Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry)

Course Details

Build on your previous study and equip yourself for a fulfilling career in law with a Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) at Victoria University (VU). If you hold a degree in any other discipline, you can fast-track your law degree with VU. By entering as a graduate, you’ll study the same core subjects as your classmates in the Bachelor of Laws but graduate in three years instead of four. Enjoy the flexibility of studying in four-weeks blocks with the unique VU Block Model®, with the option to study some of your units fully online so you can manage work and family commitments. You’ll be based in the heart of Melbourne’s legal precinct at our City Campus, learning from expert legal academics and supported by adjunct professors who are some of Australia’s most reputable legal professionals. Thanks to our partnerships with the courts and community legal services, you’ll also gain practical, real-world experience of the justice system – preparing you to work in the corporate, commercial, community or government legal sectors. In this condensed law degree, you’ll gain a broad perspective on legal practice and gain specialist academic and professional skills including: advocacy ethical judgement communication legal research and writing interviewing and negotiation legal interpretation. By studying all of the major areas of law (including contract, torts, property, constitutional, criminal and corporate), you’ll graduate from VU’s Bachelor of Laws having satisfied the academic requirements of the Victorian Legal Admissions Board for admission to legal practice in Victoria. You may also be able to complete an honours thesis in your final year, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours).

Qualification: Bachelor Degree (Graduate Entry)

Course structure: To attain the Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) students will be required to complete 288 credit points consisting of: 228 credit points of Core Law studies 60 credit points of Law Elective studies. To be awarded a Bachelor of Laws with Honours: Students who enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws prior to 31 Dec 2014 may apply to undertake the unit Advanced Legal Research Dissertation in their later years in this degree based on the aggregate of points attributed to the top two thirds of units so listed shall then be calculated and a grade point average determined. Students will be further assessed on an outline of a proposed thesis topic and availability of a college based or college affiliated supervisor. Students will be awarded a Bachelor of Laws with Honours (Class H1, H2A, H2B or H3) based on their aggregate of points and overall mark in Advanced Legal Research Dissertation. To be awarded a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (For students enrolled post 1 January 2015): Students in any Bachelor of Laws course may apply to transfer into any Bachelor of Laws (Honours) course if the selection criteria is met.

All applicants are encouraged to complete the law supplementary form which may be used to adjust the Selection Rank. Students in any Bachelor of Laws may apply to transfer into the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree once they have completed a minimum 192 credit points and have attained an average mark of Distinction or above i.e. 70-100%. Applicants will be assessed on the highest grades achieved in the top 12 Law units. Students will be further assessed on an outline of a proposed thesis topic and availability of a college based or college affiliated supervisor. Successful applicants will enrol in both Advanced Research Legal Methods and Advanced Legal Research Dissertation instead of 24 credit points of law electives.