Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Computer Science

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Swinburne University of Technology

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Computer Science at Swinburne University of Technology is an exciting dual-degree program that gives you the best of both worlds: a strong legal foundation and in-demand computer science expertise. This program is perfect if you’re curious about how law intersects with technology and want to develop the skills to navigate legal systems while building cutting-edge software and systems. Campus Location: Hawthorn Campus (Melbourne)

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
In your first year, you’ll lay the groundwork in both law and computer science. In law, you’ll study units like Introduction to Australian Law and Statutory Interpretation, learning how legal systems operate and how to read and interpret statutes. On the computer science side, units like Introduction to Programming and Computer Systems introduce you to coding, software, and hardware fundamentals. By the end of the year, you’ll have your first hands-on experience in both fields.

Year 2
Your second year builds on these foundations. In law, you might explore Contract Law and Torts, gaining an understanding of liability, obligations, and legal rights in commercial contexts. For computer science, you’ll progress to Object-Oriented Programming and Web Technology Project, designing interactive web applications and refining your coding skills.

Year 3
By the third year, you start to specialize. Legal units like Legal Technology and Innovation and Copyright explore how law interacts with emerging technologies and intellectual property. In computer science, you’ll focus on a major area—such as Artificial Intelligence Engineering if you choose the AI major—working on advanced projects and building a portfolio of practical work.

Year 4
In your fourth year, professional experience becomes a key focus. Law students complete up to 450 hours of law-related placements, while computer science students engage in industry-linked projects through professional placement units. This is your chance to apply your knowledge in real-world settings, work in teams, and begin shaping your professional identity.

Year 5
Your final year consolidates your learning across both disciplines. You’ll refine your computer science specialization—such as Data Visualization if you choose a Data Science major—and complete a capstone project or placement. By graduation, you’ll hold two degrees and be ready to pursue diverse career paths.

Focus Areas

Law and legal systems
Legal technology and innovation
Software development and computer science majors (AI, Cyber Security, Data Science, Games Development, Internet of Things, Software Development)
Human-computer interface design
Team projects and industry placements

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

Navigate the Australian legal system and analyse legal issues
Design, build, and evaluate computer-based systems
Think critically and solve complex problems
Communicate effectively with legal and non-legal audiences
Work collaboratively in teams and reflect on professional development

Professional Alignment

The law component satisfies the academic requirements for admission as a lawyer in Victoria and across Australia.
The computer science component is professionally accredited by the Australian Computer Society.

Reputation and Employability

Swinburne University is ranked among the world’s top 300 universities in the 2026 QS World University Rankings. Its law and computer science disciplines are both highly regarded, placing within the top 75 globally for their fields. For computer science graduates, 85.1% find employment within four months of completing their degree.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

From the moment you step into this double degree, you won’t just be learning about legal systems or writing code — you’ll be doing them. You’ll gain hands-on experience through placements, industry-linked projects, and practical labs. For example, you’ll undertake professional law placements in real workplaces, while on the computer science side, you’ll work on multiple industry-focused projects, applying software development, human-computer interaction, and deploying real systems.

This means you won’t just leave with theoretical knowledge — you’ll leave with documented experience of working in teams, tackling real legal and tech challenges, and using the latest tools and methods.

Here’s what you’ll experience in this double degree:

Law industry placements: You’ll complete three core “Professional Experience in Law” units, each involving a 150-hour placement in a real legal workplace.
Computer science industry-linked projects: You’ll undertake six professionally focused, industry-linked project units, putting your CS knowledge into practice.
Tools & contemporary methods: In the CS component, you’ll use modern tools and methods for scoping, designing, building, testing, and running software systems — all aligned with current industry standards.
Teamwork & project leadership: You’ll learn how to communicate effectively with different audiences, work as a strong team member or leader, and apply project-management practices to your work.
Accredited learning & placement options: The law component meets the academic requirements for admission to practice in Victoria, Australia, and includes real legal experience.
Optional extended placements: For computer science, you have the chance to take a 6- or 12-month professional placement, giving you even more real-world exposure (this may extend the degree duration).
Bridging law and tech: This double degree gives you a unique combination of legal knowledge and deep computing expertise — from software development and IoT to human-computer interaction — preparing you for a distinctive “legal + tech” career profile.

With this balanced mix of legal practice, tech projects, tools, and placements, you’ll be ready for real-world workplaces — whether that’s advising on legal-tech issues, working in software development for regulated industries, or leading interdisciplinary teams across law and technology.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Computer Science at Swinburne University of Technology prepares graduates for highly sought-after careers at the intersection of law, technology, software systems, and digital innovation. Students develop advanced skills in legal reasoning, programming, systems thinking, cybersecurity awareness, and problem-solving, enabling them to navigate complex issues in tech-driven legal environments. This unique combination makes graduates especially valuable in industries undergoing rapid digital transformation.

Typical career outcomes include: Technology Lawyer, Software Engineer (Legal Tech), Cybersecurity Consultant, Compliance & Risk Analyst.

Career Support & Graduate Success:

Swinburne Careers & Employability Services: Students receive personalised career coaching, resume and interview preparation, networking events, internship support, employer engagement programs, and access to industry placement opportunities to strengthen job readiness.
Industry-Integrated Learning: The program includes hands-on experience through programming projects, legal problem-solving workshops, and real-world technology applications that build both technical and legal capability.
Employment Outcomes: Graduates are well positioned for careers across legal firms, technology companies, fintech organisations, government agencies, and cybersecurity sectors due to strong demand for professionals who understand both law and computing.
Median Salary Range: Graduates typically enter roles with salaries ranging from approximately AUD $75,000–$110,000+ per year, with strong growth potential in technology law, software engineering, and cyber risk management.
University–Industry Partnerships: Swinburne works closely with technology companies, legal firms, digital innovation hubs, and government agencies, providing students with internship pathways, industry projects, and professional networking opportunities.
Long-Term Accreditation Value: The Bachelor of Laws component provides the academic pathway toward admission to legal practice in Victoria, while the Computer Science degree is aligned with industry standards in software development, computing systems, and emerging digital technologies.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates are prepared for careers in technology law, software development, cybersecurity consulting, digital policy, IT governance, data protection, and compliance roles across both private and public sectors.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Computer Science, graduates can undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify as a lawyer in Australia. They may also pursue postgraduate study such as a Master of Laws (LLM) specialising in technology or digital law, or advanced computing qualifications such as a Master of Information Technology, Master of Cybersecurity, or Master of Data Science. For those interested in research or academia, pathways to a Master by Research or PhD are available in law, computer science, or interdisciplinary fields combining technology and legal systems.