Bachelor of Laws

Undergraduate degree

Build a solid foundation of practical legal skills. Gain real-world experience, that employers are seeking, to become an outstanding commercial lawyer.

Burwood

90.1 ATAR lowest selection rank ?

Student access and equity

85 Deakin guaranteed ATAR ?

Check if you are eligible and how to apply

4 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Waterfront

84.1 ATAR lowest selection rank ?

Student access and equity

79 Deakin guaranteed ATAR ?

Check if you are eligible and how to apply

4 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Online

85 ATAR lowest selection rank ?

Student access and equity

79 Deakin guaranteed ATAR ?

Check if you are eligible and how to apply

4 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Course overview

Designed and taught by practising lawyers and academics, Deakin's accredited Bachelor of Laws combines sound legal training with real-world experience. You will develop key skills in communication, problem solving and analytical thinking, and gain sought-after experience through our substantial work-integrated learning opportunities.

Tailor your studies to a field of interest by choosing from a wide range of commercial and public law electives, and work with clients on real cases under the supervision of qualified solicitors at the Deakin Law Clinic, our community legal service that offers free legal advice.

Study at Deakin Law School and join the ranks of high-performing students attending one of Australia's top law schools.* For over 30 years we've attracted some of the best and brightest students in Australia who have gone on to enjoy high employment rates in dynamic roles across law, business, journalism, public administration, private enterprise and politics.

Are you looking for a degree that prepares you for a leading legal or professional career?

Choose Deakin's Bachelor of Laws and develop a solid foundation of practical legal skills, including:  

  • negotiation 
  • problem solving 
  • preparing for court appearances 
  • legal drafting 
  • statutory interpretation. 

You will also learn transferable skills that can launch you on a variety of career paths that could see you entering the business sector, government, law reform, politics or public administration.

The legal profession is undergoing rapid change and lawyers are increasingly required to provide clients with practical, commercial advice. A distinctive feature of our programs is our focus on experiential learning, which helps you develop critical skills and obtain disciplinary knowledge, giving you an edge upon graduation.

At the Deakin Law Clinic, you will have the opportunity to hone the legal skills acquired in your academic training, including the capacity to analyse complex legal problems and other critical skills necessary for pursuing a career in law.

*Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022  

Read More

Key dates

Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 1 2025 close 16 February 2025

Current Deakin Students

To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook

Course information

Award granted
Bachelor of Laws
Year

2025 course information

VTAC code
1400414061 - Waterfront (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
1400514061 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
1400614061 - Online, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
9190110132 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
9190110192 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
9190210192 - Waterfront (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
Deakin code
M312
CRICOS code?
026686F Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Level
Undergraduate
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

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

Course structure

To complete the Bachelor of Laws, students must attain a total of 32 credit points, plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point module, DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin. 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:-

A total of 13 electives are required including:

  • 5 course electives (from the list of law elective units)
  • 4 open electives (non-law electives);
  • the remaining 4 units can be either course electives or open electives.

Core units

  • Legal Research and Statutory Interpretation
  • Resolving Disputes and Legal Communication
  • Criminal Law
  • Misleading Conduct and Economic Torts
  • Contract A
  • Torts
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Contract B
  • Legal Practice and Ethics
  • Constitutional Law
  • Land Law
  • Property
  • Corporate Law
  • Evidence
  • Civil Procedure and Dispute Resolution
  • Equity and Trusts
  • Administrative Law
  • Advanced Legal Problem Solving and Persuasion (Capstone)
  • Note: MLP code denotes Priestley units, which teach the academic areas of knowledge prescribed for admission to legal practice.

    Compulsory 0-credit point module

    To be completed in the first trimester of study:-

  • Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)
  • WIL|Practical course elective units

    Students must complete one of the following experiential/practice units as one of their Law Elective units:

  • Legal Professional Practice
  • Community Legal Internship
  • Deakin Law Clinic
  • Mooting and Advocacy
  • Law elective units

    Not all elective units will be offered every year. Units not offered in 2025 may be offered in 2026 or 2027. From time to time the Law School may develop 
    new units to strengthen the law elective list.

    Elective units offered in 2025

  • Commercial Law
  • Personal Injuries Compensation Schemes
  • International Law
  • Business Tax Law
  • Human Rights Law #
  • Corporate Insolvency Law
  • Sentencing Law and Practice
  • Family Law *
  • Health Law
  • International Commercial Law
  • Legal Professional Practice
  • Workplace Law
  • Community Legal Internship
  • Succession Law
  • Transnational Study Tour ^
  • Taxation
  • Intellectual Property
  • Deakin Law Clinic
  • Mining and Energy Law
  • Mooting and Advocacy
  • * Previously coded MLL210

    # Previously coded MLL417, MLL211

    ^MLT324 does not count as one of the WIL/Practical course elective units (listed above) required for the Bachelor of Laws.

    Elective units not offered in 2025

  • Superannuation Law
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution: Principles and Practice
  • Financial Services Regulation
  • International Arbitration
  • Corporate Governance and Sustainability
  • Animal Law
  • Migration and Refugee Law and Policy
  • Competition Law and Policy
  • Contemporary International Legal Challenges (Intensive)
  • Environmental and Climate Law
  • Data Law, Privacy and Cybercrime
  • Intakes by location

    The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.

