Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Media and Communication

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

La Trobe University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Media and Communication at La Trobe University is a dynamic 5-year double degree offered in Melbourne, blending a powerful legal skillset with specialist media expertise to give you two qualifications and a serious career edge in just five years full-time (or part-time equivalent). It's perfect for students passionate about law, journalism, and media who want to shape public discourse, advocate for justice, and thrive in evolving industries—plus, you can showcase your work on La Trobe's *upstart* media platform alongside emerging journalists.

Curriculum structure

Year 1

Lays a strong foundation by introducing core legal principles and media fundamentals, helping you build essential skills right from the start. You'll dive into subjects like Legal Institutions and Methods, which explores the Australian legal system, alongside media units such as Introduction to Media and Media Institutions, giving you a broad understanding of how law and communication intersect in real-world contexts.

Year 2

Ramps up with intermediate law topics and media production skills, sharpening your analytical and creative abilities. Key units include Contract Law and Torts, where you'll tackle real legal disputes, paired with Journalism Practice and Digital Media, teaching you to craft stories and navigate online platforms effectively.

Year 3

Deepens your expertise through advanced law and specialized media streams, preparing you for complex challenges. You'll study Criminal Law and Constitutional Law to master justice systems, while units like Feature Writing and Media Law and Regulation equip you to report ethically and legally in high-stakes environments.

Year 4

Focuses on honours-level law with practical media applications, honing your research and advocacy skills. Core studies in Equity and Trusts and Administrative Law build on prior knowledge, complemented by Broadcast Journalism and Strategic Communication, where you'll produce professional content and learn to influence audiences strategically.

Year 5

Culminates in capstone experiences, integrating law and media for career-ready outcomes like internships or projects. You'll complete Civil Procedure and Evidence, refining courtroom skills, alongside advanced electives such as Investigative Journalism and a major capstone, allowing you to specialize and launch into roles blending legal acumen with media impact.

Focus areas: Build expertise in journalism, digital media, strategic communication, and legal practice areas like contracts, torts, criminal, and constitutional law—choose Flex subjects for online or on-campus flexibility.

Learning outcomes: Graduate with advanced legal reasoning, ethical media production skills, research proficiency, and the ability to analyze media-law intersections, ready to excel in dynamic professional settings.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Laws (Honours) component is designed for admission to legal practice (subject to further requirements like Practical Legal Training); media components align with industry standards for journalism and communication careers.

Reputation (employability rankings): La Trobe ranks in the world's top 250 for social sciences (Times Higher Education, 2025), with 88.1% of domestic undergrads employed within four months of graduation (QILT, 2024).

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Media and Communication at La Trobe University is designed to give students real, practical experience alongside academic learning. Students build legal understanding and media production skills through applied projects, industry-style assessments, and hands-on learning that reflects how both professions work in real life. The program also helps students develop confidence in legal thinking, journalism, digital storytelling, and professional communication through practical training environments.

This learning is supported through real-world exposure and applied training opportunities:

• Work-based learning placements in legal environments such as law firms, community legal centres, government organisations, and court-related settings, where students gain direct exposure to legal practice.
• Media production experience through newsroom-style learning environments where students create journalism, digital content, and communication projects.
• Practical legal training activities including negotiation exercises, dispute resolution tasks, and advocacy simulations that reflect real courtroom processes.
• Hands-on media projects using industry-standard tools for writing, broadcasting, journalism, and digital communication.
• Collaborative group projects that combine law and media skills, helping students develop teamwork, critical thinking, and communication strategy.
• Applied learning in media law, ethics, and regulation, focusing on real issues in today’s digital and traditional media industries.

Students also learn in purpose-built learning spaces such as law practice environments, media production studios, and communication labs designed to reflect real professional settings.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Media and Communication at La Trobe University develop a strong combination of legal knowledge and media expertise, preparing them for careers that sit at the intersection of law, communication, and public influence. This double degree supports students aiming for roles in legal practice, journalism, media strategy, public relations, and digital communication, where both analytical thinking and strong communication skills are essential. Common career pathways include Lawyer, Media and Communications Manager, Journalist, and Social Media Strategist.

This creates strong long-term career opportunities:

• Students benefit from La Trobe’s career support services, including employability workshops, mentoring programs, and work-integrated learning opportunities that build practical, job-ready skills.

• Hands-on learning includes newsroom-style media environments, legal simulations, and applied communication projects that reflect real industry practice.

• Students gain practical experience through activities such as negotiation exercises, advocacy training, and media production projects using industry-relevant tools and approaches.

• The law component of the degree provides the academic foundation required for future legal practice, supporting long-term professional recognition in the legal field.

• Strong industry connections across legal services, media organisations, and government sectors support graduate pathways into diverse professional roles.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this degree, students can progress into practical legal training to qualify as a lawyer, or pursue postgraduate study in law, media, communication, journalism, public relations, or research pathways such as a master’s by research or PhD, depending on their career goals.