Bachelor of Laws

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Deakin University

Program Overview

Deakin's Laws provides the robust training and recognised qualifications you need to start your career as a first-class legal practitioner. All major areas of law are covered, such as contract, torts, property, legal practice and ethics, constitutional law, criminal law and corporate law.

The Bachelor of Laws at Deakin University is designed to build strong legal thinking, analytical reasoning, and practical skills needed for real-world legal practice. It suits students who are interested in justice, problem-solving, and understanding how laws shape society and business.

Campus locations: This program is delivered at Deakin’s Burwood (Melbourne) Campus and Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, giving students access to modern law facilities and strong metropolitan and regional learning environments.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Foundations of Legal Thinking

In the first year, students are introduced to core legal principles and the Australian legal system. Key units such as Foundations of Law, Contract Law, and Criminal Law help students understand how law operates in both private and public contexts, while also developing essential research and writing skills.

Year 2: Building Core Legal Knowledge

The second year strengthens analytical and doctrinal understanding through subjects like Torts, Constitutional Law, and Property Law. Students begin applying legal reasoning to more complex scenarios, developing skills in statutory interpretation and case analysis.

Year 3: Advanced Legal Systems & Application

In Year 3, students move into more specialised and applied areas such as Administrative Law, Equity and Trusts, and Corporations Law. These units focus on how law operates in government, finance, and organisational structures, with increased emphasis on problem-solving and legal argumentation.

Year 4: Professional Practice & Specialisation

The final year focuses on transition to professional practice through units like Evidence, Civil Procedure, and Legal Practice and Ethics. Students refine advocacy, litigation understanding, and professional responsibility skills, preparing for practical legal training and admission pathways.

Focus Areas:

Contract Law, Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Corporate Law, Property Law, Legal Ethics, Dispute Resolution, Administrative Law

Learning Outcomes:

Graduates develop advanced legal reasoning, critical thinking, statutory interpretation skills, and the ability to apply law in real-world contexts across courts, business, and government settings.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

This degree is an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 7 qualification and forms the academic foundation required for admission to legal practice in Australia (subject to completion of Practical Legal Training and meeting admission requirements).

Reputation (Employability Rankings):

Deakin University is consistently recognised in global rankings such as QS World University Rankings and is known for strong graduate employability outcomes in law, supported by industry-connected teaching and practical learning experiences.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Deakin University, the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is built around learning the law by practising it, not just studying it in theory. Students develop real legal skills through hands-on problem solving, simulated court environments, and guided exposure to legal practice. You’ll work with authentic case materials, build legal arguments, and learn how to think and act like a legal professional using the same tools and systems used in the legal industry.

A strong focus on practical legal training, communication, and research means students gradually move from foundational legal knowledge into real-world application through clinics, moot courts, and industry-linked experiences:

Moot Court & Advocacy Training: students participate in simulated court proceedings to develop oral advocacy, legal reasoning, and courtroom confidence
Legal Research Platforms: training in professional databases such as Westlaw AU, LexisNexis AU, and Jade for case law, legislation, and legal analysis
Deakin Law Clinic (Practical Experience): opportunities to engage in supervised legal work supporting real or simulated client matters while developing professional responsibility skills
Work Integrated Learning (WIL): structured placements and industry experiences with legal organisations, courts, and community legal services
Group-Based Legal Problem Solving: collaborative assignments involving case analysis, negotiation exercises, and legal drafting tasks
Deakin Library & Digital Legal Resources: access to extensive law collections, e-journals, and research tools supporting deep legal study and case preparation
Research & Legal Skills Development: training in statutory interpretation, legal writing, and critical analysis through guided academic workshops
Campus Learning Environment: students study across Deakin’s modern campuses (primarily Burwood, with additional facilities in Geelong and other locations), designed to support collaborative and technology-enabled learning

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Laws at Deakin University are prepared for a wide range of careers in the legal profession and related fields, with strong training in legal reasoning, statutory interpretation, and advocacy. This degree builds the foundation for careers in law firms, government, corporate advisory roles, and community legal services. Many graduates go on to become solicitors, legal policy officers, compliance specialists, or in-house counsel: working in environments where strong analytical thinking and clear interpretation of law are essential.

Career pathways (typical roles): Solicitor, Legal Policy Officer, Compliance Officer, Corporate Lawyer / In-house Counsel
University services supporting employment: Deakin Talent and Careers (via Deakin University) provides one-on-one career coaching, internship and placement support, resume development, interview preparation, and access to employer networks and graduate job opportunities
Employment outcomes & salary figures: Deakin Law graduates are reported through Australian graduate outcomes data (QILT) to achieve strong employment rates, with typical law-related graduate salaries in Australia ranging approximately from AUD $65,000–$120,000+ per year, increasing significantly with admission to legal practice and experience
University–industry partnerships: strong connections with law firms, government departments, courts, and corporate legal teams support internships, clerkships, and practical legal training pathways
Long-term accreditation value: the Bachelor of Laws is designed to meet the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia (subject to completion of Practical Legal Training), providing a recognised and essential qualification for becoming a lawyer
Graduation outcomes: graduates are well-prepared for professional roles across legal practice, corporate law, government advisory, and regulatory compliance, with strong demand for adaptable legal professionals across multiple sectors

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this degree, students can progress into the Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice to qualify for admission as a lawyer, or pursue postgraduate study such as a Master of Laws (LLM) to specialise in areas like commercial law, international law, or criminal law. Many also choose research pathways through a PhD in Law for academic or high-level policy and legal research careers.