Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry)

Version

5

Minimum English Language Proficiency Requirements

Students of non-English speaking backgrounds must have an adequate English language capacity assessed under the Australian International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The IELTS score required for admission to this course can be found in Schedule II of the JCU Admissions policy.

Course learning outcomes

JCU graduates are committed to lifelong learning, intellectual development and to displaying exemplary personal, professional and ethical standards. They have an understanding of First Nations peoples, reconciliation, diversity and sustainability (in its broadest sense). They also have a sense of their place in the Tropics and are charged with professional, community and environmental responsibility. They exhibit a willingness to lead and to contribute to the intellectual, cultural and social challenges of regional, national and international communities.

In the context of a JCU graduate, on successful completion of the Bachelor of Laws graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of a broad and coherent body of knowledge that includes the fundamental areas of legal knowledge, the Australian legal system, and underlying principles and concepts, including international and comparative contexts

• Demonstrate an understanding of the broader contexts within which legal issues arise

• Demonstrate an understanding of principles and values of justice and of ethical practice in lawyers’ roles

• Identify and articulate legal issues and apply legal reasoning and research, critical analysis and creative thought, judgement and intellectual independence to generate appropriate responses to legal issues and to identify and solve legal problems

• Demonstrate the intellectual and practical skills needed to identify, research, analyse, evaluate, consolidate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues

• Communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas for legal and non-legal audiences both

(a) orally; and

(b) in writing

• Collaborate effectively

• Learn and work independently, reflect on and assess their own capabilities and performance, and make use of feedback as appropriate, to support personal and professional development.

• Demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge and skills with initiative and judgement and with due consideration of ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts, appropriate approaches to ethical decision-making, professional responsibility and professional judgement in planning, problem solving and decision-making in professional practice and/or scholarship

• Demonstrate an ability to adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts

• Demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge and skills with responsibility and accountability for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters

• Demonstrate an ability to recognise and reflect upon the professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice and in service to the community.

Cairns

Maximum time to complete

10 years

Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)

No

Accreditation requirements

1. In accordance with the requirements of the Supreme Court (Admission) Rules 2004 (QLD), students who intend, at any time, to seek admission as a Legal Practitioner in Queensland must include as subjects within their degree:

LA4022:03 Civil Procedure

LA4038:03 Legal Ethics and Trust Accounting

2. Students seeking admission to practice are strongly advised to include the following level 4 subjects:

LA4007:03 Succession

LA4019:03 Conveyancing and Drafting

LA4032:03 Family Law

Supplementary exam for final subject

A candidate who has failed a single subject towards the award in their final teaching period and who gained 40% or more of the marks for that subject, may be granted a supplementary examination in that subject. However if that subject is required for accreditation, then the criteria specified by that accreditation will apply.

Maximum allowed

48 credit points

Expiry

Advanced standing gained for any subject shall be cancelled 20 years after the date of the examination upon which the advanced standing is based if, by then, the candidate has not completed this course.

Exit with lesser award

Not applicable

Eligibility

By invitation from the Head Law

Current enrolment in the final year of the James Cook University Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) pass degree, with an overall grade point average of 5.0 (i.e. credit average) or better.