Postgraduate Coursework
Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry)
2021
The Bachelor of Laws program (Graduate Entry) provides you with the academic foundation for admission to legal practice. In that context, the course provides you with knowledge of the law, legal processes and legal principles and cultivates a capacity for legal research, analysis and communication.
There is a focus on the analysis, interpretation, evaluation and application of various sources of legal authority to construct solutions to legal problems. The course also deals with theoretical perspectives on the law and encourages an appreciation of transnational law and of legal issues of special significance to the Northern Territory, including Aboriginal legal issues.
Career opportunities
Law prepares you to pursue the pathway towards a career as a solicitor or barrister. It may also provide career paths into areas where an in-depth understanding of the law is advantageous, including politics, the public service, industrial relations or community advocacy.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) is accredited by the Legal Practitioners Admission Board of the Northern Territory and provides the academic foundation for admission to legal practice in the Northern Territory and elsewhere in Australia.
To be admitted to legal practice in Australia, you must also complete the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP). This can be taken through the College of Law, Sydney, and completed online.
Credit transfers & pathways
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
International applications
English Language Requirements for International Students
For detail on English Language Entry Requirements please read the entry requirements provided for International students.
How to Apply
International applicants apply directly to CDU and should refer to the information provided for International future students Apply.
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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 7.
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 is divided between core units and specialist electives. Most of the core units are those prescribed by the legal profession as essential for meeting the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia. The specialist electives are designed to allow students to gain understanding of a range of other aspects of the law, including family law, international law, and competition and consumer law. The degree can also be completed with Honours.
The degree is available for external and internal modes of study. External students receive online learning materials including recordings of all lectures, as well as on-line tutorial assistance via the online learning platform, enabling them to complete the course anywhere in the world.
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 240 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
Students seeking to graduate with Honours should apply for the one-year Bachelor of Laws Honours (VLAWH2) upon completion of this course.
| Unit type |
Credit Points |
Specific requirements |
| Core Units (13 units) |
130 cp |
Compulsory Core units totalling 130 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 (11 units) |
110cp |
Units totalling 110 credit points selected from the list of available units detailed below. LWZ212 Transnational Law (last offered 2020) |
|
240cp |
Total Credit Points |
Students who commence in or after 2013
No more than 20 credit points shall be counted with a grade of "PC" in a Bachelor AQF Level 7 course award and no more than 10 credit points at "PC" may be received at the highest level of the program of learning.
Of the total 240 credit points: (unless specified in the specific course structure above)
* not more than 100 credit points may be taken from 100 level units
* a minimum of 60 credit points must be taken from 300 level units or above
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 15 units (150cp) to 13 units (130cp). The required specialist elective units have increased from 9 units (90cp) to 11 units (110cp).
- 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 has been added as a Law Specialist Elective.
Course Changes - 2017
LWA133 Legal Reasoning has been added as a specialist elective from 2017.
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.
- 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 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 |
Additional 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 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 of study.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| LWZ114 Criminal Law | CO | LWZ116 Torts | CO |
| LWZ115 Legal Process | CO | LWZ118 Contracts | CO |
| Specialist Elective 1 | SE | Specialist Elective 3 | SE |
| Specialist Elective 2 | SE | Specialist Elective 4 | SE |
| Year 2 | |||
| LWZ210 Equity | CO | LWZ204 Constitutional Law | CO |
| LWZ223 Property Law | CO | LWZ211 Trusts | CO |
| Specialist Elective 5 | SE | Specialist Elective 7 | SE |
| Specialist Elective 6 | SE | Specialist Elective 8 | SE |
| Year 3 | |||
| LWZ304 Administrative Law | CO | LWZ317 Civil Procedure | SE |
| LWZ315 Corporations Law | CO | LWZ320 Professional Responsibility | SE |
| LWZ316 Evidence | CO | Specialist Elective 10 | SE |
| Specialist Elective 9 | SE | Specialist Elective 11 | SE |
Law Specialist Elective (SE) units may be selected from the following:
| Semester 1 | Study Period 2 | Semester 2 |
| Specialist Electives Available in 2021 | ||
|
LWA120 Law in Context |
LWA113 Customary Law |
LWA110 Legal History |
| Specialist Electives Not Offered in 2021 | ||
| LWA111 Indigenous Peoples and the Legal System LWA114 Law, Justice and the State LWA221 Human Rights Law LWA316 Intellectual Property Law LWA329 Conveyancing Law |
LWA321 Public International Law LWA112 Environmental and Planning 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 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 of study.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| LWZ112 Comparative Legal Systems | CO | ||
| LWZ115 Legal Process | CO | ||
| LWZ116 Torts | CO | ||
| LWZ118 Contracts | CO | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| LWZ114 Criminal Law | CO | LWZ204 Constitutional Law | CO |
| LWZ210 Equity | CO | LWZ211 Trusts | CO |
| Specialist Elective 1 | CO | LWZ212 Transitional Law | CO |
| Specialist Elective 2 | SE | Specialist Elective 3 | SE |
| Year 3 | |||
| LWZ223 Property Law | CO | LWZ317 Civil Procedure | CO |
| LWZ304 Administrative Law | CO | LWZ320 Professional Responsibility | CO |
| LWZ315 Corporations Law | CO | Specialist Elective 4 | SE |
| LWZ316 Evidence | CO | Specialist Elective 5 | SE |
| Year 4 | |||
| Specialist Elective 6 | SE | ||
| Specialist Elective 7 | SE | ||
| Specialist Elective 8 | SE | ||
| Specialist Elective 9 | SE | ||
Law Specialist Elective (SE) units may be selected from the following:
| Semester 1 | Study Period 2 | Semester 2 |
| Specialist Electives Available in 2021 | ||
|
LWA120 Law in Context |
LWA113 Customary Law |
LWA110 Legal History |
| Specialist Electives Not Offered in 2021 | ||
| LWA111 Indigenous Peoples and the Legal System LWA114 Law, Justice and the State LWA221 Human Rights Law LWA316 Intellectual Property Law LWA329 Conveyancing Law |
LWA321 Public International Law LWA112 Environmental and Planning 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.