Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Swinburne University of Technology

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts at Swinburne University of Technology is a double degree designed for students who want to combine strong legal expertise with a broad understanding of society, culture, politics, and global issues. Campus Location: Hawthorn (Melbourne), this program is ideal for students interested in law, humanities, and careers that require strong communication, analytical thinking, and critical understanding of human behaviour and systems.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:
Students build a strong foundation in both law and arts disciplines. Core law studies typically include Legal Process and Statutory Interpretation, Foundations of Law, and Contract Law, while arts studies introduce key areas such as Academic Writing and Research and introductory humanities subjects like politics, sociology, or media studies. This year focuses on developing critical thinking, legal reasoning, and communication skills.

Year 2:
Students deepen their understanding of core legal principles through units such as Torts Law, Criminal Law, and Constitutional Law, while continuing arts studies in chosen disciplines such as history, international relations, or languages. The combination helps students connect legal frameworks with broader social and cultural perspectives.

Year 3:
This year focuses on more advanced legal concepts such as Administrative Law, Property Law, and Equity and Trusts, alongside specialised arts electives. Students begin to develop independent analytical skills and apply legal reasoning to real-world and interdisciplinary contexts.

Year 4:
Students move into advanced law electives and experiential learning, including subjects like Evidence Law and Commercial Law, while also completing higher-level arts major units. Practical learning becomes more prominent, with opportunities for mooting, research projects, and applied case analysis.

Year 5:
The final year focuses on professional readiness and specialisation. Students complete advanced legal electives, capstone research units, and arts major completion subjects, preparing them for legal practice or postgraduate study. Emphasis is placed on refining advocacy, research, and professional legal skills.

Focus Areas:

Law, legal reasoning, humanities, politics, communication, critical thinking, social analysis, ethics, and global studies.

Learning Outcomes:

Graduates will be able to interpret and apply legal principles, analyse complex social and political issues, communicate effectively in professional environments, and develop well-reasoned arguments across legal and humanities contexts.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Bachelor of Laws component is designed to meet the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Victoria, supporting progression toward Practical Legal Training (PLT) and qualification as a lawyer in Australia.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

Swinburne University of Technology is recognised globally in rankings such as QS World University Rankings, with strong performance in graduate employability and industry-connected learning outcomes, particularly in law, humanities, and social sciences.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Swinburne University of Technology, students in the Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts gain practical, career-ready skills through a strong focus on real-world learning. The program is designed to move beyond theory by immersing students in legal practice environments, communication-based projects, and discipline-specific arts experiences. Students regularly engage with authentic legal problem-solving, collaborative group work, and applied learning using professional tools and university facilities that reflect real industry settings. Through this, graduates build confidence in both legal reasoning and creative or social analysis skills.

Experiential learning is supported through a combination of legal training spaces, arts-based studios, and industry-linked learning opportunities:

Swinburne Law Moot Court: Students practice courtroom advocacy, legal argumentation, and simulated trials in a professional-style moot court environment.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL): Structured opportunities for internships, industry projects, and real-world placements that connect classroom learning with professional practice.
Legal Research Databases: Access to professional tools such as Lexis Advance and Westlaw AU for legal research, case analysis, and statutory interpretation.
Swinburne Library & Learning Hub: Dedicated academic support, legal research resources, digital databases, and study spaces for law and arts students.
Collaborative Group Projects: Students work on case analyses, policy discussions, and interdisciplinary research tasks that develop teamwork and communication skills.
Arts Studios & Creative Learning Spaces: Depending on Arts majors, students may engage in media production, writing workshops, social science research labs, and digital humanities tools.
Industry Engagement Activities: Guest lectures, networking sessions, and practitioner-led workshops with professionals from law, government, and creative industries.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts at Swinburne University of Technology prepares graduates with a strong blend of legal expertise and broad humanities knowledge, equipping them to think critically, communicate effectively, and analyse complex social, political, and legal issues. This combination opens doors to careers in law, government, media, advocacy, and public policy, where strong reasoning and communication skills are highly valued.

Typical career outcomes include: Solicitor, Policy Adviser, Human Rights Advocate, Corporate Legal Officer.

Career Support & Graduate Success:

Swinburne Careers & Employability Services: Students benefit from personalised career coaching, resume and interview preparation, employer networking events, internship support, and access to placement opportunities designed to build job-ready skills.
Industry-Connected Learning: Students gain practical experience through moot courts, legal skills training, communication-focused projects, and arts-based industry collaborations that strengthen professional capability.
Employment Outcomes: Graduates are prepared for roles across legal practice, government departments, community organisations, media, communications, and corporate sectors due to their transferable analytical and communication skills.
Median Salary Range: Graduates typically enter professional roles with salaries ranging from approximately AUD $65,000–$95,000+ per year, depending on sector, experience, and specialisation.
University–Industry Partnerships: Swinburne maintains strong links with law firms, government agencies, media organisations, advocacy groups, and community organisations, supporting internships, placements, and networking opportunities.
Long-Term Accreditation Value: The Bachelor of Laws component supports the academic pathway toward admission to legal practice in Victoria, while the Arts degree allows specialisation in areas such as politics, international relations, communication, or sociology, strengthening long-term career flexibility.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates are well prepared for careers in legal practice, public policy, diplomacy, journalism, advocacy, communications, corporate advisory roles, and non-government organisations.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts, graduates can undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify for admission as a lawyer in Australia. They may also pursue postgraduate study such as a Master of Laws (LLM) or specialise further in arts-related fields including international relations, public policy, media and communications, human rights, or political science. Graduates interested in research or academia can also progress to a Master by Research or PhD, deepening expertise in law, humanities, or interdisciplinary social sciences.