Undergraduate
Associate Degree of Legal Studies
2021
The Associate Degree of Legal Studies is for anyone who is interested in broadening their understanding of the legal system without committing to a full law degree.
This course will give you a broad understanding of the law, legal processes and legal principles and introduce you to practical areas of the law such as torts, contracts, criminal law and transnational law.
It caters for two groups of students: those who have a general interest in legal issues without wishing to complete a full law degree and those who wish to gauge their interest in legal studies and perhaps later seek to undertake a full law degree program.
Career opportunities
Completing the Associate Degree of Legal Studies may lead to career opportunities in administrative, secretarial or paralegal roles in government, corporate and private legal environment.
Credit transfers & pathways
Pathways for VET to Higher Education
Guaranteed credit transfer arrangements are available to students commencing a bachelor degree at Charles Darwin University with completed Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree qualifications in the same field or discipline. Students who hold completed qualifications should refer to the additional information provided about Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer and Pathways using the links below:
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
International applications
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There are no statistics available for this course. It may be that the course is new or the profile data is unavailable.
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This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
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Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 6.
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
Course structure
The course will introduce students to the fundamental concepts and processes of law including criminal law, torts, contracts and constitutional law. Specialist elective units provide students the opportunity to pursue further study into special interest topics such as transnational law, property law, human rights and criminology.
External students have access to live online tutorials as well as online access to the recordings of all lectures, enabling them to complete the course from anywhere in the world.
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 160 credit points (cp) as detailed below.
| Unit type |
Credit Points |
Specific requirements |
| Common Units (2 units) |
20 |
Common units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below.
CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability (compulsory) Select Common Units to find out more about individual units and advanced standing options. |
| Core Units (5 units) |
50 | Compulsory Core units totalling 50 credit points as detailed below.
LWZ114 Criminal Law LWZ212 Transnational Law (last offered 2020) and LWZ112 Comparative Legal Systems (recoded LWA115 from 2021) has been removed as a core unit from 2021- see transition arrangements below. |
| Specialist Elective (6 units) |
60 |
Units totalling 60 credit points selected from the list of available units detailed below. LWA115 Comparative Legal Systems (previously LWZ112)
|
| Electives (3 units) |
30 |
Units totalling 30 credit points selected from undergraduate units offered by the University.
When selecting electives, choose units at a suitable level. The first number in each unit code indicates the year level at which the subject is taught. Undergraduate units are coded at 100 to 300 level, therefore units coded as LWA1xx, LWA2xx and LWA3xx would be first, second and third year units respectively. |
|
160 |
Total Credit Points |
Students who commence in or after 2013
No more than 10 credit points shall be counted with a grade of "PC" in an Associate Degree or Advanced Diploma AQF Level 6 course award.
Of the total 160 credit points: (unless specified in the specific course structure above)
* a minimum of 60 credit points must be taken from 200 level units
Students should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.
Course Changes and Transitional Arrangements - 2021
The required core units have reduced from 7 units (70cp) to 5 units (50cp). The required specialist elective units have increased from 4 units (40cp) to 6 units (60cp).
- LWZ112 Comparative Legal Systems has been recoded to LWA115 Comparative Legal Systems and changed from a Law Core Unit to a Law Specialist Elective unit. Students who have already completed LWZ112 will have it counted as a Law Specialist Elective.
- LWZ212 Transnational Law has been discontinued. Students who have already completed LWZ212 will have it counted as a Law Specialist Elective.
- LWA114 Law, Justice and the State has been discontinued.
- LWA120 Law in Context added as a Law Specialist Elective unit.
Course Changes and Transfer Arrangements - 2016
The unit LWZ112 Comparative Legal Systems has been added to the course structure as an introductory unit, in addition to LWZ115 Legal Process. LWZ212 Transnational Law has also been made a core unit and LWZ223 Property Law moved to a Specialist Elective.
- Students who began their studies in 2015 and completed LWZ111 Introduction to Law will be exempt from completing LWZ115 Legal Process. However, they will still be required to complete LWZ112 Comparative Legal Systems and LWZ212 Transnational Law.
