Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (2537)

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

  • Approved Abbreviation: BA/LLB
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 2537
  • AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 041113G

This program applies to students who commenced in 2022 or later.

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

Commencement Year Spring 2014 to 2016 - 2537.10 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws

Commencement Year 2012 - 2537.7 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws

Commencement Years 2010 to 2011 - 2537.6 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws

The double degree program permits students to undertake multi-skilling and offers diverse career paths providing high marketability in multiple areas of expertise. The LLB provides students with professional legal skills including the ability to analyse legal material and understand fundamental legal principles; an understanding of the relationship between law and society; the skills to analyse and solve non-legal problems and specialised study into the Australian legal system.

Students in this double degree also have the opportunity to complete a semester of study overseas and receive advanced standing towards their majors, minors or Bachelor of Laws alternate subjects. They are encouraged to do so but must discuss this with a program advisor.

Early Exit

Students may exit this program on completion of 80 credit points with a 2827 Diploma in Laws (exit only)

Study Mode

Five years full-time or ten years part-time. Law subjects are available at Campbelltown and Parramatta campuses. Arts subjects are available at various campuses (mainly Parramatta, Bankstown and Penrith), depending on the subjects chosen.

Program Advice

Dr Patrick Foong

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Campbelltown Campus Full Time Internal See above
Campbelltown Campus Part Time Internal See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Full Time Internal See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Part Time Internal See above

Accreditation

Graduates from the Bachelor of Laws are eligible to apply to the Legal Profession Admission Board for admission to legal practice in NSW after undertaking prescribed practical legal training.

Inherent Requirements

There are inherent requirements for this program that you must meet in order to complete your program and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this program online.

Inherent Requirements

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline.  This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is an optional work component available in this program.  Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.

International students should be aware that if an elective is a requirement of the program but the work itself was not registered with CRICOS, students can still complete these electives but it would be counted towards the work limitation.  For more details, refer to the 'Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students' website.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Admission

Eligibility for admission to the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws is based on the following requirements:

  • Assumed knowledge: any two units of HSC English
  • Recommended studies: HSC English standard or equivalent.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Special Requirements

Students enrolling in these subjects may need to have a National Police Check and consent or prohibited employment declarations as they may be conducting their placement in circumstances where they work with minors. This would be managed on an as needs basis: 

  • LAWS 3074 Judicial Internship
  • LAWS 3077 Legal Internship
  • LAWS 4012 First Nations Peoples' Access to Justice Clinic
  • LAWS 3080 Street Law Clinic
  • JUST 3011 Issues in the Criminal Justice System (corrective services field trip requirement) also records and identity check.

The following subjects require a visa for the relevant country and the ability to travel at a specified time:

  • LAWS 3024 Foundations of Chinese Law
  • LAWS 3025 Law, Culture and Entrepreneurial Innovation in India 
  • LAWS 3078 Legal, Economic and Social Transformation in Taiwan

Program Structure

Qualification for a double degree in law requires the successful completion of 400 credit points including the subjects listed in the recommended sequences for the relevant double degree programs.

Students are eligible to graduate in the associated degree at the end of three years of full-time study, only when they have completed all non-law subjects plus the eight law subjects specified in the study sequence as being in the first three years of the relevant double degree.

Students enrolled in the 2537 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws will only be eligible to graduate from their Bachelor of Laws degree upon completion of the entire 400 credit point program. Students enrolled in this program who wish to graduate with a standalone law degree prior to completion of the entire Bachelor of Arts component must transfer to program 2502 Bachelor of Laws (Non Graduate Entry) which requires the completion of 320 credit points (inclusive of 80 credit points of non-LLB study).

Students may exit with the Diploma in Laws  on completion of 80 credit points, comprising 20 credit points of specified Law core subjects and 60 credit points of Law core or alternate subjects, as provided in the program structure. Please refer to the links above for details.

Arts Subjects

For details of the relevant Arts subjects, majors and minors, refer to the current listing of Bachelor of Arts, program code 1706.

