Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Cyber Security

2023 Deakin University Handbook

Course sub-headings

• Course overview
• Indicative student workload
• Professional recognition
• Career opportunities
• Participation requirements
• Mandatory student checks
• Fees and charges
• Course Learning Outcomes
• Course rules
• Course structure

Course overview

Protect society from the growing threat of cybercrime by studying Australia's only combined law and cyber security degree. Through Deakin's Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Cyber Security, you can explore roles in both fields or use your dual expertise to become an in-demand cyber security lawyer, capable of handling the complex issues of our evolving digital world.

Professionals with cyber security risk detection and mitigation skills are needed more than ever and it's not just everyday consumers who are facing the threat of cybercrime. Government and businesses need professionals who can identify risks and provide legal protection for their digital operations.

This degree puts you in a position to answer the call. Graduate with two degrees in two years fewer than if you studied each degree separately and develop advanced skills in cyber security that perfectly complement legal knowledge.

Ready to earn the power to make a difference?

Study Deakin's unique Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Cyber Security and learn all the major areas of law, including:

• legal practice and ethics
• constitutional, administrative, commercial and land law
• criminal procedure
• advanced legal problem-solving and persuasion.

As well as industry-relevant areas of cyber security such as:

• computer crime and digital forensics
• database and information management
• ethical hacking
• cyber security management.

Through this broad range of units you will build a diverse set of skills, opening the door to exciting career opportunities. For example, you could become an accomplished cyber security lawyer, leaning on your deep understanding of privacy law and criminal law to better protect the rights of your clients. Or, you could be on the front line of cybercrime, using your skills in system security to set up digital barriers between businesses and cyber threats.

Whichever path you choose, you’ll be well-served by the practical experience on offer throughout the course. Gain real-world legal experience at the renowned Deakin Law Clinic; a teaching law firm that gives you the opportunity to work with real clients under the supervision of qualified legal practitioners. Analyse complex legal problems and develop the drafting, communication and problem-solving skills required for a successful career in law. Better still, you’ll get hands-on experience with our specialised cyber security software that allows you to simulate and respond to real cyber attack scenarios. By practising your skills under pressure, you’ll feel confident and well-prepared by the time you enter the workforce.

You’ll also be able to leverage the extensive research, industry partnerships and state-of-the-art facilities of Deakin’s Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation (CCSRI). With research in areas from cyber analytics and artificial intelligence to organisational security and information warfare, you'll have direct access to some of the most progressive cyber security content in the world.

Importantly, this course has the accreditations you need to take your career forward. Deakin’s Bachelor of Laws is a recognised pathway towards becoming a practising Australian lawyer. The Bachelor of Cyber Security is in the process of being professionally accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) as part of this double degree.

_{* Source: Norton Cyber Security Insights Report 2019 – Global Results}

Indicative student workload

As a student in the Faculty of Business and Law, 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.

Professional recognition

The 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). In addition to completing an approved LLB degree, you’ll need to work for one year as a supervised legal trainee or undertake a practical legal training (PLT) course.

The Bachelor of Cyber Security is professionally accredited with the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Career opportunities

Studying this combined degree means you’ll be well-placed to work in the field of law and cyber security, or in roles where both disciplines intersect. You’ll graduate with the diverse skills and practical experience required to thrive in roles including:

• business analyst
• business manager, company administrator or consultant
• corporate lawyer
• cyber security consultant
• national security adviser
• policy adviser for government departments or authorities such as the Attorney General's Department, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
• security analyst
• security systems manager or cryptographer.

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’ll be qualified to work as a solicitor or barrister in all legal fields, including: 

• commercial law
• criminal law
• family law
• personal injury law
• public international and human rights law
• refugee law.

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.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and 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.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Please refer to the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) of each of the single degrees.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Cyber Security, students must attain a total of 40 credit points consisting of 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Cyber Security and 24 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point. Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Cyber Security (S334) and the Bachelor of Laws (M312) must be satisfied plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point module, MAI010 Academic Integrity Module and unit, SIT010 Safety Induction Program. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake 2 trimesters each year.

The 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Cyber Security include:-

• 13 credit points of core units
• 2 credit points of Cyber Security capstone units
• 1 credit point of SIT coded elective unit
• SIT010 Safety Induction Program (0 credit point compulsory unit)
• STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0 credit point compulsory unit)
• Level 3 - at least 4 credit points of SIT-coded units

Students undertaking this combined degree are not required to undertake SIT306 IT Placement.

The 24 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws include:-

• 18 credit points of core units
• MAI010 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory module to be completed in the first trimester of study)
• 6 credit points of law elective units, including 1 credit point of WIL/practical unit.

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point units

To be completed in the first trimester of study.

Units

To assist you in following the course rules:

Please see course entry for Bachelor of Cyber Security (S334) and Bachelor of Laws (M312).

Other course information

Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

• Contact Student Central