Course description
The Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice is modern, friendly, accessible and, most importantly, highly regarded by the legal profession.
There are 2 elements:
* The knowledge and critical evaluation of Australian law with reference to its historical development and comparative place.
* The possession of a range of key skills involved in the translation of legal rights into effect, including interviewing, drafting, negotiation and teamwork.
It provides 2 pathways for students:
* Professionally accredited, it incorporates all practical legal training requirements needed to gain admission as a solicitor or barrister.
* For students not wishing to be admitted into legal practice, it provides the opportunity to exit the program early with a Bachelor of Laws.
Whichever path you choose, this course is designed to foster independent learning techniques with which more advanced knowledge can be acquired in subsequent years.
What will I study?
Refer to the program of study.
Why study Law at Flinders?
* Our Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice integrates the required practical legal training needed to gain admission as a solicitor or barrister. This means that you can become qualified to practise without having to pay upfront fees for the final part of your training, unlike your counterparts at many other law schools.
* The Flinders Law School is respected as one of the most innovative in Australia. Our program is designed specifically to cater for the fact that our future lawyers have different interests and career aims, and must understand how law really works.
* Our academic staff includes excellent and innovative teachers who have won national and University awards. They also include active researchers, many with national or international reputations in their fields. All are involved in a range of external activities that regularly bring them into contact with the legal profession and the broader community.
* Our students and graduates have enjoyed considerable and varied successes in recent times. Eg they have won a number of prizes and awards, both external and internal, including University Medals. Every year since 2004, a Flinders law student has been the recipient of the Law Foundation of South Australia Essay Prize.
* One of our graduates recently became the very first winner of a prestigious Human Rights Internship Program internship at The Hague.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice is accredited by the Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council.
It incorporates all practical legal training requirements needed to gain admission as a solicitor or barrister.
Combined degree options
Combine with
Duration (full-time equivalent)
Bachelor of Arts 5.5 years
Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) 5.5 years
Bachelor of Biotechnology 6 years
Bachelor of Business 5.5 - 6 years
Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting),
Bacelor of Commerce (Finance) 5.5 years
Bachelor of Information Technology 6 years
Bachelor of International Studies 5.5 years
Bachelor of Justice and Society 5.5 years
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science 6 years
Bachelor of Science 6 years
Refer to Laws and Legal Practice combined degrees for further information.
Career opportunities
What can I do with my Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice degree?
Study a language
Flinders also offers all students the opportunity to major in a language in conjunction with any undergraduate course. The Diploma in Language is designed to provide students with competence in a chosen language that adds greater portability to their qualifications. You will complete a total of one extra year of study and graduate with both your chosen degree and the Diploma in Language. You can apply for this at time of enrolment.
The Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice may be taken as a first degree in four-and-a-half years full-time (or the equivalent part-time) or as a graduate-entry program in three-and-a-half years full-time (or the equivalent part-time). The course is offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities, Law and Theology.
Students who do not wish to undertake the Legal Practice component may complete a Bachelor of Laws as a first degree in four years full-time (or the equivalent part-time), or as a graduate-entry program in three years full-time (or the equivalent part-time). However, these students cannot to be admitted to legal practice without completing further practical training.
Part-time students should note that minimum enrolment requirements apply in First Year.
Both degrees may also be taken as part of a combined degrees program with another approved degree program (see below).
Note: Students who do not intend to undertake the Legal Practice component of the award are encouraged to notify the Faculty Administrative Officer (Law) during their final year to ensure that they are recorded as a graduand of the Bachelor of Laws.
PROGRAM OF STUDY - FIRST DEGREE [November, 2008]
To qualify for the Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice as a first degree student, a student must complete 162 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, comprising 78 units of compulsory topics, 24 units of Legal Practice core topics, and 60 units of electives, as set out below.
To qualify for the Bachelor of Laws as a first degree student, a student must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, comprising 78 units of compulsory topics and 66 units of electives, as set out below.
