and professional responsibility in the practice of the law and a commitment to the pursuit of justice
- analyse and evaluate the interdisciplinary contexts in which legal issues arise and the disciplines and policy considerations that influence the content and operation of the law
- describe and compare the international legal order and the law and legal systems of Australia’s major trading partners
- critically evaluate events or factual situations, identify the legal issues to which they give rise and develop and articulate appropriate and creative responses
- undertake and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources to make judgements to solve complex legal problems with intellectual independence
- demonstrate effective and persuasive communication capabilities with legal and non-legal audiences
- communicate proficiently in professional practice to a variety of audiences, function as an effective member or leader of a diverse team and critically reflect on individual performance and professional development.
Career opportunities
Graduates will have the theoretical and practical knowledge required to operate effectively in diverse settings such as law firms and barristers’ chambers, not-for-profit organisations, government, small businesses and corporate organisations. In particular, the specialisation in intellectual property law equips graduates for careers in the new knowledge economy, giving them the skills to work in media and entertainment, design, branding and advertising, and in internet companies and firms advising information-dependent industries.
Professional recognition
This course is still awaiting accreditation from the Victorian Legal Admissions Board VLAB.
Please be advised that non-academic requirements must also be satisfied for admission to practice and that no law degree allows graduates to practice straight away.
- Students must be informed before enrolment and on their application forms that their admission is subject to final VLAB approval.
- We will have to defer their start dates if approval has not yet come through by the first teaching period.
- They will have to be withdrawn if approval is refused. We cannot teach an unaccredited law degree.
Professional placements
Professional Placements are subject to a competitive selection process. International students may be eligible for a Professional Placement where a relevant Professional degree exists. International students who successfully gain a placement through the selection process will be required to change courses to the relevant Professional degree, in order to complete a placement and should consider any visa and extended study duration implications prior to applying.
Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 475 credit points comprising:
- 20 Core Law Units (250 credit points)
- 1 online core unit of study (Swinburne Online) (12.5 credit points)
- 4 Law Electives (50 credit points)
- 5-6 units of Secondary Studies, comprising a minor and/or electives (62.5 – 75 credit points)
- 4 units of study from the Professional Placement Co-Major (100 credit points);
Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 437.5 credit points comprising:
- 20 Core Law Units (250 credit points)
- 1 online core unit of study (Swinburne Online) (12.5 credit points)
- 4 Law Electives (50 credit points)
- 6-7 units of Secondary Studies, comprising a minor and/or electives (75-87.5 credit points)
- 2 units of study from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points);
If students select the Law Professional Placement units, the Professional Experience in Law units are waived.
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Laws is 200 credit points (normally 16 units).
Admission criteria
Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.
Interested in the Bachelor of Laws?
From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.