Bachelor of Laws | Courses | Swinburne University

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This course is replacing an older version of the course that is being discontinued, and may include updates to units, majors or similar. Enrolments for this new course are open now.

The Bachelor of Laws focuses on commercial law with emphasis on intellectual property law. As the only degree in Victoria with this specialisation, students learn about trade marks, patents and designs, copyright, the prohibition of misleading or deceptive conduct and competition law. Students learn how to protect the rights of those who innovate or create.

Students complete law-related professional experience placements at organisations in Australia or overseas. Students are also introduced to the practical aspects of legal practice through moot court scenarios and advocacy exercises.

The degree equips students with the skills to work in commercial and general legal practice and in a range of industries, including media and entertainment, design, branding and advertising.

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Start dates

Hawthorn campus

Semester 1 - 26 February 2018
Semester 2 - 30 July 2018

View application and start dates

Duration

4 years full-time or equivalent part-time

Full-time, Part-time

VTAC codes

3400210391 (CSP)
3400210393 (IFP)

Law at Swinburne

A Bachelor of Laws at Swinburne opens your world to the rigorous and intellectually challenging legal profession. Our degrees place special emphasis on invention, creativity and intellectual property. Find out about the wide range of career options open to you after you graduate.

There is a real sense of community at Swinburne Law School. My placement in commercial law gave me a true, raw experience of a Barrister's day-to-day activities and work.

Matt

Studying law

Course details

- Course structure, work integrated learning, career opportunities and professional recognition.

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.

As a Swinburne law student you can choose to take part in a dual award program with Leo Cussen Centre for Law. This makes it possible to study your LLB at Swinburne while also completing Practical Legal Training (the Swinburne program) at Leo Cussen. Please note that this dual award is not available to those on international student visas.

Course 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.
View course rules and special requirements

Core studies

19 units (237.5 credit points)

Units	Unit codes	Credit points
Introduction to Australian Law & Statutory Interpretation	LAW10010	12.5
Contract Law *	LAW10011	12.5
Civil Procedure & Alternative Dispute Resolution	LAW10012	12.5
Commercial Law	LAW10013	12.5
Torts	LAW10014	12.5
Criminal Law & Procedure *	LAW10015	12.5
Misleading Conduct, Economic Torts & Product Liability *	LAW20008	12.5
Evidence	LAW20009	12.5
Administrative Law	LAW20010	12.5
Trade Marks & Related Rights *	LAW20011	12.5
Federal & State Constitutional Law *	LAW20012	12.5
Property Law *	LAW20013	12.5
Land Law	LAW20014	12.5
Copyright *	LAW30007	12.5
Taxation Law	LAW30008	12.5
Patents & Designs *	LAW30011	12.5
Equity & Trusts *	LAW30012	12.5
Company Law *	LAW30013	12.5
Legal Practice & Professional Conduct *	LAW30015	12.5

*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes

Placement

3 units (0 credit points)

Units	Unit codes	Credit points
Professional Experience in Law 1	LAW10016	0
Professional Experience in Law 2	LAW20018	0
Professional Experience in Law (Law Review)	LAW20025	0
Professional Experience in Law 3	LAW30016	0
Professional Experience in Law Innocence and Law Reform)	LAW30023	0

Other studies

13 units (162.5 credit points)

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 162.5 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

