Bachelor of Laws/ Bachelor of Media and Communication

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Swinburne University of Technology

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Media and Communication at Swinburne University of Technology (Hawthorn Campus, Melbourne) is designed for students who want to combine legal expertise with strong skills in media, storytelling, and communication strategy. It suits students interested in law, journalism, public relations, digital media, policy, and advocacy, especially those who want to understand how law and media shape society together.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In the first year, students build a strong foundation in both disciplines through introductory legal and communication studies. You are typically introduced to core law principles such as Legal Methods and Legal Research, Criminal Law principles, and Foundations of Law, alongside media-focused units like Media and Society and Communication Practices. This year focuses on developing critical thinking, academic writing, and an understanding of how law interacts with modern media systems.

Year 2

The second year deepens your legal understanding while expanding your media production and analysis skills. Law studies generally progress into subjects such as Contract Law and Tort Law, while media units may include Digital Media Production and Strategic Communication. Students begin working on more applied assessments, including case analysis, media campaigns, and structured legal problem-solving tasks.

Year 3

By the third year, students engage with more advanced legal areas like Constitutional Law and Administrative Law, while also exploring specialised media studies such as Journalism Practice, Media Ethics, and Communication Research. This year strengthens your ability to analyse complex legal systems and create professional-level media content, often involving collaborative projects and real-world case studies.

Year 4–5 (Final Years)

In the final stage of the program, students move into advanced and elective units in both disciplines, including areas like Corporate Law, International Law, Media Law, and Digital Communication Strategy. You will also complete major research projects or capstone units that integrate law and media, preparing you for professional environments where legal knowledge and communication strategy intersect.

Focus Areas:

Law, media law, journalism, digital communication, public relations, legal practice pathways, policy and advocacy, corporate and regulatory communication

Learning Outcomes:

Graduates develop strong legal reasoning, advanced communication skills, media production capability, ethical and critical thinking, and the ability to analyse and influence public and legal discourse across professional contexts.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Bachelor of Laws component is structured to support the academic pathway toward legal practice admission in Australia, while the media and communication component aligns with industry expectations in journalism, public relations, and digital media sectors.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings):

Swinburne University is recognised globally in rankings such as QS World University Rankings, with strong emphasis on graduate employability, industry-connected learning, and practical skill development across law and communication disciplines.

Career Outcomes:

Graduates are well prepared for roles such as lawyer (after admission), media advisor, communications specialist, policy officer, journalist, or public relations consultant, working across legal firms, media organisations, government, and corporate sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Swinburne University of Technology, the Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Media and Communication is built around hands-on learning where you actively develop legal thinking alongside real-world media production skills. From your first year, you’ll be working in professional-style environments that mirror law firms, newsrooms, digital agencies, and media production studios. Students gain confidence through practical case analysis, storytelling, content creation, and collaborative projects that reflect how law and media intersect in today’s digital world. You’ll also work with industry-standard tools used in legal research and modern media production, helping you graduate career-ready with a strong professional portfolio.

Experiential learning: where legal practice and creative communication come together through immersive, industry-aligned learning environments and real-world projects:

Swinburne Law Moot Court & Advocacy Training Spaces: Develop courtroom skills through simulated trials, legal argumentation exercises, and advocacy competitions designed to replicate real legal proceedings
Swinburne Law Clinic (Practical Legal Learning): Gain supervised experience in legal research, drafting, and client-focused problem solving, building foundational professional legal skills
Media Production Studios (Television & Video Studios): Create broadcast-quality content using professional filming equipment, lighting systems, and production control rooms
Radio & Podcast Studios: Produce live and recorded audio content, developing skills in broadcasting, interviewing, scripting, and audio editing
Digital Media Labs & Editing Suites: Work with industry-standard software such as Adobe Creative Cloud tools for graphic design, video editing, digital storytelling, and content production
The Agency @ Swinburne (Student-Run Creative Agency): Collaborate on real marketing, communication, and media projects for industry clients, simulating a professional agency environment
Swinburne Innovation & Learning Spaces (Hawthorn Campus): Engage in collaborative, project-based learning environments designed for teamwork, creativity, and interdisciplinary problem solving
Swinburne Library & Digital Learning Resources: Access extensive legal databases, media archives, research journals, and digital production resources supporting both law and communication studies
Industry Projects & Work-Integrated Learning (WIL): Participate in internships, media collaborations, and legal-communication projects with industry partners across law, journalism, PR, and media sectors

Progression & Future Opportunities

At Swinburne University of Technology, the Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Media and Communication prepares you for careers at the intersection of legal knowledge, storytelling, journalism, digital media, and public communication. Graduates develop strong critical thinking, advocacy, and media production skills that allow them to work confidently in both legal and creative industries. You graduate ready for roles such as: media and communications officer, legal/ policy communications advisor, journalist or digital content producer, and public relations specialist: where law, ethics, and media practice come together in real-world professional settings.

Progression & Future Opportunities: Swinburne supports your transition into industry through structured employability services, strong industry engagement, and practical learning experiences designed to build confidence and job readiness.

Swinburne Careers & Employability Service: Provides personalised career coaching, resume and interview preparation, employer networking events, and direct access to graduate opportunities across media, law, government, and communications sectors
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) programs: Offers real industry projects and placements where students apply legal reasoning and media production skills in professional environments before graduation
Industry-connected learning partnerships: Strong engagement with media organisations, communications agencies, legal services, and government and community sectors, helping students gain exposure to real-world professional practice
Long-term accreditation value: The Law component supports the academic pathway toward legal practice admission in Australia, while the Media and Communication degree is aligned with industry standards for digital media, journalism, and strategic communication roles
Graduation outcomes (career readiness focus): According to Swinburne’s graduate employability support and outcomes framework, students benefit from applied learning and industry engagement that strengthens employment readiness across both legal and media sectors
Typical salary range (indicative): Graduates entering roles in media, communications, or law-related advisory positions typically earn approximately AUD 65,000 – 105,000+, with higher earning potential as experience grows in specialised legal communication, public affairs, or senior media roles

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, graduates can pursue advanced study such as a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Media and Communication, Master of Public Relations, Master of Journalism, or further professional legal training (Practical Legal Training for admission as a lawyer) to specialise further and progress into senior roles in law, media strategy, or public policy communication.