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws students are required to complete four Level 1 Bachelor of Arts core subjects plus one of the eight-subject majors and one of the four-subject minor in the Arts degree (16 subjects, including the four level 1 Arts core subjects) together with the LLB key program (24 subjects). The double degree combination therefore consists of 40 subjects with no additional flexible subjects or choice beyond that already included within the separate Arts and Law programs.

Students must complete the four Level 1 Bachelor of Arts (BA) core subjects

Subject Title Credit Points
HUMN 1052Australian Politics and Active Citizenship10
LANG 1029Foundations of Academic English10
HUMN 1053Diversity, Language and Culture10
LANG 1030Thinking Critically About Texts and Society10
Total Credit Points40

Equivalent Core Subjects

The core subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2019 or earlier.

HUMN 1002 - Analytical Reading and Writing, replaced by LANG 1029 Foundations of Academic English
HUMN 1005 - Australia and the World, replaced by HUMN 1052 Australian Politics and Active Citizenship
HUMN 1009 - Contemporary Society, replaced by HUMN 1053 Diversity, Language and Culture
LANG 1026 - Texts and Traditions, replaced by LANG 1030 Thinking Critically About Texts and Society

Recommended Sequence

Students commencing via mid-year entry, please consult the Academic Program Advisor 

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
LAWS 1003 Fundamentals of Australian Law 10
LAWS 2004 Criminal Law 10
Select two subjects from the following Year 1 core Arts subjects: 20
Australian Politics and Active Citizenship  
Foundations of Academic English  
Diversity, Language and Culture  
Thinking Critically About Texts and Society  
 Credit Points40
Spring session
LAWS 1009 Legal Analysis and Critique 10
LAWS 2013 Torts Law 10
Select two subjects from the following Year 1 core Arts subjects: 20
Australian Politics and Active Citizenship  
Foundations of Academic English  
Diversity, Language and Culture  
Thinking Critically About Texts and Society  
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
LAWS 2003 Contracts 10
Select one Arts minor subject 10
Select two subjects from your chosen major 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
LAWS 2001 Alternative Dispute Resolution 10
Select one Arts minor subject 10
Select two subjects from your chosen major 20
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
LAWS 2015 Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics 10
Select one Arts minor subject 10
Select two subjects from your chosen major 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
LAWS 2008 Government and Public Law 10
Select one Arts minor subject 10
Select two subjects from your chosen major 20
 Credit Points40
Year 4
Autumn session
LAWS 3018 Equity & Trusts 10
LAWS 3082 Property Law 10
Select two LLB Alternate subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
LAWS 3081 Administrative Law 10
LAWS 3045 Law of Associations 10
Select two LLB Alternate subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Year 5
Autumn session
LAWS 4015 Constitutional Law 10
LAWS 4004 Criminal Procedure and Evidence 10
Select two LLB Alternate subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
LAWS 4013 Civil Procedure and Arbitration 10
LAWS 4014 Remedies 10
Select two LLB Alternate subjects 20
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points400

LLB Alternate Subjects

Students must complete 80 credit points of subjects from the list of Bachelor of Laws alternate subjects below.