    Trimester 1 - March

    • Start date: March
    • Available at:
      • Burwood (Melbourne)
      • Waterfront (Geelong)
      • Online

    Trimester 2 - July

    • Start date: July
    • Available at:
      • Burwood (Melbourne)
      • Online

    Deakin splits the academic year into three terms, known as trimesters. Most students usually undertake two trimesters each year (March-June, July-November).

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can apply directly through the NIKERI Institute.

    Features of the Program

    A range of commercial and public law electives

    A distinctive feature of the Deakin law degree is the large number of commercial law and public law elective units offered in the course. You can choose to add a commercial focus to your degree by selecting from a wide range of electives. Deakin Law School also offers a number of public law electives, drawing upon the significant expertise of staff in the areas of international law, criminal law, constitutional law, human rights law and health law.

    Clinical legal education

    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 legal counsel, public legal centres or statutory bodies under the supervision of legal practitioners. You’ll assist the practitioners to take instructions from, 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 legal practice and extend your critical thinking skills by working in a legal environment. Quotas apply and enrolment is via application.

    Please visit the Legal Internship website, for more information.

    Deakin Law Clinic

    Deakin Law School offers teaching law firms which provide legal placements for students. The clinics operate under the supervision of qualified legal practitioners and offer opportunities for students to develop legal skills in the following areas:

    civil and commercial law
    criminal law
    employment law
    family law
    policy law
    venture law.


    A Deakin Law Clinic can be taken as a law elective in year 3 or year 4 of your law degree.

    Study abroad opportunities

    Our global study itinerary includes the prestigious Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong and Vienna and options to study one or more elective units at an overseas institution

    Admission to legal practice

    At present, to qualify for admission as a barrister and solicitor in Victoria, university graduates are required to complete either a supervised legal traineeship (previously known as articles of clerkship) for one year or an approved practical legal training (PLT) course. Institutes that offer Practical Legal Training in Victoria include:

    • The College of Law Victoria: Victorian Professional Program
    • Leo Cussen Centre for Law
    • Australian College of Applied Professions with the Law Institute of Victoria

    Course of study

    The Deakin law degree 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.

    Course duration

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

    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.

    Workload

    You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. 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.

    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.

    Work experience

    This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more work integrated learning units.

    Explore Business and Law WIL opportunities.

    International Students:

    This course includes Work Integrated Learning (WIL) formally registered as part of the course on the CRICOS register. The total work integrated learning hours will differ depending on the WIL unit you choose. For more information about WIL hours, please check the unit information in the handbook or the unit guide.

    For information about how WIL units may impact student visa holder work rights, please visit Home Affairs.  See 8105 Work limitation.

    Entry requirements

    Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

    A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.

    If you don't meet the academic entry requirements as outlined in the tabs below, or haven't completed Year 12, or don't hold any relevant qualifications, the STAT (Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test) Multiple Choice (MC) may be an option for you to meet course entry requirements.

    Academic requirements

    Current or recent secondary education

    If you're currently studying Year 12, or completed Year 12 in the last two years, you will need to meet all the following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:

    Year 12 prerequisite subjects

    • Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English EAL (English as an Additional Language) or at least 25 in English other than EAL

    ATAR

    • Senior Secondary Certificate of Education with an unadjusted ATAR of at least 50 or equivalent

    Higher education

    If you have undertaken higher education studies after secondary schooling, you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:

    • successful completion of at least four credit points in an equivalent (AQF Level 7) bachelor degree with a minimum WAM of 60 or equivalent

    Vocational education

    This course does not accept VET study for entry, please check for alternative entry requirements or visit the pathways finder for alternate pathways into this course.

    Work and life experience

    This course does not accept work, volunteer and/or life experience for entry. Please check for alternative entry requirements or visit the pathways finder for alternate pathways into this course.

    English language proficiency requirements

    To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

    • Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) English Units 3 and 4: Study score greater than 30 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or greater than 25 in any other English
    • IELTS 7.0 (with no band score less than 6.5) or equivalent
    • other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)

    Selection adjustments

    Subject adjustment

    A study score of 35 in English other than EAL, any History, Legal Studies, Australian Politics or Global Politics equals 3 aggregate points per study. A study score of 30 in English other than EAL, any History, Legal Studies, Australian Politics or Global Politics equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 12 points.

    Access and equity

    Special entry access schemes (SEAS) enable Deakin to consider disadvantaged circumstances you may have experienced and the impact upon your studies. SEAS also allows us to identify if you’re from under-represented groups when making selection decisions for some courses. SEAS does not exempt you from meeting any of the course entry requirements. Learn more about Deakin’s special entry access schemes.

    Admissions information

    Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning. We're also committed to admissions transparency. Read about our first intake of 2024 students (PDF, 793KB) – their average ATARs, whether they had any previous higher education experience and more.

    Not sure if you can get into Deakin? Discover the different entry pathways we offer and study options available to you, no matter your ATAR or education history.

