Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Bachelor of Journalism and Professional Writing

Degree Level Undergraduate

Years

Australian students

Start Date
February
July

Campus
City West

Duration
5 year(s) full-time

Mode
On-campus

Program Code
DHLD

SATAC Code
424831 (Internal)

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry Requirements
Selection Rank (Internal): 90.00 (for 2023)
Selection Rank (Guaranteed): 90.00 (for 2024)
TAFE/RTO (Guaranteed): AdvDIP
View full entry requirements

Prerequisites
None

Assumed Knowledge
None

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:

Recent secondary education
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND
- Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
- Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
- Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.

OR
Higher education study
- Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
- Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above
OR
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
- Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Diploma level or above
OR
Work and life experience
- Qualify for Special Entry, or
- Complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
- Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past
Essential requirements for admission
Prerequisites
None

Assumed Knowledge
None
View full entry requirements Hide full entry requirements

The Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice option is not available to international students studying in Australia on a student visa.

Aim

The Laws Double Degree (Honours) will provide you with a professional level of education to pursue your legal career. Study in a complementary discipline will provide you with the expertise in another field and enhance your career options in a wide range of working environments.

Content & Structure

The total number of units required is 180. This comprises 126 units from the Bachelor of Laws program; and 54 units from the Second Degree. In the fifth year of the degree students have the option to undertake the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (18 units) or one semester of Honours Research studies as part of their program structure.

What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
FIRST YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 and 3)
Law, Governance and Citizenship	LAWS 1030	4.5
Lawyering and Leadership	LAWS 1031	4.5
Torts	LAWS 1032	4.5
Common Law in Context	LAWS 1027	4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 and 6)
Legal Policy, Lawmaking and Justice	LAWS 1020	4.5
Community Justice Project	LAWS 1028	4.5
Contracts	LAWS 1029	4.5
Intercultural Communication, Interviewing and Negotiation	LAWS 1025	4.5
SECOND YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 and 3)
Criminal Law and Procedure	LAWS 2030	4.5
Constitutional Law	LAWS 2008	4.5
Journalism: Principles and Practices	COMM 1062	4.5
News Reporting	COMM 1064	4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 and 6)
Administrative Law	LAWS 3006	4.5
International Law and Environmental Justice	LAWS 2040	4.5
Production for News and Social Media	COMM 1063	4.5
Media Contexts	COMM 1059	4.5
THIRD YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 and 3)
Writing and Editing for Publication	COMM 2009	4.5
Radio Journalism and Podcasts	COMM 2077	4.5
Property Law	LAWS 2038	4.5
Law Elective		4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 and 6)
Legal Analytics and Research	LAWS 2041	4.5
Media Law and Ethics	COMM 2076	4.5
Professional Writing	COMM 3037	4.5
Internship or Project	COMM 3063	4.5
FOURTH YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 and 3)
Television and Video Journalism	COMM 3060	4.5
Journalism Research Capstone	COMM 3059	4.5
Feature Writing	COMM 3021	4.5
Lawyers, Ethics and Society	LAWS 4006	4.5	Note(s): 2
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 and 6)
Evidence	LAWS 4003	4.5	Note(s): 2
Equity and Trusts	LAWS 3084	4.5	Note(s): 2
Law Elective		4.5	Note(s): 2
Law Elective		4.5	Note(s): 2
FIFTH YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 and 3)
Civil Dispute Resolution	LAWS 3087	4.5
Corporate Law	LAWS 4022	4.5	Note(s): 2
Capstone Law Elective		9	Note(s): 2
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 and 6)
Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice		18		Rule(s): 5,6
OR
Research Methodologies and Methods	SOCU 4006	9		Rule(s): 4
Honours Thesis 1	LANG 4010	9		Rule(s): 4

Electives

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units
Law Electives
Contract Administration	BUIL 3010	4.5
Taxation Law 1	ACCT 3002	4.5
Principles of Intellectual Property Law	LAWS 3071	4.5
Family Law	LAWS 2021	4.5
Insolvency Law	LAWS 3072	4.5
World Trade Law	LAWS 3073	4.5
Special Topic in Law	LAWS 2023	4.5
The Law of Succession	LAWS 3074	4.5
Human Rights Law	LAWS 3076	4.5
Special Topic in Law 2	LAWS 2024	4.5
Criminology and Public Policy	LAWS 2028	4.5
Health Law and Ethics	LAWS 3079	4.5
Sports Law	LAWS 2029	4.5
Advanced Criminal Law	LAWS 3082	4.5
Advocacy	LAWS 3085	4.5
Law, Land and Peoples	LAWS 3086	4.5
Advanced Contract Administration	BUIL 3020	4.5
UO Cybercrime and Digital Evidence	JUST 3006	4.5
Ageing and the Law: Elder Law and Policy	LAWS 2039	4.5
The Law of War	LAWS 2042	4.5
Migration Law	LAWS 3088	4.5
Australian Consumer Law	LAWS 1026	4.5
Capstone Law Electives
Legal Advice Clinic	LAWS 4018	9
Law Professional Placement	LAWS 4021	9
Research Project A	LAWS 4019	4.5
Research Project B	LAWS 4020	4.5

Rules & notes

Rules

1. The Laws Double Degree (Honours) comprises 180 units and includes: 126 units from the Bachelor of Laws program; and 54 units from the Bachelor of Journalism and Professional Writing Degree.

2. In addition to completion of the core courses, students must complete 9 units of Capstone Law Elective courses. Refer to the Capstone Law Electives list below.

3. All students in UniSA Justice and Society who, as part of a course, undertake activities where interaction with clients/the public/an external organisation are required, such as industry placements or clinical placement, must demonstrate that they have a current National Police Clearance, which is valid for the duration of the course. External placement providers may also require a current DHS - Working with Children Check (WWCC), which is valid for the duration of the course. The National Police Check will list disclosable court outcomes that may prevent clinical placement/industry placement involvement, requiring withdrawal from the course.

4. Students must complete these courses or the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. Students wishing to complete alternative advanced level studies should seek advice from the Program Director.

5. Students may complete the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice with the College of Law or an alternative approved provider and apply for 18 units of credit towards their Bachelor or Laws (Honours) program.

6. The Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice option is not available to international students studying in Australia on a student visa.

Notes

1. Students must complete the requirements of each degree as specified in the relevant program schedule to receive both degree parchments.

2. This course contributes to the Law Honours grade for the program.

3. The Justice & Society Study Tour course can be chosen in place of an elective course as part of this program. Additional fees apply for the study tour component of this course, and enrolment is conditional upon successful application in a competitive Expression of Interest process as well as successful completion of 36 units.

Professional accreditation and recognition

This program covers in a comprehensive way the academic requirements for admission to practice as specified by the national Law Admissions Consultative Committee and applied in South Australia by the Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council. In addition to the academic requirements of the program, students seeking admission to practice are required to complete an approved practical legal training (PLT) program. Students seeking admission to practice in other Australian jurisdictions should apply to the appropriate admitting authority.