In both programs, a minimum of 9 units and a maximum of 24 units of electives must be taken from topics not offered or cross-listed by the School of Law. These may be selected from any offered by the University, provided entry and course requirements are met and that the School Board has not designated them as unavailable.
Except with permission of the School Board the program must be completed within ten consecutive years.
The award of a grade of Fail (F) on more than one occasion in the same topic may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.
Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice students are normally expected to undertake the following program. Bachelor of Laws students do not undertake the Fifth Year program but must, by the end of the fourth year, undertake a sufficient number of elective units to meet the 66-unit overall requirements.
They may include up to 6 units of topics marked * as law elective topics.
Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.
The Board of the School of Law may specify that two or more topics represent unacceptable combinations.
First Year
LLAW1101
Legal Method (Legal Research)
4.5
LLAW1102
Principles of Tort Law
4.5
LLAW1103
Public Law and Regulation
4.5
LLAW1104
Principles of Criminal Law and Procedure
4.5
LLAW1105
Contract
4.5
LLAW1106
Lawyering: Procedures and Ethics
4.5
Non-law Electives
9
Second Year
ENGL1011
Professional English in Law
3
LLAW2101
Property Law Concepts
3
LLAW2102
Issues in Criminal Law
3
LLAW2103
Advanced Contract [Oral Advocacy]
3
LLAW2104
Constitutional Law [Group Work]
6
LLAW2105
History and Philosophy of Law
3
LLAW2106
Issues in Torts
3
LLAW2107
Administrative Law [Interviewing]
6
Law Electives
6
Third Year
LLAW3101
Real Property Law
3
LLAW3102
Corporate Law [Drafting]
6
LLAW3104
Trusts and Assignments
3
Law Electives
24
Fourth Year
LLAW4101
Evidence
3
LLAW4103
Civil Litigation [LLB/LP only]
6
LLAW4103A
Principles of Civil Litigation [LLB only]
3
LLAW4104
Advanced Civil Litigation [LLB/LP only]
3
LLAW4104A
Advanced Principles of Civil Litigation [LLB only]
3
LLAW5904
Criminal Practice*#
3
LLAW5905
Property Practice*
3
LLAW5906
Advocacy*
3
LLAW5907
Succession and Estates Practice* ##
3
Law Electives: 12 units (LLB/LP); 27 units (LLB)
Fifth Year (semester)
LLAW5901
Legal Practice Management
6
LLAW5902
Commercial and Corporate Practice*
3
Law Electives
9
PROGRAM OF STUDY - GRADUATE ENTRY [November, 2008]
To qualify for the Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice as a graduate-entry student, a student must complete 138 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, comprising 78 units of compulsory topics, 24 units of Legal Practice core topics, and 36 units of electives from topics offered or cross-listed by the School of Law, as set out below.
To qualify for the Bachelor of Laws as a graduate-entry student, a student must complete 120 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, comprising 78 units of compulsory topics and 42 units of electives from topics offered or cross-listed by the School of Law, as set out below.
Except with permission of the School Board the program must be completed within ten consecutive years.
The award of a grade of Fail (F) on more than one occasion in the same topic may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's policy on Student Progress.
Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice students are normally expected to undertake the following program. Bachelor of Laws students do not undertake the Fourth Year program but must, by the end of the third year, undertake a sufficient number of elective units to meet the 42-unit overall requirements.
They may include up to 6 units of topics marked * as law elective topics.
Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.
The Board of the School of Law may specify that two or more topics represent unacceptable combinations.
