Humanities and Social Sciences

School of Social Sciences

Legal Studies

What is Legal Studies?

Legal Studies involves the contextualization, exploration and critique of law - its nature, operation and effects. In Legal Studies, the insights of a diverse range of disciplines are used to examine how the existence and operation of law and legal systems involves the constant negotiation of competing perspectives and demands.

Legal Studies provides the knowledge and skills needed to analyze law’s place and role within broader economic, social and political contexts, and enables contemporary questions relating to law, social justice, crime and criminal justice to be pursued in a distinctive and rigorous way.

Teaching

Legal Studies at La Trobe is taught by academics who have a strong commitment to critical interdisciplinary research and teaching about law and legal issues. Their combined experience and expertise spans a range of law-related areas and disciplines, and in some cases, includes ‘hands-on’ knowledge of legal practice.

Legal Studies is currently only available to students at the Melbourne (Bundoora) campus. For more information on Legal Studies see the University Handbook.

Career Opportunities

Legal Studies provides students with knowledge and skills that are pertinent to a variety of careers. Programs of study can be tailored towards particular vocational interests in areas including research and policy development, criminology, community work, legal administration, criminal justice, social welfare, and community legal education.

Community Engagement

Legal Studies staff have experience of working with government and community agencies and organizations in various capacities and in relation to a diversity of issues.