Outline Outline Curtin's Bachelor of Laws provides the first qualification you need to practise as a lawyer in Australia. By combining this with an International Relations or Journalism major, you could set yourself up for a career in human rights, international law or media law, or as a journalist who covers legal outcomes and procedures.
Our law degree offers a rich and professionally relevant foundation in legal knowledge. You'll learn core skills essential to effective legal practice and build a strong commercial awareness. From early on in your studies, you'll start to recognise the importance of respecting the rule of law along with the responsibilities and ethics of legal practice.
You'll also have the opportunity to select optional units in areas such as forensic advocacy, family law, human rights law, native title law and policy, and law and technology. These optional units enable you to tailor your Bachelor of Laws to suit your interests.
Studying a Bachelor of Arts as your second degree will broaden your knowledge and skills. If you choose international relations, you'll increase your understanding of international diplomacy, politics and organisations. If you choose journalism, you'll learn how to report on topics across radio, video and online platforms.
The first three years of this course are delivered in semesters at Curtin Perth, while the fourth year, plus one trimester, is delivered at the Curtin Law School at our Perth City campus. If you choose to study full time, you can graduate with two degrees in just 4.5 years.
During your studies at Curtin Perth City, you can gain practical experience by undertaking simulated proceedings in our high-tech moot court and working on real cases at the John Curtin Law Clinic. You'll benefit greatly from the relationships you will form with academics, practising solicitors and barristers based at Curtin Law School, as well as from the proximity of the Supreme Court, the District Court and the Federal Court.
How this course will make you industry ready Curtin designs courses with careers in mind. You'll get to work closely with business and industry during your degree. You can really get involved in your chosen field through classes, mentoring programs, voluntary work and industry placements. You'll graduate with the knowledge and skills that are relevant to industry needs and be ready to make a difference from day one.
What you'll learn - apply knowledge of the Australian legal system, statutory rules and case law principles in both the fundamental areas of legal knowledge and a range of elective fields to the resolution of legal problems; apply broad discipline knowledge in a range of theoretical and practical situations through research and practical application
- critically and creatively analyse legal problems to articulate the issues involved and apply legal reasoning to make a considered choice between competing solutions; think creatively and critically to generate innovative solutions to complex social, political and artistic problems
- identify, access, assess and synthesise relevant information from primary legal sources such as cases and legislation and secondary sources such as journal articles and commentaries (including electronic versions of these sources) and gather relevant oral and documentary evidence; access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information from a range of sources
- communicate the outcomes of legal research and analysis effectively, appropriately and persuasively to colleagues, to clients and to other professionals and the broader community; communicate effectively in professional and public contexts
- use appropriate electronic legal databases for research purposes and be able to communicate effectively in electronic forms; apply technologies appropriately
- maintain intellectual curiosity as to justice and its practical application in the legal system, be able to identify areas where their legal knowledge and skills require further development, and to critically reflect on their own performance as legal professionals, making use of feedback as appropriate; demonstrate responsibility and lifelong learning skills by applying critical reflection and being proactive
- articulate the similarities and differences between local and other jurisdictions, including interstate and overseas ones, and be aware of the principles of public and private international law; describe global and cultural issues and their impact
- articulate distinct concepts of law, justice and human rights, with an awareness of different legal traditions and cultures, particularly indigenous cultures; identify how and where indigenous persons and other identifiable social groups are differentially impacted by the legal system; demonstrate respect for human rights, cultural diversity and the particular rights of Indigenous Australians
- work independently, as well as collaboratively, with a developing sense of the ethical issues that arise in legal practice and how these may be resolved; work ethically and professionally, both within a team and independently