Course and Subject Handbook 2015 Course Information Bachelor of Science – Bachelor of Laws (Honours)[Embedded]

Bachelor of Science – Bachelor of Laws (Honours)[Embedded]

Information valid for students commencing in 2015.

Year

2015

Course code

60510

Version

12

Professional accreditation status

The Bachelor of Laws is accredited by the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board (LPAB) & Chief Justice.

To be eligible for admission as a solicitor in Queensland, an applicant must have completed approved law qualifications (this degree satisfies that requirement), have undertaken approved practical legal training via a practical legal training course or Supervised Traineeship at a firm, and be able to satisfy the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board and the Supreme Court of Queensland of their fitness to practise. The same requirements apply to those intending to practice as a barrister but, to obtain a barrister’s practising certificate applicants must also pass the Bar Exams (three 1.5 hour examinations, focusing on legal ethics, practice and procedure, and evidence).and complete the Bar Practice Course after being admitted as a lawyer, followed by one year of mentoring and supervision.

Course type

Bachelor Honours Degree (AQF Level 7 / Level 8)

Division

Tropical Environments and Societies

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites

Entry to the Law Honours program is by invitation of the Dean of College.

Current enrolment in Level 4 of the James Cook University Bachelor of Science – Bachelor of Laws pass degree, with an overall grade point average of 5.0 (i.e. credit average) or better.

Normally a minimum average grade of Credit is required in the pass degree subjects relevant to the field in which Science Honours is to be taken.

Minimum English language proficiency requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 1 Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.

Additional selection requirements

Nil

Special admission requirements

Nil

Post-admission requirements

Some majors require attendance at block mode subjects on either the Townsville or Cairns campus.  Students may be required to attend block mode classes at a campus other than that at which they are enrolled, at their own expense.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points

120 credit points as per course structure

Additional course rules

Students may seek permission to enrol in one or more level 5 science subjects.

The course shall include 48 credit points of Science subjects and 72 credit points of Law subjects.

Unless otherwise approved by the Dean, College of Science, Technology and Engineering, a student for this degree shall obtain a major from subjects listed in the course structure. Only subjects passed at a grade of Pass or higher can be counted towards a major.

Additional completion requirements

Nil

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.

On successful completion of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours), 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.

  • Demonstrate knowledge of research principles and methods

  • 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

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

  • 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 project and/or research work

  • Demonstrate well developed judgement of ethical issues in research.

On successful completion of the Bachelor of Science, graduates will be able to:

  • Integrate and apply a coherent body of theoretical and technical knowledge, including underlying concepts and principles, in one or more science disciplines

  • Critically appraise the role and relevance of science in society, particularly in creating sustainable futures in the tropics, worldwide

  • Demonstrate broad understanding of the methods of science, including the creative processes involved in developing scientific knowledge, and its contestable and testable nature.

  • Retrieve, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information from a range of sources

  • Plan and conduct reliable, evidence-based laboratory and/or field experiments by selecting and applying methods, techniques and tools, as appropriate to one or more science disciplines

  • Organise, analyse and interpret scientific data using mathematical, statistical and technological skills

  • Convey scientific ideas, arguments and conclusions clearly and coherently through well-developed written and oral communication skills and a variety of media

  • Identify, analyse and generate solutions to unpredictable or complex problems by applying scientific knowledge and skills with initiative and well-developed judgement

  • Critically review regulatory requirements, ethical principles and, where appropriate, cultural frameworks, to work effectively, responsibly and safely in diverse contexts

  • Reflect on current skills, knowledge and attitudes to manage their professional learning needs and performance, autonomously and in collaboration with others.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

Level 1

LA1101:03 Legal Institutions and Processes

LA1102:03 Legal Research, Writing and Analysis

LA1103:03 Law, Society and Change

LA1104:03 Legal Concepts

LA1105:03 Contract Law 1

LA1106:03 Contract Law 2

SC1101:03 Science: Nature, Knowledge and Understanding

SC1102:03 Modelling Natural Systems

CH1001:03 Chemistry: A Central Science or CH1011:03 Chemistry for the Natural Sciences

