Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Bachelor of Arts at La Trobe University is designed to give students far more than theoretical knowledge. Throughout the degree, students develop practical legal and professional skills through real-world learning experiences, industry engagement, research projects, and work-integrated learning opportunities. The combination of law and arts allows students to apply legal concepts to social, political, cultural, and global issues while building strong communication, analytical, advocacy, and research capabilities.

Students learn in a supportive and practice-focused environment that includes clinical legal education, mooting competitions, legal internships, collaborative projects, digital research resources, and access to modern learning facilities. The program also encourages students to connect classroom learning with professional practice through community engagement, legal placements, and international study opportunities:

• La Trobe Law Clinic: Gain hands-on legal experience by working on real legal matters, developing client interviewing skills, preparing legal advice, and engaging with practical casework under professional supervision.
• Legal Internship Program: Students can undertake the LAW Internship subject, gaining workplace experience with legal organisations, law firms, community legal centres, and government agencies while building professional networks.
• Clinical Legal Placement: The program includes opportunities such as Legal Practice and Conduct Clinical Placement, where students apply legal knowledge in professional practice settings and work alongside experienced legal practitioners.
• Leading Moot Court Program: Develop courtroom advocacy, legal argument, negotiation, and public speaking skills through La Trobe’s nationally and internationally recognised mooting competitions.
• Work-Based Learning (WBL): Students can participate in elective work-integrated learning placements that connect academic study with real workplace environments, helping them test and apply their skills in professional settings.
• Industry Placements: Gain practical exposure through placements and internships with community legal centres, law firms, courts, and government agencies, providing valuable insight into legal practice and public service careers.
• Study Abroad Opportunities: Students can broaden their international perspective through overseas study programs, enhancing both cultural awareness and global employability.
• Collaborative Research Projects: The honours component includes advanced legal research projects that strengthen investigative, analytical, and academic research skills while encouraging independent and collaborative learning.
• Digital Legal Research Tools: Students develop expertise in researching and analysing legal information using professional legal databases, digital resources, and technology-supported learning platforms.
• Arts-Based Applied Learning: Students can combine legal studies with majors such as Politics, Sociology, Philosophy, History, Languages, Media Studies, Anthropology, and International Studies, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary projects and real-world policy analysis.
• Library & Learning Resources: Access extensive legal collections, digital databases, research support services, collaborative study spaces, and specialised academic resources across La Trobe’s library network.
• Small Workshop Learning Environment: Benefit from interactive face-to-face workshops that emphasise teamwork, discussion, legal problem-solving, and practical application of legal concepts.

A Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Bachelor of Arts at La Trobe University gives graduates a powerful combination of legal expertise and broad humanities knowledge, preparing them for careers that require critical thinking, communication, research, and problem-solving skills. By studying law alongside disciplines such as politics, history, sociology, languages, or international studies, students gain a deeper understanding of society and the legal systems that shape it. Graduates are highly adaptable and well positioned for opportunities across legal, government, corporate, and community sectors.

Typical career outcomes include: Lawyer, Policy Adviser, Human Rights Officer, Corporate Compliance Manager.

Career Support & Graduate Success:

• Career Ready Program: La Trobe’s Career Ready initiative helps students build professional skills through career coaching, industry mentoring, employability workshops, networking events, internship preparation, and job application support.
• Practical Legal Experience: Students can gain hands-on experience through the La Trobe Law Clinic, legal internships, moot court competitions, and work-integrated learning opportunities that provide exposure to real legal matters and professional practice.
• Employment Outcomes: Graduates develop highly transferable skills that are valued across legal practice, public policy, government administration, consulting, communications, advocacy, and corporate sectors.
• Median Salary Range: Graduates entering legal, government, policy, and professional services roles typically begin with salaries ranging from approximately AUD $65,000–$90,000+ per year, with strong earning potential as they progress into specialised and leadership positions.
• University–Industry Partnerships: La Trobe Law maintains strong connections with law firms, courts, community legal centres, government agencies, and industry partners, providing valuable opportunities for placements, internships, networking, and professional engagement.
• Long-Term Accreditation Value: The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) is accredited by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB) and satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Victoria. The honours component further demonstrates advanced legal research and analytical capabilities valued by employers and postgraduate institutions.
• Graduation Outcomes: Graduates are prepared for careers in legal practice, public policy, diplomacy, government, advocacy, media, consulting, human rights organisations, and corporate governance. The flexibility of the Arts component allows students to tailor their expertise to a wide range of professional interests.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Bachelor of Arts, graduates can undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify for admission as a lawyer in Australia. They may also continue with a Master of Laws (LLM) or postgraduate study in areas such as international relations, public policy, communications, history, politics, human rights, or social research. Students interested in academic and research careers can progress to a Master by Research or PhD, building on the advanced research skills developed through the honours program.