Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Accounting
Course code/s: LWLAC Melbourne
Note – subject to university approval, some changes to this program are pending, particularly to first year accounting subjects
Course Description
The Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Accounting is a five-year combined degree providing accredited professional qualifications in both law and accounting. 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 electives, many with a practical skills component, such as clinical legal education, communication and advocacy skills, and negotiation. It also includes compulsory specialised subjects relevant to business such as Banking and Finance Law and Competition Policy and Law. For further information about core subjects and electives, please refer to the entry for the Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) elsewhere in this handbook. The accounting component provides the skills and knowledge that are directly concerned with the accounting practice and management of large and small enterprises in the government and private sectors. Electives are available in a range of areas including financial management, financial planning, and management.
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 combined degree of Bachelor of Laws/ Bachelor of Accounting must:
- complete a total of at least five years full-time study or its equivalent
- complete in sequence the compulsory accounting subjects
- complete in sequence the compulsory law subjects
- complete a total of 600 credit points
- complete a total of 24 subjects in law (19 compulsory and 5 electives)
- complete a total of 16 subjects in Accounting, Economics, and Business.
Course structure
First year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Academic Integrity Module (online) | MGT1AIM |
| TE-SEM-1* | Business Foundations | BUS1BUF |
| TE-SEM-1* | Accounting and Finance for Business | BUS1AFB |
| TE-SEM-1 | Dispute Resolution | LAW1DR |
| TE-SEM-1 | Legal Institutions and Methods | LAW1LIM |
| TE-SEM-2* | Business Economics | BUS1BUE |
| TE-SEM-2* | Business Analytics | BUS1BUA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Principles of Criminal Law | LAW1CRL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Principles of Public Law | LAW1PPL |
* This is the preferred order in which these subjects should be taken.
Note: MGT1AIM is a not-for-credit subject which students are required to complete at the commencement of their first semester. The subject is designed to enhance the students' knowledge and awareness of issues concerning academic integrity.
Second year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Accounting for Management Decisions | ACC1AMD |
| TE-SEM-1 | Either an FBEL or LTU free elective | |
| TE-SEM-1 | Contract Law A | LAW2CTA |
| TE-SEM-1 | Principles of Tort Law | LAW2TOT |
| TE-SEM-2 | Accounting and Information Systems | ACC1AIS |
| TE-SEM-2 | Fundamentals of Finance | FIN1FOF |
| TE-SEM-2 | Contract Law B | LAW2CTB |
| TE-SEM-2 | Constitutional Law | LAW2CSL |
Third year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Cost Accounting and Decisions Making | ACC2CAD |
| TE-SEM-1 | Corporate Reporting | ACC2CRE |
| TE-SEM-1 | Statutory Interpretation | LAW2STA |
| TE-SEM-1 | Foundations of Property Law | LAW2FPL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Management Accounting and Control | ACC3MAC |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Financial Accounting | ACC3AFA |
| TE-SEM-2 | Civil Procedure | LAW2CIV |
| TE-SEM-2 | Real Property Law | LAW2RPT |
Fourth year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | ACC coded level 3 elective* | |
| TE-SEM-1 | FBEL level 3 elective | |
| TE-SEM-1 | Evidence and Criminal Procedure | LAW2ECP |
| TE-SEM-1 | SoL level 2 or 3 elective | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Auditing | ACC3AUD |
| TE-SEM-2 | ACC coded level 3 elective * | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Principles of Administrative Law | LAW3ADN |
| TE-SEM-2 | Banking and Finance Law | LAW3BFL |
| TE-SEM-2 | One 3rd year Law elective |
* Taxation (ACC3TAX) is recommended for students seeking CPA and/or CA accreditation.
Fifth year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Company Law | LAW3CMP |
| TE-SEM-1 | Principles of Equity and Trusts | LAW3ETR |
| TE-SEM-1 | SoL level 2 or 3 elective | |
| TE-SEM-1 | SoL level 2 or 3 elective | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Legal Practice and Conduct | LAW3PLC |
| TE-SEM-2 | Remedies | LAW3REM |
| TE-SEM-2 | SoL level 3 elective | |
| TE-SEM-2 | SoL level 3 List A elective | |
|
List A |
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ACC3AUD is no longer required for CPA Australia accreditation, but is required for membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAA). Students who do not complete the Taxation and Auditing subjects as part of their degree will be admitted to membership of CPA Australia, but will be required to complete studies in both areas as part of their ongoing CPA training.
Professional Recognition
Successful completion of the appropriate choice of subjects qualifies graduates for membership of the following professional accounting bodies: CA Australia, Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (ICAA), National Institute of Public Accountants (IPA), and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Compulsory and Elective Law Subjects
For lists of compulsory and elective law subjects, refer to the entry for Bachelor of Laws compulsory subjects and Bachelor of Laws electives.