- Students who have already completed LWZ223 Property Law will be able to count this unit as a Specialist Elective.
- Students will be given credit for all units accredited under the past course codes of BLAW, BLAWG and ADLS.
In 2015 LWZ100A and LWZ100B were replaced by one introductory unit – LWZ111.
- Students who have completed either LWZ100A or LWZ100B will be exempt from completing LWZ115. However they will still be required to complete LWZ112 and LWZ212.
- Students who have completed both LWZ100A and LWZ100B will be exempt from doing LWZ115 and they will still have to complete LWZ112 and LWZ212. However, they will not be disadvantaged and will receive 10cp to be credited towards their degree as a specialist elective at 100 level.
Please see the same information below in a table format:
| Student has completed before 2016 | Student Exempt in 2016 | Student has to complete in 2016 |
| LWZ111 | LWZ115 Legal Process | LWZ112 Comparative Legal Systems LWZ212 Transnational Law |
| LWZ100A and LWZ100B | LWZ115 Legal Process plus Receive 10cp as a specialist elective unit at 100 level |
LWZ112 Comparative Legal Systems LWZ212 Transnational Law |
| LWZ100A | LWZ115 Legal Process | LWZ112 Comparative Legal Systems LWZ212 Transnational Law |
| LWZ100B | LWZ115 Legal Process | LWZ112 Comparative Legal Systems LWZ212 Transnational Law |
Transitioning rules applicable to students who started before 2015:
LWZ202 was a core unit which was being discontinued and its outcomes were incorporated into the core units LWZ203 Constitutional Law and LWZ312 Administrative Law.
Their new unit codes are LWZ204 Constitutional Law and LWZ304 Administrative Law
Proposed rules:
- Students who have done LWZ202 and LWZ203 are not required to do LWZ204 however they still have to complete the core unit LWZ304
- Students who have done LWZ202 and LWZ312 are not required to do LWZ304. However they still have to complete the core unit LWZ204
- Students who have done LWZ203 will have to do LWZ204. However they will receive 10cp towards their Bachelor of Laws degree so they will not be disadvantaged.
- Students who have done LWZ312 will have to do LWZ304. However they will receive 10cp towards their Bachelor of Laws degree so they will not be disadvantaged.
Table format:
| Student has completed before 2015 | Student Exempt from completing | Student has to complete |
| LWZ202 and LWZ203 and LWZ312 | LWZ204 LWZ304 1 x Specialist Elective at 200 level |
|
| LWZ202 and LWZ203 | LWZ204 1 x Specialist Elective at 200 level |
|
| LWZ202 and LWZ312 | LWZ304 1 x Specialist Elective at 200 level |
LWZ204 |
| LWZ202 (but not LWZ203 or LWZ312) | 1 x Specialist Elective at 200 level | LWZ204 LWZ304 |
| LWZ203 (but not LWZ202 or LWZ312) | 1 x Specialist Elective at 200 level | LWZ204 LWZ304 |
| LWZ312 (but not LWZ202 or LWZ203) | 1 x Specialist Elective at 200 level | LWZ204 LWZ304 |
Study plan
Students Commencing in Semester 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard full time load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
♦ ensure LWZ115 is completed in the first semester of study;
♦ maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
♦ check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200 i.e. LWZ210.
All students should enrol in LWZ115 in the first semester of study.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability OR CUC106 Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology |
CU | LWZ116 Torts | CO |
| CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU | LWZ118 Contracts | CO |
| LWZ115 Legal Process | CO | Law specialist elective 2 | SE |
| Law specialist elective 1 | SE | Law specialist elective 3 | SE |
| Year 2 | |||
| LWZ114 Criminal Law | CO | LWZ204 Constitutional Law | CO |
| Law specialist elective 4 | E/SE | Law specialist elective 7/ Elective | SE/E |
| Law specialist elective 5 | SE | Law specialist elective 8/ Elective | SE/E |
| Law specialist elective 6 | SE | Law specialist elective 9/ Elective | SE/E |
Specialist Elective Availability for 2021
| Semester 1 | Study Period 2 | Semester 2 |
| Specialist Electives Available in 2021 | ||
|
LWA120 Law in Context |
LWA210 Contemporary Issues LWA113 Customary Law LWA207 Dispute Resolution LWA219 Criminology |
LWA110 Legal History (previously LWB205) |
| Specialist Electives not Available in 2021 | ||
|
LWA111 Indigenous Peoples and the Legal System |
LWA112 Environmental and Planning Law LWA321 Public International Law LWA331 Finance and Securities Law |
|
Students Commencing in Semester 2
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 2 and enrolling in a standard full time load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
♦ ensure LWZ115 is completed in the first semester of study;
♦ maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
♦ check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200 i.e. LWZ210.
