Bachelor of Laws

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Curtin University Perth

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Laws at Curtin University is an accelerated three-year degree designed for students who want to become legal professionals with strong analytical, advocacy, and commercial skills. Campus location: Curtin Perth campus and Curtin Law School in the heart of Perth’s legal precinct, Western Australia, Australia. The program suits students interested in legal practice, corporate law, government, policy, human rights, and advocacy, while also offering practical learning through internships, moot court experiences, and legal clinic work.

Curriculum structure

First Year

In the first year, students build the foundations of legal thinking and develop core academic and professional skills needed for law school success. Subjects such as Legal Foundations, Contract Law, and Criminal Law introduce students to legal reasoning, statutory interpretation, ethics, and the Australian legal system while strengthening communication and critical analysis abilities.

Second Year

The second year shifts into more specialised legal study and introduces students to practical legal applications in Curtin Law School’s accelerated trimester structure. Through units including Torts, Property Law, and Constitutional Law, students learn how laws operate across government, business, and society while refining legal research, advocacy, and case analysis skills in more complex legal scenarios.

Third Year

In the final year, students focus on advanced legal practice, professional readiness, and experiential learning opportunities. Units such as Evidence, Civil Procedure, and Corporations Law prepare students for real legal environments, while opportunities through the John Curtin Law Clinic, Legal Internships Program, and the Jeanette Hacket Moot Court allow students to gain practical experience with real clients, legal drafting, advocacy, and courtroom simulations.

Focus areas

Commercial law, criminal law, constitutional law, advocacy, legal ethics, human rights law, employment law, environmental law and policy, law and technology, forensic advocacy, native title law and policy.

Learning outcomes

Graduates develop advanced legal research and analytical skills, professional advocacy and communication abilities, commercial awareness, ethical legal judgment, and practical workplace readiness through internships, clinic experience, and moot court participation. Students also gain the ability to interpret legislation, construct persuasive legal arguments, and provide legal advice in professional contexts.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

Curtin Law School’s Bachelor of Laws provides the academic qualification required for admission to legal practice in Western Australia. After completing the degree, graduates can undertake the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (Practical Legal Training), which together satisfies the academic and PLT requirements for admission to the legal profession in Western Australia.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Curtin University is recognised for its industry-focused and practical learning approach, with Curtin Law School located directly within Perth’s legal precinct alongside barristers’ chambers and industry partners. The program emphasises employability through legal internships, clinic experience, and practitioner-led teaching, while Australian legal professional roles are projected to grow strongly through 2035 according to Jobs and Skills Australia.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Curtin University’s Bachelor of Laws is designed to give students hands-on legal experience from the beginning of the degree, combining classroom learning with practical legal training and industry engagement. Students develop professional advocacy, negotiation, research, and client communication skills through real-world legal environments, industry projects, and experiential learning opportunities embedded within Curtin Law School. The program is supported by modern legal facilities at Curtin’s Perth campus and its close connection to Western Australia’s legal community, helping students graduate with practical confidence as well as academic knowledge.

Students gain access to a wide range of professional learning environments and legal practice experiences throughout the degree, including:

John Curtin Law Clinic: Students work on real legal matters under professional supervision, developing practical client interviewing, legal drafting, problem-solving, and case management skills while supporting community legal services.
Jeanette Hacket Moot Court: A dedicated moot court facility where students participate in simulated court proceedings, advocacy exercises, legal argument presentations, and competitive mooting activities that mirror real courtroom experiences.
Legal Internships Program: Students can undertake professional placements with law firms, courts, government agencies, and legal organisations, gaining direct industry exposure and networking opportunities within Perth’s legal sector.
Curtin Law School’s location within Perth’s legal precinct: The Law School is positioned close to barristers’ chambers, courts, and legal institutions, allowing students to engage regularly with practicing lawyers, judges, and industry professionals through guest lectures and networking events.
Collaborative legal projects and group-based case analysis: Many law units involve teamwork activities, legal problem-solving exercises, and collaborative research tasks that replicate professional legal practice environments.
Digital legal research platforms and databases: Students learn to use professional legal research systems and online legal databases commonly used within the legal industry for case law analysis, legislation research, and legal writing.
Curtin University Library services for law students: Students have access to specialised law collections, legal journals, academic databases, study spaces, and research support services that assist with advanced legal research and academic development.
Industry-led learning experiences: Practicing legal professionals regularly contribute to teaching, mentoring, workshops, and guest seminars, helping students understand current legal practice and emerging legal issues.
Professional skills development activities: Students strengthen practical competencies in negotiation, mediation, advocacy, legal ethics, professional communication, and legal writing throughout the degree.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of Curtin University’s Bachelor of Laws are well prepared for careers across legal practice, government, corporate organisations, and public policy sectors. The degree combines strong academic foundations with practical legal training, helping students develop professional capabilities valued by employers throughout Australia and internationally. Typical graduate career pathways include Lawyer, Legal Advisor, Corporate Counsel, Policy Officer, Criminal Prosecutor, Compliance Officer, and Government Legal Consultant.

Curtin University supports students’ long-term career development through a range of industry-connected initiatives and professional opportunities, including:

Curtin Careers and Employability services: Students receive access to career counselling, resume and interview workshops, networking events, employer presentations, and job-search support specifically designed to improve graduate employability outcomes.
Legal Internships and industry placements: Curtin Law School offers internship opportunities with law firms, courts, government departments, community legal centres, and legal organisations across Western Australia, allowing students to build professional experience before graduation.
Industry partnerships and legal sector engagement: Curtin Law School maintains strong links with Perth’s legal community through collaborations with practicing lawyers, barristers, judges, legal practitioners, and community legal services located within Perth’s legal precinct.
Graduate employability focus: The program integrates advocacy training, negotiation, legal drafting, mooting, and practical legal research to ensure graduates enter the workforce with industry-relevant professional skills.
Accreditation value: The Bachelor of Laws satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Western Australia. Graduates can complete Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify for admission as a lawyer in Australia.
Professional networking opportunities: Students regularly engage with industry professionals through guest lectures, mentoring programs, competitions, legal seminars, and professional events hosted by Curtin Law School.
Graduate outcomes across multiple sectors: Curtin law graduates pursue careers in private legal practice, commercial law firms, government agencies, courts, public policy organisations, corporate compliance divisions, and international business environments.
Median salary range: According to Australian graduate employment and legal sector data, law graduates commonly enter graduate roles with starting salaries ranging from approximately AUD $65,000–$85,000 per year, with experienced legal professionals and corporate lawyers progressing to significantly higher salary levels over time.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the Bachelor of Laws, students may continue their studies through Practical Legal Training programs such as the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice to become eligible for admission as a practicing lawyer. Graduates may also pursue postgraduate qualifications including a Master of Laws (LLM), Juris Doctor-related specialisations, postgraduate business or public policy degrees, research higher degrees, or specialised studies in areas such as international law, commercial law, human rights law, environmental law, or dispute resolution. Curtin University also offers opportunities for advanced legal research and doctoral-level study for students interested in academia, policy leadership, or legal research careers.