Bachelor of Laws (3 Years)

Upon completion of this course, graduates will be able to:

1. demonstrate a sound knowledge of the fundamental areas of law prescribed by the admitting authorities; a wide range of legal and theoretical concepts, values and principles; and have an awareness of international law and an appreciation of Indigenous legal issues;
2. communicate in an effective and persuasive manner an argument, advice or opinion that is clear, coherent and logically sustainable, to both legal and non-legal audiences, both orally and in writing;
3. demonstrate an awareness of global legal, political and social perspectives;
4. demonstrate an ability to design a research strategy and access legal resources including using practical applications that respond to the factual, legal, theoretical and policy issues, to achieve a considered outcome that represents an evaluation of the data generated;
5. demonstrate an appreciation that the law will change and the need for both self-directed and professional legal education that seeks to ensure the currency of legal knowledge;
6. demonstrate an ability to identify issues and apply legal knowledge and principles to complex problems and projects, with a view to constructing relevant, creative and ethically appropriate responses;
7. demonstrate an ability to apply principles of professional and social responsibility in formulating considered responses to ethical issues that require an analysis and evaluation of a diverse range of values, norms and behaviours in the professional, societal and global contexts;
8. demonstrate an ability to engage with others in a way that respects diverse opinions and perspectives to achieve relevant and efficient outcomes that reflect the contribution of all those involved; and
9. demonstrate an ability to critically reflect upon and analyse law's effect on society and, where appropriate, develop arguments for reform.

UNE boasts one of Australia's largest law schools outside a capital city, as well as being an early adopter of innovative technology in the delivery of its law programs. The Bachelor of Law (3 years) encourages both a critical and progressive approach to the existing law and legal system; ensuring that students understand both the law and the context.

The Bachelor of Laws is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board of NSW for admission as a legal practitioner in NSW and mutual recognition legislation extends admission to other Australian jurisdictions.

After completion of academic qualifications there are a range of employment options from which to choose. Graduates who wish to be admitted to practice as a solicitor, barrister or legal practitioner anywhere in Australia will also have to undertake a course of practical legal training (PLT). This can consist of approximately half a year's full-time training, undertaken internally or externally, or of equivalent part-time training. In some jurisdictions, it may be possible to do articles of clerkship instead. Because the system adopted varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, enquiries should be made to the admission authority in the state or territory in which you intend to practice; this is usually a committee of the Supreme Court of that State or Territory or a special body set up to administer admissions to the legal profession. Additional information can be found on the School of Law page.

The Bachelor of Laws aims to graduate students who can demonstrate:

1. understanding and knowledge of Australian law and awareness of indigenous, international and theoretical perspectives;
2. competence in using legal research and analytical skills that equip them to work in the legal profession or in a broad range of law related occupations;
3. the ability to take a strategic approach to problem solving by applying critical and innovative thinking to complex legal issues and situations;
4. competence in oral and written communication;
5. the ability to work independently and in groups; and
6. professional judgment and knowledge of the ethical responsibilities associated with having completed a law degree.

Recommended study pattern

Full-time students are advised to undertake no more than 3 units each teaching period or pro-rata for part-time students.

Award requirements

To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 24 subjects (144 credit points) with not more than 8 subjects (48 credit points) at 100-level AND at least 6 subjects (36 credit points) at 300-level or higher.

Note: Students should complete 16 core subjects (96 credit points) and 8 listed subjects (48 credit points). The listed subjects have been arranged into streams by focus area. Students can only complete subjects once, even if they are listed in several focus areas.

Exit points

Candidates who discontinue their studies in the Bachelor of Laws may be eligible to exit with the Diploma in Legal Studies on completion of 8 LAW subjects (48 credit points) or the Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies on completion of 12 LAW subjects (72 credit points).

Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.

This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.

• Core Subjects

• Listed Subjects - Commercial Focus Area

• Listed Subjects - Crime Focus Area

• Listed Subjects - Environment and Resources Focus Area

• Listed Subjects - International Focus Area

• Listed Subjects - Medico-Legal Focus Area

• Listed Subjects - Small Firm Practice Focus Area

• Listed Subjects - Social Justice Focus Area

Students must contact UNE with their intent to graduate. 

Guide to graduation at UNE.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $56,424

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

The University of New England is the only Australian public university to be awarded the maximum 5 stars for Overall Experience by the Good Universities Guide, 13 years in a row. UNE has delivered distance education since 1955—that’s longer than any other Australian university. Perhaps that’s why students continue to rate UNE so highly for student satisfaction and teaching quality. With over 170 degrees offered online, and more than 22,000 students, UNE is an expert in online education.

Learn more about UNE.

Explore UNE courses.

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Rule A: You have completed a three-year qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent); or

Rule B: You have undertaken any of the following qualifications with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.0:

• Bachelor degrees
• Postgraduate degrees

Transfer from another UNE course

If you are currently studying another undergraduate qualification at UNE, you can apply to transfer into this course. To be assessed for admission you must have completed at least 4 units of study within a single course with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.0.

If you are currently studying Year 12 (school or TAFE) or have done so within the past 2 years, you can apply for admission on the basis of their ATAR or equivalent.

At least one of the following criteria must be met:

1. English is the applicant's first language as defined in Section 4 of the Admissions, Credit and Enrolment Policy; or
2. Satisfactory completion, no more than five years prior to the date of application for admission to UNE, of at least one year of full-time or equivalent full-time study at senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary level in a country in which English is the primary official language or co-official language and in which English was the sole medium of instruction and assessment for the particular period of study claimed, resulting in an AQF award or an award recognised by the Australian Department of Education; or
3. An IELTS (Academic) overall score of at least 6.5, with a minimum sub-band of 6.5 for writing and no other sub-band less than 6.0, or TOEFL IBT score of 91 with no less than 22 in writing and no less than 20 in listening, speaking and reading.
4. Satisfactory completion of the Advanced English for Academic Purposes program (EAP Level 4) at the University of New England English Language Centre.

For more information, please refer to English Language Requirements.

Students admitted to the degree with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this degree may be eligible for advanced standing. For more information about Advanced Standing or Recognition of Prior Learning, please visit: Advanced Standing

Inherent Requirements

Academic Integrity and Referencing Learning Instrument (AIRLI)

Please note that all students are required to complete the Academic Integrity and Referencing Learning Instrument (AIRLI) prior to the submission of their first assessment. AIRLI is an online tool specifically designed to help law students meet the academic integrity standards required for their course, including how to use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation. It is a self-paced suite of 10 learning modules with quizzes taking appropriately two to three hours to complete. On completion students will be awarded an e-AIRLI Badge.

Students studying UNE Law subjects must obtain two badges before they can submit their first assessment: the AIRLI Badge and the “standard” UNE Academic Integrity Module (AIM) Badge.