Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of International Relations

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Monash University

Program Overview

The Monash University Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of International Relations is a five-year double degree offered on-campus at the Clayton campus, designed for students who want to combine legal expertise with a deep understanding of global politics, diplomacy, governance, and international affairs. Students develop practical legal skills alongside knowledge of international conflict, policy, trade, human rights, and global cooperation, making this program ideal for future lawyers, diplomats, policy advisors, international consultants, and public sector leaders.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In the first year, students build strong foundations in both legal studies and international relations. Law studies introduce core concepts of the Australian legal system through units such as Foundations of Law and Criminal Law, while international relations subjects explore how political institutions and global systems operate through introductory units in international politics and governance. Students begin developing analytical reasoning, legal research, and political interpretation skills from the beginning of the course.

Year 2

Second year expands students’ understanding of legal frameworks and global political structures. Units such as Constitutional Law, Torts, and Administrative Law strengthen knowledge of public and private law, while international relations studies focus on areas like comparative politics, peace and conflict, and international policy analysis. Students learn how governments, institutions, and legal systems interact across domestic and international settings.

Year 3

By third year, students engage with more advanced legal and international issues while refining professional communication and research skills. Law units including Contracts, Property Law, and Equity and Trusts are combined with specialised international relations studies covering development, rights and gender, security studies, and global governance. Students also begin applying theory to real-world international and legal challenges through case analysis and policy evaluation.

Year 4

Fourth year focuses on advanced specialisation and practical learning opportunities. Students can select law electives in areas such as international law, commercial law, human rights law, and dispute resolution, while international relations studies may include climate futures, diplomacy, and global policy strategy. Monash also offers opportunities for internships, overseas study experiences, clinical legal education, and legal research projects that strengthen industry readiness.

Year 5

In the final year, students complete advanced electives and intensive research work that align with their career goals. Honours-level law studies involve deeper legal analysis, professional judgement, and research writing, while international relations units allow students to specialise in areas such as international security, governance, or human rights policy. Graduates leave with both professional legal qualifications and strong global political expertise, giving them a competitive advantage across international careers.

Focus Areas

International law, diplomacy, global governance, human rights, public policy, constitutional law, comparative politics, peace and conflict studies, international security, commercial law, climate futures, legal research, political analysis

Learning Outcomes

Develop advanced legal reasoning and advocacy skills, analyse international political systems and global conflicts, interpret legal and policy frameworks, conduct independent legal and political research, communicate effectively across professional environments, evaluate global governance challenges, and apply ethical judgement in legal and international contexts.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Victoria, recognised by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). Graduates must complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) or supervised legal training before admission as a practising lawyer.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Monash Law is recognised as one of Australia’s leading law schools, known for its strong industry connections, guaranteed clinical legal education opportunities, international study options, and graduate employability outcomes. Monash University consistently ranks among the world’s leading universities in law and politics-related disciplines through major global rankings such as QS World University Rankings.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Monash University Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of International Relations gain extensive practical exposure through legal clinics, policy analysis projects, mooting competitions, research institutes, and global engagement opportunities. The program combines hands-on legal training with real-world international relations experiences, allowing students to develop advocacy, negotiation, research, diplomacy, and analytical skills while working with industry-standard resources, academic experts, and professional organisations.

Throughout the degree, students work collaboratively on case studies, legal problem-solving exercises, policy research tasks, and international relations simulations that reflect current global and legal challenges. Monash’s Clayton campus also provides access to specialised law facilities, libraries, research centres, and digital legal databases that support professional-level learning and research:

Monash Law Clinics : Students can participate in clinical legal education programs where they work on real legal matters under professional supervision, developing practical client interviewing, legal drafting, advocacy, and case management skills.
Moot Court Training : The Faculty of Law offers mooting and advocacy opportunities where students practise courtroom procedures, legal argument presentation, and negotiation in simulated court environments.
International Relations Simulations : Students engage in diplomacy simulations, global policy debates, and international negotiations that mirror real-world political and international relations scenarios.
Group Research Projects : Collaborative assignments and policy analysis projects allow students to work in teams to investigate international conflicts, governance issues, legal reforms, and global development challenges.
Monash Law Library : Students have access to one of Australia’s leading legal research libraries, including extensive legal databases, international law resources, journals, archives, and digital research tools.
Legal Research Databases : The program provides access to professional legal platforms such as LexisNexis, Westlaw, and other specialised legal research systems used by practising lawyers and researchers.
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law : Students can engage with one of Australia’s leading human rights research centres through seminars, events, research initiatives, and public policy discussions.
Monash Global Discovery Programs : International relations students may participate in overseas study tours, exchange opportunities, and global immersion programs that provide direct exposure to international political systems and cultures.
Industry Internships : Students may undertake internships with law firms, community legal centres, government agencies, NGOs, policy organisations, and international institutions to gain professional workplace experience.
Monash Moot Court Facilities : Dedicated moot courtrooms replicate professional legal environments and support advocacy competitions, legal workshops, and courtroom simulations.
Research Institutes and Policy Centres : Students benefit from access to Monash research institutes specialising in international affairs, global governance, public policy, and legal reform.
Collaborative Learning Spaces : Modern study areas, seminar rooms, and technology-enabled learning environments support teamwork, presentations, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Monash University Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of International Relations are well prepared for careers that combine legal expertise with global political insight. The double degree develops strong analytical, advocacy, negotiation, and policy-making skills that are highly valued across government, international organisations, law firms, and corporate sectors. Graduates commonly pursue roles such as Lawyer, Diplomat, Policy Advisor, International Relations Consultant, Human Rights Advocate, and Government Affairs Specialist.

The combination of professional legal qualifications and international relations expertise gives graduates a strong competitive advantage in both Australian and global employment markets:

Monash Talent Career Service : Students receive career coaching, employability workshops, networking support, resume development, interview preparation, and access to graduate recruitment opportunities through Monash Talent.
Industry Connections : Monash Law maintains partnerships with law firms, courts, government departments, community legal centres, and international organisations, helping students gain internship and networking opportunities during their studies.
Clinical Legal Education : Real-world legal clinic participation allows students to build practical experience that strengthens graduate employability and professional readiness.
Global Employability Reputation : Monash University is internationally recognised for graduate employability and consistently ranks among the world’s leading universities in law and politics-related disciplines.
Professional Accreditation Value : The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Victoria through the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB), providing long-term professional recognition and career flexibility.
International Career Opportunities : The international relations component prepares graduates for careers within foreign affairs departments, NGOs, intergovernmental organisations, international policy agencies, and multinational corporations.
Exchange and Global Programs : Overseas study experiences and global engagement initiatives strengthen intercultural communication and international professional networks.
Graduate Employment Outcomes : Monash graduates benefit from strong employment outcomes due to the university’s industry reputation, practical training focus, and extensive employer connections.
Median Salary : According to Australian graduate outcome data for law and international relations-related professions, graduates commonly enter career pathways with competitive starting salaries, with law graduates in Australia often reporting median full-time salaries above AUD $75,000 annually depending on sector and experience.
Research and Policy Pathways : Students interested in governance, international security, public policy, or legal reform can transition into research institutes, think tanks, and advisory organisations.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this double degree, graduates may continue into Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify for legal practice admission in Australia. Students can also pursue postgraduate studies such as a Juris Doctor (specialised pathway), Master of Laws (LLM), Master of International Relations, Master of Public Policy, Master of Diplomacy, or research degrees including PhD programs in law, politics, governance, or international affairs. Monash also offers advanced research opportunities through its law faculty and international studies research centres for students interested in academic, policy, or specialist legal careers.