Bachelors of Laws (Honours) / Arts

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Griffith University Gold Coast Campus

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Bachelor of Arts at Griffith University combines professional legal education with the flexibility to explore contemporary society, culture, media, languages, and social issues. Ideal for students who want to develop strong legal expertise alongside broad critical thinking and communication skills, this double degree prepares graduates for careers in law, public policy, media, government, advocacy, and the creative industries. Campus: Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
Students build a strong foundation in both legal and arts disciplines. In law, they are introduced to core subjects such as Contracts, Global Law, and foundational legal concepts, while arts studies encourage exploration of society, culture, and global issues through subjects such as Making the Modern World and Passion and Purpose in Professional Life. This year develops academic writing, legal reasoning, and critical thinking skills.

Year 2:
The second year expands legal knowledge into key areas of professional practice. Students study subjects such as Crime, Torts, and Property Law, while continuing their chosen Arts major, gaining deeper insights into fields such as journalism, history, sociology, languages, or international studies. The combination strengthens analytical and communication abilities across diverse contexts.

Year 3:
Students progress into more advanced legal studies, examining areas such as Corporate Law, legal theory, and ethics. At the same time, Arts courses become increasingly specialised, allowing students to develop expertise within their chosen discipline while exploring contemporary social, political, and cultural issues. Interdisciplinary learning helps students understand how law operates within broader societal frameworks.

Year 4:
This year focuses on advanced legal analysis and professional preparation. Students engage with higher-level law electives, practical legal skills, and honours-related learning while completing upper-level Arts courses. Opportunities to study topics relating to international perspectives, Indigenous issues, and legal policy broaden their understanding of modern legal practice.

Year 5:
In the final year, students consolidate their learning through advanced honours-level law studies, specialised electives, and potential clinical or practical legal experiences. They graduate with a unique combination of professional legal training and arts expertise, enabling them to pursue careers across law, government, media, public affairs, and cultural sectors.

Focus Areas

Legal Studies, Advocacy, Legal Research, Media and Communication, Culture and Society, Public Policy, International Perspectives, Languages and Humanities.

Learning Outcomes

Develop advanced legal knowledge, critical thinking, legal research and advocacy skills; analyse social, political, and cultural issues; communicate effectively across professional contexts; apply legal principles to complex real-world challenges; and integrate interdisciplinary perspectives into legal decision-making.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) is an accredited Australian law qualification that satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, subject to completion of Practical Legal Training (PLT).

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Griffith Law School has been recognised among Australia's leading law schools and was ranked No. 1 in Australia for Law in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). Griffith is also known for its strong focus on practical learning, industry engagement, and graduate employability.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Experiential Learning: Students in the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Arts at Griffith University benefit from an immersive learning environment that combines legal training with the broad perspectives of the humanities and social sciences. Throughout the degree, students develop practical advocacy, legal research, policy analysis, communication, and critical thinking skills through authentic learning experiences that mirror professional practice. The program is supported by Griffith's modern teaching facilities, extensive digital resources, and strong industry engagement, enabling students to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts:

Griffith Law Clinic: Eligible students can gain supervised practical experience by assisting with real legal matters and engaging directly with clients and community legal issues.
Moot Court Program: Students participate in simulated court proceedings and legal advocacy exercises, developing courtroom presentation, negotiation, and legal argumentation skills.
Industry and Community Engagement: Opportunities to engage with legal professionals, government agencies, community organisations, and policy practitioners through projects, guest lectures, and networking events.
Professional Legal Research Tools: Access to industry-standard legal databases including LexisNexis, Westlaw, and other specialist legal research platforms used by practising lawyers.
Collaborative Projects and Case Studies: Students undertake group-based legal and arts-related projects that strengthen teamwork, research, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Arts Research and Inquiry-Based Learning: Arts studies involve independent and collaborative research projects, policy analysis, cultural studies investigations, and critical evaluation of contemporary social issues.
Law Library and Digital Resources: Access to Griffith University's extensive library collections, legal databases, academic journals, archives, and digital research tools supporting both law and arts disciplines.
Modern Learning Spaces: Students utilise collaborative learning environments, technology-enabled classrooms, legal skills training facilities, and dedicated study areas across the Gold Coast campus.
Research Centres and Institutes: Opportunities to engage with Griffith's research strengths in law, governance, public policy, social justice, and humanities-related fields through seminars and academic activities.
Work-Integrated Learning Opportunities: Selected courses and extracurricular initiatives provide exposure to professional environments and practical workplace experiences.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Progression & Future Opportunities: Graduates of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Arts at Griffith University are equipped with a powerful combination of legal expertise and broad humanities knowledge, enabling them to understand law within wider social, political, and cultural contexts. This dual qualification builds strong communication, analytical, and critical thinking skills, preparing graduates for careers such as lawyer, policy advisor, government officer, and public affairs or communications specialist.

This combination of law and arts provides flexible career pathways across legal, public sector, and creative industries, supported by strong professional preparation:

University employability services: Griffith Careers and Employment Service offers personalised career consultations, employability workshops, mentoring programs, networking events, internship support, and access to graduate recruitment programs to help students transition into professional employment.
Employment outcomes & salary figures: Law graduates in Australia typically secure starting salaries ranging from AUD $75,000 – $120,000, with median earnings commonly between AUD $95,000 – $115,000, depending on sector, employer, and level of professional experience.
University–industry partnerships: Students benefit from Griffith’s strong connections with legal practices, government departments, community organisations, media and communications networks, and public policy institutions through placements, internships, guest lectures, and industry engagement opportunities.
Long-term accreditation value: The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, while the Arts component enhances transferable skills relevant to policy, governance, media, advocacy, and cultural sectors.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates develop advanced legal reasoning, communication, research, and analytical skills, making them highly adaptable across legal practice, government service, communications, and international organisations.

Further Academic Progression: After completing this degree, graduates can undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify for admission as a legal practitioner, or continue their studies through postgraduate qualifications such as a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Arts, Master of Public Policy, Master of International Relations, or research-focused MPhil and PhD programs in law, humanities, social sciences, or related disciplines.