Study with the La Trobe Law School
The La Trobe Law School is a leader in progressive education in Law and Criminology, producing graduates who are committed to collegiality, academic excellence and access to justice.
We want our students to have an excellent experience with us and hope they return as they progress through their professional careers.
We meet regularly with our student associations in Law and Criminology, and other student representatives, to ensure that we are responsive, problem solve and work together to enhance the student experience.
Because we have small class sizes, our students have ready access to staff and great opportunities to co-partner in learning.
Students are trained by academics who are experts in the field. And, they become career ready through a range of bespoke clinical placement experiences that introduce them to the legal and criminal justice workplaces.
Courses
Learn in the real world
La Trobe Law students undertake placements in a range of interesting settings, ensuring they have the practical skills and experience they need to thrive in the workplace.
Placements are designed to support students to develop job ready skills, build confidence and explore potential careers. Our students gain experience in interviewing and working with clients, drafting documents, research and analysis, case management and reflective practice.
Annually, 200 of our students complete a placement at the La Trobe Law Clinic. We also offer placements with the courts, law firms, corporations, community legal centres and other community organisations, as well as in policing and corrections. Students can also self-source a placement locally, interstate or overseas.
Many of our placements involve students working directly with clients at the La Trobe Law Clinic or our community clinics. In these settings, students work under professional supervision to deliver much needed services to the community.
Our placement opportunities recognise that Law and Criminology graduates work in a wide range of careers and legal settings. Our programs ensure that they make a seamless transition from university to employment.
Get involved in mooting
La Trobe Law School offers school-level, domestic and international mooting and competitions. Mooting is a simulated court proceeding, where students argue a legal problem against opposing counsel before a judge or panel. It offers the closest experience to appearing in a courtroom.
The Law Students’ Association offers eight annual internal competitions, including moots as well as client interview, negotiation and witness examination competitions.
To support the international mooting program, the La Trobe Law School offers an industry-leading advocacy subject, an elective that trains students in oral and written legal advocacy, and from which our highly successful international mooting teams are drawn. In addition, moots and other practical skills, such a negotiations and client interviews, are includes in core and elective subjects.
Our teams consistently reach the finals of international mooting competitions, and School advocates have won many best oralist awards over the years. And, we regularly participate in the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moots in Hong Kong and Vienna, the Sir Harry Gibbs Constitutional Law Moot, and the Nuremberg Moot Court.
Being part of La Trobe Law’s mooting program helps students to develop their written and oral advocacy skills and learn the value of teamwork. It also provides opportunities to network with lawyers, judges and academics from around the world.
A global perspective
La Trobe University partners with universities around the world, enabling students to add an international perspective to their studies.
Our students explore law and criminology in the global context through our course curriculum, as well as international study options such as study tours that can be taken for credit.
They can undertake short overseas placements during their degree, adding to their learning and personal development.
Many also take up the opportunity to go on exchange, enabling them to explore the laws and justice systems of other countries.