Bachelor of Laws
85.0
Overview
Experience the first law degree in Victoria with an IP specialisation and the only one with 60 days of law-related professional experience placements. Learn about trade marks, patents, designs and copyright, competition law and more. Develop skills in the technologies transforming legal practice: smart legal contracts, document automation, predicative AI and advanced chatbots.
Meet us at Open Day
People to meet. Places to explore. New ideas to discover. Start planning your Open Day now and learn what’s possible at Swinburne. 10am – 4pm Sunday 30 July, Hawthorn campus.
Your industry experience
All Swinburne bachelor degrees include a guaranteed Work Integrated Learning opportunity. Complete law-related professional placements at organisations in Australia or overseas. Be introduced to the practical aspects of legal practice, including legal drafting exercises, solving complex problems for industry, and advocacy exercises.
Skills you’ll learn
- Navigate the Australian legal system
- Analyse legal issues and disputes
- Persuasive communication
- Legal research and writing
- Design technologies transforming legal practice
- Ethical and professional responsibility
Your career opportunities
- Solicitor
- Legal counsel
- Lawyer
- Policy adviser
- Legal adviser
- Human rights advocate
Key codes
International student visa
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
Why Swinburne?
Top 150 for law
81% of graduates found employment within 4 months
The median income for graduates 1 year out is $54.5K (second highest in Melbourne / Victoria)
-
Dual award for future lawyers
Accelerate into your legal career.
Swinburne law students are the only students in Victoria who are eligible to be admitted to legal practice on the day they graduate.
To accelerate your learning, you’ll be able to enrol in a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice through Leo Cussen Centre for Law during the final year of your Bachelor of Laws. This dual award program provides the requisite training to practice law, cutting months off the time it takes to become a lawyer.
Qualifications
One of the following:
- successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.
- completion or partial completion of a degree.
Successful completion of Australian Year 12, or equivalent overseas qualification.
Course prerequisites
- VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in any English (except EAL) or 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent
Admission requirements
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.
English language requirements
Satisfactory completion of one of the following:
- IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
- Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 70%, all skills 65%
- or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.
Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.
Admission requirements
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.
Credit transfer
Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Apply for a pathway course
Pathways allow students to progress from one qualification to another where the first course is recognised as an entry requirement and/or provides credit (advanced standing) to the second.
How credit points work
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.
What your course could look like
Units are listed in a proposed sequence. However this can be amended depending on unit availability, prerequisite requirements and the semester in which you commenced your course.
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | |
|
Introduction to Australian Law & Statutory Interpretation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10010 |
|
Contract Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10011 |
|
Torts 1
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10014 |
|
Elective
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
|
| Semester 2 | |
|
Commercial Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10013 |
|
Torts 2
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10025 |
|
Legal Writing
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10026 |
|
Elective
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
|
|
Professional Experience in Law 1
Placement unit |
LAW10016 |
Want to see the full range of electives?
Learn about all the electives you can take in the course handbook.
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | |
|
Criminal Law & Procedure
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW10015 |
|
Property Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20013 |
|
Your Law elective goes here
Your Law elective goes here unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAWELEC01 |
|
Elective
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
|
| Semester 2 | |
|
Evidence
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20009 |
|
Land Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20014 |
|
Legal Technology and Innovation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20040 |
|
Elective
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
|
|
Professional Experience in Law 2
Placement unit |
LAW20018 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Professional placement - Major (12 months) | |
|
Integrated Professional Placement A – Law
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points |
LAW20021 |
|
Integrated Professional Placement B – Law
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points |
LAW20022 |
|
Work Experience in Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20001 |
|
Work Experience in Industry B
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20002 |
| or | |
| Professional placement - Minor (6 months) | |
|
Integrated Professional Placement A – Law
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points |
LAW20021 |
|
Work Experience in Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20001 |
Note: Students who undertake a professional placement in law do so in lieu of the Professional Experience in Law units. This option may change the course duration and the number of elective units required to complete the degree.
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | |
|
Trade Marks & Related Rights
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20011 |
|
Federal & State Constitutional Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20012 |
|
Elective
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
|
|
Your Law elective goes here
Your Law elective goes here unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAWELEC01 |
| Semester 2 | |
|
Administrative Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20010 |
|
Copyright
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW20043 |
|
Elective
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
|
|
Your Law elective goes here
Your Law elective goes here unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAWELEC01 |
|
Professional Experience in Law 3
Placement unit |
LAW30016 |
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | |
|
Patents & Designs
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30011 |
|
Equity & Trusts
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30012 |
|
Company Law
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30013 |
|
Elective
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
|
| Semester 2 | |
|
Legal Practice & Professional Conduct
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30015 |
|
Civil Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAW30029 |
|
Elective
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points |
|
|
Your Law elective goes here
Your Law elective goes here unit, 12.5 credit points |
LAWELEC01 |
2023 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$15,142
Total fee* ($AUD)
$60,568
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
A$37,000
Fees are estimates only
The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply to 2023 unit enrolments for HE Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and Undergraduate Full Fee Paying (FFP) only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
Fees are estimates only
The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.
How do I pay my fees?
HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to you if you are eligible and enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount. You can also choose to pay your fees up front.
International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.
To pay your fees:
- log in to My Financials
- check your Australian bank account details are correct
- check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
- pay using your preferred payment method.
Eligibility for HECS-HELP
You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:
- are an Australian citizen and doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
- hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
- hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens.
Student services and amenities fee
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
The fee shown in the capped amount for 2024.
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown in the capped amount for 2024.
Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$351
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$351
Scholarships
Scholarship applications for 2023 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.
Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.
When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.
Professional placement fees
Students who participate in a six- or 12-month professional placement will be subject to an increase in total course fees.
Apply through an agent
Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.
Apply directly
Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! Remember, you cannot apply direct if you have an active VTAC application.
Apply through VTAC
International students currently studying Year 12 in Australia must apply through VTAC. VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.
VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.
-
"Swinburne started my career. The compulsory internships got me out in the world and helped me gain experience and meet people in my future profession. In the end, it was because of these internships that I got a job."
Katrina , Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business