Fast Facts
Location
Online study is only available to off-shore students
Commencing
- Online: February, July
- Townsville: February, July
- Cairns: February, July
Fees
$32,960.00+
+estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Scholarships and financial aid available if eligible
Duration
3 years full-time
Entry Requirements
English (Units 3/4,C)
English language requirements
Band 2
If your native language is not English, you must meet the minimum English language requirements for this course.
View the international entry requirements for this course
CRICOS Code
0102134
Course detail
JCU’s Bachelor of Laws provides you with a skills-based and multidisciplinary legal education, accredited by the Legal Practitioners Admission Board and approved for admission to practise law in Queensland. With a strong emphasis on independent thinking and innovative problem-solving, you’ll be equipped for contemporary legal practice that makes a difference to people and communities.
In this accredited three-year degree, you will gain an in-depth understanding of the concepts, principles and values of the law. You’ll learn the role of the law in social, economic, environmental and political contexts and its significance for stable government, economic prosperity and the protection of individual and cultural rights.
Find support for your success through JCU’s First Year Experience program. New law students will receive guidance, study tips and practical advice as you build foundational legal knowledge and skills.
Learn from world-class lecturers and experience small, friendly classes and personalised support. Practical work placements ensure you are work-ready when you graduate. In the Bachelor of Laws, you’ll get firsthand experience with the legal system through mock trials as well as the chance to gain practical training in North Queensland’s first ‘moot court’ with e-court facilities at JCU Cairns, Bada-jali campus, City.
Benefit from JCU’s community links and strong support from the legal profession which contribute to providing an authentic learning environment. The Bachelor of Laws program includes practising legal professionals who teach and tutor regularly, providing direct access to contemporary standards of practice and networking opportunities.
Graduates must complete approved practical legal training with either a traineeship at a firm or via a practical legal training course to complete the requirements to practise as a lawyer.
About JCU's Bachelor of Law in Queensland
Harness your passion for justice, philosophy and reason with the Bachelor of Laws from James Cook University. Explore your appreciation for the rule of law and the role it plays in society. Our lecturers and tutors in law are world-class professionals who have a passion to help you develop your skills.
An Investment in You and the Community
The law affects everything, from social issues to economic needs, environmental concerns to political questions. Law is intricately tied to social stability and the wellbeing of the community.
As you look for the best law degrees, you will find that a Bachelor of Laws from JCU is the right choice for your future. Our lecturers are committed to student success and are passionate about helping you understand and apply the principles of justice and ethics.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the Australian legal system and the unique challenges facing our diverse culture. As you earn a Bachelor of Laws in Queensland, you will learn how justice affects reconciliation, First Nations peoples, and environmental ethics. Through the optional international program, have the chance to work cross-culturally and understand the challenges facing non-government organisations across the region. You will graduate ready to be a leader in the Australian legal system as it faces the 21st century.
Choose the Queensland Law School That Is Right for You
You are considering a law degree in Queensland, and you should equip yourself with the specialised knowledge that only JCU can offer. Your Bachelor of Laws courses offers flexibility and options to minor in nearly any subject that interests you, anthropology, design, infrastructure planning, politics and international relations. You can use your choice of minor to complement your legal studies, to follow a particular passion, or to open up more opportunities for the future.
Develop the skills that employers are looking for as you work towards your law degree in QLD. Position yourself for success by learning how to use your knowledge in practical contexts. Understand how the underlying principles of justice apply in urban, rural and remote communities and learn to identify legal issues and apply well-developed reasoning skills to solve problems.
A JCU law degree will develop your critical analysis skills, creativity, intellectual independence, and logic and reasoning. Apply these skills to real-world legal problems under the guidance of JCU’s world-class lecturers. Learn how to work in a team as well as independently. You will also gain the verbal and written communication skills to effectively work with both legal professionals and lay people.
A Law Degree with a Pathway to Success
Your personal success is important to us. Gaining knowledge and skills is essential, but you also need to develop as a professional and find your niche. Study an accredited Bachelor of Laws degree that sets you up for a successful, challenging and rewarding career.
Be mentored by leading industry connections and benefit from JCU’s small classes. You have the opportunity to do work experience alongside legal professionals who will be there to instruct, advise, and model appropriate professional legal behaviour.
When you graduate with your degree from JCU, you will have an approved qualification to practice law in Queensland. Your degree is accredited by the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board and the Chief Justice, positioning you to progress in a variety of directions in law.
Justice Matters
If you are passionate about arguing your point, standing up for what you believe in and the Australian legal system, a Bachelor of Laws from JCU is the degree for you. Position yourself to make a real difference in Queensland, Australia, and beyond.
Hide additional information
View the handbook for a detailed overview of available subjects.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment,and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Laws.
Honours
The 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 Laws (Honours) Handbook for eligibility information.
