Bachelor of Laws (Undergraduate Entry)
Course code/s: LVLUEB Bendigo
Course Description
This four-year law course provides an accredited professional qualification in law, but also requires students to complete subjects in another non-law discipline of choice such as science, media studies or marketing, without having to complete a separate degree in that discipline. Students undertake their first two years of study at Bendigo campus and then normally transfer into the equivalent degree program at Melbourne campus, where they complete the remainder of their course. However, students who wish to remain in Bendigo are offered the ability to complete their later year core subjects and some electives through e-learning and/or intensive courses. The program offers an innovative, high quality legal education with a strong global and social justice perspective and a real emphasis on hands-on experiences. It includes all the compulsory law subjects required by the Council of Legal Education for admission to practice in Victoria and a wide range of law electives, many with a practical skills component, such as clinical legal education, communication and advocacy skills, and negotiation. The program is designed for school leavers and tertiary students who have not yet completed an undergraduate degree. Students may apply to transfer into a five-year combined degree at the end of their first year, should they wish to complete a second degree such as a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science. For further information about core subjects and electives, please refer to the entry for the Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) (LVLGEB) in the Bendigo chapter of this handbook.
Admission requirements
Admission requirements are VCE units 3 and 4, and a study score of at least 35 in English (ESL) or 30 in any other English.
Degree requirements
Students admitted to the undergraduate degree of Bachelor of Laws must:
- complete a total of four years of full-time study or its equivalent
- complete in sequence the compulsory law subjects
- complete a minimum of 480 credit points (360 credit points in law and a minimum of 120 credit points in other non-law disciplines)
- complete a total of 24 subjects in law (18 compulsory subjects and 6 electives)
Course structure
Students will complete eight core law subjects and seven or eight non law subjects at Bendigo. Then they complete the remainder of their program at Melbourne (years 3-4). Prior to transfer, students can also enrol in law electives at the Melbourne Campus in summer and winter school and subject to application, may be able to complete one law clinic placement subject at Bendigo Rural and Regional Issues in Justice (LAW2RRJ).
First year
|
Teaching period |
Subject title | Subject title |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Dispute Resolution | LAW1DR |
| TE-SEM-1 | Legal Institutions and Methods | LAW1LIM |
| TE-SEM-1 | Two non-law electives1, 2 | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Principles of Criminal Law | LAW1CRL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Principles of Public Law | LAW1PPL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Two non-law electives1, 2 |
Second year
|
Teaching period |
Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Contract Law A | LAW2CTA |
| TE-SEM-1 | Principles of Tort Law | LAW2TOT |
| TE-SEM-1 | Two non-law elective1, 2 | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Contract Law B | LAW2CTB |
| TE-SEM-2 | Constitutional Law | LAW2CSL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Two non-law elective1, 2 |
Third year
|
Teaching period |
Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Evidence and Criminal Procedure | LAW2ECP |
| TE-SEM-1 | Foundations of Property Law | LAW2FPL |
| TE-SEM-1 | Statutory Interpretation | LAW2STA |
| TE-SEM-1 | Law Elective | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Civil Procedure | LAW2CIV |
| TE-SEM-2 | Real Property Law | LAW2RPT |
| TE-SEM-2 | Two law electives |
Fourth year
|
Teaching period |
Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Company Law | LAW3CMP |
| TE-SEM-1 | Principles of Equity and Trusts | LAW3ETR |
| TE-SEM-1 | Two 3rd year law elective | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Principles of Administrative Law | LAW3ADN |
| TE-SEM-2 | Remedies | LAW3REM |
| TE-SEM-2 | Legal Practice and Conduct | LAW3LPC |
| TE-SEM-2 | 3rd year law elective |
Key: 1 Students may take non-law subjects from any other area offered by the university, subject to the approval of the School of Law and the other area concerned. Where possible, students are encouraged to take a sequence in one discipline.
2 Students who have transferred into the Bachelor of Laws after at least a year of prior tertiary study at an accredited institution should apply for advanced standing for these non-law electives at the start of teaching period 1.
Compulsory and Elective Law Subjects
For lists of compulsory and elective law subjects, refer to lists under Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) (LVLGE) in the Melbourne Chapter of this handbook. Note that Bendigo students can, if they wish, apply to undertake a placement at the Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre or another legal organisation for academic credit by enrolling into an elective subject called Rural and Regional Issues in Justice (LAW2RRJ).
Honours
High achieving students may apply to undertake Honours in the law program in the final year of their law studies. Normally students require an average grade of B+ in their law subjects prior to their final year. Honours comprises a research component and a series of compulsory research seminars. Students must complete a 10 000-word thesis (which takes the place of two law electives) on a topic to be approved by the Convenor of the Honours Program. Ten compulsory research seminars are conducted across the year and students are required to present a paper on their individual research project.
Those students undertaking a double degree will also need to refer to the other School’s entry in the Handbook for information on Honours.
Professional recognition
All La Trobe University Law courses include the subjects required by the Victorian Council of Legal Education to qualify for admission to legal practice. Admission to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria usually requires the completion of a traineeship (formerly referred to as articles of clerkship) or an approved practical legal training course (for example, the Leo Cussen Institute or the College of Law Victoria).
Those students undertaking a double degree will also need to refer to the other School’s entry in the Handbook for information on accreditation.