Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Bachelor of Journalism

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Adelaide

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Bachelor of Journalism at University of Adelaide is a five-year double degree that combines professional legal education with contemporary journalism training, preparing graduates to understand, interpret, and communicate complex legal, political, and social issues. It is ideal for students who are passionate about law, media, public affairs, and investigative reporting, and who want to develop expertise in both legal analysis and professional storytelling.

Campus: North Terrace Campus, Adelaide (primary campus) and Waite/Magill Campus, Adelaide, South Australia.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Students begin by building foundations in both law and journalism. Legal studies introduce core concepts through subjects such as Legal Method, Australian Constitutional Law, and The Australian Legal System, while journalism studies develop essential communication skills through Introduction to Journalism, Digital Media, and news-writing practice.

Year 2

The second year expands students’ understanding of legal doctrine and media production. Subjects such as Law of Torts, Contract Law, and Criminal Law strengthen legal reasoning, while journalism units explore News Reporting, Media Writing, and multimedia storytelling techniques used across contemporary media platforms.

Year 3

Students deepen their knowledge of both disciplines through more specialised study. Law units including Property Law, Administrative Law, and Evidence develop advanced legal analysis, while journalism studies focus on Investigative Journalism, Media Ethics, and public interest reporting, helping students critically examine legal and social issues.

Year 4

The fourth year emphasises professional application and advanced legal studies. Students engage with subjects such as Corporate Law, Equity and Trusts, and Civil Procedure, while journalism coursework explores advanced reporting, feature writing, and media research projects that strengthen professional communication capabilities.

Year 5

In the final year, students complete the honours component and integrate their legal and journalism expertise through advanced research and elective studies. Honours-level legal research, together with specialised journalism projects, allows students to investigate complex legal, political, or social issues while developing the analytical and communication skills expected of industry professionals.

Focus Areas:

Legal research and advocacy, media law, investigative journalism, digital storytelling, public affairs reporting, constitutional and criminal law, media ethics, legal communication, policy analysis, corporate and public sector governance.

Learning Outcomes:

Develop advanced legal reasoning and research capabilities; analyse and communicate complex legal and social issues; produce professional journalism across digital and traditional platforms; apply ethical decision-making in legal and media contexts; conduct independent research and critical analysis; engage effectively with public policy and regulatory issues.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia (subject to completion of Practical Legal Training). The journalism component is designed in consultation with industry expectations and develops professional skills relevant to contemporary media and communications careers.

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

The University of Adelaide is a member of Australia's prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities and is internationally recognised for excellence in teaching, research, and graduate employability. Its law programs are highly regarded nationally, while graduates benefit from strong industry connections and employer recognition across legal, media, government, and corporate sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Bachelor of Journalism at University of Adelaide is designed to immerse students in both legal practice and professional journalism from the beginning of their studies. Students develop practical legal skills through advocacy exercises, legal drafting, clinical legal education, and mooting, while journalism studies focus on real-world reporting, multimedia storytelling, news production, and investigative journalism. The program also incorporates industry-based learning opportunities, enabling students to apply classroom knowledge in professional environments while building a portfolio of work and industry networks.

: To ensure graduates are career-ready across both professions, students gain access to specialised facilities, industry-standard technologies, and hands-on learning experiences including:

Moot Court facilities: Develop advocacy, negotiation, and courtroom presentation skills through simulated legal proceedings in dedicated moot court environments.
Legal Clinics and Clinical Legal Education: Gain practical legal experience through community-focused legal projects and clinical legal education opportunities.
Industry Placements and Internships: The degree includes industry placement opportunities and professional development experiences within legal and media settings.
Journalism Studios and Professional Equipment: Students create content using industry-standard studios and professional audio-video production equipment for broadcast, multimedia, and immersive journalism projects.
Multimedia Production Tools: Practical training in audio journalism, television and video journalism, multimedia journalism, data and visual journalism, and immersive media technologies.
Investigative and Constructive Journalism Projects: Students undertake substantial journalism projects involving research, interviewing, fact-checking, and long-form storytelling.
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL): Dedicated work-integrated learning components allow students to undertake real-world projects and professional development activities in industry settings.
Study Tours and International Opportunities: Students may participate in study tours, exchanges, and professional experiences that broaden their understanding of legal and media systems.
Research and Information Resources: Access to extensive university library collections, legal databases, journalism resources, and digital learning platforms that support both legal research and media production.
Collaborative Projects: Assessment throughout the program includes group projects, presentations, research projects, practical productions, and workplace-based activities that mirror professional practice.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Progression & Future Opportunities: Graduates of the Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Bachelor of Journalism at University of Adelaide develop a rare combination of legal expertise and professional communication skills, enabling them to analyse, interpret, and communicate complex legal and public affairs issues with confidence. The honours component strengthens advanced research and critical thinking capabilities, while journalism studies provide practical skills in reporting, digital media, and public communication. Graduates commonly pursue careers as lawyer, legal journalist, media and communications advisor, and public policy or government relations officer.

: This interdisciplinary qualification prepares graduates to excel in professions where law, media, public policy, and communication intersect:

University employability services: The University of Adelaide’s Career Services team provides personalised career guidance, resume and interview support, employer networking events, mentoring programs, internship assistance, and graduate recruitment opportunities to help students build successful careers.
Employment outcomes & salary figures: Graduates entering legal, media, communications, and policy-related professions in Australia typically achieve starting salaries ranging from AUD $70,000 – $120,000, with median earnings commonly between AUD $90,000 – $110,000, depending on industry sector, role, and professional experience.
University–industry partnerships: Students benefit from strong connections with law firms, media organisations, government agencies, public relations firms, and industry partners through internships, professional placements, guest lectures, and networking opportunities.
Long-term accreditation value: The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) fulfils the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, while the journalism qualification provides valuable expertise in news reporting, media production, strategic communication, and public engagement.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates leave with advanced skills in legal analysis, research, writing, advocacy, media communication, and critical thinking, making them highly adaptable 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 continue with postgraduate study through a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Journalism, Master of Communication, Master of Public Policy, or research-focused MPhil and PhD programs in law, media, communications, journalism, or public affairs.