Bachelors of Laws (Honours) / Psychological Science

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Griffith University Gold Coast Campus

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Psychological Science at Griffith University is a unique double degree that blends legal training with a deep understanding of human behaviour, mental processes, and decision-making. Delivered at Griffith University Gold Coast Campus, it is designed for students who are interested in both justice systems and the psychology behind how people think, act, and respond to the law.

This program suits students who are analytical, curious about human behaviour, and interested in careers that sit at the intersection of law, mental health, policy, and social systems. You’ll graduate with strong legal reasoning skills alongside scientific insight into psychological theory and practice.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
In the first year, students build foundational knowledge in both disciplines, typically starting with core law and psychology introductions. You’ll study subjects such as Foundations of Law, Legal Methods and Reasoning, along with psychology units like Introduction to Psychology and Psychological Research Methods. This year focuses on developing academic writing, critical thinking, and an understanding of how human behaviour is studied scientifically.

Year 2:
The second year deepens your understanding of legal systems and psychological processes. Law study often expands into areas such as Criminal Law and Contract Law, while psychology progresses into Cognitive Psychology and Developmental Psychology. Students begin to connect behavioural science with legal principles, especially in areas like decision-making and human cognition in legal contexts.

Year 3:
In Year 3, students move into more advanced legal and psychological study, including subjects such as Torts, Constitutional Law, and psychology areas like Social Psychology and Abnormal Psychology. This year strengthens your ability to analyse legal problems while applying psychological theories to understand behaviour in real-world legal settings.

Year 4:
The fourth year focuses on specialised legal training and advanced psychological research. Law studies may include Equity and Trusts and Evidence Law, while psychology includes Forensic Psychology and advanced research-based electives. Students also begin developing honours-level research capability, preparing for complex analysis and independent investigation.

Year 5:
In the final year, students complete advanced honours research in law and psychology, alongside specialised electives that integrate both fields. This may include topics such as Advanced Legal Research and Applied Psychology in Legal Contexts. The year culminates in a major research project, demonstrating high-level analytical, legal, and psychological expertise.

Focus Areas: Legal reasoning, psychological science, human behaviour in legal systems, criminal justice psychology, research methods, forensic and cognitive psychology, advanced legal analysis

Learning Outcomes: Graduates will develop strong legal analytical skills, a scientific understanding of human behaviour, research competency, ethical reasoning, and the ability to apply psychological insights within legal and justice-related contexts

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The law component supports pathways toward legal practice in Australia, while the psychological science component aligns with further study and professional registration pathways in psychology (subject to postgraduate requirements)

Reputation (Employability Rankings): Griffith University is consistently recognised in global rankings such as QS World University Rankings for strong performance in law, psychology, and social sciences, with graduates highly regarded across legal, government, and behavioural science sectors

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Griffith University, students in the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Psychological Science develop practical skills through a strong blend of legal training, psychological research, and real-world case analysis. Learning is highly applied, with students engaging in simulated legal environments, psychological experiments, and data-driven research projects that mirror professional practice. You’ll also work with academic supervisors and industry-aligned tools to build confidence in both courtroom reasoning and behavioural science interpretation:

This program is designed to ensure you graduate with hands-on experience in both law and psychology through structured learning environments and industry-relevant exposure:

Moot Court & legal simulation environments: Practice advocacy, argument construction, and courtroom procedures in realistic legal settings.
Psychology laboratories & research facilities: Conduct behavioural experiments, cognitive studies, and data analysis using recognised research methods.
Industry-standard legal databases: Training with legal research tools such as case law and legislation databases used in professional legal practice.
Statistical & research software: Use tools such as SPSS and R for psychological data analysis and behavioural research interpretation.
Group-based case studies & interdisciplinary projects: Collaborate on legal-psychology scenarios involving criminal behaviour, forensic reasoning, and ethical decision-making.
Work-integrated learning opportunities: Exposure to placements, internships, and professional shadowing in legal, justice, and behavioural science-related organisations.
Campus learning facilities: Access to dedicated law libraries, psychology research spaces, and study environments at the Gold Coast campus designed for collaborative and independent learning.

These experiences ensure students graduate with both analytical and practical skills that are directly applicable to careers in law, psychology, criminal justice, and policy development.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) / Psychological Science at Griffith University are uniquely positioned to understand both human behaviour and legal systems, giving them a strong advantage in justice, mental health, and policy-driven careers. This combination prepares you for roles that require deep insight into decision-making, crime, rehabilitation, and legal processes. Typical career paths include: Criminal Lawyer, Forensic Psychologist, Policy Analyst, and Victim Support Specialist.

This dual degree is highly valued across legal, psychological, and public service sectors, where understanding both law and behaviour is essential:

University employability support services: Griffith’s Careers and Employment Service offers personalised career coaching, internship placements, psychology fieldwork support, employer networking events, and access to mentoring programs that connect students with legal and mental health professionals.
Employment outcomes & salary insights: Graduates in law and psychological science pathways in Australia typically access median salary ranges of approximately AUD $70,000 – $125,000, with higher earning potential in specialised legal practice, forensic roles, and senior government advisory positions.
University–industry partnerships: Strong collaborations with courts, legal aid organisations, police services, mental health providers, and community justice agencies provide students with practical exposure and placement opportunities.
Long-term accreditation value: The psychological science component is aligned with Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) standards, while the law component supports pathways toward legal practice qualification in Australia, strengthening both national and international career recognition.
Graduation outcomes: Students graduate with advanced analytical thinking, understanding of human behaviour, legal reasoning, research capability, and applied skills in both psychological assessment and legal frameworks.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates may progress into a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) for admission to legal practice, or pursue advanced study such as a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Psychology (Clinical or Forensic pathways, subject to eligibility), Master of Criminology, or research degrees including Honours extension and PhD programs. These pathways open doors to specialist careers in forensic psychology, legal advocacy, public policy development, and advanced research in law and human behaviour.