First Year
LLAW1101
Legal Method [Legal Research]
4.5
LLAW1102
Principles of Tort Law
4.5
LLAW1103
Public Law and Regulation
4.5
LLAW1104
Principles of Criminal Law and Procedure
4.5
LLAW1105
Contract
4.5
LLAW1106
Lawyering: Procedures and Ethics
4.5
LLAW2101
Property Law Concepts
3
LLAW2105
History and Philosophy of Law
3
LLAW2106
Issues in Torts
3
Second Year
ENGL1011
Professional English in Law
3
LLAW2102
Issues in Criminal Law
3
LLAW2103
Advanced Contract [Oral Advocacy]
3
LLAW2104
Constitutional Law [Group Work]
6
LLAW2107
Administrative Law [Interviewing]
6
LLAW3101
Real Property Law
3
LLAW3102
Corporate Law [Drafting]
6
LLAW3104
Trusts and Assignments
3
Law Electives
9
Third Year
LLAW4101
Evidence
3
LLAW4103
Civil Litigation [LLB/LP only]
6
LLAW4103A
Principles of Civil Litigation [LLB only]
3
LLAW4104
Advanced Civil Litigation [LLB/LP only]
3
LLAW4104A
Advanced Principles of Civil Litigation [LLB only]
3
LLAW5904
Criminal Practice*#
3
LLAW5905
Property Practice*
3
LLAW5906
Advocacy*
3
LLAW5907
Succession and Estates Practice* ##
3
Law Electives: 18 units (LLB/LP); 33 units (LLB)
Fourth Year (semester)
LLAW5901
Legal Practice Management
6
LLAW5902
Commercial and Corporate Practice*
3
Law Electives
9
# Students can undertake the topic LLAW5904 Criminal Practice or alternatively they can undertake a topic in either Administrative Law Practice or Family Law Practice through credit-transfer arrangements, provided such topic and its provider have been approved or recognised by the South Australian Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council. Any student wishing to pursue this option is responsible for making his or her own arrangements with the Law Society of South Australia (or other approved provider) and must bear all relevant costs, including fees. Such students, in their own interests, must consult with the Flinders Law School Director of Practical Legal Training prior to embarking on, and during, this course of action, in order to ensure that the substitute topic and its provider are properly approved or recognised. Students will be responsible for providing official documentary evidence to the Flinders Director of Practical Legal Training upon successful completion of the relevant topic.
## Students can undertake the topic LLAW5907 Succession and Estates Practice or alternatively they can undertake a topic in either Consumer Law Practice or Employment and Industrial Law Practice or Planning and Environmental Law Practice through credit-transfer arrangements, provided such topic and its provider have been approved or recognised by the South Australian Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council. Any student wishing to pursue this option is responsible for making his or her own arrangements with the Law Society of South Australia (or other approved provider) and must bear all relevant costs, including fees. Such students, in their own interests, must consult with the Flinders Law School Director of Practical Legal Training prior to embarking on, and during, this course of action, in order to ensure that the substitute topic and its provider are properly approved or recognised. Students will be responsible for providing official documentary evidence to the Flinders Director of Practical Legal Training upon successful completion of the relevant topic.
HONOURS PROGRAM
To qualify for an honours degree, a student must complete satisfactorily the Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice or Bachelor of Laws and satisfy the additional requirements prescribed by the Board of the School of Law.
COMBINED DEGREES PROGRAMS
The Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice may be studied with one of the following degrees in a combined degrees program which can be completed in a minimum of 5.5 to 6 years.
For Bachelor of Laws students, combined degrees program can be completed in a minimum of 5 to 5.5 years.
In each case students are required to complete the same amount of law topics as for the relevant graduate-entry program. Study programs are worked out on an individual basis, but in most years students will study both law and non-law topics.
The table below indicates the minimum number of units required to complete a combined degrees program.
For details of the non-Law component, see the relevant degree entry.
LLB/LP
LLB
Bachelor of Arts
192
174
Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)
198
180
Bachelor of Biotechnology
210
192
Bachelor of Business
192**
174**
Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)
190.5##
172.5##
Bachelor of Commerce (Finance)
196.5
178.5
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
210
192
Bachelor of Information Technology
211.5
193.5
Bachelor of International Studies
198
180
Bachelor of Justice and Society
192
174
Bachelor of Science
213
195
** May be higher depending upon choice of major
## Will be higher for professional accounting accreditation
For admission to one of the programs, students must apply through SATAC for the Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice combined degrees.
Students who commence, but subsequently do not wish to complete, the combined degrees program may be eligible to transfer to either the Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice or Bachelor of Laws programs, or to the other program, and to receive credit for some or all of the topics already completed.
