​Bachelor of Social Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (2831)

  • Approved Abbreviation: BSocSc/LLB(Hons)
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 2831
  • AQF Level: 8

CRICOS code: 108414C

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

This program is designed for high achieving law students in the Bachelor of Social Science/ Bachelor of Laws program who wish to undertake an extended level of study and research in Law. An honours degree indicates academic excellence in a professional context and, as an Australian Qualifications Framework Level 8 qualification, students may also have direct entry into postgraduate programs including Masters and Doctor of Philosophy programs. 

There is no direct entry into the Honours program. Entry is by application only following completion of at least 160 credit points of Law study and by meeting specified criteria (see Admission details).  As an embedded honours program, students are not required to undertake an additional period of study. Further details regarding the honours program and its requirements are available at: Honours in Law and School of Law Honours Guidelines.

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) program satisfies the academic degree requirements for admission to practice as an Australian lawyer. Students will engage in collaborative face-to-face problem and case-based learning, will be supported by online learning materials, and will participate in authentic assessment to develop knowledge and skills. The program provides students with a broad progressive legal education with a strong practical orientation to the law. Students develop skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, research, communication, collaboration, self-management, and ethical and professional awareness and judgement. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills in legal advocacy, negotiation, and legal technology and extend their professional and learning experiences through work integrated learning, clinical placement and international exchange engagements.

Study Mode

Five years full-time or ten years part-time. Social Science subjects are offered at Liverpool and Penrith campuses and Law subjects are offered at Campbelltown and Parramatta campuses. Students may be required to travel between campuses in order to complete their subjects. 

Program Advice

courseadvicelaw@westernsydney.edu.au

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 (Honours) program 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

This program is designed for students in the Bachelor of Social Science/Bachelor of Laws program who wish to undertake an Honours program. 

Students must meet all of the following criteria for admission:

  • Completion of at least 160 credit points of law study (or 140 credit points if two Summer subjects are undertaken);
  • Demonstration of the likelihood of graduating with an Honours Weighted Average Mark (HWAM) of at least 70 at the time of graduation; or an Admission Average Mark (AAM) of at least 70 at the time of admission to the Honours program
  • Submission of a ‘Nomination of Topics’ form which expresses preferences among supervisor-defined topics and/or describes a student-defined topic in a scholarly manner. 
  • Demonstration of satisfactory academic writing skills
  • Availability of a principal supervisor

Special Requirements

Students enrolling in these subjects may need to have a National Police Certificate 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 3077 Legal Internship
  • LAWS 3074 Judicial Internship
  • LAWS 4017 Access to Justice Clinic
  • 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 units 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 2831 Bachelor of Social Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) will only be eligible to graduate from their Bachelor of Laws (Honours) 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 Social Science component must transfer to program 2829 Bachelor of Laws (Non Graduate Entry) (Honours) which requires the completion of 320 credit points (inclusive of 80 credit points of non-LLB study).

It may be possible to vary the sequence of subjects so that students study a greater concentration of either law or their second discipline of study each semester, to minimise travel between campuses and to overcome timetabling problems. Students should speak to their academic advisor as needed. 

For details of the Social Science subjects required please see program 1667 Bachelor of Social Science. Bachelor of Social Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) students are required to complete the following social science subjects:

  • A major in social science (chosen from the specified list of approved majors) of 80 credit points;
  • An 80 credit point core comprised of eight common core subjects that will be spread out over the three year degree.

Note that instead of the minimum of 80 credit points of flexible subjects required to be completed by Bachelor of Social Science students enrolled in program 1667 Bachelor of Social Science, students in this Bachelor of Social Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) program are required to complete the eight law subjects listed in the first three years of the recommended sequence.

Students must also complete 240 credit points of Law subjects comprising: 

  • 160 credit points of specified core subjects to meet Priestly 11 accreditation requirements:
  • 10 credit points Research Training Component (LAWS 4016 Legal Research and Methodology)
  • 20 credit points Research Component (LAWS 4011 Law Honours Dissertation)
  • 50 credit points of LLB alternate subjects.

Recommended Sequence

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 400 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.  

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
BEHV 1021 The Individual in Society 10
CULT 1017 Understanding Society 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
LAWS 1009 Legal Analysis and Critique 10
LAWS 2013 Torts Law 10
HUMN 1041 People, Place and Social Difference 10
HUMN 1060 Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Peoples, Places and Philosophies 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
LAWS 2003 Contracts 10
HUMN 2066 Investigating and Communicating Social Problems 10
Select two Social Science major subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
LAWS 2001 Alternative Dispute Resolution 10
CULT 2005 Ethics in the Social Sciences 10
Select two Social Science major subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
LAWS 2015 Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics 10
CULT 3001 Applied Social Research 10
Select two Social Science major subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
LAWS 2008 Government and Public Law 10
CULT 3007 Contemporary Social Issues and Professional Practice 10
Select two Social Science major subjects 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
LAWS 4016 Legal Research and Methodology 10
Select one LLB alternate subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
LAWS 4014 Remedies 10
LAWS 4013 Civil Procedure and Arbitration 10
LAWS 4011 Law Honours Dissertation 20
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points400

LLB Alternate Subjects 

Students must complete 50 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 3090Animal Law10
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 2017Indonesia: Law, Governance and Culture 10
LAWS 3025Law, Culture and Entrepreneurial Innovation in India10
LAWS 3083Gender and the Law10
LAWS 3091Globalisation, Law, Governance and Culture10
LAWS 3028Human Rights and the Asia Pacific10
LAWS 3027Human Rights Law10
LAWS 3029Immigration 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 3034International Criminal Law10
LAWS 4007International Environmental 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 Policy10
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 3061Public Health Law10
LAWS 3063Public International Law10
LAWS 2012Regulatory Risk and Compliance10
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

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.

Equivalent Subjects

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