University of Technology Sydney

C09151v1 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Bachelor of International Studies (Honours)

Award(s): Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB(Hons))
Bachelor of International Studies (Honours) (BIntSt(Hon))
CRICOS code: 106903B
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 240
Course EFTSL: 5
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
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course program
Levels of award
Professional recognition
Other information

Overview

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Bachelor of International Studies (Honours) is an exit-point for students who have completed the International Honours pathway within the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Bachelor of International Studies (C10458).

It is offered jointly by UTS Law and UTS International Studies. The course is designed for students who wish to provide specialised legal services to international organisations and to satisfy the demand for lawyers who can act for foreign investors.

For the Law Honours component 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.

In the fourth year of the combined degree, International Honours students spend an academic year studying in the local language at a university in the country of their major and also complete an honours level research project under the supervision of a relevant UTS academic.

Entry to the International Honours pathway is dependent on students maintaining a credit average (or higher) in both their International Studies and professional degree in their first three years of study, and on the availability of placements in particular majors.

Career prospects are enhanced by international experience, making students more marketable to prospective employers both locally and internationally.

The course offers students the opportunity to gain an international perspective to their law studies. In developing language skills and undertaking overseas study in their fourth year, students are exposed to expertise and skills to enable them to work internationally and have an in-depth understanding of cross-cultural legal issues.

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 legal policy adviser within a government department, lawyer in a commercial or corporate sector with international links. Graduates can work with international organisations such as the United Nations and opportunities also exist in foreign affairs.

Course intended learning outcomes

INT.1.1 Understand and employ effective strategies to operate within professional and everyday settings across diverse cultures in Australia and internationally.
INT.2.1 Conduct a major independent applied research project using advanced theoretical and specialised knowledge into international aspects of contemporary societies and cultures.
INT.2.2 Evaluate critically research findings and creatively use applied research methods to understand complex problems.
INT.3.1 Understand and engage with cultural diversities in Australia and internationally.
INT.4.1 Apply knowledge of Indigenous peoples, cultures, languages and histories to practice in Australian and internationally.
INT.5.1 Engage critically with current issues to act in socially responsible ways in Australian and international settings.
INT.6.1 Communicate clearly and effectively in written and spoken language using diverse digital technologies.
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; and
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.

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.

For course specific information see the Bachelor of International Studies Diploma in Languages Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.

Assumed knowledge

There are no prior language requirements for the international studies program. During their first year of study students complete a language survey to ensure they commence their language and culture study at the appropriate level.

Course duration and attendance

The course duration is five years of full-time study. The law component requires attendance of 12–15 hours of lectures a week and timetable constraints may require attendance at daytime and evening classes. Students spend two sessions of study at a university or other higher education institution in the country of their major.

Course structure

The course comprises a total of 240 credit points. The study components for course completion are as follows.

The law component of 144 credit points is made up of:

  • 108 credit points of compulsory core law subjects
  • a 6-credit-point legal theory option
  • a 30-credit-point law option, 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.

The international studies component of 96 credit points is made up of:

  • Intercultural Communication (8 credit points)
  • International Research Methods (8 credit points)
  • Contemporary Society subject (8 credit points)
  • Language and Culture subjects (32 credit points)
  • International Honours (40 credit points)

For a current listing of subjects in each course refer to the study package directory.

Overseas study

International Honours students spend a full year at a relevant partner university where they complete an honours level research project.

Industrial training/professional practice

To practise as a lawyer in NSW, students need to successfully complete an accredited legal academic 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 this course may complete their practical legal training by undertaking a postgraduate course in PLT, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).

Course completion requirements

STM91052 Law stream (Honours) 144cp
CBK92058 Country and Language choice (Honours) 96cp
Total 240cp

Course program

Students should follow the recommended course progression of C10129 Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of International Studies

All options shown are law options and are to be drawn from those on offer in CBK91100.

To qualify for honours, students 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 wishing to study the major MAJ09444 Legal Futures and Technology need to study 76106 Technology Law, Policy and Ethics (Capstone 1) in the Autumn session of their final year and 76107 Applied Project in Law, Innovation and Technology (Capstone 2) in their final Spring session.

Other countries may be chosen from the list of majors in CBK92058; the program has the same structure but with subjects specific to the chosen country major.

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 in their penultimate session and 76040 Research Thesis in their final session within the course. The rules concerning the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) can be found in undergraduate course information.

The Bachelor of International Studies (Honours) may be awarded with first class honours, second class honours division 1, second class honours division 2, and Pass level.

The calculation of the Honours level is based upon the 48 credit points of study completed in the UTS subjects 999781 International Research Methods, In-country Study and Fieldwork Project 1 and In-country Study and Fieldwork Project 2, all completed while students are overseas on In-country Study.

Professional recognition

This course satisfies the requirements for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a lawyer, provided students complete a practical legal training program, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).

Other information

Further information is available from:

UTS Student Centre
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS