Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
Students and Applicants to Geelong Waterfront Campus Travel between campuses will be required to complete this combined degree. The Bachelor of Laws degree will be taught at Waterfront campus and the Bachelor of Arts degree will be taught at the Waurn Ponds Campus.
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 tort law to commercial law at Deakin Law School, while exploring a complementary specialisation, from areas including criminology, sociology, politics and 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 is influenced by many social, economic, environmental and political factors. A combined Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws course gives you the knowledge and skills to understand these factors and work in areas where they may be relevant.
Deakin Law School provides a strong foundation in all major areas of law, including:
contract law
criminal law and procedure
torts
property law
equity and trusts
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. 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.
Deakin’s Bachelor of Arts allows you to explore meaningful ideas that matter to you, preparing you to make a positive impact on the world around you. Complement your legal studies and design your own learning by combining specific majors and minors – from international relations and journalism. Or choose to pursue your interests with specialisation options from design thinking and performing arts, strategic advertising and history to sport journalism and web design.
Our hands-on experiential learning gives you the critical skills to make an impact and curate a future career you love.
Indicative student workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. 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.
Professional recognition
Deakin's Bachelor of Laws is designed to satisfy theacademic qualifications necessary for admission to the legal profession. In Victoria these have been set by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). In addition to satisfying the academic qualifications, a person seeking admission to the legal profession in Victoria is required to have satisfactorily completed certain practical legal training requirements and must be considered a fit and proper person to be admitted to the legal profession.
Requirements for admission in jurisdictions outside Australia vary. Please check the relevant jurisdiction’s legal admissions authority to confirm the required academic qualifications criteria, including any restrictions on online study or distance education.
Career opportunities
Obtaining a law degree is your first step to entering the legal profession. Upon completion of your degree and the additional practical legal training, you will be qualified to work in such legal fields as:
commercial law
criminal law
family law
public international and human rights law
personal injury law
refugee law.
With the complementary arts degree, your studies will open you up careers in areas such as:
advertising
business and management consulting
communications, media, publishing, public relations, and journalism
community organisations and not-for-profits
criminal justice
education and government
galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM)
human rights
performing and visual arts
policy development
politics
research.
Participation requirements
Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
Mandatory student checks
Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.
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
a minimum of 4 credit points of Faculty of Arts units at level 3
The remaining credit point(s) may be used to undertake the Employability sequence, or additional elective units chosen from the Bachelor of Arts which may comprise of a minor sequence
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
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 the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