All students should enrol in LWZ115 in the first semester of study.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability OR CUC106 Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology |
CU | ||
| LWZ115 Legal Process | CO | ||
| Law specialist elective 1 | SE | ||
| Law specialist elective 2 | SE | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| LWZ114 Criminal Law | CO | LWZ116 Torts | CO |
| CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU | LWZ118 Contracts | CO |
| Law specialist elective 3 | SE | LWZ204 Constitutional Law | CO |
| Law specialist elective 4 | SE | Law specialist elective 5 | SE |
| Year 3 | |||
| Law specialist elective 6 | SE | ||
| Law specialist elective 7/ Elective | SE/E | ||
| Law specialist elective 8/ Elective | SE/E | ||
| Law specialist elective 9/ Elective | SE/E | ||
Specialist Elective Availability for 2021
| Semester 1 | Study Period 2 | Semester 2 |
| Specialist Electives Available in 2021 | ||
|
LWA120 Law in Context |
LWA210 Contemporary Issues LWA113 Customary Law LWA207 Dispute Resolution LWA219 Criminology |
LWA110 Legal History (previously LWB205) |
| Specialist Electives not Available in 2021 | ||
|
LWA111 Indigenous Peoples and the Legal System |
LWA112 Environmental and Planning Law LWA321 Public International Law LWA331 Finance and Securities Law |
|
Students commencing in Summer Semester (from 2021 Summer Semester is no longer available for entry)
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in summer semester and enrolling in a reduced full time load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
♦ ensure Common Units are completed in the first year of study;
♦ maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
♦ check the assumed knowledge for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200.
All students should enrol in LWZ115 in the first semester the unit is available.
| Legend: | CU = Common Unit | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Summer Semester | |||
| Year 1 | |||||
| CUC100 Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability or CUC106 Design and Innovation: Communicating Technology | CU | ||||
| CUC107 Cultural Intelligence and Capability | CU | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| LWZ115 Legal Process | CO | LWZ116 Torts | CO | ||
| Law specialist elective 1 | SE | LWZ118 Contracts | CO | ||
| Law specialist elective 2 | SE | Law specialist elective 3 | SE | ||
| Year 3 | |||||
| LWZ114 Criminal Law | CO | LWZ204 Constitutional Law | CO | ||
| Law specialist elective 4 | SE | Law specialist elective 7/ Elective | SE/E | ||
| Law specialist elective 5 | SE | Law specialist elective 8/ Elective | SE/E | ||
| Law specialist elective 6 | SE | Law specialist elective 9/ Elective | SE/E | ||
Specialist Elective Availability for 2021
| Semester 1 | Study Period 2 | Semester 2 |
| Specialist Electives Available in 2021 | ||
|
LWA120 Law in Context |
LWA210 Contemporary Issues LWA113 Customary Law LWA207 Dispute Resolution LWA219 Criminology |
LWA110 Legal History (previously LWB205) |
| Specialist Electives not Available in 2021 | ||
|
LWA111 Indigenous Peoples and the Legal System |
LWA112 Environmental and Planning Law LWA321 Public International Law LWA331 Finance and Securities Law |
|
Course fees
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) Australian Citizenship; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident visa holder who will be resident within Australia for the duration of the unit.
2021: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
International tuition fees
The annual course tuition fee for full time study of 80 credit points for commencing students in 2021 is AUD $26,968.00.
These fees are subject to annual increases each year of your study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.
CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.