Bachelor of Arts-Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Arts-Bachelor of Laws
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.
Part time available
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
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
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:
On successful completion of the Bachelor of Laws, graduates will be able to:
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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 |
Cairns Townsville | ||
Cairns Townsville | ||
Townsville External | Not all subjects available internally Students will need to take some subjects offered only in external mode | |
Cairns Townsville | Visual Arts and Digital Imaging Focus (Cairns) Design and Innovation Focus (Townsville) | |
Cairns Townsville External | ||
Cairns Townsville | ||
Cairns Townsville | ||
Cairns Townsville | ||
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:
|
Townsville | ||
Cairns Townsville External | Not all subjects are available at all locations | |
Townsville | If you plan to practise as a registered psychologist, you will need additional studies beyond a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Studies | |
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 |
Advanced Standing
Eligibility | Students may apply for advanced standing for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit 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 21 years after the date of the examination upon which the advanced standing is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course. |
Other restrictions | A maximum of 18 credit points of advanced standing 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.
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.
