Bachelors of Laws (Honours) / Communication

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Griffith University Gold Coast Campus

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Communication at Griffith University is designed for students who want to combine legal expertise with strong communication, media, and public relations skills, preparing them for careers where law and effective communication intersect. This program suits students interested in advocacy, media, policy, corporate communication, and legal practice, offering a dynamic blend of analytical thinking and professional communication training.

Campus: Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1

Students build foundational knowledge in law and communication through introductory courses such as Introduction to Law and Legal Process, Foundations of Communication and Media, and Academic and Professional Communication. This year focuses on developing core legal reasoning, writing skills, and an understanding of how media and communication operate in modern society.

Year 2

Students progress into more specialised legal and communication studies, including Contract Law, Constitutional Law, and Media and Society. At the same time, they begin applied communication training in areas such as journalism fundamentals, public relations, and digital media production, strengthening both legal analysis and communication strategy skills.

Year 3

Students engage in advanced legal studies like Torts Law, Administrative Law, and Criminal Law, alongside communication-focused units such as Strategic Communication, Media Ethics, and Public Relations Campaigns. This year emphasises applying legal reasoning and communication strategies to real-world case studies and professional scenarios.

Year 4

Honours-level law study deepens research and analytical capability through advanced legal electives and a supervised research project, while communication studies focus on leadership, media strategy, and professional practice. Students refine their ability to interpret legal issues and communicate complex information clearly to diverse audiences.

Year 5

The final year integrates law and communication expertise through advanced electives, professional legal training pathways, and communication capstone projects. Students develop workplace-ready skills through applied learning experiences, preparing them for careers in law, media, policy, and corporate communication.

Focus Areas

Legal Studies, Media and Communication, Public Relations, Media Ethics, Advocacy, Corporate Communication, Legal Research

Learning Outcomes

Graduates develop advanced legal reasoning, critical thinking, media literacy, and professional communication skills, enabling them to work effectively in legal practice, media organisations, government, and corporate communication roles.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) component satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, subject to completion of Practical Legal Training (PLT).

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Griffith University is recognised in major global rankings such as QS World University Rankings for its strong performance in law and communication-related disciplines, reflecting strong graduate employability and teaching quality.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Communication at Griffith University develop practical, career-ready skills by combining legal training with real-world communication practice. Learning is highly applied, with students working on legal problem-solving tasks alongside media production, public communication projects, and advocacy-based assignments. Through a blend of simulated legal environments and professional communication studios, students build confidence in both courtroom reasoning and media storytelling, preparing them for dynamic careers in law, media, and public affairs: this hands-on approach is supported by professional tools, industry-standard platforms, and experiential learning opportunities.

Moot court training: Students practise advocacy and legal argumentation in simulated court environments to build confidence in courtroom-style communication and legal reasoning.
Legal research platforms: Access to professional databases such as LexisNexis and Westlaw AU to develop advanced legal research and case analysis skills.
Communication and media production facilities: Use of digital media labs, editing software (such as Adobe Creative Cloud), and content production tools for journalism, PR, and digital storytelling projects.
Work-integrated learning (WIL): Opportunities for internships, industry placements, and real-world communication projects with legal, media, and public sector organisations.
Group-based legal and media projects: Collaborative assignments that simulate real-world scenarios such as legal briefings, media campaigns, and public communication strategies.
Library and research resources: Access to extensive law and communication collections, academic journals, and digital research databases to support advanced study.
Industry-style simulations: Practical exercises that replicate legal advisory work, newsroom environments, and public relations campaign development.

These experiences ensure graduates are confident in both legal reasoning and high-level communication, making them highly adaptable across multiple industries.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Communication at Griffith University are uniquely positioned to work at the intersection of law, media, and strategic communication, where strong analytical and storytelling skills are highly valued. This combined qualification prepares graduates for careers such as lawyer, media and communications advisor, public relations specialist, and policy or government communications officer, working across legal firms, media organisations, corporations, and public sector agencies.

By integrating legal reasoning with advanced communication skills, graduates are prepared for diverse and high-impact professional roles:

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 pathways to enhance career readiness and industry engagement.
Employment outcomes & salary figures: Graduates in law and communication fields in Australia typically earn starting salaries ranging from AUD $75,000 – $120,000, with median earnings commonly between AUD $95,000 – $115,000, depending on role, industry, and professional experience.
University–industry partnerships: Students benefit from Griffith’s strong connections with media organisations, law firms, government departments, public relations agencies, and corporate communication teams through internships, placements, guest lectures, and industry engagement activities.
Long-term accreditation value: The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) meets the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, while the Communication component enhances professional capabilities in media, journalism, corporate communication, and public affairs.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates develop strong legal analysis, writing, advocacy, media strategy, and communication skills, enabling them to work effectively across legal, media, corporate, and government sectors.

Further Academic Progression: After completing this degree, graduates may undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify for admission as a legal practitioner or pursue postgraduate study such as a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Communication, Master of Public Relations, Master of International Relations, or research-focused MPhil and PhD programs in law, media, communication studies, or public policy.