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La Trobe University

  • 24% international / 76% domestic

Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology

  • Bachelor (Honours)

What are the human stories behind crime? And how can we use legal power to create a more just world?

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor (Honours)
Duration
5 years full-time
Study Mode
In person
Intake Months
Feb, Jul
Domestic Fees
$14,519 per year / $72,595 total
International Fees
$14,519 per year / $72,595 total
ATAR
95.35

About this course

What are the human stories behind crime? And how can we use legal power to create a more just world? We need progressive legal professionals who understand the deeper causes of inequality in our neighbourhoods, our nation and beyond - and who are equipped with the skills and knowledge to make a lasting positive impact.

When you study La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology, you'll be ready to build a meaningful career and fight for justice.

In your law study, you can personalise your course to your career goals with electives and opportunities for professional experience. Our outstanding legal training and progressive approach to law means you'll be ready for employment - including by building skills like advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution, which are highly valued in any workplace.

By adding criminology expertise, you'll build a broader view of how crime affects - and is affected by - our society. Explore the complex causes of crime and learn how to craft innovative responses to real-world criminal justice problems.

The program includes all the compulsory law subjects required by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board for admission to the legal profession in Victoria, as well as a wide range of law and criminology electives.

Learn from legal experts in our Law School and put your knowledge into practice with opportunities for real-world placement experiences - from working in environments including community legal centres, law firms and government agencies to building mentor relationships with judges, magistrates and coroners.

You'll learn:

  • Evidence and criminal procedure
    • Build your understanding of the criminal legal system and procedure. Learn how to apply criminal law to real-world scenarios and provide legal advice.
  • Private and public law
    • Learn how to apply the legal principles underpinning contract law, develop the skills to specialise as a corporate legal expert and discover how government power is distributed, exercised and controlled.
  • Criminal justice
    • Explore how deviance and crime are understood by different parts of society. Explore the role of courts, police and prisons in the criminal justice system.
  • International crime
    • Understand how crimes transcend borders. Analyse responses from the international community.

The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 8 - Bachelor Degree Honours.

Sample course structure

Please note, the following course structure is indicative and subject to change depending on your course location, offer year or how you tailor your course with specialisations, majors, minors and electives. Structures for the following year are not normally finalised until October, so the sample provided is based on the most recently approved structure. For more information, please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology, students must complete a total of 600 credit points across 4 years.

Year 1 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 105 credit points from chosen Core
  • 15 credit points from chosen Electives

Year 2 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 120 credit points from chosen Core

Year 3 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 90 credit points from chosen Core
  • 30 credit points from chosen Electives

Year 5 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 45 credit points from chosen Capstone
  • 15 credit points from chosen Core
  • 15 credit points from chosen Core choice
  • 45 credit points from chosen Electives
Study options

Core subjects are required subjects in your course. You need to complete these subjects to attain your degree.

Subject name Subject code Year Credit points ACADEMIC INTEGRITY MODULE LTU0AIM 1 0 WOMINJEKA LA TROBE: INDIGENOUS CULTURAL LITERACY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ABS0WOM 1 0 DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW1DR 1 15 FROM PRISONS TO DETENTION CENTRES: INTERROGATING CONTAINMENT LST1PDC 1 15 LAW AND (DIS)ORDER LST1LOJ 1 15 LEGAL INSTITUTIONS AND METHODS LAW1LIM 1 15 PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LAW LAW1CRL 1 15 PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC LAW LAW1PPL 1 15 UNDERSTANDING CRIME LST1UNC 1 15 CONTRACT LAW A LAW2CTA 2 15 CONTRACT LAW B LAW2CTB 2 15 INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SCIENCE AND THE LAW LCR2FSL 2 15 POLICE, SOCIETY AND DEMOCRACY LST2POL 2 15 PRINCIPLES OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW LAW2CSL 2 15 PRINCIPLES OF TORT LAW LAW2TOT 2 15 SENTENCING AND CORRECTIONS LST2SCR 2 15 VICTIMOLOGY: VICTIMS, JUSTICE AND THE LAW LST2VIC 2 15 BIG ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGY LST3BIG 3 15 FOUNDATIONS OF PROPERTY LAW LAW3002 3 15 INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE LCR3ICR 3 15 JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY CASE MANAGEMENT LCR2001 3 15 REAL PROPERTY LAW LAW3005 3 15 STATUTORY INTERPRETATION LAW3003 3 15 CIVIL PROCEDURE LAW3004 4 15 CRIME AND SOCIO-LEGAL RESEARCH LST3SLR 4 15 EVIDENCE AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW3001 4 15 INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY AND THE LAW LCR2PSY 4 15 PRINCIPLES OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LAW4004 4 15 PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND TRUSTS LAW4003 5 15

A range of standalone elective subjects is available in this course. Some electives are recommended for your course, but you may also be able to choose from a range of University-wide electives or electives from other interest areas or disciplines. Note these electives may have their own prerequisites and other requirements. Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook for the subjects available.

Core choice subjects are one or more subject groups you need to select in your course. Core choice subjects may be specific to your course, major, minor, specialisation or other learning requirements.

Subject name Subject code Year Credit points LAW INTERNSHIP B LAW4INB 5 15 LEGAL RESEARCH PROJECT LAW4005 5 15

Capstone subjects are required subjects in your course or major that help you integrate and apply the knowledge and skills you gain to solve real world problems. Capstone subjects are often taken towards the end of your course.

Subject name Subject code Year Credit points CRIMINAL LAW, ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY LCR3ETA 4 15 COMPANY LAW LAW4002 5 15
See La Trobe University Handbook for more details

The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course structures, electives and options. The delivery of this course can vary between campuses.

  • Melbourne (Bundoora)

To view other campus handbook course details, please select relevant campus in the drop down.

Study locations

Melbourne

Bendigo

Career pathways

This course satisfies the academic requirements for admission to practise law in Victoria. After graduation, you could work across a range of industries relating to law and criminology, including in legal practice, the community sector, international development, environmental protection, government, banking and professional services, corrections, and intelligence.

With the valuable blend of legal expertise and criminological insights you'll build in this degree, your potential careers include:

  • Criminal defence lawyer
    • Help vulnerable people charged with criminal offences and provide accessible legal advice and representation for disadvantaged people within the community.
  • Criminal justice policy maker
    • Work in government or for a statutory agency reviewing the societal impact of existing criminal justice laws and policies, and formulating recommendations for new policies to address issues.
  • Barrister or solicitor
    • Advocate for justice as you prepare cases, represent clients in court, assist in creating and reviewing contracts, and provide advice on legal issues.
  • Police prosecutor
    • Represent the government, working with state and federal police forces in the prosecution of criminal matters.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Criminology course includes the subjects required by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board to meet the academic requirements for admission to the legal profession in Victoria as an Australian lawyer.

Admission to the legal profession by the Supreme Court of Victoria also requires the completion of practical legal training via either a 12-month period of supervised legal training or completion of an approved practical legal training course (for example, at the Leo Cussen Institute or The College of Law). Candidates for admission to practice must also satisfy the Admissions Board that they are a fit and proper person to be admitted to practice.

International students are advised to obtain assurance of recognition of the course by the relevant professional bodies in their preferred country of practice.

International graduates require a relevant visa to complete a practical legal traineeship and a supervised workplace traineeship in Australia. Please contact the Australian Department of Immigration for details.

Professional registration may require an application to the professional body and may have additional or ongoing requirements beyond the completion of the degree. For further details, including admission to the legal profession and/or relevant visa requirements, please contact the professional body for details.