Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year

2024 course information

Award granted Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Deakin course codeM412
Faculty

Faculty of Business and Law

CampusThis course is only offered Online
Duration

1 year full-time or part-time equivalent

Course Map - enrolment planning tool

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2024.

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2024.

Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8

This course will be available to both new applicants and Deakin students currently enrolled in M312 Bachelor of Laws or combined Law degrees and who meet the entry requirements for M412.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - International students should note that, due to visa regulations, this course can only be undertaken while living outside Australia.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Deakin’s one-year LLB (Honours) program is an opportunity to conduct in-depth research into an area of the law that interests you, under expert supervision from a member of Deakin Law School. Available to high achieving students who have completed a four-year Bachelor of Laws at Deakin or another Australian institution, Deakin’s LLB (Honours) allows you to improve your research skills, hone your analytical abilities and develop the quality of your writing – all skills that are highly valued by employers.

Looking for a pathway to research degrees and enhanced career opportunities?

In Deakin’s LLB (Honours) you will undertake rigorous research on a specific topic, chosen with the assistance of your supervisor and the course director, and write a 10,000-word thesis. Completing an LLB (Honours) can help propel your legal career as you’ll have evidence of your capacity to research and write at a high level. Alternatively, you may choose to apply for further study such as Master’s degree or a PhD. Whatever path you choose, an LLB (Honours) at Deakin will prepare you for an exceptional career.

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.

Career opportunities

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree provides students with demonstrated skills pertaining to legal research, writing and analysis, all of which are highly prized in legal practice, as well as in government, policy, and corporate roles.

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.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

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.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline specific knowledge and capabilities Apply advanced legal research methodologies and legal reasoning to identify and address legal issues with reference to relevant social, political and global contexts and theoretical approaches as appropriate
Communication Employ advanced legal writing skills to effectively communicate legal arguments and the conclusions that follow
Digital literacy Utilise a variety of resources in order to formulate and execute a research strategy and plan
Critical thinking Critically evaluate and synthesise legal and other relevant sources to identify and articulate a legal problem that is suitable for research at an advanced level, and apply high-level legal reasoning to explore such policy, theoretical and legal questions as arise
Problem solving Apply rigorous legal analysis to formulate and articulate well-reasoned and nuanced responses to the legal problem under consideration
Self-management This CLO is not explicitly assessed
Teamwork This CLO is not explicitly assessed
Global citizenship Evaluate and compare different approaches and solutions to legal problems in Australian and international jurisdictions and incorporate consideration of ethical perspectives where appropriate

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Laws (Honours), students must attain a total of 8 credit points, plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point module, DAI001 Academic Integrity Module.

Students are required to complete 8 credit points of study. This will comprise:

  • 4 credit points of core units (two legal research training and application units).
  • 4 credit points of course elective units ^.

^ which may include 4 LLB electives selected from M312 advanced law studies (equivalent Deakin level 3 and 4 coded units, other than WIL units). Students are expected to receive RPL for these LLB electives, based on their Bachelor of Laws studies.

Please note:
Current Deakin M312 Bachelor of Laws (or combined Law courses) students who satisfy the entry requirements for the M412 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) may enrol in this course concurrently with their current Law course.

Course structure

Core Units

Bachelor of Laws (Honours) core units:

MLH401Legal Research Training (2cp)

MLH402Legal Research Project (2cp)

Course electives

4 credit points of course elective units^ can be chosen from:

MLL318Corporate Insolvency Law

MLL319Sentencing Law and Practice

MLL320Family Law

MLL329Financial Services Regulation

MLL330Health Law

MLL332International Arbitration

MLL336International Commercial Law

MLL342Workplace Law

MLL362Succession Law

MLL394Migration and Refugee Law and Policy

MLT324Transnational Study Tour

MLL406Taxation

MLL409Competition Law and Policy

MLL410Intellectual Property

MLL419Contemporary International Legal Challenges (Intensive)

MLL425Environmental and Climate Law

MLL426Mining and Energy Law

MLL444Data Law, Privacy and Cybercrime

^ As noted above, it is expected that students enrolling in this course will receive RPL for law elective subjects that they have already undertaken (and so will not have to undertake these electives when enrolled in Honours). Applications for RPL will be assessed by reference to the list of core electives below. Likewise, any students not granted RPL (or who are not granted RPL for the full four electives) will have to undertake course electives from the above list

Other course information

Course duration

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

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Research and research-related study

Research and research skills are developed through two core 2 credit point units. MLH401 Legal Research Training, MLH402 Legal Research Project. Both units require students to demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in the application of online and print research resources that relate to case law, legislation, and legal literature, and advanced writing skills that integrate critical thinking and synthetic analysis.