Undergraduate
Bachelor of Laws
2021
The Bachelor of Laws degree provides you with the academic foundation to become a lawyer or work in a range of industries that require legal expertise, including politics, policy, government, business and private legal practice.
At CDU, you can complete a Bachelor of Laws in just three years, with options to study your law degree 100% online, on campus or a mix of both. On graduating, you will be eligible to apply for admission to the legal practice anywhere in Australia.
The Bachelor of Laws teaches you about legal systems and principles in Australia and abroad. You'll gain skills in legal research, analysis and communication, and learn theoretical perspectives on the law. The course also has a unique focus on transnational law (which looks at how laws are applied in more than one jurisdiction) and comparative law (which examines different legal systems from around the world), so you'll gain insight into the legal issues facing today's globalised economies and societies.
If you choose to study law online, you'll have 24/7 access to CDU's online learning platform, recorded lectures and tutorial assistance. You can study where, when and how it suits you.
As the Bachelor of Laws is a competitive course, you're also encouraged to apply for the Associate Degree of Legal Studies or the Diploma of Laws. These programs are an alternative pathway to the Bachelor of Laws.
Career opportunities
A Bachelor of Law prepares you for a wide range of jobs. You may choose to pursue a career as solicitor or barrister, or work in fields that benefit from legal expertise, such as politics, public service, industrial relations, community advocacy or commerce in general.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Laws 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 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:
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
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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.
External students receive online learning materials including recordings of all lectures, as well as online 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) |
130cp | 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 Electives (11 units) |
110cp |
Specialist Elective 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 added as a Law Specialist Elective unit.
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:
♦ 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 |
| Law Specialist Elective 1 | SE | Law Specialist Elective 3 | SE |
|
Law Specialist Elective 2 |
SE | Law Specialist Elective 4 | SE |
| Year 2 | |||
| LWZ210 Equity | CO | LWZ204 Constitutional Law | CO |
| LWZ223 Property Law | CO | LWZ211 Trusts | CO |
| Law Specialist Elective 5 | SE | Law Specialist Elective 7 | CO |
| Law Specialist Elective 6 | SE | Law Specialist Elective 8 | SE |
| Year 3 | |||
| LWZ304 Administrative Law | CO | LWZ317 Civil Procedure | CO |
| LWZ315 Corporations Law | CO | LWZ320 Professional Responsibility | CO |
| LWZ316 Evidence | CO | Law Specialist Elective 10 | SE |
| Law Specialist Elective 9 | SE | Law 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:
♦ 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 | |||
| LWZ115 Legal Process | CO | ||
| LWZ116 Torts | CO | ||
| LWZ118 Contracts | CO | ||
| Law Specialist Elective 1 | SE | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| LWZ114 Criminal Law | CO | LWZ204 Constitutional Law | CO |
| Law Specialist Elective 2 | SE | LWZ211 Trusts | CO |
| Law Specialist Elective 3 | SE | Law Specialist Elective 5 | SE |
| Law Specialist Elective 4 | SE | Law Specialist Elective 6 | SE |
| Year 3 | |||
| LWZ210 Equity | CO | LWZ317 Civil Procedure | CO |
| LWZ223 Property Law | CO | LWZ320 Professional Responsibility | CO |
| Law Specialist Elective 7 | SE | Law Specialist Elective 9 | SE |
| Law Specialist Elective 8 | SE | Law Specialist Elective 10 | SE |
| Year 4 | |||
| LWZ304 Administrative Law | CO | ||
| LWZ315 Corporations Law | CO | ||
| LWZ316 Evidence | CO | ||
| Law 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 |
LLWA110 Legal History LWA115 Comparative Legal Systems LWA213 Family Law LWA298 Legal Clinic LWA317 Research Paper LWA322 Moot Court LWA328 Competition and Consumer Law LWA332 Science and Law |
| 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.