Laws,BH-LAWS

Overview

The Bachelor of Laws (Hons) is an additional year of study offered to high-achieving LLB students. It progresses your understanding of the law and prepares you to work in top tier legal firms, government agencies, courts and tribunals.

You’ll advance your skills in research and writing, which are increasingly relevant to the legal profession and other industries. You’ll also build on your existing legal skills, solve complex legal problems and contribute to the body of legal knowledge.

In addition to coursework, you’ll undertake advanced legal research under the guidance of a supervisor, and write a 12,000–15,000-word dissertation on a topic of legal significance and personal interest.

Classes take place in the evening in Perth city, close to the legal professional environment of the courts, tribunals and law firms.

Studying honours can be a pathway towards postgraduate study, such as the Master of Philosophy (Law), or Doctor of Philosophy.

How this course will make you industry ready

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) program significantly enhances students’ already developed legal knowledge and skills so that they can conduct sophisticated legal research to solve complex legal problems and contribute to the body of legal knowledge. Students gain a sophisticated understanding of contemporary legal issues and the theoretical foundations of law through focused study in a seminar setting. Under the guidance of their Honours supervisor, students learn project management techniques and collaboration while also strengthening their capacity for independent learning and critical thinking. In completing and defending a research dissertation, students also further develop and gain confidence in their legal writing and oral presentation skills.

What you'll learn

• apply knowledge of legal research methodology, the Australian legal system, statutory rules and case law principles to understand and evaluate current and emerging research in law; contribute to the body of legal knowledge through research
• critically and creatively analyse complex legal problems to articulate the issues involved and apply legal reasoning to make a considered choice between competing solutions
• identify, access, assess and synthesise relevant information from primary legal sources such as cases and legislation and secondary sources as journal articles and commentaries (including electronic versions of these sources) and gather relevant oral and documentary evidence
• communicate the outcome of legal research and analysis effectively, appropriately and persuasively to colleagues, to clients and to other professionals and the broader community
• use appropriate electronic legal databases for advanced legal research purposes and be able to communicate effectively in electronic forms
• critically reflect on their own performance as legal professionals, making use of feedback as appropriate and demonstrate intellectual curiosity
• articulate the similarities and differences between local and other jurisdictions, including interstate and overseas ones, and be aware of the principles of public and private international law
• demonstrate a highly developed understanding of and be able to articulate distinct concepts of law, justice and human rights, with an awareness of different legal traditions and cultures, particularly indigenous cultures; critically analyse how and where indigenous person and other identifiable social groups are differentially impacted by the legal system
• critique and reconceptualise the roles of leadership, ethical legal practice and professional integrity when working within a team and independently

Entry requirements

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

If your documents are not issued in English, an official translation from a recognised translation service must be provided.

Recognised translation services

• National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) accredited translator in Australia
• The Awarding institution
• A Notary Public Office
• The official Government body
• An official and accredited translator*

*Official translations are subject to review.

If you have undertaken previous study or work that matches the content of some of your Curtin course units, you may be able to obtain credit for recognised learning, which exempts you from studying those units.

You can apply direct online through our Applicant Portal. You can access the Applicant Portal by:

1. Navigating to the relevant course page
2. Click ‘Apply now’
3. When the pop-up window appears, select “Apply directly to Curtin University”.

If you want to package your course with a Curtin English course, you can submit your application with your course application documents to streamline the process.

If your application is successful, you will receive an offer that you will need to accept or reject.

If you accept your offer, you will receive a Confirmation of Enrolment ­– a document from Curtin that details your course, how long you will be studying the course, and the tuition fees. This document can be used for acquiring a student visa.

Apply to the Australian government for your student visa. Gaining a student visa will allow you to participate in full-time study in Australia and work up to 40 hours in a fortnight. If you’re under 18 years of age, you must have approved accommodation and welfare arrangements in place before a visa can be issued.