Bachelor of Arts-Bachelor of Laws

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Bachelor of Arts-Bachelor of Laws

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This joint degree qualifies you for admission to practise law in Queensland, and provides you with the analytic and communication strengths of the Bachelor of Arts. This degree will give you a legal qualification with complementary Arts skills, and is strongly supported by the legal profession.

Campus

Townsville, Cairns

Start dates

February, July

Duration

5 years full-time
Part time available

Study mode

On campus

Prerequisites

English (4,SA)

OP/Rank

15/67

Career opportunities

Law

Law graduates can find work in private practice, corporations, government and non-government agencies in a wide variety of areas:

Government agencies in a wide variety of areas
General legal practice
Solicitor or barrister
Business and commercial law
Environmental law
Conveyancing and property law
Criminal law
Industrial law
Taxation law

Arts

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is one of the best-known university degrees. It brings together subjects from the humanities and social sciences to create graduates who have a broad knowledge of society and culture and key skills in communication, research and critical analysis.

Arts graduates are recognised for their excellent communication skills, ability to critically analyse information, creative problem solving and research abilities. They find careers in the private and public sector in many interesting roles.

Course highlights

JCU’s Law program provides students with an accredited qualification satisfying the academic requirements for admission to practice law.

When you graduate you will be well prepared to begin your career practising law in private practice, government, business or in the community sectors at a local, state, national or international level.

This course is an approved qualification for admission to practice law in Queensland. Students wishing to practice should obtain further information from the Barristers’ and Solicitors’ Admission Boards.

How to apply

Check the QTAC information and apply by clicking on the relevant link below depending on where you wish to study.

Take note of the QTAC code for this course in the location you've chosen because you'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.

Townsville (311031) - Apply now
Cairns (321031) - Apply now
External (311039) - Apply now

OP Score/Rank is indicative only. Entry scores will be finalised in the major offer round.

Pathway into course

JCU offers pathway courses to help you move into a degree at JCU. Pathway courses provide you with an individualised study plan and specialised support as you transition to university. Contact us for more information.

Students are encouraged to undertake the Tertiary Access Course if they have not studied recently and/or want assistance making the transition to University studies.

Handbook

Bachelor of Arts – Bachelor of Laws

Handbook year	2019
Course code	60210
Course type	Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7)
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 and complete the Bar Practice Course after being admitted as a lawyer, followed by one year of mentoring and supervision.
Division	Tropical Environments and Societies

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites	English
Minimum English language proficiency requirements	Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.
Special admission requirements	A student who has previously graduated with either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Laws shall not be admitted to the joint degree.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points

120 credit points as per course structure

Additional completion requirements

The Psychology Studies major is not an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited sequence.

Course learning outcomes

JCU graduates are committed to lifelong learning, intellectual development, and to the display of exemplary personal, professional and ethical standards. They have a sense of their place in the tropics and are charged with professional, community, and environmental responsibility. JCU graduates appreciate the need to embrace and be acquainted with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia. They are committed to reconciliation, diversity and sustainability. They exhibit a willingness to lead and to contribute to the intellectual, environmental, cultural, economic and social challenges of regional, national, and international communities of the tropics.

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

Demonstrate a broad and coherent body of knowledge with depth in the underlying principles and concepts of at least one discipline of the Arts, Languages or Social Sciences
Integrate knowledge of the diversity of cultures and peoples, their differences and commonalities, especially with respect to Indigenous cultures and peoples
Appraise the place and role of Australia and Singapore in the Asia-Pacific region and the tropics worldwide
Review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise information, claims, and evidence
Apply critical thinking, independent judgement, intercultural sensitivity, and national, regional and global perspectives, to identify and solve problems in at least one discipline of the Arts, Languages or Social Sciences
Present a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas, through proficiency in written and spoken English language and numeracy, appropriate to their audience and in a range of modes and media
Demonstrate capacity for reflection, planning, ethical decision-making and interdisciplinary team work in diverse contexts of community engagement, professional work and/or scholarship
Identify and have potential to act and reflect upon opportunities for lifelong learning and career development.

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 orally and 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.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

Level 1

BA1001:03 Time, Truth, and the Human Condition

BA1002:03 Our Space: Networks, Narrative and the Making of Place

LA1101:03 Legal Institutions and Processes

LA1102:03 Legal Research, Writing and Analysis

LA1105:03 Contract Law 1

LA1106:03 Contract Law 2

LA1107:03 Contemporary Practice: The New Lawyer

LA1027:03 Human Rights Law or LA1022:03 Public International Law

SS1010:03 Australian People: Indigeneity and Multiculturalism

Level 2

LA2021:03 Personal Property and 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

BA3000:03 Arts Edge

LA3004:03 Evidence

LA3006:03 Administrative Law

LA3013:03 Principles of Equity

LA3014:03 Law of Trusts

LA3105:03 Constitutional Law

LA3106:03 Company and Partnership Law

OPTIONS

Select an Arts major from Table A

PLUS

Select 9 credit points of any level 2 and 3 Creative Media, Arts and Social Sciences subjects from the following prefixes: AN, AR, BA, CU, CV, CY, EL, EV, FR, GR, HI, IA, IT, JA, JN, NM, PL, PY, SY, WC or WS

PLUS

Select 3 credit points of specified level 4 LA subjects from List 1

List 1

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 18 credit points of LA level 4 subjects from List 2

Notes:

1. LA4022:03 Civil Procedure, and LA4038:03 Legal Ethics and Trust Accounting is a requirement for students who do intend, at any time, to seek admission as a Legal Practitioner in Queensland.