A JCU Law degree opens up a wide range of career options. You could pursue a career in government or the private sector in areas such as business and commerce, environment, property, taxation, corporate or family law.
As a graduate of JCU’s Bachelor of Laws, you will be qualified to perform roles such as barrister, solicitor, public prosecutor, community lawyer, legal officer, or in-house counsel for large companies.
This course is accredited by the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board (LPAB) and Chief Justice and is an approved qualification for admission to practice law in Queensland. Students wishing to practice should obtain further information from the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board.
Handbook year | Information valid for students commencing in 2023 |
Course code | 118610 |
Course type | Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7) |
Professional accreditation status | This course 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. This course is also certified under the Australian Law School Standards. |
Owner | Academy |
College | Business, Law and Governance |
Award Requirements
Admission Requirements
Course pre-requisites | English (Units 3/4,C) |
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. |
Academic Requirements for Course Completion
Credit points | 72 credit points as per course structure |
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:
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Inherent Requirements
Inherent Requirements | Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Bachelor of Laws. |
Reasonable adjustments | All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure. |
Course Structure
CORE SUBJECTS
Level 1
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
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
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
Level 4
LA4022:03 Civil Procedure
LA4038:03 Legal Ethics and Trust Accounting
OPTIONS
Select 3 credit points of specified subjects from List 1
PLUS
Select 9 credit points of subjects from List 2
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
List 2
LA2902:03 Environmental Law and Policy
LA2903:03 Indigenous Peoples and the Law
LA4007:03 Succession
LA4012:03 Public International Law
LA4015:03 Commercial Law
LA4019:03 Conveyancing and Drafting
LA4020:03 Employment, Workplace and Industrial Relations Law
LA4023:03 Taxation Law
LA4024:03 Advanced Taxation Law
LA4027:03 Human Rights Law
LA4031:03 Health Law
LA4032:03 Family Law
LA4034:03 Alternative Dispute Resolution
LA4039:03 Advocacy and Criminal Sentencing
LA4045:03 Intellectual Property Law
LA4049:03 Technological Disruption, Cyberspace and the Law
LA4050:03 Sport and Entertainment Law
LA4106:03 Advanced Company Law
Location
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
JCU Cairns | |
JCU Townsville | |
External |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time |
Maximum time to complete | 7 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 | Nil |
Supplementary exam for final subject | A student who has failed a single subject towards the degree 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. |
Credit
Eligibility | Students may apply for credit transfer for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure. |
Maximum allowed | 48 credit points |
Currency | Credit may 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 17 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 of 9 credit points of credit may be granted at level 3 or 4 |
Award Details
Award title | BACHELOR OF LAWS |
Approved abbreviation | LLB |
Honours Award | The award of Bachelor of Laws (Honours) is dealt with separately under the Award Requirements for the Bachelor of Laws (Honours). |
Inclusion of majors on testamur | Not applicable - this course does not have majors |
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. |
Course articulation | Not applicable |
Special awards | Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure |
Honours
Honours availability | Available as an additional 24 credit points of study [end-on] |
Eligibility | By invitation of the College Dean Normally a minimum overall GPA of 5.0 (ie. credit average) is required across the bachelor degree. Quota restrictions on the number of honours places available may apply from time to time as determined by the College Dean. |
Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD32,960.00
Courses are charged per year of full-time study. International course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.
A Student Services and Amenities Fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
Student Visa holders must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their Student Visa (except Norwegian, Swedish and Belgian citizens). Costs depend on the length of study and the number of dependants accompanying the student. For more information see Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
Scholarships and financial aid are also available for international students.
Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.
Gather the documents you need to apply and submit an application via JCU's online application portal.
Real stories
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Student
Alice Bosanquet
Bachelor of Laws
JCU offers a high standard of teaching and a strong support system for law students. The teachers have a good attitude towards teaching, have an incredible understanding of the content and are open to feedback. Students have great networking opportunities, such as get-togethers and guest lecturers.
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Alumni
Bill Mitchell
Bachelor of Laws
I’ve always had a strong focus on human rights. When TCL called for student volunteers in my fourth year at JCU, this introduced me to community legal centres. Having a direct hand in seeing justice done for those who cannot access justice is deeply satisfying.
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Lecturer
Jamie Fellows
Head of Law
The benefit of studying at JCU is that there are smaller classes compared to other universities. If students need help, it is very easy to get access to their teaching staff. And for students who are living further away, with online study they can still come to JCU and study many of our courses.
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Employer
Brendan Gaeta
Firm Partner at Connolly Suthers Lawyers
Connolly Suthers has a long history of employing JCU law graduates as they have a high level of understanding of the underlying principles and concepts of the Australian legal system. They demonstrate the intellectual and practical skills required in private practice. They know the north, its industries and people.