Bachelor of Laws

The Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Sunshine Coast is a three-year degree for people who want to practise as a solicitor or barrister, or use legal training in policy, business or community work. It's an undergraduate law degree, not a Juris Doctor, so you enter straight from school or after other study. The degree sits at level 7 on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which is the standard bachelor level.

What you study

Australian law degrees are built from units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need a certain total to graduate. You'll cover the areas the profession expects: contract, torts, criminal law and procedure, property, equity, constitutional law, administrative law, evidence, civil procedure and professional conduct. Teaching happens in semesters, with exams and assessment at the end of each. Later units let you choose electives, often in areas like family law, environmental law, international law or commercial law. Many law degrees finish with a capstone unit where you work on a complex legal problem or a research project under supervision. Check the official course page for the exact unit list and credit point totals.

Practical experience and accreditation

Law is a field where work-integrated learning matters. At USC you may have the chance to do a placement with a community legal centre, a law firm or an in-house legal team, and to take part in moot court and client interviewing exercises. To be admitted as a lawyer in Australia you need to complete a recognised law degree plus practical legal training, then apply to the legal admissions authority in the state where you want to practise. The Bachelor of Laws is structured to meet the academic requirements for admission, but you should confirm the current accreditation status with the university and the relevant admitting body.

Studying in Australia

USC is based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, with campuses at Sippy Downs and elsewhere. International students on a Student visa can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session. After graduating, many apply for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which gives time to gain Australian work experience. English requirements for international applicants are set by the university and by the Department of Home Affairs for the visa; law usually sits at the higher end of the IELTS scale, typically 7.0 to 7.5 overall, so check both thresholds before you apply.

Who it suits

This degree suits school leavers and career changers who like reading closely, arguing from evidence and writing clearly. You don't need to have studied law before. It also works for people who want legal knowledge without necessarily practising, such as those heading into government, compliance, journalism or business.

• Solicitor in private practice, community legal centres or government legal offices
• Barrister (after further study and practical legal training)
• In-house legal counsel or compliance officer in companies and not-for-profits
• Policy officer or adviser in federal, state or local government
• Legal researcher, paralegal or court officer
• Roles in industrial relations, human resources, contract management and regulation

Australian employers in these areas include law firms, legal aid and community legal services, the courts, state and federal departments, banks and insurers, and the growing number of businesses with their own legal teams. Admission as a lawyer requires practical legal training after graduation and application to the admitting authority in your state or territory.