Subject Title Credit Points
LAWS 4017Access to Justice Clinic10
LAWS 3001Advanced Family Law10
LAWS 4003Advanced Taxation Law10
LAWS 3002Advanced Torts and Civil Wrongs10
LAWS 3003Advocacy10
LAWS 3004Anti-Discrimination Law10
LAWS 3005Australian Competition Law10
LAWS 3006Australian Consumer Law10
LAWS 3007Banking and Securities Law10
LAWS 2014Bioethics10
LAWS 3089Children's Rights: Local and International10
LAWS 3011Comparative Law: Legal Systems of the World10
LAWS 3013Conflict of Laws10
LAWS 3088Construction Law10
LAWS 3014Corporate Governance10
LAWS 3015Cyber Law and Justice10
LAWS 4010Designing Law Apps for Access to Justice10
LAWS 3016Elder Law10
LAWS 3022Family Dispute Resolution10
LAWS 3023Family Law10
LAWS 2005Financial Services Law10
LAWS 2007First Peoples and the Australian Legal System10
LAWS 4012First Nations Peoples' Access to Justice Clinic10
LAWS 3024Foundations of Chinese Law10
LAWS 3025Law, Culture and Entrepreneurial Innovation in India10
LAWS 3083Gender and the Law10
LAWS 3028Human Rights and the Asia Pacific10
LAWS 3027Human Rights Law10
LAWS 3029Immigration and Refugee Law10
JUST 3008Independent Study (Law)10
LAWS 3030Information and Data Governance Law and Regulation10
LAWS 3031Insolvency Law and Policy10
LAWS 3032Intellectual Property10
LAWS 3033International Business Transactions Law10
LAWS 4006International Climate Law10
LAWS 3034International Criminal Law10
LAWS 4007International Environmental Law10
LAWS 3036International Trade Law10
LAWS 3039Islam, International Law and Human Rights10
JUST 3011Issues in the Criminal Justice System10
LAWS 3074Judicial Internship10
LAWS 3042Jurisprudence10
LAWS 3079Law, Economics, Ethics and Change10
LAWS 3084Law and Literature10
LAWS 3044Law and Public Policy (Referendum 2023: engaging in constitutional change)10
LAWS 3046Law of Employment10
LAWS 3047Law of International Organisations10
LAWS 3048Law of the Sea10
LAWS 3085Law of War10
LAWS 3075Law's Self-Understanding10
LAWS 3078Legal, Economic and Social Transformation in Taiwan10
LAWS 3077Legal Internship10
LAWS 4016Legal Research and Methodology10
LAWS 3086Managing Legal Risk in Construction Law10
LAWS 3049Media Law10
JUST 2013Mediation10
LAWS 3050Medical Law10
LAWS 3052Mental Health Law10
LAWS 3053Moot Court10
LAWS 3055Planning and Environment Law10
LAWS 3056Practising in the Public Interest10
LAWS 3061Public Health Law10
LAWS 3063Public International Law10
LAWS 4008Revenue Law10
LAWS 3067Self-Managed Superannuation and Trusts10
LAWS 3068Space Law - Commercial Aspects10
LAWS 3087Sports Law10
LAWS 3080Street Law Clinic10
LAWS 3076Technology, Innovation and the Law10
LAWS 3071Wills and Succession10
LAWS 3072Work Health and Safety Law10

Equivalent Subjects

The equivalent subjects listed below count toward completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2019 or earlier.

JUST 2002 - Bioethics, replaced by LAWS 2014 Bioethics 

The equivalent subjects listed below count toward completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2021 or earlier.

LAWS 3008 - Civil Procedure and Arbitration (200813), replaced by LAWS 4013 Civil Procedure and Arbitration 
LAWS 3064 - Remedies (200756), replaced by LAWS 4014 Remedies
LAWS 2002 - Constitutional Law (200009), replaced by LAWS 4015 Constitutional Law
LAWS 4001 - Administrative Law (200013), replaced by LAWS 3081 Administrative Law
LAWS 2011 - Property Law (200012), replaced by LAWS 3082 Property Law
LAWS 3059 - Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics (200020), replaced by LAWS 2015 Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics

The subjects listed below count towards completion of the program for students who may have passed subjects in the list in 2022 or earlier.

JUST 4001 Clinical Legal Placement, replaced by LAWS 4017 Access to Justice Clinic 

Replaced Subjects

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2021 or earlier. 

LAWS 3043 - Land Transactions Law (200021)
LAWS 3035 - International Moot Court (200663)
LAWS 4002 - Advanced Constitutional Law (200755)
LAWS 4009 - Transaction Law (200758)
LAWS 3066 - Revenue Law Industry Placement (201007)
LAWS 3073 - Elder Law Industry Placement (201020)
JUST 2009 - Law Economics and Business Ethics (200296)
LAWS 4011 - Law Honours Dissertation (200700)

Please note that the availability of Bachelor of Laws Alternate Subjects may vary from year to year. New subjects may become available and some others discontinued. The School will publish information on which subjects are available in a session.