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The University of Notre Dame Australia

  • 2% international / 98% domestic

Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Philosophy

  • Bachelor

Completely unique to The University of Notre Dame Australia, the combined Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Philosophy is a double degree completed over five-years of full-time study.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor
Duration
5 years full-time
Course Code
3532
Study Mode
In person

About this course

School of Law, Sydney Campus

Completely unique to The University of Notre Dame Australia, the combined Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Philosophy is a double degree completed over five-years of full-time study. By combining these two separate disciplines graduates develop the skills to think clearly and creatively, as well as communicate coherently and convincingly. As a result, our graduates choose to follow a range of careers in law, journalism, politics, business and academia.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy minimum requirements outlined at admission requirements. These include those relating to age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly - your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program.

Applicants with recent Secondary Education:

  • HSC Performance Band Results with a Band 5 in English, a minimum average of Bands 5s and an overall minimum average HSC mark of 80% in HSC Category A Courses (or Interstate equivalent). Applicants must be eligible for an ATAR or OP; or
  • Minimum International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 31.

Applicants with Higher Education Study

  • Other University Studies completed at undergraduate level or higher. A minimum number of 4 subjects with a high credit average is required.

Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the program of study, may be eligible for Advanced Standing.

Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Completed AQF Diploma or higher in a relevant discipline, from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

Applicants with Work and Life Experience

Applicants with relevant work and life experience who left secondary education more than two years ago and have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then may seek admission on the basis of:

  • Their experience. 'Experience' could include a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education. These include Mature Age entry and relevant professional experience particularly in a legal context such as paralegal, legal clerk, tipstaff, alternative dispute resolution, law enforcement, relevant social work or legal secretarial work. Work experience and community involvement involving commercial business practice, caring for others, working in religious activities, social welfare or social justice activities will also be considered. Evidence must be provided as to the type and duration of relevant employment or community involvement (more than two years). The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required.
  • STAT - Scores of 160 in the Multiple Choice and Written English sections are required.
  • Higher School Certificate (HSC) (or equivalent) results if these have been completed within the last 5 years.

Study locations

Sydney

What you will learn

Are you thinking of studying a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in conjunction with the Bachelor of Laws degree? The University of Notre Dame Australia is the only university in Australia which offers this double degree. Students taking this degree combination will develop the ability to consider issues using two of the most developed forms of thinking and analysis utilised in Western civilisation: law and philosophy. This combination equips students will an array of skills which they can draw upon to resolve problems for themselves and for their clients.

The Bachelor of Laws degree is an accredited degree for admission to legal practice. It combines excellent coverage of underlying legal and ethical principles with an explanation of how those principles are applied in legal practice. However, as a student of the School of Philosophy, you will encounter the works of great minds such as Aquinas, Socrates and Plato. In doing so, you will be encouraged to reflect deeply and critically on the fundamental questions of existence, as well as question your own preconceptions of ethics and morality. As a result, graduates from the School of Philosophy are able to analyse and evaluate arguments about our current political, religious, and ethical systems - all valuable skills for a lawyer.

Similarly, the training you receive in the legal component of your degree will further develop your analytical mindset. Considered to be a degree of methodology rather than one solely of content, a Bachelor of Laws from Notre Dame teaches students to consider new approaches to problem solving and analysis. By participating in lively debate and the free exchange of ideas in intimate class settings, you will develop mastery of public speaking, advocacy, research, and dispute resolution.

Career pathways

The following careers are open to graduates of this program:

  • Government
  • Policy development
  • Management
  • Education
  • Advocacy
  • Media
  • Advertising
  • Public service
  • Leadership

Course structure

Core Curriculum - The Logos Program
  • Logos I
  • Logos II
  • Logos III
Year One
  • Legal Research & Writing
  • Legal Process & Statutory Interpretation
  • Ethics and Law
  • Legal History
  • Introduction to Philosophy
  • Three Philosophy Subjects
Year Two
  • Criminal Law A
  • Contract Law A
  • Torts A
  • Criminal Law B
  • Contract Law B
  • Torts B
  • Four Philosophy Subjects
Year Three
  • Property Law A
  • Property Law B
  • Introduction to Theology
  • Five Philosophy Subjects
Year Four
  • Advocacy
  • Constitutional Law
  • Equity
  • Corporations & Partnerships
  • Evidence
  • Administrative Law
  • Trusts
  • Law Elective One
Year Five
  • Remedies
  • Civil Procedure
  • Legal Philosophy
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Commercial Practice & Ethics
  • Law Elective Two (International)
  • Law Elective Three
  • Law Elective Four
Law Electives
  • Advanced Administrative Law
  • Advanced Civil Procedure
  • Advanced Constitutional Law
  • Advanced Evidence
  • Advanced Research Project (i.e. Honours research - 2 courses)
  • Bioethics and the Law
  • Advanced Taxation Law
  • Commercial Drafting
  • Commercial Law
  • Construction and Building Contract Law
  • Contemporary Legal Issues
  • Directed Research Project
  • Employee Relations Law
  • Entertainment Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Family Law
  • Health Law
  • Human Rights Law
  • Indigenous Law
  • Insolvency
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • International Dispute Resolution
  • Canon Law (i.e. Church Law)
  • Law and Religion
  • Law in Context (Externships) - involves work experience
  • Mining and Petroleum Law
  • Occupational Safety and Health Law
  • Introduction to Australian Taxation Law
  • Succession
  • Competition and Consumer Law
  • Trial Advocacy

Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Regulations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Law & Paralegal Studies courses at The University of Notre Dame Australia.
92.4%
Overall satisfaction
91.4%
Skill scale
81.9%
Teaching scale
84.4%
Employed full-time
$65k
Average salary