Curtins Bachelor of Laws provides the first qualification you need to practise as a lawyer in Australia. By combining this with anInternational RelationsorJournalismmajor as part of our Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts double degree, you could set yourself up for a career in human rights, international law or media law, or as a journalist who covers legal outcomes and procedures.
Our law degree offers a rich and professionally relevant foundation in legal knowledge. Youll learn core skills essential to effective legal practice and build a strong commercial awareness. From early on in your studies, youll start to recognise the importance of respecting the rule of law along with the responsibilities and ethics of legal practice.
Youll also have the opportunity to choose from optional law elective units focusing on topics such as forensic advocacy, family law, human rights law, native title law and policy or European Union law. With a wide range of optional units to choose from, you can tailor your Bachelor of Laws to suit your interests.
Studying a Bachelor of Arts as your second degree will broaden your knowledge and skills. If you choose international relations, youll increase your understanding of international diplomacy, politics and organisations. If you choose journalism, youll learn how to report on topics across radio, video and online platforms.
The first three years of this course are delivered in semesters at Curtin Perth, while the fourth year, plus one trimester, is delivered at Curtin Law School in Perth city. If you choose to study full time, you can graduate with two degrees in just four-and-a-half years.
While studying in Perth city, you can gain practical experience by undertaking simulated proceedings in our high-tech moot court and working on real cases at the John Curtin Law Clinic. Youll greatly benefit from the relationships you form with academics, practising solicitors and barristers based at Curtin Law School, as well as the proximity of the Supreme Court, the District Court and the Federal Court.
Please refer to the handbook for additional course overview information.
Why study
- Youll gain first-hand insight and knowledge of the legal profession from high-quality teaching staff.
- Youll establish a comprehensive theoretical grounding and develop a range of skills in either international relations or journalism.
- You can undertake a legal internship in which you can gain experience working under the supervision of an employer in a professional legal environment. The internship unit puts your law studies into context and provides opportunities to develop and apply your legal practice skills, critically analyse and reflect on the law in practice, and gain an appreciation of legal ethics.
- Later in your degree, you may enrol in the Law Clinic unit to put your legal skills into practice through professional activities. Under the supervision of experienced legal practitioners, you will meet and prepare advice for eligible clients.
- You can participate in simulated court proceedings at our moot court facility. This will hone your skills in public speaking and debating, and enhance your understanding of how a real court environment operates.
- You could study at Ghent University in Belgium as part of our Ghent summer law program.
- You can choose optional units that focus on high-demand areas for law graduates.
- You may also undertake work integrated learning, networking, internship and community engagement opportunities, as part of your international relations or journalism major.
How this course will make you industry ready
Curtin designs courses with careers in mind. Youll get to work closely with business and industry during your degree. You can really get involved in your chosen field through classes, mentoring programs, voluntary work and industry placements. Youll graduate with the knowledge and skills that are relevant to industry needs and be ready to make a difference from day one.
Student profile
View our student profile table to get an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students at Curtin University. This table provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and passed the census date in the most relevant recent intake period for which data are available. It includes those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.