Bachelor of Laws Honours

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at Edith Cowan University is designed for high-achieving law graduates who want to deepen their expertise through advanced legal research and independent inquiry. Rather than focusing on traditional classroom learning alone, students work closely with experienced academic supervisors to investigate complex legal issues and produce a substantial research thesis. This honours year helps students develop the advanced analytical, research, writing, and problem-solving skills valued by legal employers, government agencies, policy organisations, and research institutions.

The program provides access to ECU’s legal research environment, academic expertise, and professional learning facilities, allowing students to engage with contemporary legal challenges and contribute original research to the field. Through a combination of research methodology training and an independent thesis project, students gain practical experience in conducting legal research at an advanced level:

• Legal Research Thesis: Students complete a major independent research thesis on a legal topic of their choice under the guidance of an academic supervisor, developing specialist expertise in a particular area of law.
• Research Methodology Training: Students undertake dedicated units in Legal Research Methodology and Theoretical Frameworks, learning advanced legal research techniques, academic writing methods, and critical analysis skills.
• Academic Supervision: Students work one-on-one with experienced law academics who provide mentorship, research guidance, and feedback throughout the honours research project.
• Advanced Research Skills: The program develops professional competencies in legal investigation, evidence analysis, legal interpretation, policy evaluation, and scholarly communication.
• Moot Court Facility: Students have access to ECU’s state-of-the-art Moot Court, designed to replicate the Western Australian court system and equipped with digital recording technology, videoconferencing capabilities, touchscreen displays, and courtroom simulation tools that support legal education and research activities.
• Law Library Resources: Students can utilise ECU Library’s extensive legal databases, journals, legislation repositories, case law collections, and online research resources to support their honours thesis and coursework.
• Research-Focused Learning: The honours program emphasises independent investigation of contemporary legal issues, enabling students to contribute original research that may support future postgraduate study or professional legal practice.
• Pathway to Higher Research Degrees: The research experience gained through the honours thesis provides strong preparation for future Master by Research and PhD studies in Law.

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at Edith Cowan University is designed for high-achieving law graduates who want to deepen their legal expertise, strengthen their research capabilities, and stand out in a competitive employment market. Graduates develop advanced analytical, advocacy, and legal research skills that are highly valued by employers across the legal profession, government, and corporate sectors. Typical career opportunities include Lawyer, Legal Researcher, Policy Advisor, and Corporate Compliance Officer. The Honours qualification can provide a distinct advantage when applying for professional, leadership, and research-focused roles.

This enhanced career potential is supported by:

• Dedicated employability support: ECU’s School of Business and Law provides access to Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities, professional networking events, career development services, industry mentoring, and practical legal experiences. Students benefit from close academic supervision and research-focused learning that strengthens employability and professional credibility.
• Industry partnerships and practical engagement: Law students have opportunities to engage with initiatives such as the Law Access Program, Community Legal Practice, The Innocence Project, and national and international mooting competitions. These experiences allow students to apply legal theory to real-world issues while building valuable industry connections and professional networks.
• Employment outcomes and salary potential: ECU law graduates have demonstrated strong employment outcomes across legal, government, and corporate sectors. Based on graduate outcome data for law-related graduates, early-career salaries generally range from approximately AUD $65,000 to AUD $80,000 per year, with a median salary of around AUD $72,000 annually. Honours graduates may enhance their competitiveness for higher-level legal, policy, and research positions as their careers progress.
• Long-term accreditation value: The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) builds upon ECU’s professionally accredited law qualification, which is recognised by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA). The qualification satisfies the academic requirements for those seeking admission as a legal practitioner after completing the necessary Practical Legal Training (PLT). An Honours degree is also highly regarded for postgraduate study and research pathways.
• Strong graduate outcomes: Graduates leave with advanced legal research expertise, critical analysis skills, professional communication abilities, and a demonstrated capacity to undertake independent legal inquiry. These capabilities are highly valued in legal practice, government policy, academia, consulting, and regulatory environments.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Bachelor of Laws (Honours), graduates are well positioned to pursue higher-level postgraduate study. Many students continue into a Master of Laws (LLM) specialising in areas such as Commercial Law, International Law, Human Rights Law, or Dispute Resolution. The Honours qualification also provides a strong pathway into research-based degrees such as a Master by Research or a PhD in Law. For graduates interested in professional legal practice, the degree can be combined with Practical Legal Training (PLT) and admission requirements to become a practising lawyer, while also creating opportunities for future careers in academia, legal research, policy development, and senior leadership roles.