Level 2

LA2015:03 Land Law 1

LA2016:03 Land Law 2

LA2017:03 Principles of Criminal Law A

LA2018:03 Principles of Criminal Law B

LA2019:03 Torts A - Specific Torts

LA2020:03 Torts B - Negligence

Level 3

LA3004:03 Evidence

LA3006:03 Administrative Law

LA3011:03 Commercial and Personal Property Law

LA3013:03 Principles of Equity

LA3014:03 Law of Trusts

LA3105:03 Constitutional Law

LA3106:03 Company and Partnership Law

Level 4

LA4011:03 Environmental Law

OPTIONS

Select 3 credit points of specified level 4 LA subjects from:

LA4014:03 Clinical Legal Studies

LA4021:03 Competition Mooting

LA4039:03 Advocacy and Criminal Sentencing

LA4041:03 Legal Placement

LA4043:03 Multidisciplinary Project

LA4044:03 Independent Project

PLUS

Select a Science major (30 credit points) from Table A

PLUS

Select 3 credit points of level 2 science subjects

PLUS

Select 3 credit points of level 2 science subjects

PLUS

Select 3 credit points of level 3 science subjects

PLUS

Select 6 credit points of any LA level 4 subjects

PLUS

LA4047:03 Research Dissertation B: Part 1 of 2 and LA4048:03 Research Dissertation B: Part 2 of 2

or LA4026:03 Research Dissertation A and 3 credit points of LA level 4 subjects

Table A (SCIENCE MAJORS)

Type of major

Mandatory

Single

Credit points in major

30 credit points

Special requirements

Nil

MAJOR

AVAILABLE AT

NOTES

Aquaculture Science and Technology

Townsville

Available for mid-year entry

Biochemistry/Molecular Biology

Cairns

Townsville

Only first year available in Cairns

Not available for mid-year entry

Chemistry

Cairns

Townsville

Only first year available in Cairns

Not available for mid-year entry

Ecology and Conservation

Townsville

Available for mid-year entry

Environmental and Marine Geosciences

Cairns

Townsville

Available for mid-year entry

Environmental Management

Cairns

Townsville

Available for mid-year entry

Geography

Cairns Townsville

Available for mid-year entry

Geology

Cairns

Townsville

Only first year available in Cairns

Available for mid-year entry

Marine Biology

Townsville

Available for mid-year entry

Mathematics

Cairns

Townsville

Only first year available in Cairns, no mid-year entry

Available for mid-year entry

Zoology

Townsville

Available for mid-year entry

Zoology and Ecology

Cairns

Available for mid-year entry

Campus

COURSE AVAILABLE AT

NOTES

Cairns

See Table A (SCIENCE MAJORS) for availability of majors at each campus

Townsville

See Table A (SCIENCE MAJORS) for availability of majors at each campus

Candidature

Expected time to complete

5 years full-time or equivalent part-time

Maximum time to complete

10 years

Maximum leave of absence

1 year

Progression

Course progression requisites

Nil

Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)

No

Special assessment requirements

Nil

Professional accreditation requirements

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

Maximum allowed Pass Conceded (PC) grade

Nil

Supplementary exam for final subject

A student who has failed a single law 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.

Advanced Standing

Eligibility

Students may apply for advanced standing for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Advanced Standing and Articulation policy and associated procedures.

Maximum allowed

80 credit points

Currency

Advanced standing will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course.

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 student has not completed the course of study prescribed for the degree.

Other restrictions

Nil

Award Details

Award title

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - BACHELOR OF LAWS (HONOURS)

Approved abbreviation

BSc-LLB(Hons)

Inclusion of majors on testamur

All majors may appear on the testamur

Exit with lesser award

Not applicable

Course articulation

Not applicable