Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Business

VU course code: LHWB | Level of study: Undergraduate

ATAR

Not required

Duration

5 years full time or longer for part time

Delivery mode

Hybrid, In person

Fees

Commonwealth supported place

Location

City Campus, Footscray Park

Next start date

29 July 2024

Application closes

21 July 2024

Overview

Demonstrate your academic and professional excellence with a double degree in law (honours) and business. This program prepares you for a career in the legal community, business or government.

Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Business at Victoria University lets you create your own career path. You’ll graduate with the academic qualifications and experience to practise law. You’ll also have the skills, knowledge and professional acumen to work in your chosen area of business.

We focus on both practical and theoretical learning. Our close links to the legal and business communities give you valuable opportunities for professional development and work experience.

Studying honours in law indicates a strong academic ability. Graduates of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) meet the requirements to be admitted to legal practice in Australia.

: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Integrate conceptual understandings of the Australian legal system, fundamental areas of legal and business knowledge and relevant specialist bodies of knowledge within the disciplines of law and business;

Review, analyse, adapt and apply broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of law and business and underlying principles and concepts in diverse contemporary local and international comparative contexts;

Identify, articulate and respond to legal issues by analysing and applying information with initiative and judgement in order to both anticipate and creatively solve problems and promote justice in authentic/contemporary professional, community and global settings;

Exhibit professional accountabilities and ethical judgment, by evaluating, synthesising and adapting knowledge, skills, legal reasoning and research to make appropriate responses to legal issues that reflect the legal, social, political and contextual factors;

Communicate a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and skills appropriate for legal and non-legal audiences, in both oral and written form;

Reflect on personal learning and skills in relation to career goals and implement effective, creative strategies to promote lifelong learning and pathways to further learning including a commitment to ongoing professional development;

Apply personal and interpersonal competencies including organisational and collaborative skills, necessary to operate in the immensely divergent and complex global and Australian cultures;

Contribute effectively, with personal accountability for outcomes in a dynamic 21st century work team, working in an ethical and socially responsible manner;

Plan and execute a research project, professional project or piece of scholarship which demonstrates intellectual independence and contributes to the evidence base within the legal discipline.
: We offer valuable opportunities to network and learn through law & justice industry partnerships, and international collaborations with exchange partners.

We also have well-established industry connections in the finance sector and you can gain practical experience with our clinical legal education programs.

Our partnerships with Magistrates’ Courts and community legal services let you apply your legal knowledge while you study. Some of our major clients, partners and industry associations include:

Australian Centre for Financial Studies

Department of Justice, Victoria

Migration Institute of Australia

FCG Legal

Stary Norton Halphen Lawyers

Law Institute of Victoria

Magistrates’ Courts of Victoria.
: Our lecturers and research staff are experts in their fields. We also provide guidance from adjunct professors – honorary staff who hold positions in the legal and financial communities.

VU’s adjunct professors include:

Alan Kohler, financial journalist

Hon. Michael Kirby, retired High Court Judge.
: Our Queen Street law hub on our City Campus is in the heart of Melbourne's legal district.

Our dedicated law building features:

specialised law library

legal research centres including the Sir Zelman Cowen Centre

mooting court

computer labs, student lounges, study spaces and a prayer room.
You’ll gain real insight into legal practice and start building networks for your future career.

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your educational achievements and work experience, as well as your skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a related course or unit(s). We call this a ‘pathway’.

You may also be eligible for course ‘credits’, where you are granted a unit or units towards your qualification for equivalent previous study or work experience, so you can graduate sooner.

ATAR requirements

No minimum ATAR required

This course does not have a minimum ATAR requirement for entry. Read the entry criteria for this course below.

Why ATAR is not applicable

You do not need an ATAR score to apply for this course. Instead, you need to have successfully completed secondary school and to meet any requirements outlined below. Our courses and support programs are designed to prepare students from diverse cultures for success, regardless of their ATAR, age, education or socioeconomic background.

Entry criteria

Minimum entry criteria include:

English-language requirements
academic requirements.

Your work and life experience will also be considered.

To find specific entry requirements for this course, please select the section below that is most relevant to you.

Meeting the minimum entry criteria does not guarantee entry into this course.

: This information is relevant if, in the 2 years prior to studying with us, you have completed (or will complete) one of the following:

Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE)

an Australian or overseas equivalent to VCE

an International Baccalaureate (IB).

Admission criteria

N/A
: This information is relevant if you have completed an accredited award (such as a certificate or diploma) at an Australian Registered Training Organisation (usually a TAFE, polytechnic or other registered VET institute).

Admission criteria

N/A
: This information is relevant if you’ve previously completed all or part of a university or other higher-education course.

Admission criteria

Students in any Bachelor of Laws may apply to transfer into any Bachelor of Laws (Honours) once they have completed a minimum 192 credit points and have attained an average mark of Distinction or above.
: This information is relevant if you left secondary school more than two years ago and haven’t studied since.

Admission criteria

N/A

Special entry programs

Special admission programs

If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.

Learn more about special admission programs

VU Guaranteed

If you’re currently in Year 11 or 12, our exclusive VU Guaranteed program offers a guaranteed place in a university or TAFE course, before your final Year 12 exams.

Learn more about VU Guaranteed

Additional information

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 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.

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course Structure

To attain the Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/ Bachelor of Business students will be required to complete 480 credit points (equivalent to 40 units) consisting of:

132 credit points of First Year Core units (3 Business FYC units and 8 Law FYC units)
132 credit points of Professional Core Law units
24 credit points of Law Honours units
60 credit points of Law Elective studies
96 credit points of a Business Major study from the approved list (includes BSK2001 and BSK3000)
12 credit points of Business Core unit (BMO2005)

24 credit points of Business Elective studies from the approved list

Students who choose to complete BMAACT Accounting, must complete BMIPAC Professional Accounting minor.

Students transitioning from BBLL and completing BMAHRM Human Resource Management and BMAMAI Management and Innovation must complete prerequisite unit BMO1000 People and Organisations as an elective unit, if they haven't completed the required pre-requisite unit for these majors.

Students transitioning from BBLL and completing BMAMRK Marketing students must complete prerequisite unit BHO1000 Marketing Theory and Practice as an elective unit, if they haven't completed the required pre-requisite unit for this major.

Students who complete the degree will graduate with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Business, without any reference to a Class of Honours.

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.

Units

Fees & Scholarships

University fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer (including our generous scholarship program).

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is subsidised by the government, reducing it to the amount listed here. Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens will qualify for a CSP place. If your course is not Commonwealth supported, or you don't qualify, you'll pay full fees.

Learn more about Commonwealth Supported Places

Fees

Scholarships

CAREERS

When you graduate, you’ll have the option of practising as a private lawyer, taking a role in a government department such as Treasury or Foreign Affairs, or working in a community legal centre.

Your area of business specialisation will help determine your other career options:

lawyer
accounting
banking and finance
community law
management in HR, IT, hospitality, tourism or events
international trade
management and innovation
marketing
public policy
supply chain management and logistics.

Salaries

Visit Jobs and Skills Australia to find average salaries for various law/business professions in Australia:

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