Key facts
IELTS overall score of 7 (with no band score less than 6.5) or equivalent
4 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course information
Designed and taught by practising lawyers and academics, Deakin’s accredited Bachelor of Laws integrates sound legal training with real-world experience, developing key skills in problem-solving, analytical thinking and ethical reasoning.
The course attracts some of the best and brightest students in Australia and our graduates enjoy high employment rates in dynamic roles across law, business, journalism, public administration, private enterprise and politics.
A distinctive feature of our law degree is experiential learning. The legal profession is highly commercialised and lawyers are increasingly required to provide clients with practical, commercial and governance advice, in addition to legal expertise. As credit towards your degree, you’ll undertake work-integrated learning placements. You may be placed at law firms, legal aid providers and government offices that deliver the legal skills and experience that employers are looking for in a competitive job market.
Are you looking for a degree that prepares you for a leading legal or professional career?
Throughout your degree, you’ll develop practical legal skills, including:
- negotiation
- mediation
- preparing for court appearances
- legal drafting
- statutory interpretation.
You’ll also develop transferable skills that will launch you on a variety of career paths. That could mean entering the business sector in almost any industry or government service in areas such as law reform, politics or public administration.
Law at Deakin offers you the opportunity to jump aboard our international programs and placements and take your study overseas for a few weeks, a trimester, or even a year. Our global study itinerary includes the Chinese Commercial Law Study Tour, the Alternative Dispute Resolution Tour to the United States, the prestigious Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong and Vienna, and options to study one or more elective units (such as international human rights law) at an overseas institution.
Read MoreCourse 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, MAI010 Academic Integrity Module. 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:-
- 18 credit points of core units
- completion of MAI010 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory module)
- 14 credit points of elective units (no more than 5 elective units at Level 1)
The 14 credit points of elective units must include:-
- a minimum of 6 credit points of law electives, including 1 credit point of WIL/practical/ experiential unit from a list.
- 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) (i.e. a maximum of ten credit points of Law Electives can be chosen)
- and 4 credit points of electives that may be Law
Core units
Commercial Law electives
Note: It is not compulsory to choose electives from only one list; students may choose electives from across the Commercial Law and Public Law elective list)
Commercial Law elective units:
^MLT code denotes study tour version of the unit
* Previously coded MLL210
Note:
- Not all units will be offered every year.
- The Law School might from time to time develop new units to strengthen these lists, and develop other lists.
Public Law electives
Note: It is not compulsory to choose electives from only one list; students may choose electives from across the Commercial Law and Public Law elective list)
Public Law electives:
^ MLT code denotes the study tour version of the unit
* Previously coded MLL210
# Previously coded MLL417
Note:
- Not all units will be offered every year.
- The Law School might from time to time develop new units to strengthen these lists, and develop other lists.
WIL| Practical Elective units
Students must complete one of the following experiential/practice units as one of their Law Elective units:
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:-
Key information
2021 course information
1400414063 - Waterfront (Geelong), International full-fee paying place
1400514063 - Burwood (Melbourne), International full-fee paying place
Campuses by intake
Campus availability varies per trimester. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Read more to learn where this course will be offered throughout the year.
Trimester 1 - March
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Waterfront (Geelong)
- Cloud Campus
Trimester 2 - July
- Start date: July
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Cloud Campus
Deakin splits the academic year into three terms, known as trimesters. Most students usually undertake two trimesters each year (March-June, July-November).
Additional course information
A range of commercial and public law electives
A distinctive feature of the Deakin Law degree is the large number of commercial law elective units offered in the course. You can choose to add a commercial focus to your degree by selecting elective units from the wide range of commercial electives available. However, the School also offers a number of public law electives, drawing upon the significant expertise of staff in the areas of private and public international law, criminal law, constitutional and 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 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.
Deakin Law Clinic
Deakin Law School offers five 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 build legal skills in the following areas:
Civil and commercial law
Criminal law
Employment law
Venture law
Family 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
Deakin Law School offers a number of study abroad opportunities such as the Chinese Commercial Law study tour. Each year a team of students represents the School in the prestigious Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot in Hong Kong and Vienna.
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.
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.
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work 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
A full-time law degree has approximately the same workload as a full-time job. Full time students should expect to commit around 40 hours per week to their studies, including attendance at class, extensive reading, writing, and critical analysis for completion of all assessments and preparation for exams. Part-time students should expect a pro-rata commitment depending on how many units they undertake.
