Graduating with two versatile degrees sets you up for a career without limitations. Combine an industry-leading legal education with thought-provoking investigative learning when you study Deakin's Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws. Study everything from torts to commercial law at Deakin Law School, while exploring a complementary specialisation, including criminology, sociology, politics, policy studies and media studies, through your arts degree.
The real-world experience you gain throughout your degree will prepare you for roles across a wide range of fields. In the law stream, you can work on real cases alongside established legal professionals at the Deakin Law Clinic. In the arts stream, you will develop industry-relevant skills on work-integrated learning projects and, depending on your major, you may choose to undertake a study abroad experience.
Ready to develop transferable skills to enhance your career prospects in law?
The law operates in, and is influenced by, many external factors; from society to economics and the environment to politics. A combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws course gives you the extra knowledge and skills to understand and work with these related issues.
Deakin Law School provides a strong foundation in all major areas of law, including:
contracts law
legal practice and ethics
criminal law and procedure
torts
property law
constitutional law
administrative law.
Gain a robust legal education and practical skills through our renowned programs at the Deakin Law Clinic, industry placements and internships. You can also undertake opportunities to study abroad through exchange programs and university partnerships to further enhance your contextual understanding.
Choose from a range of study areas in your arts degree, including social sciences, humanities and the arts. If you are interested in human behaviour, you might choose sociology. If the state of the world is more your thing, choose to focus on international relations. Or, you might opt for something that simply fascinates you, like anthropology or film and television.
Explore the latest industry concepts, legal practice and approaches in units taught by active researchers and legal professionals. Benefit from their existing connections and insights and gain that all-important competitive edge to stand out to your future employers.
Indicative student workload
As a student you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time. The minimum expected workload for a Law unit will normally be around 150 hours, which includes attendance at class, reading, completion of any assessment, and preparation for the exam.
Professional recognition
Deakin’s Bachelor of Laws is designed to satisfy the university component of the requirements to become an Australian Lawyer set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB).
Career opportunities
Graduates can look forward to a diverse and challenging career in a range of roles, including:
Demonstrate a broad and coherent body of knowledge in the Arts disciplines, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines or areas of practice.
Demonstrate an understanding of the Australian legal system and the fundamental areas of knowledge required for legal practice as situated within international contexts and the broader contexts within which legal issues arise.
Communication
Demonstrate highly developed skills in oral, written and electronic communication and the ability to communicate research outcomes, and produce scholarly papers.
Communicate legal knowledge effectively to legal and non-legal audiences, both verbally and in writing.
Digital literacy
Research, analyse, synthesise and disseminate information using a range of appropriate technologies and resources in a rapidly-changing global environment.
Use a range of digitally-based technologies to locate, evaluate and disseminate information.
Critical thinking
Use critical and analytical thinking and judgement in selecting and applying appropriate theories and methodologies to evaluate information and knowledge about society, culture and the arts.
Exercise critical thinking, judgment and intellectual independence to evaluate, consolidate and synthesise knowledge relevant to legal doctrine and legal practice.
Problem solving
Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems in the Humanities, Social Sciences and the Creative Arts, including cross-disciplinary approaches.
Apply legal reasoning and critical analysis to generate and articulate accurate and relevant responses to legal issues.
Self-management
Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility and accountability for personal actions and a continued commitment to learning in personal, professional, and scholarly contexts.
Exercise responsibility and accountability for own learning, and possess abilities to reflect on own capabilities, performance and feedback to support personal and professional development.
Teamwork
Work and learn collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals and members of the wider community.
Collaborate effectively in a team environment demonstrating constructive engagement and contribution to the team and the ability to draw on strengths of others.
Global citizenship
Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues, cultural diversity, and social responsibility when engaging in scholarship and professional roles in the local, national or international community.
Reflect on the ethical and professional behaviours and responsibilities of legal professionals and demonstrate an understanding of the impact that different social, ethical, global or environmental perspectives have on exercising legal practice in the community.
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws students must pass 40 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
16 credit points from the Bachelor of Arts
2 major (16 credit points) OR
1 major (8 credit points)
1 minor (4 credit points)
The remaining credit point(s) may be used to undertake additional elective units chosen from the Bachelor of Arts which may comprise of a minor sequence (4 credit points)
a minimum of 4 credit points of Faculty of Arts units at level 3
24 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws
18 credit points of core units
1 credit point of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) or practical course elective unit
Students must complete one approved Arts major of 8 credit points selected from A310 Bachelor of Arts Major/Minor listing. The remaining credit points may be used to undertake another Bachelor of Arts major, or a Bachelor of Arts minor and elective units chosen from the Bachelor of Arts.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.
