Bachelor of Laws

2018 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2018 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year2018 course information
Award granted Bachelor of Laws
Course Map

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2018.

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2018.

If you require a course map from a previous year, please contact a Student Adviser.

Campus
Cloud CampusYes
Duration

4 years full-time or part-time equivalent

CRICOS course code026686F
Deakin course codeM312
Approval statusThis course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.

Final offering of course version Trimester 2 2018

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Deakin's Bachelor of Laws provides the robust training and recognised qualifications you need to start your career as a first-class legal practitioner. All major areas of law are covered, such as contract, torts, property, legal practice and ethics, constitutional law, criminal law and corporate law.

Throughout the degree you will develop legal skills including negotiation, mediation, preparing for court appearances, legal drafting, and statutory interpretation.

Deakin’s Bachelor of Laws satisfies the university component of the requirements to become an Australian Lawyer. You will then complete an additional year of work placement as a legal trainee, or undertake a practical legal training course.

This comprehensive course provides in-depth studies in each of the key areas of legal practice, and emphasises practical legal skills training.  

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Business and Law, you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

Deakin’s Bachelor of Laws is designed to satisfy the university component of the requirements to become an Australian Lawyer set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB).  In addition to completing an approved LLB degree, a person seeking entry is required to work for one year as a legal trainee, or to undertake a practical legal training (PLT) course.

Career opportunities

Obtaining a law degree is normally the first step towards becoming a barrister or solicitor, and most students entering law school aspire to enter one of these branches of the legal profession. A Law degree, especially when combined with a degree in Arts, Commerce or Science, is a qualification which offers unequalled career opportunities. As an alternative to practising as a barrister or solicitor, you may choose to enter business (eg. as a corporate lawyer, company administrator or business manager); government service (as a lawyer with departments or authorities as diverse as the Attorney Generals Department, the office of Parliamentary Counsel, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Australian Securities Commission); industrial relations; public administration; teaching (at a university); or in law reform (as a research officer).

Participation requirements

Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

Mandatory student checks

Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.

Features of the Program

Orientation towards commercial law

 A distinctive feature of the Law Program is its deliberate orientation towards commercial law. The Deakin LLB degree course is one of the few in Australia with a specific and exclusive focus.This has been achieved by including several commercial law-oriented core and elective units in the course.

Legal Internship 

In conjunction with Community Legal Centres and other legal organisations, Deakin Law School offers a clinical skills unit. This involves students working in private law firms, companies employing in-house counsels, public legal centres and statutory bodies under the supervision of a legal practitioner. You will assist the practitioner to take instructions and to advise and represent clients. Clinical training of this nature is designed to teach you skills such as interviewing, counselling, negotiation, communication and advocacy. Deakin’s Legal Internship enables you to gain an appreciation of certain aspects of legal practice and to extend and deepen your theoretical knowledge and critical thinking skills while working in a legal environment.  Quotas apply and enrolment is via application.

Please visit the Legal Internship website, for more information.


Course of study

The Deakin Law Program is designed to satisfy the university component of the requirements to become a barrister and solicitor in Victoria set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board.  Study may be undertaken on either a full-time or part-time basis.


Admission to legal practice

At present, to qualify for admission as a barrister and solicitor in Victoria, university graduates are required to complete legal traineeships (previously known as articles of clerkship) for one year or to complete a legal practice course.  Institutes that offer Practical Legal Training are:

  • The College of Law Victoria: Victorian Professional Program
  • The Leo Cussen Institute [which holds a seven month full-time practical legal training course], plus an alternative on-line course.
  • Australia National University Practical Legal Training Course offered in Melbourne.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities Integrate theoretical knowledge and understanding of a coherent body of knowledge, including:
(a) the fundamental areas of legal knowledge, the Australian legal system, and underlying principles and concepts, including international and comparative contexts,
(b) the broader contexts within which legal issues arise, and
(c) the principles and values of justice and of ethical practice in lawyers’ roles
Communication Justify and communicate well developed communication skills, including:
a) communicate orally, in writing, and by any interpersonal means effectively, appropriately, and persuasively for both legal and non-legal audiences, and
b) collaborate effectively, using technologies where the demonstration of autonomy, well developed judgement and responsibility takes place.
Digital literacy Use technologies to identify, locate, evaluate information for problem solving scenarios as well as communicating legal solutions, including:  
a) identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues, effectively using technologies where appropriate.
b) find, use, and disseminate information using technologies.
c) the use of digital sources to organize and present information in authentic and complex legal situations.
Critical thinking Exercise critical judgement with the ability to problem-solve  in unpredictable and sometimes complex scenarios, including:
(a) identifying and articulating legal issues,
(b) applying legal reasoning and research to generate accurate and relevant responses to legal issues,
(c) engaging in critical analysis and making a choice amongst alternatives using legal reasoning, and
(d) thinking creatively in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate legal responses.
Problem solving Create solutions to a wide range of legal problems, utilizing analytical and critical thinking with the ability to problem-solve, including:
(a) identifying and articulating legal issues,
(b) applying legal reasoning and research to generate accurate and relevant responses to legal issues,
(c) engaging in critical analysis and making a choice amongst alternatives using legal reasoning, and
(d) thinking creatively in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate responses
Self-management Reflect on performance feedback to demonstrate long term development and to facilitate self-improvement, including:
(a) lifelong learning and working independently,
(b) reflecting on and assessing capabilities and performance, and making use of feedback as appropriate, to support personal and professional development.
(c) taking responsibility for personal actions.
Teamwork Collaborate and communicate in teams, including:
(a) communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences; and
(b) collaborate effectively with others from different disciplines and backgrounds
Global citizenship To be aware of and apply legal knowledge in different environments and global contexts, including:
(a) an understanding of approaches to ethical decision-making,
(b) an ability to recognise and reflect upon with a developing ability to respond to ethical issues likely to arise in complex professional contexts,
(c) an ability to recognise and reflect upon the professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice and in service to the community,
(d) an ability to exercise professional judgement,
(e) an ability to recognise and reflect upon cultural and community diversity.
                                                                  

 

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Laws, students must attain a total of 32 credit points.  Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake 2 trimesters each year.

To complete the course you must include:-

  • 16 credit points of core units
  • 16 credit points of elective units

The 16 credit points of elective units must include:-

  • a minimum of 8 credit points of law electives
  • a minimum of 4 credit points of non-law electives (these may be selected from any undergraduate units offered by the University, subject to eligibility)
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. Click here for more information.

Course structure

Core units

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Course structure

Elective units

Select 16 credit points of elective units, including:

  • a minimum of 8 credit points of law electives, and
  • a minimum of 4 credit points of non-law electives (these may be selected from any undergraduate units offered by the University, subject to eligibility)

Law elective units:

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MLL444Unit description is currently unavailable 'NEW from Trimester 3 2018'

#MLT code denotes study tour version of the unit

Note: Law electives are offered on a rotational basis. Not every unit is offered every year.

 

Non-law elective units:

Students select non-law elective units from the Faculty of Business and law and from other faculties within the University.

Work experience

Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.

More information: WIL Programs


Other course information

Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Other learning experiences

Other optional learning experiences that differentiate the course are

MLL301 International Litigation and Dispute Settlement- Jessup Moot
MLT344 Chinese Commercial Law
MLT345 Criminal Justice Study Tour
MLT366 International Alternative Dispute Resolution