2. Themes listed below are for guidance only.

List 2

LA4022:03 Civil Procedure

LA4038:03 Legal Ethics and Trust Accounting

Themes

Sustainability
Social Justice
Governance

Sustainability

LA4030:03 Mining and Resources Law and Governance

LA4011:03 Environmental Law

LA4036:03 Indigenous People and the Law in Australia

LA4035:03 Native Title Law and Policy

LA4007:03 Succession

LA4019:03 Conveyancing and Drafting

Social Justice

LA4010:03 Advanced Criminal Law

LA4027:03 Human Rights Law

LA4031:03 Health Law

LA4034:03 Alternative Dispute Resolution

LA4032:03 Family Law

Governance

LA4012:03 Public International Law

LA4015:03 Commercial Law

LA4023:03 Taxation Law

LA4037:03 Bankruptcy and Insolvency

LA4033:03 Contemporary Issues in Consumer Protection and Commercial Regulation

LA4106:03 Advanced Company Law

LA4013:03 Law of Corporate Investigations

LA4020:03 Employment, Workplace and Industrial Relations Law

LA4042:03 Maritime Law

LA4045:03 Intellectual Property Law

LA4049:03 Technological Disruption, Cyberspace and the Law

LA4050:03 Sport and Entertainment Law

TABLE A (ARTS MAJORS)

Type of major	Mandatory, single Arts major
Credit points in major	24 credit points
Notes	All majors are available mid year

MAJOR	AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
Anthropology	Cairns Townsville
Archaeology	Cairns Townsville
Criminology	Townsville External	Not all subjects available internally Students will need to take some subjects offered only in external mode
Design and Creative Arts	Cairns Townsville	Visual Arts and Digital Imaging Focus (Cairns) Design and Innovation Focus (Townsville)
English	Cairns Townsville External
History	Cairns Townsville
Human Geography	Cairns Townsville
Human Services	Cairns Townsville
Indigenous Studies	Cairns Townsville	Not all subjects available internally. Students will need to take some subjects offered only in external mode.
Modern Languages	Cairns Townsville External	Language streams (and locations) available are as follows: French (Cairns and Townsville) Japanese (Cairns and Townsville) German (Townsville and External) Italian (Cairns and Townsville)
Multimedia Journalism and Writing	Townsville
Politics and International Relations	Cairns Townsville External	Not all subjects are available at all locations
Psychology Studies	Townsville	If you plan to practise as a registered psychologist, you will need additional studies beyond a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Studies
Sociology	Cairns Townsville	Not all subjects available internally

Campus

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
Cairns	Not all majors are available in Cairns
Townsville

Candidature

Expected time to complete	5 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Maximum time to complete	11 years
Maximum leave of absence	1 year

Progression

Course progression requisites	Must successfully complete 12 credit points at level 1 before attempting any level 2 or 3 subject
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 - Business, Law and Governance subjects 3 credit points - Creative Media, Arts or Social Sciences subjects not taken as part of an Arts major.
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

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for credit for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit and Articulation policy and associated procedures.
Maximum allowed	80 credit points
Currency	Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 21 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course.
Other restrictions	A maximum credit of 18 credit points may be granted at level 3 and 4.

Award Details

Award title	BACHELOR OF ARTS – BACHELOR OF LAWS
Approved abbreviation	BA-LLB
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Any major studied may appear on the testamur
Exit with lesser award	Students who have completed 24 credit points of their course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Diploma of Tertiary Studies. Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed 72 credit points of study and appropriate subjects, may be eligible to receive the award of Bachelor of Arts. Students who exit the course after the first year of equivalent full-time study may transfer to the Bachelor of Laws without loss of advanced standing. (Note: Transfer after completion of any later year of the joint degree will normally entail loss of advanced standing for non-Law subjects completed beyond level 1.)
Course articulation	Not applicable

Honours

Honours availability

Honours is available in either or both disciplines

Law honours is available within this course (see separate Handbook document)

Arts honours is available as an additional 24 credit points of study.

Eligibility

By invitation of the College Dean

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

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

Honours

The Bachelor of Arts-Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree is available for high-achieving students. It consists of extra study and the development of a personal research project and thesis. An Honours degree is usually essential for entry to research higher degrees. Refer to the Bachelor of Arts-Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Handbook for eligibility information.

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This website is intended as general guide. Prospective students should contact the university to confirm admission requirements and the availability of courses. James Cook University reserves the right to alter any course or admission requirement without prior notice.