Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics - Bachelor of Laws | 2020

*Students interested in studying this degree part-time should consult with the Law Head of Students

**Students commencing in Spring will undertake their first session in the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, before completing their first year of Law in their second year of enrolment.

Overview 

A Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics - Bachelor of Laws from UOW equips you with a comprehensive legal education: a world-class degree that provides a thorough grounding in the law, as well as a real-world focus on the essential practical skills and the social and ethical context in which the law operates. 

Combining Law with a Politics, Philosophy and Economics will teach you how to interpret complex economic ideas and understand the basis of political organisations and policy making. We examine popular national and international movements, systems of government and ethical forms of behaviour so that you will learn the political, ethical and economic perspectives needed to make a difference in our contemporary society.

We believe that practical experience is a vital part of your legal training. We are the only law school in New South Wales that requires you to complete a legal internship, providing highly valued industry experience.

We are committed to social justice and providing a legal education that engages with the complexities of law's intersection with society.

This double degree delivers a practical and contextual legal education that prepares graduates not only for traditional careers in the legal profession but also for a wide range of careers in government, business and community organisations – as leaders, innovators and problem solvers. 

Entry Requirements & Credit Arrangements

Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

A number of the course learning outcomes in each of these degrees complement and consolidate outcomes in the partner degree. Applied across two discipline areas, the outcomes are achieved at a broader and more comprehensive level.

The outcomes, which are common and consolidated in this joint degree, ensure that on successful completion of the course students will be able to:

Please refer to the Course Handbook page of each individual degree for a comprehensive list of degree course learning outcomes.

Course Structure

To qualify for award of the degree, the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics - Bachelor of Laws,a candidate must successfully complete at least 264 credit points, comprised of:

1. All compulsory Law subjects as set out in the schedule below (114 credit points);
2. 30 credit points of electives from the Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) elective list;
3. The core subjects for the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (84 credit points);
4. At least one of the three majors in the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (30 Credit Points);
5. One additional subject from electives offered within the Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities, to bring the total number of credit points completed up to 264.

Note: Where any subjects have the prefix LAW, the equivalent Bachelor of Laws subjects (LLB) must be substituted.

Part-time Study
A student is considered part-time when they are enrolled in less than 75% of the standard load for a session. If you are seeking to complete your undergraduate law degree part-time, you are required to complete a minimum of 12 credit points (2 subjects) per session. Please refer to the Recommended Study Sequence for information.
 

Click on subject codes in the above course structure for information on sessions of offer for each subject. To find out specific information on timetables, tutorials, and classes, visit the Timetable page.

Majors

As part of the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, students will choose one major as outlined on the Course Handbook Page.

Compulsory Work Placement / Online Components

This course contains a total of 140 hours over 4 weeks of compulsory work-based placements. This course may also contain compulsory components to be completed online.

Undertaking a work integrated learning experience during your university education is now a significant contributor to being competitive in securing employment in your field of choice when you graduate from UOW.

Law students will complete a Legal Internship subject (LLB3397). This subject is the vehicle for a practical placement designed to expose students to the application of the law in practice; enable students to understand the importance of developing the skills of legal research; communication, drafting, practice management and problem solving; and enable students to observe and reflect upon the values, ethical standards and conduct of the legal profession in practice.

Work Integrated Learning

Students in the Politics Major can apply to the Discipline Leader to complete an Internship under the subjects POL 345, POL 346, or POL 347.

• POL 345, Politics Internship, enables students to undertake internships in relevant political offices in the Illawarra or Sydney attached to the office of an elected politician, or working within a part of government bureaucracy. Students will undertake duties as directed by their supervisor in that institution.
• POL 346, Australian National Internship Program (ANIP), is highly competitive and by application to the ANU. If selected students will undertake two months or more full-time work in as a parliamentary intern based in the offices of Members of Parliament and Senators and engaging with a range of activities that shape national policy-making. Placements in the Public Service or other agencies are also possible. Enrolment in POL346 is conditional on being selected for the ANIP.
• POL 347, Uni-Capitol Washington Internship Program (UCWIP), provides interns with a unique perspective of the US political system and institutions over a two-month placement. In-office experiences will vary widely according to the needs of the congressional hosts but will typically include administrative functions, constituent liaison and legislative research and support. Interns are encouraged to attend hearings, briefings and press conferences both on and off Capitol Hill in addition to the UCWIP-organised briefings at the US State Department and the Australian Embassy.

For students in other majors the internship program provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their degree in a workplace setting.

Students are also encouraged to consider CRLP200 'Career Ready Learning and Practice' (6cp). CRLP200 includes a quality assured workplace internship or industry project to give you that competitive edge by developing your professional skills through authentic learning in a real world context. You will focus on your career goals and receive career direction guidance, strengthen your resume and gain skills to navigate the rapidly changing world of work, develop your communication skills and begin to build a professional network.

Law Professional Recognition/ Accreditation

The UOW Bachelor of Laws (single LLB or in combination with another degree) is accredited by the Legal Procession Admission Board (LPAB) as satisfying the academic requirements necessary for admission to practice as a lawyer. On completion of the Bachelor of Laws, a student who wishes to practise as a barrister or solicitor must also 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 practise as a legal practitioner is required to undertake a practical legal training (PLT) course accredited by the LPAB, followed by or incorporating a period of practical experience in a law-related setting. Practical experience gained by students in LLB3397 Legal Internship may be counted towards this practical experience requirement (eg ANU and College of Law will recognise days completed as part of LLB3397). Graduates should check with their PLT provider. A list of LPAB accredited PLT courses can be found on the LPAB website.

Students who intend to practise as lawyers 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 practise 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.

Honours

Laws

High achieving students enrolled in this double degree may consult with the Honours Coordinator in Law regarding the possibility of transferring into an Honours Law degree.

A student who successfully transfers into an Honours program but does not meet the minimum performance standards required for the award of Honours will be permitted to transfer back to the double degree in which they were enrolled immediately prior to the transfer into the Honours course, and will be awarded credit for the number of credit points passed in the Honours degree.

Politics, Philosophy, and Economics 

Students seeking to pursue an Honours degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics should refer to the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (Honours) Course Handbook Page. 

Other Information

Further information is available via email: askuow@uow.edu.au