Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts
Course code/s: LWLATB Bendigo
Note – subject to university approval, some changes to this program are pending, particularly in relation to the major requirements for arts.
Course Description
The Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts is a five year combined degree providing an accredited professional qualification in law as well as a degree in arts. 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. Students undertake their first two years of study at the Bendigo campus and then normally transfer to the equivalent combined degree program at the Melbourne campus (LWLAT), 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. Students initially select a major in arts from the disciplines offered by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Bendigo. As there may be some arts disciplines on offer at Bendigo that are not available within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Melbourne, students must normally choose an arts major at first year that can be continued at Melbourne. In addition, students cannot normally undertake any subjects offered by Schools or Faculties other than the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Bendigo. For further information on the list of offerings within these disciplines, students are referred to the Bendigo campus chapter for the Bachelor of Arts in this Handbook, but note that the specific degree requirements for this combined degree are more restrictive.
At the Melbourne campus, students complete the remainder of the Council of Legal Education core law subjects and undertake law electives as well as completing their arts major. For further information about core law subjects and electives, please refer to the Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) (LVLGE) at Bendigo in 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 Structure
Students complete eight core law subjects and eight arts subjects over their two years at Bendigo. Then they complete the remainder of their program at Melbourne. Students will receive full advanced standing for these subjects at Melbourne as long as their subject choice is approved beforehand. The degree structure is identical to that of the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts (undergraduate entry) (LWLAT) offered at the Melbourne campus, except that the arts subjects offered at Bendigo, which can then be taken as majors at Melbourne, are more restricted. Disciplines available as majors at Bendigo are set out below. It is possible to commence a major at Melbourne provided advice is sought at first year.
Prior to transfer, students can also enrol in law electives at the Melbourne Campus in summer and winter school and may be able to complete one law clinic placement subject at Bendigo.
Degree Requirements
Students must:
- complete a total of at least five years of full-time study or its equivalent
- complete in sequence the compulsory law subjects
- complete a total of 600 credit points (360 credit points in law and a minimum of 240 credit points in arts)
- satisfy the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts including one Arts major consisting of 135 credit points (30 credit points at first year level (including a first-year core subject within their chosen discipline area), 45 credit points at second-year level (including a second-year core subject within their chosen discipline area) and 60 credit points at third-year level (including a third-year core subject within their chosen discipline area))
- complete 90 credit points at third-year level overall
- complete no more than 180 credit points in any one arts discipline overall (maximum of 3 subjects at 1st year, 4 subjects at 2nd year and 5 subjects at 3rd year)
Course Structure
First year
| Teaching period | Subject title | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Dispute Resolution | LAW1DR |
| TE-SEM-1 | Legal Institutions and Methods | LAW1LIM |
| TE-SEM-1 | First-year Elective (Major) from FHSS | |
| TE-SEM-1 | First-year Elective from FHSS | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Principles of Criminal Law | LAW1CRL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Principles of Public Law | LAW1PPL |
| TE-SEM-2 | First-year Elective (Major) from FHSS | |
| TE-SEM-2 | First-year Elective from FHSS |
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 | First-year Elective from FHSS | |
| TE-SEM-1 | Second-year Elective (Major) from FHSS | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Contract Law B | LAW2CTB |
| TE-SEM-2 | Principles of Constitutional Law | LAW2CSL |
| TE-SEM-2 | First-year Elective from FHSS | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Second-year Elective (Major) from FHSS |
Third to fifth year
See years 3-5 of the degree structure for the entry for the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts degree (LWLAT) at Melbourne in this Handbook.
Compulsory and Elective Law Subjects
For lists of compulsory and elective law subjects, refer to lists under Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) (LVLGE) at Bendigo in 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
Students may be permitted to undertake Honours in the law program in the final year of their law studies. Normally a grade of B+ average over two full-time years of law study is required. Honours comprises a research component and a compulsory research seminar. Students must complete a 10,000-word thesis (which takes the place of two law electives) on a topic to be approved by the Honours Research and Graduate Studies Committee. The compulsory research seminar is conducted throughout the year. Students must attend ten sessions and are required to present a paper on their individual research project.
Students invited to enrol in Honours in arts must complete a further full-time year of study. For further information, please see the Bachelor of Arts entry in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences section of this Handbook.
Professional Recognition
The law degree includes those subjects approved by the Victorian Council of Legal Education that must be successfully completed as a prerequisite for entry into legal practice. See Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) (LVLGEB) at Bendigo for specific subjects and further information.