University of Technology Sydney

C09083v3 Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

Award(s): Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB(Hons))
CRICOS code: 116593F
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 192
Course EFTSL: 4
Location: City campus

Notes

This is an exit-only course. There is no direct admission to it. Current UTS students may be able to submit an Internal Course Transfer (Graduating) application to exit with this course. See the Course transfer page for further details.


Overview
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Inherent requirements
Assumed knowledge
Recognition of prior learning
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course diagram
Course program
Levels of award
Professional recognition
Other information

Overview

This course provides students with a coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts in the discipline of law and equips them with advanced research skills. UTS Law graduates are increasingly in demand in the legal profession and in other employment sectors where legal knowledge and skills are valued. Today's law graduates are employed in a wide range of roles and responsibilities, including to advise and counsel parties, act as negotiators, manage project teams and resolve disputes. Students must successfully complete both of the research subjects: 76090 Research Methodology and 76040 Research Thesis. Strong research skills are valued highly in contemporary professional practice.

This course provides full-time or part-time study for students wishing to obtain a professional legal qualification that satisfies the requirements for admission as a lawyer.

Students have the opportunity to engage in deeper study of the law by studying 76090 Research Methodology and undertaking 76040 Research Thesis. This course can be a pathway to higher degree research programs.

Career options

Career options include lawyer or legal policy adviser within a government or corporate department, private law firm or community law centre, or negotiating treaties or work in legislation drafting with the Attorney-General's Department.

Course intended learning outcomes

LAW.1.1 A coherent and advanced understanding of fundamental areas of legal knowledge including: a. The Australian colonial and post-colonial legal system, international and comparative contexts, theoretical and technical knowledge;
b. The broader contexts within which legal issues arise and the law operates including cultural awareness, social justice and policy;
c. The impact of Anglo-Australian laws on Indigenous peoples, including their historical origins in the process of colonisation and ongoing impact;
d. The principles and values of justice and ethical practices in lawyers' roles;
e. Advanced theoretical and technical knowledge of underlying legal principles and concepts in one or more areas of practice or inquiry.
LAW.2.1 A capacity to value and promote honesty, integrity, accountability, public service and ethical standards including:
a. An understanding of approaches to ethical decision making and professional responsibility;
b. An ability to recognise, reflect upon and respond to ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts in ways that evidence professional judgment, promote justice and serve the community; and
c. An ability to reflect on and engage constructively with diversity in practice.
LAW.3.1 An advanced capacity to think critically, strategically and creatively, including the ability to:
a. Identify and articulate legal issues in context, including the skill of critical reading and writing;
b. Apply reasoning and research to generate appropriate responses to sometimes complex legal problems;
c. Engage in critical analysis and make a reasoned choice amongst alternatives; and
d. Think creatively in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate responses.
LAW.4.1 Well-developed cognitive and practical skills necessary to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues; advanced knowledge of legal research principles and different methodologies, and technical and planning skills to design and apply research to a significant scholarly piece of work.
LAW.5.1 Effective and appropriate communication skills including:
a. Highly effective use of the English language to convey legal ideas and views to different and diverse audiences and environments;
b. An ability to communicate to inform, analyse, report and persuade;
c. An ability to strategically select an appropriate medium and message;
d. An ability to assess how messages are received and alter communication strategies accordingly;
e. An ability to be responsive and adaptive to the perspectives of collaborators, clients, counter parties and others; and
f. An ability to communicate a clear and coherent exposition of legal research and scholarship orally and in writing.
LAW.6.1 Effective and appropriate collaboration skills in working together to achieve a common goal in a group learning environment or the workplace including:
a. An ability to give and receive feedback;
b. Appropriate professional and interpersonal skills in working collaboratively;
c. A capacity to develop strategies to successfully negotiate group challenges; and
d. An ability to be responsive and adaptive to the perspectives of collaborators, clients, counter parties and others.
LAW.7.1 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) graduates will:
a. Apply knowledge and skills to develop professional capabilities to work effectively with and for Indigenous peoples and communities across the law profession; and
b. Critically reflect on ethical Indigenous research practices to work with and for Indigenous peoples across the legal community sectors.
LAW.8.1 The ability to implement appropriate self-management and lifelong learning strategies including:
a. An ability to undertake and initiate self-directed work and learning, including authorship of a significant piece of work;
b. Well-developed judgment and responsibility as a legal professional in a broader social context;
c. The ability to support personal and professional development by:
I. Reflecting on and assessing their own capabilities, wellbeing and performance;
II. Making use of feedback as appropriate;
III. Identifying and accessing appropriate resources and assistance;
IV. Making use of resources and support in developing resilience; and
d. A capacity to adapt to and embrace change and a commitment to ongoing learning.

