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La Trobe University

  • 24% international / 76% domestic

Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Psychological Science

  • Bachelor (Honours)

To create an optimal legal system, we need to understand human behaviour and what clients need. More than ever, employers are searching for experienced professionals with expertise in law and psychology who can create innovative solutions to our most pressing legal challenges.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor (Honours)
Duration
5 years full-time
Study Mode
In person
Intake Months
Feb, Jul
Domestic Fees
$11,348 per year / $56,740 total
International Fees
$11,348 per year / $56,740 total
ATAR
90.05

About this course

To create an optimal legal system, we need to understand human behaviour and what clients need. More than ever, employers are searching for experienced professionals with expertise in law and psychology who can create innovative solutions to our most pressing legal challenges.

In La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Psychological Science, you'll build an adaptable skillset that combines skills-based legal training with expertise in psychological teaching, preparing you for a rewarding career.

As you study law, you can tailor your degree to your personal career aspirations with a wide range of elective subjects and opportunities for hands-on professional experience. We combine outstanding legal training with a progressive approach that prepares you for employment. You'll build legal expertise in key areas of law and develop skills that are highly valued by all employers, like advocacy, negotiation, and dispute resolution.

In your accredited psychological science degree, you'll enjoy the full benefits of having access to academics who are experts in their fields. Explore the environmental factors that affect our mental health and understand how community members cope with mental and physical disorders. Thanks to our electives and specialised minors, you'll be able to further ensure your study meets your specific career goals.

With access to real-world placement opportunities in both law and psychology, you'll also have opportunities put your knowledge into practice - whether it's working at a community legal centre, law firms and government agencies, or undertaking a psychology-related field placement.

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.
  • Clinical, health, developmental and social psychology
    • Understand how to help people cope with mental and physical disorders and investigate how environmental factors contribute to our psychological makeup.
  • Psychological assessment, intervention and research
    • Become familiar with methods used to understand and measure people's psychological state, and learn when and how to intervene or conduct research.

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 Psychological Science, students must complete a total of 600 credit points across 5 years.

Year 1 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 120 credit points from chosen Core

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:

  • 75 credit points from chosen Core
  • 15 credit points from chosen Electives
  • 30 credit points from chosen Electives

Year 4 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 15 credit points from chosen Capstone
  • 60 credit points from chosen Core
  • 45 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
  • 15 credit points from chosen Electives
  • 30 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 APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY PSY1APP 1 15 DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW1DR 1 15 INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY: BRAIN AND MIND PSY1BAM 1 15 INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY: PEOPLE AND CULTURE PSY1PAC 1 15 LEGAL INSTITUTIONS AND METHODS LAW1LIM 1 15 PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LAW LAW1CRL 1 15 PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC LAW LAW1PPL 1 15 SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHOLOGY PSY1SFP 1 15 COGNITION PSY2COG 2 15 CONTRACT LAW A LAW2CTA 2 15 CONTRACT LAW B LAW2CTB 2 15 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY PSY2DEV 2 15 PRINCIPLES OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW LAW2CSL 2 15 PRINCIPLES OF TORT LAW LAW2TOT 2 15 PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH METHODS PSY2PRM 2 15 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY PSY2SOC 2 15 CIVIL PROCEDURE LAW3004 3 15 FOUNDATIONS OF PROPERTY LAW LAW3002 3 15 PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT PSY3PAS 3 15 REAL PROPERTY LAW LAW3005 3 15 STATUTORY INTERPRETATION LAW3003 3 15 EVIDENCE AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW3001 4 15 PRINCIPLES OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LAW4004 4 15 PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH AND ILLNESS PSY3PHI 4 15 PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS PSY3PIN 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 PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN PRACTICE PSY3PRP 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

La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours) satisfies the academic requirements for admission to practise law in Victoria. Degrees in law and psychological science prepare you for careers in a wide range of industries, including in legal practice, community and welfare services and policy advice roles.

The unique blend of expertise offered in this double degree means your potential careers include:

  • Forensic psychologist*
    • Apply your psychological and legal knowledge, theory and skills as you research or work in criminal justice systems.
  • Mediator
    • Help community members to reach a resolution to their dispute without pursuing litigation.
  • 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.
  • Workplace relations adviser
    • Study and interpret legislation, develop and plan enterprise agreements, and perform other vital roles to support the relationship between employers and their employees.
  • Policy advisor
    • Provide trusted advice as you identify mental health policy needs, review existing legislation, research and analyse policy options and assess the impacts and feasibility of policies.

* Requires completion of further psychology education.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Psychological Science is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Professional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia will require an APAC-accredited fourth year and additional or ongoing requirements beyond the completion of the degree as well as an application to the professional body.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Psychological Science may apply for membership with the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Membership may be subject to additional or ongoing requirements beyond completion of the degree.

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/ Bachelor of Psychological Science 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.