Bachelor of Laws | International Student Courses | Swinburne University

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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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Every international student application is considered for a scholarship
Whether you’re living in Australia or overseas, you’re automatically considered for a scholarship of up to 75% off your course fees. Please check our updated entry requirements.

Start dates

Hawthorn campus

Semester 1 - 2 March 2020
Semester 2 - 3 August 2020

View application and start dates

Duration

4 Year/s

Full-time

VTAC codes

3400210391 (CSP)
3400210393 (IFP)

Faculty

Faculty of Business and Law

CRICOS code

085629D

Fees

A$34000 (annual for 2020)*

The indicative course fees shown in Course Search 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.

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.

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

Studied Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business, current Law Clerk at the Coroners Court of Victoria

Course details

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

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 - # Priestley unit	LAW10011	12.5
Commercial Law	LAW10013	12.5
Torts 1 - # Priestley unit	LAW10014	12.5
Criminal Law & Procedure - # Priestley unit	LAW10015	12.5
Legal Writing	LAW10026	12.5
Torts 2 - # Priestley unit	LAW10025	12.5
Evidence - # Priestley unit	LAW20009	12.5
Administrative Law - # Priestley unit	LAW20010	12.5
Trade Marks & Related Rights *	LAW20011	12.5
Federal & State Constitutional Law - # Priestley unit	LAW20012	12.5
Property Law - # Priestley unit	LAW20013	12.5
Land Law - # Priestley unit	LAW20014	12.5
Copyright *	LAW20043	12.5
Patents & Designs *	LAW30011	12.5
Equity & Trusts * - # Priestley unit	LAW30012	12.5
Company Law * - # Priestley unit	LAW30013	12.5
Legal Practice & Professional Conduct * - # Priestley unit	LAW30015	12.5
Civil Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution - # Priestley unit	LAW30029	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 3	LAW30016	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
Law and Social Science	LAW10022	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 Commercial Law ^#	LAW20007	12.5
Law and the Media ^#	LAW20024	12.5
Crime and Punishment in the International Context	LAW20031	12.5
Technological Advances in Dealing with Crime	LAW20032	12.5
Public and Private International Law ^#	LAW20035	12.5
Competition Law and Policy ^#	LAW20036	12.5
Asian Commercial Law ^#	LAW20037	12.5
Privacy in Law and Society ^#	LAW20038	12.5
Indonesia Law, Governance and Culture Study Tour ^#	LAW20039	12.5
Legal Technology and Innovation ^#	LAW20040	12.5
Advanced Criminal Law and Sentencing ^#	LAW20041	12.5
US Intellectual Property Law ^#	LAW20042	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
Law of Employment	LAW30005	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 description

# Priestley unit: This is a (Priestley 11) unit (VLAB required area of study) - completion is required for eligibility for admission to practice as a legal practitioner in Australia

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

Note: Some Work Integrated Learning opportunities are not available to international students due to visa restrictions.

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.

How to enter this course

- Entry requirements and English language requirements.

Entry requirements

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) can now be done on campus in Hawthorn at Room 132, Building TD. Book now or call +61 3 9214 3584 for more information.

Assess your eligibility for entry to Swinburne.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 70%, all skills 65%
minimum IELTS overall band of 6.5 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
TOEFL iBT (internet-based) minimum score of 79 with a reading band no less than 18 and writing band no less than 20
Pearson (PTE) minimum score of 58 (no communicative skills less than 50)
any other equivalent assessment of English language proficiency.

Find out more about English language 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.

How to apply

Find out more about how to apply.

View the Course Admission Information, which includes the ATAR and Student profiles for this course. Swinburne’s general admissions information is also available here.