Elective units Signature Series

Units	Unit codes	Credit points
Financial Information Systems	ACC10008	12.5
Introduction to Innovation	ENT10001	12.5
Financial Statistics	FIN10002	12.5
Human Resource Management	HRM10003	12.5
Problem Solving with ICT	ICT10001	12.5
Foundations of International Business	INB10002	12.5
Database, Analysis and Design	INF10002	12.5
Introduction to Business Law	LAW10004	12.5
Critical Thinking in Management	MGT10002	12.5
International Politics	POL10002	12.5
Sociological Foundations	SOC10004	12.5
Company Accounting	ACC20013	12.5
Managerial Economics and Strategy	ECO20003	12.5
Macroeconomic Policy	ECO20004	12.5
Banking Operations and Governance	FIN20013	12.5
Financial Management	FIN20014	12.5
Big History: From the Big Bang to Global Civilisation	FST20001	12.5
Dynamics of Diversity in Organisations	HRM20016	12.5
Managing Workplace Relations	HRM20017	12.5
IT for Social Impact Project	ICT20005	12.5
Global Logistics & Supply Chain Management	INB20008	12.5
Requirements Analysis and Modelling	INF20003	12.5
Mobile Business and Social Media	INF20011	12.5
Big Data Management	INF20016	12.5
International Trade Law ^#	LAW20007	12.5
Law of Commerce	LAW20019	12.5
Legal Writing ^#	LAW20023	12.5
Law and the Media ^#	LAW20024	12.5
International Sustainability Project	MFP20001	12.5
Business and Society	ORG20002	12.5
Organisational Behaviour	ORG20003	12.5
Forensic Accounting	ACC30003	12.5
Taxation	ACC30005	12.5
Analysis for Competitive Advantage	ACC30009	12.5
Auditing	ACC30010	12.5
Principles of Professional Practice	BUS20006	12.5
Data Analysis and Econometrics	ECO30003	12.5
Financial Risk Management	FIN30014	12.5
Management of Investment Portfolios	FIN30016	12.5
Italian Neorealism in Practice	FTV30010	12.5
Business Intelligence and Data Visualisation	INF30004	12.5
Information Systems Risk and Security	INF30020	12.5
Business Analytics	INF30030	12.5
Finance Law	LAW30002	12.5
Public & Private International Law ^#	LAW30009	12.5
Competition Law & Policy ^#	LAW30010	12.5
Asian Commercial Law ^#	LAW30014	12.5
Privacy in Law & Society ^#	LAW30018	12.5
Rule of Law in Myanmar-Study Tour ^#	LAW30019	12.5
Indonesia Law, Governance and Culture Study Tour ^#	LAW30020	12.5
Legal Technology and Innovation	LAW30021	12.5
Advanced Criminal Law and Sentencing ^#	LAW30022	12.5
US Intellectual Property Law ^#	LAW30024	12.5
Strategic Planning in Dynamic Environments	MGT30005	12.5
Marketing and Communication Information and Decision Making	MKT30015	12.5
Events Management	PUB30001	12.5

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

Course learning outcomes

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.

Work Integrated Learning

Swinburne's Work Integrated Learning program provides opportunities to gain invaluable skills and confidence in knowing that you have what it takes to land a job in your field by graduation. You can also earn credit towards your degree. Choose from six- or 12-month professional placements, professional internships, industry-linked projects, industry study tours and accreditation placements. Find out more.

Choose a professional placement option:

12 months Six months

Professional Placement in Law

Units	Unit codes	Credit points
Integrated Professional Placement A – Law	LAW20021	25
Integrated Professional Placement B – Law	LAW20022	25
Work Experience in Industry A	WEI20001	25
Work Experience in Industry B	WEI20002	25

Professional Placement in Law

Units	Unit codes	Credit points
Work Experience in Industry A	WEI20001	25
Integrated Professional Placement A – Law	LAW20021	25

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

The Bachelor of Laws satisfies the academic requirements for admission to practice as a lawyer in the Victorian and Australian Federal legal systems as set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board. Please be advised that non-academic requirements must also be satisfied for admission to practice and that no law degree allows graduates to practise straight away.

Fees

- Fees for 2018.

Students who participate in a six- or 12-month professional placement will be subject to an increase in total course fees.

2018 rate*	Estimated total cost of the course	Estimated cost of the course per year if studying full-time*	Amenities fee per year if studying full-time*
Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)	$43,016	$10,754	See how your SSAF is calculated

Fees are estimates only: The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2018 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. Students who participate in a six or 12-month professional placement will be subject to an increase in total course fees.

How do I pay my fees?

HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to eligible students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of the student contribution amount.

Find out more about fees.

How to enter this course

- Entry requirements, credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.

Entry requirements

Expected 2018 ATAR: 90

Year 12 entry
Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

VCE prerequisites: Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in English (or equivalent) or 30 in English (EAL).

Non-Year 12 entry
Completion or partial completion of an approved Degree. Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.

Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit.

Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success.

The university may determine selection criteria and restrictions, in respect of courses, to apply in addition to these entry requirements.

Pathways

Pathways allow students to progress from one qualification to another where the first course is recognised as an entry requirement and/or provides advanced standing to the second.

Learn more about pathways.

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. Learn more about credit.

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. Learn more about RPL.

How to apply

Applications for Semester 1 for courses listed on the VTAC Guide are generally made through VTAC. Under certain circumstances, some students (e.g. Non-Year 12) may apply directly to Swinburne. Find out more about how to apply.

Applications for all other intakes should be made directly to Swinburne.

The full Course Information Set and Whole of Institution Set are available for reference.