Key

LAW = Law course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course. For more information about inherent requirements and where prospective and current students can get assistance and advice regarding these, see the UTS Inherent requirements page.

Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course.

UTS will make reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional experiences, course related work experience and other course activities to facilitate maximum participation by students with disabilities, carer responsibilities, and religious or cultural obligations in their courses.

For course specific information see the Faculty of Law Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.

Assumed knowledge

Proficiency in English.

Recognition of prior learning

Students who have already completed a degree in another discipline may apply for exemption from 48 credit points of general law electives. Details about applying for recognition of prior learning can be found in undergraduate course information.

Course duration and attendance

The course duration is four years of full-time or six-and-a-half years of part-time study. Full-time students have approximately 12–14.5 contact hours per week and part-time students have approximately 7–9.5 contact hours per week. Timetable constraints may require attendance at both day and evening classes.

Course structure

The course comprises a total of 192 credit points. The study components for course completion are:

  • 108 credit points of compulsory core law subjects
  • a 6-credit-point legal theory option
  • a 6-credit-point transdisciplinary elective
  • 30 credit points of law options, which includes either:
    • 18 credit points of law options, a 6-credit-point research methodology subject, a 6-credit-point research thesis subject, or
    • a 6-credit-point technology law, policy and ethics (Capstone 1) subject, a 6-credit-point applied project in law, innovation and technology (Capstone 2) subject, a 6-credit-point research methodology subject, a 6-credit-point research thesis subject, and either a disruptive technologies and the law subject or a local internship
  • 42 credit points of law or non-law electives, made up of either:
    • 42 credit points of subjects offered by other faculties of the university (for students who have not received exemption on the basis of a recognised prior degree), or
    • 18 credit points of core practical legal training (PLT) subjects plus 24 credit points of electives, or
    • 18 credit points of core practical legal training (PLT) subjects plus 6 credit points of work integrated learning subject plus 18 credit points of electives.

Industrial training/professional practice

To practise as a lawyer in NSW, students need to successfully complete an accredited legal qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Laws) and an accredited course of practical legal training (PLT), which UTS offers through its PLT program.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws have the option of completing the PLT program within their undergraduate law degree. Alternatively, students who wish to practise as lawyers in NSW can complete their Bachelor of Laws by including further law electives and then undertake a postgraduate course in PLT, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).

Course completion requirements

CBK91731 Honours choiceblock 30cp
STM90832 Core (Law) 108cp
CBK90923 Options (Legal Theory UG) 6cp
CBK92210 PLT and Electives 42cp
CBK92069 Transdisciplinary Electives 6cp
Total 192cp

Course diagram

Course diagram: C09083

Course program

Please follow recommended course progression of C10124 Bachelor of Laws.

The 72 credit points of optional subjects are made up of:

  • 18 credit points of law options from CBK91100 or MAJ09444
  • a 6 credit point of transdisciplinary elective from CBK92069
  • a 6-credit-point legal theory option from CBK90923, and either:
    • 42 credit points of electives from CBK92209, or
    • 24 credit points of electives from CBK92208 and 18 credit points of PLT core subjects from STM91971 and 0 credit points from PLT Stream A STM91972, or
    • 18 credit points of electives from CBK92386 and 18 credit points of PLT core subjects from STM91971 and 6 credit points from PLT Stream B STM91973.

To qualify for honours, a student must complete subjects 76090 Research Methodology in their penultimate session and 76040 Research Thesis in their final session, as option subjects within the degree.

Students commencing their study in Autumn wishing to complete the major MAJ09444 Legal Futures and Technology need to ensure that they study 76106 Technology Law, Policy and Ethics (Capstone 1) in their final Autumn session before they study 76107 Applied Project in Law, Innovation and Technology (Capstone 2) in their final Spring session.

Students commencing their study in Spring wishing to complete the major MAJ09444 Legal Futures and Technology need to ensure that they study 76106 Technology Law, Policy and Ethics (Capstone 1) in their penultimate Autumn session before they study 76107 Applied Project in Law, Innovation and Technology (Capstone 2) in their final Spring session.

Levels of award

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) may be awarded with first or second class honours, which does not require an additional honours year. Honours candidates must complete 76090 Research Methodology and 76040 Research Thesis. 76090 Research Methodology must be completed prior to undertaking 76040 Research Thesis. The rules concerning the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) can be found in undergraduate course information.

Professional recognition

This course satisfies the requirements for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a lawyer provided students undertake the optional practical legal training program as part of the course or at the completion of the course. Check with the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) for time constraints.

Other information

Further information is available from:

UTS Student Centre
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
Ask UTS