Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Politics & Journalism

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Notre Dame Sydney

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Politics & Journalism at The University of Notre Dame Australia combines professional legal education with the study of politics, international relations, public affairs, and journalism, giving students a unique understanding of how law, government, and media shape society. Campus Location: Sydney Campus, Broadway, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This degree is ideal for students interested in legal practice, public policy, political communication, journalism, advocacy, and government leadership.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In the first year, students build foundational knowledge in both law and politics-journalism studies. Courses such as Legal Research and Writing, Legal Process and Statutory Interpretation, and Legal History introduce legal reasoning, while Introduction to World Politics, Introduction to Journalism, and Politics, Democracy and Governance in Australia develop an understanding of political systems, governance, and media communication.

Year 2

The second year focuses on core legal principles and the relationship between politics and media. Students study Criminal Law A & B, Contract Law A & B, and Torts A & B, while also exploring media influence through Setting the Agenda: The Media and Politics, Media and Society, and a Journalism elective. This combination helps students understand how legal issues are communicated and debated in the public sphere.

Year 3

During the third year, students deepen their expertise in both disciplines through Property Law A, Property Law B, Politics electives, and Journalism electives. Subjects such as Australian Foreign Policy, Comparing Political Systems, Journalism for TV & Video, or Interactive Media allow students to tailor their studies to specific interests while strengthening analytical and communication skills.

Year 4

The fourth year advances professional legal training through subjects including Advocacy, Constitutional Law, Equity, Evidence, and Administrative Law. Students gain practical advocacy skills while examining how legal institutions interact with government systems and public administration.

Year 5

In the final year, students refine their professional expertise through Remedies, Civil Procedure, Legal Philosophy, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Commercial Practice & Ethics. Law electives such as Human Rights Law, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property Law, or Trial Advocacy allow students to specialise while preparing for legal practice, political advisory work, or journalism careers.

Focus Areas

Legal Practice, Constitutional Law, Public Policy, Politics and Governance, International Relations, Journalism, Media Studies, Political Communication, Advocacy, Public Affairs, Ethics, Dispute Resolution.

Learning Outcomes

Develop advanced legal research and advocacy skills; analyse political systems and public policy; evaluate media and political communication; apply ethical decision-making principles; communicate effectively with specialist and non-specialist audiences; conduct independent research; solve complex legal, political, and societal problems; and demonstrate professional skills across law, politics, and journalism.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Bachelor of Laws component is an accredited Australian law degree that satisfies the academic requirements for progression toward admission to legal practice in Australia. The Politics & Journalism component provides industry-relevant preparation for careers in government, policy development, media, public affairs, and political communication.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The School of Law & Business highlights very high graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes, supported by small class sizes, mentoring opportunities, internships, and strong engagement with legal professionals and the judiciary. Students also have access to internship and work-integrated learning opportunities within the Politics & Journalism component.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Politics & Journalism at The University of Notre Dame Australia is designed to help students build practical legal, political, and media skills alongside their academic studies. Throughout the degree, students develop advocacy, legal research, public speaking, journalism, and political analysis capabilities through experiential learning opportunities that connect classroom theory with professional practice. The program also benefits from Notre Dame’s strong focus on mentoring, internships, work-integrated learning, and industry engagement, ensuring students graduate with practical experience and workplace-ready skills. Specifically, students gain access to the following opportunities and facilities:

Law Internships and Mentoring Programs – Law students can participate in mentoring and internship opportunities that provide exposure to legal practice and professional legal environments.
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) – The Politics & Journalism component offers internship courses and work-integrated learning opportunities with industry organisations, allowing students to gain real-world professional experience.
Journalism Internships – Students may undertake internships in professional settings such as publishing companies, television studios, and radio stations, with opportunities to receive academic credit for workplace learning. Overseas internship opportunities may also be available.
Advocacy and Mooting Training – The law curriculum includes dedicated advocacy training and opportunities to develop courtroom presentation, negotiation, and legal argument skills through mooting activities.
Legal Research and Writing Development – Students build professional legal drafting and research skills through core law courses such as Legal Research and Writing and practical legal exercises.
Justice and Legal Practice Exposure – Students participate in courtroom visits and practical legal experiences that provide insight into how legal principles operate in professional settings.
Legal Clinic Opportunities – Notre Dame Law students have access to Legal Clinic experiences that expose them to real legal matters and client-focused legal practice.
Professional Media Training – Journalism studies include practical learning in print, broadcast, television, radio, video, and digital media formats, helping students develop industry-relevant communication skills.
Group Projects and Collaborative Learning – Journalism and politics units require students to work collaboratively on research, media production, and communication projects, reflecting professional industry practice.
Media Ethics and Law Integration – Students examine the relationship between media, politics, and legal systems through applied units such as Media Ethics and Law and Setting the Agenda: The Media and Politics.
Libraries and Research Resources – Students have access to Notre Dame’s academic libraries, legal research resources, databases, and study facilities that support both legal and journalism research projects.
Professional Development Events – Students are encouraged to attend seminars, guest lectures, and the University's Eminent Speakers Series, which connects students with leading legal and professional experts.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Politics & Journalism at The University of Notre Dame Australia develop a distinctive blend of legal expertise, political insight, and professional communication skills. This interdisciplinary degree prepares students to understand how laws are created, interpreted, communicated, and debated in modern society, making them highly sought after across legal, political, media, and public policy sectors. Typical career paths include: Solicitor, Political Advisor, Policy Analyst, and Journalist.

Career Opportunities: The combination of law, politics, and journalism provides graduates with exceptional versatility, enabling them to pursue careers in legal practice, government, public affairs, media organisations, advocacy groups, and corporate communications.

University Services: Notre Dame’s Career and Employability team supports students through career coaching, employer networking events, professional development workshops, internship guidance, resume preparation, and interview skills training to enhance graduate employability.
Employment Stats & Salary Figures: Graduates working across legal, political, policy, and media professions in Australia typically achieve median salary ranges of approximately AUD $75,000 – $145,000, depending on their career pathway, experience, and area of specialisation.
University–Industry Partnerships: Students benefit from engagement with legal professionals, government agencies, policy organisations, media outlets, community groups, and industry leaders, providing valuable practical exposure and professional networking opportunities.
Long-Term Accreditation Value: The law component provides the accredited academic qualification required for progression toward legal admission in Australia, while the politics and journalism studies strengthen expertise in public policy, governance, strategic communication, and media engagement.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates leave with advanced legal research skills, policy analysis capabilities, communication expertise, advocacy skills, ethical decision-making abilities, and a strong understanding of political and legal systems.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates may undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia. They can also pursue postgraduate qualifications such as a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Public Policy, Master of Journalism, Master of Communication, or higher research degrees including a PhD, allowing further specialisation in law, politics, governance, media, public affairs, or academic research.