The minimum expected workload for a Law unit will normally be around 150 hours, which includes attendance at class, reading, completion of any assessment, and preparation for the exam.
Participation requirements
Work experience
This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more elective work integrated learning units.
More information: WIL Programs
Entry requirements
Current or recent Year 12
If you are currently studying Year 12 in 2020 or completed Year 12 in 2018 or 2019 and have not attempted higher education or VET study since, your selection is based on the following.
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
This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection consideration
Selection is competitive and meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee selection. Our Admission Criteria and Selection Policy outlines the principles of selection.
Higher education experience
If you have undertaken at least one unit of higher education after secondary schooling, your selection is based on the following.
Education
This course uses your entire academic record as part of its selection considerations.
Senior secondary 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 or equivalent.
All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Please read about other ways of satisfying the English language proficiency requirement.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
If you have not completed Year 12 (or equivalent), you are required to sit the STAT Multiple Choice to be considered for this course. Learn more about the STAT Multiple Choice test.
Selection is competitive and meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee selection. Our Admission Criteria and Selection Policy outlines the principles of selection.
VET education experience
If you have undertaken at least one unit of Vocational Education and Training (VET) study after secondary school, your selection is based on the following.
Education
This course uses your secondary education and subsequent academic records as part of its selection considerations.
Senior secondary 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 or equivalent.
All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Please read about other ways of satisfying the English language proficiency requirement.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
If you have not completed Year 12 (or equivalent), you are required to sit the STAT Multiple Choice to be considered for this course. Learn more about the STAT Multiple Choice test.
Selection is competitive and meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee selection. Our Admission Criteria and Selection Policy outlines the principles of selection.
Work and life experience
If you finished Year 12 more than three years ago or did not finish Year 12, your selection is based on the following.
Education
This course uses your entire academic record as part of its selection considerations.
Senior secondary prerequisite subjects
Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English EAL (English as an additional language) or at least 20 in English other than EAL or equivalent.
All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Please read about other ways of satisfying the English language proficiency requirement.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
If you have not completed Year 12 (or equivalent), you are required to sit the STAT Multiple Choice to be considered for this course. Learn more about the STAT Multiple Choice test.
Selection is competitive and meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee selection. Our Admission Criteria and Selection Policy outlines the principles of selection.
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 this course and others that Deakin offers by visiting VTAC for more information. You can also discover how Deakin compares to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning by visiting the ComparED website.
Special entry access schemes (SEAS) enables Deakin to consider disadvantageous circumstances you may have experienced and their 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.
You can also find out about different entry pathways into Deakin courses if you can't get in straight from high school.
Finally, Deakin is committed to admissions transparency. As part of that commitment, you can learn more about our first intake of 2020 students (PDF, 581.6KB) - their average ATARs, whether they had any previous higher education experience and more.
Cloud studies
Deakin offers many courses which can be studied by distance education overseas.
However, international students living in Australia on a student visa, in each compulsory trimester (that is, Trimesters 1 and 2), must enrol in at least one unit that is offered as a Campus located unit and can, in addition enrol in units offered via Cloud (online). International students may undertake a maximum of up to one third (or equivalent) of their study as Cloud (online) study. Please note enrolment in one face to face unit in compulsory study periods is only allowed if the student is completing their final unit of study and will not exceed maximum one third (or equivalent) online requirement.
Recognition of prior learning
If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for Recognition of Prior Learning. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your Recognition of Prior Learning.
Your Recognition of Prior Learning is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.
You can also refer to the Recognition of Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees and your options for paying.
The tuition fees you pay are calculated depending on the course you choose.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing the first year of this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of 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 eight credit points of a typical combination of units for that 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 international student fees.
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
How to apply
Applications for study for Trimester 1 must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre (VTAC). For more information refer to VTAC
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service. For information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply web page. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.
Fill out the application form and submit to a Deakin International office or take your application form to a Deakin representative for assistance
For information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage.
If you’re still having problems, please contact Deakin International for assistance.
Entry pathways
Why choose Deakin
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’ll be qualified to work as a solicitor or barrister in all legal fields, including:
- commercial law
- criminal law
- family law
- public international and human rights law
- refugee law
- personal injury law
In addition, your degree opens numerous 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
- 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 Director of Public Prosecutions, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- industrial relations
- public administration
- education
- media
- politics
- law reform
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.
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.
| 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 | To be aware of and apply legal knowledge in different 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 |