    Recognition of prior learning

    The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.

    RPL will generally be granted for a Priestley 11 unit where a student completed the unit within 5 years of the date on which they will commence their Law degree at Deakin University. Whether RPL is granted for a Priestley unit that a student completed more than 5 years before that date will depend on an assessment of the particular unit, including whether its content remains current and it is substantially equivalent to the relevant unit in the Deakin Law course for which RPL is sought. It is possible that RPL may not be granted where the coverage of Priestley 11 knowledge areas across units of study is structured differently in the Law course at Deakin University compared to the Law course at the university where the student previously studied.

    You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.

    Fees and scholarships

    Fee information

    Estimated tuition fee - (CSP)?
    $16,828 for 1 yr full-time - Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
    Learn more about fees.

    The tuition fees you pay will depend on the units you choose, as each unit has its own cost. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical first-year tuition fees for students enrolled in this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.

    Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together 8 credit points of a typical combination of units for this course. Eight credit points is used as it represents a typical full-time enrolment load for a year. You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.

    Learn more about fees and available payment options on our Current students fees website.

    Scholarship options

    A Deakin scholarship could help you pay for your course fees, living costs and study materials. If you've got something special to offer Deakin - or maybe you just need a bit of extra support - we've got a scholarship opportunity for you. Search or browse through our scholarships

    Apply now

    Apply through VTAC

    Applications for Trimester 1, 2025 are open. We've helped over 300,000 Deakin graduates across Australia and throughout the world apply with confidence. In Year 12? Follow these how to apply steps. Completed secondary education in or prior to 2021? Follow these how to apply steps.

    Apply directly to Deakin

    To apply, create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal details and education experience, upload supporting documents and submit. Need help? Play this video, or contact one of our friendly future student advisers on 1800 693 888 or submit an online enquiry.

    Indigenous students

    Courses at Deakin are flexible and culturally inclusive. Explore the various ways you can apply to study this course - including through the NIKERI Institute and via the Indigenous Access Scheme.

    Pathways

    View pathways into the Bachelor of Laws with our pathways finder.

    Further study options
    M412 Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

    Articulated courses

    Contact information

    Our friendly advisers are available to speak to you one-on-one about your study options, support services and how we can help you further your career.

    Careers

    Want a degree that’s more than just a qualification? Our industry connections, world-class facilities and practical approach to learning are just some of the reasons why Deakin students graduate confident and ready to thrive in the jobs of tomorrow.

    Top 10 for law in Australia**

    Accredited by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board

    Receive practical training at the Deakin Law Clinic

    Taught by researchers who are leaders in their field

    Career outcomes

    Obtaining a law degree is your first step to entering the legal profession. Upon completion of your degree and the additional practical legal training, you will be qualified to work as a solicitor or barrister in all legal fields, including:

    • commercial law
    • criminal law
    • equity and trusts
    • family law
    • personal injury law
    • public international and human rights law
    • refugee law.

    In addition, your degree opens up many other career opportunities. As an alternative to practising as a barrister or solicitor, you may choose to enter:

    • business as a corporate lawyer, consultant, company administrator or business manager
    • education
    • government as a lawyer or policy adviser with departments or authorities as diverse as the Attorney General's Department, the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Office of Public Prosecutions, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
    • industrial relations
    • law reform
    • media
    • politics
    • public administration.

    Professional recognition

    Deakin's Bachelor of Laws is designed to satisfy the academic qualifications necessary for admission to the legal profession. In Victoria these have been set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). In addition to satisfying the academic qualifications, a person seeking admission to the legal profession in Victoria is required to have satisfactorily completed certain practical legal training requirements and must be considered a fit and proper person to be admitted to the legal profession.

    Requirements for admission in jurisdictions outside Australia vary. Please check the relevant jurisdiction’s legal admissions authority to confirm the required academic qualifications criteria, including any restrictions on online study or distance education.

    Course learning outcomes

    Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.

    Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes Course Learning Outcomes
    Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities Demonstrate an understanding of the Australian legal system and the fundamental areas of knowledge required for legal practice as situated within international contexts and the broader contexts within which legal issues arise
    Communication Communicate legal knowledge effectively to legal and non-legal audiences, both verbally and in writing
    Digital literacy Use a range of digitally-based technologies to locate, evaluate and disseminate information
    Critical thinking Exercise critical thinking, judgment and intellectual independence to evaluate, consolidate and synthesise knowledge relevant to legal doctrine and legal practice
    Problem solving Apply legal reasoning and critical analysis to generate and articulate accurate and relevant responses to legal issues
    Self-management Exercise responsibility and accountability for own learning, and possess abilities to reflect on own capabilities, performance and feedback to support personal and professional development
    Teamwork Collaborate effectively in a team environment demonstrating constructive engagement and contribution to the team and the ability to draw on strengths of others
    Global citizenship Reflect on the ethical and professional behaviours and responsibilities of legal professionals and demonstrate an understanding of the impact that different social, ethical, global or environmental perspectives have on exercising legal practice in the community

    **ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2018

    +Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our list of media references.