Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry)

Overview

This degree program is available only to graduates of other disciplines and consists entirely of Law subjects with a narrower range of elective options. The Faculty aims to provide a legal education which: equips students with a critical and questioning attitude; offers a broad perspective; and provides the foundation for a career in an extensive range of legal work.

Entry Requirements / Assumed Knowledge

To be eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry), applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree from an approved university. Applications for the Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) will be assessed on academic performance.

Advanced Standing

Students may apply for advanced standing for relevant subjects completed at approved tertiary institutions. Refer to www.uow.edu.au/handbook/courserules/advancedstanding.html

Course Requirements

Students who enrol in the Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) must complete the following:

a) all compulsory Law subjects as set out in the relevant Course Program;

b) elective subjects to the value of 40 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws Elective Law Schedule.

Honours

To be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Laws (Honours), a candidate must complete the elective LLB313 Legal Research Project as part of the above Course Requirements. The Honours grade will be calculated in accordance with Method 4 (refer to the Code of Practice - Honours, Section 8 Assessment, for information on the methods of calculating Honours).

Course Program

Elective Law Schedule

* Not available in 2007

Professional Recognition

On completion of the Bachelor of Laws degree, a student who wishes to practise as a barrister or solicitor must undertake some form of professional practical training, the requirements for which vary between each state and territory of Australia.

In New South Wales, a student who intends to qualify for admission to practice as a legal practitioner is required to undertake a practical legal training course accredited by the Legal Practitioners' Admission Board, followed by or incorporating a period of practical experience in a law-related setting. The Faculty of Law has established a Legal Practice Unit and its Practical Legal Training Course has been accredited by the Legal Practitioners' Admissions Board. The course has its foundations in the Wollongong Bachelor of Laws. The course is offered over 20 weeks in a flexible mode integrating training with professional experience.

In some instances the course is also available to final year law students, so that they are qualified for admission to practice as soon as they finish their Bachelor of Laws degree.

Other Information

Students who intend to practise as solicitors after admission should obtain further information about restricted practice and the mandatory continuing legal education requirements from the Law Society of New South Wales. Students who intend to practice as barristers after admission will be required to read with a senior barrister for a period of time and to undertake the Bar Readers' Course before being qualified to take briefs on their own account. Further information is available from the New South Wales Bar Association.