Prepare for careers where scientific innovation intersects with law. Develop specialist scientific knowledge while meeting the academic requirements for legal practice at one of the top 3 law schools in the state of Victoria. Graduate with advanced analytical, communication and problem-solving skills and the ability to work across scientific and legal contexts.
Explore a range of science disciplines before specialising in a major such as environmental science, chemistry, animal or plant biology, or cell biology and genomics. Gain hands-on experience through laboratory learning, community science projects and industry-based experiences, while building legal expertise through electives including health law, privacy and data law, and intellectual property. Through practical learning opportunities such as Deakin Law Clinic, you will graduate prepared for careers supporting scientific innovation, regulation and emerging technologies.
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 the academic 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.
The Bachelor of Science (chemistry major) has been professionally accredited by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI). Graduates who have successfully completed the chemistry major as part of this course are encouraged to apply for membership with their local RACI branch.
Career opportunities
Graduate from the #1 Victorian university for course satisfaction. As a graduate of the Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws, you will be uniquely placed to thrive in fields where science and law intersect. Depending on your area of specialisation, you could work in:
biotechnology
forensic science
environmental science
research science.
If you want to become a practising lawyer, a law degree is a significant first step towards entering the legal profession. Upon completion of your degree and the additional legal training, you will be qualified to work as a solicitor in all legal fields including:
commercial law
criminal law
family law
intellectual property law (including patent law)
personal injury law
public international and human rights law
refugee law
the law pertaining to government.
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.
You may be required to complete units in Trimester 3 depending on your chosen major. Please refer to the Handbook for unit offering patterns.
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.
Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Science (S320)
Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Laws (M312)
Apply a broad and coherent knowledge of the scientific disciplines of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and the environment within the chosen major area(s) of study to demonstrate a deep understanding of scientific facts, scientific practices and the edifice of science.
Apply technical knowledge and skills and use them in a range of activities, in a professional and/or academic setting within the major area(s) of study; this application of technical knowledge and skills being characterised by demonstrable in-depth knowledge of scientific methods and tools, and demonstrable proficiency in the utilisation of chosen major area(s) knowledge.
Use hypotheses, laws, facts and theories to investigate, test, analyse, and evaluate scientific data and demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement and responsibility to argue about characteristics and aspects of scientific theory in the advancement of science.
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.
Demonstrate listening skills and the ability to use a range of communication skills to accommodate, encourage and answer audience questions. Articulate the boundaries or limits of scientific information, experimental or field data, discuss error, probability, uncertainty, conclusions and arguments.
Judge how well to present essential details of scientific procedures, key observations, results and conclusions in a professional manner using appropriate style, language and references including local, national, and international contributions or contexts.
Communicate legal knowledge effectively to legal and non-legal audiences, both verbally and in writing.
Use well-developed technical skills, judgement and responsibility to independently locate, analyse, evaluate the merits of, synthesise and disseminate scientific literature, information, data and results.
Use a range of digitally-based technologies to locate, evaluate and disseminate information.
Locate and evaluate scientific information from multiple sources and use scientific methods and frameworks to structure and plan observations, experimentation or fieldwork investigations.
Use critical and analytical thinking and judgement to analyse, synthesise and generate an integrated knowledge, formulate hypotheses and test them against evidence-based scientific concepts and principles.
Exercise critical thinking, judgment and intellectual independence to evaluate, consolidate and synthesise knowledge relevant to legal doctrine and legal practice.
Use initiative and creativity in planning, identifying and using multiple approaches to recognise, clarify, construct and solve problems taking into account relevant contextual factors.
Advocate scientific methodologies, hypotheses, laws, facts and principles to create solutions to authentic real world problems.
Apply legal reasoning and critical analysis to generate and articulate accurate and relevant responses to legal issues.
Take personal, professional and social responsibility within changing professional science contexts to develop autonomy as learners and evaluate own performance.
Work autonomously, responsibly and safely to solve unstructured problems and actively apply knowledge of regulatory frameworks and scientific methodologies to make informed choices.
Exercise responsibility and accountability for own learning, and possess abilities to reflect on own capabilities, performance and feedback to support personal and professional development.
Work independently and collaboratively as a team to contribute towards achieving team goals and thereby demonstrate interpersonal skills including the ability to brainstorm, negotiate, resolve conflicts, managing difficult and awkward conversations, provide constructive feedback and work in diverse professional, social and cultural contexts.
Collaborate effectively in a team environment demonstrating constructive engagement and contribution to the team and the ability to draw on strengths of others.
Apply scientific knowledge and skills with a high level of autonomy, judgement, responsibility and accountability in collaboration with others to articulate the place and importance of science in the local and global 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.
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws you must pass 40 credit points. This includes:
DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
1 credit point of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) or practical course elective units (as outlined in the Bachelor of Laws)
5 credit points of course elective units
Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Science (S320) and Bachelor of Laws (M312) must be satisfied
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
It is recommended that students intending to take the Chemistry, Human Biology, Cell Biology and Genomics, Animal Biology, Plant Biology or Environmental Science majors undertake SIT191 Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis.
students intending to take the Chemistry major and who have not previously completed VCE Maths Methods (units 3 and 4) are advised to alternatively undertake SIT190 Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs.
students intending to take the Mathematical Modelling major who have not completed VCE Maths Methods (units 3 and 4) are strongly advised to first complete SIT190 Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs. Students intending to take the Mathematical Modelling major are not required to complete SIT190 Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs or SIT191 Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis, however, they are able to undertake SIT190/ SIT191 as electives.
Chemistry - Students must complete 1 credit point from the below:
^Assumed knowledge: SLE133 Chemistry in our World or high achievement in VCE Chemistry 3 and 4 (or equivalent).
Please note: SLE155 Chemistry for the Professional Sciences is a required prerequisite when undertaking the Cell Biology and Genomics and Chemistry majors.
Students must complete 18 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws
This course includes Work Integrated Learning (WIL) formally registered as part of the course on the CRICOS register. The total work integrated learning hours will differ depending on the WIL unit you choose. For more information about WIL hours, please check the unit information in the handbook or the unit guide.
For information about how WIL units may impact student visa holder work rights, please visit Home Affairs. See 8105 Work limitation.
Course duration
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.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.
