Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Science (Biochemistry)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Monash University

Program Overview

Program Overview: Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Science – Monash University

Monash’s Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Science is a powerful double degree for students who want to understand both the legal system and the scientific issues shaping the modern world. It is especially suited for students interested in areas such as biotechnology, climate change, environmental regulation, intellectual property, health law, forensic science, scientific policy, pharmaceuticals, genetics, or emerging technologies.

Curriculum structure

Year 1:
Students begin with core legal foundations while also starting their chosen science pathway. They study law units such as LAW1111 Foundations of Law, LAW1114 Criminal Law 1, LAW1112 Public Law and Statutory Interpretation, and LAW1113 Torts, alongside approved level 1 science sequences that build the base for their future science major.

Year 2:
In the second year, students develop stronger legal reasoning and scientific depth. They study LAW2101 Contract A, LAW2102 Contract B, LAW2111 Constitutional Law, and LAW2112 Property A, while progressing into level 2 science major units and completing science skill-building options such as SCI1000 Science Communication to Influence Change, SCI1020, SCI1022, STA1010, MTH1020, MTH1030, or MTH1035 depending on their science pathway.

Year 3:
The third year moves students into more advanced legal and scientific study, helping them connect legal frameworks with complex scientific and commercial issues. They complete units such as LAW3112 Corporations Law, LAW3111 Equity, and LAW3402 Property B, while also taking level 3 science major units in their chosen field.

Year 4:
Students continue developing specialist legal knowledge through law electives and advanced core law units. The course map includes LAW4332 Criminal Law and Procedure 2, LAW4331 Administrative Law, LAW4170 Trusts, additional law electives, and science units at level 2 or 3, allowing students to build a profile across both legal practice and scientific expertise.

Year 5:
The final year focuses strongly on professional legal readiness, dispute resolution, ethics, legal research, and advanced electives. Students study LAW4323 Evidence, LAW4303 Litigation and Dispute Resolution, LAW4309 Lawyers’ Ethics in Practice, a law research elective, and additional law electives, helping them graduate with both legal training and a science specialisation.

Focus areas: Australian legal system, science and society, criminal law, public law, contract law, property law, constitutional law, corporations law, equity, administrative law, trusts, evidence, litigation, lawyers’ ethics, science communication, environmental science, biotechnology, pharmacology, psychology, applied mathematics, genetics, molecular biology, physics, climate science, forensic and health-related legal issues.

Learning outcomes: Legal reasoning, scientific analysis, research skills, evidence evaluation, problem-solving, ethical judgement, communication, policy awareness, regulatory understanding, science communication, ability to apply legal knowledge to scientific and technological issues, preparation for law, science, policy, government, research, and innovation-related careers.

Professional alignment accreditation: Monash states that the Bachelor of Laws degree is recognised by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board as satisfying the academic requirements for admission to practise in Victoria. Students must still complete Practical Legal Training or supervised legal training, be admitted by the Supreme Court of Victoria, and obtain a practising certificate before practising law.

Reputation: Monash is ranked equal 36th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026. For subject strength, Monash reports that Law and Legal Studies is ranked 32nd globally in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, while Monash is also ranked highly across science-related areas including Life Sciences and Medicine, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, and Materials Sciences.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students gain practical experience through Monash Law’s strong clinical legal education model, science-based learning, research opportunities, and the flexibility to combine legal training with one of 25 science major areas. This is not just a classroom-based degree; Monash highlights that law students can work with real clients on real cases, while the science side allows students to specialise in areas such as applied mathematics, zoology, pharmacology, psychology, plant science, environmental science, physics, chemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, genetics and genomics, or climate and atmospheric science.

The practical learning experience is supported through:

• Clinical Legal Education Guarantee: Monash Law states that every Monash Law student is offered the opportunity to complete at least one Clinical Legal Education experience for course credit.

• Real clients and real cases: Through clinical legal education, students may provide legal advice, undertake research, complete ongoing casework, brief counsel, and work under the supervision of qualified lawyers.

• Professional practice and placements: Monash’s clinical placements may take place at Monash Law Clinics, community legal clinics, duty lawyer services at family courts, judiciary-related departments, legal innovation-focused research organisations, government organisations, or private organisations.

• In-house clinics and external partnerships: Monash Law offers in-house clinics and placement opportunities, including professional practice clinics and external partnership programs.

• Specialised clinic areas: Clinical opportunities include areas such as health-related legal needs, family dispute resolution, survivor advocacy, social justice, family violence, human rights, climate justice, modern slavery, and anti-death penalty work.

• World-class moot court experience: Monash Law highlights its Moot Court, where students can practise presenting legal arguments and observe how courts work; the Moot Court has hosted real appeals cases at national and state level.

• Science major flexibility: Students can choose from 25 science majors, including Applied Mathematics, Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Climate and Atmospheric Science, Computational Science, Environmental Science, Genetics and Genomics, Human Pathology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Physics, Physiology, Psychology, and Zoology.

• Science communication training: The course map includes SCI1000 Science Communication to Influence Change, helping students explain scientific ideas clearly to legal, public, policy, and professional audiences.

• International and global experience: Monash Law highlights international placements, exchange programs in over 100 locations, and Global Campus Intensives in Law in Italy and Malaysia.

Facilities / experiential learning reference: Monash Law Clinical Legal Education, Monash Law Clinics, Monash Moot Court, and the Monash Science course pathway are the most relevant official experiential learning references for this degree.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of this double degree are well placed for careers where legal knowledge and scientific expertise overlap, especially in sectors shaped by regulation, innovation, ethics, environment, healthcare, technology, and intellectual property. Monash specifically highlights career pathways connected to the space industry, biotechnology, intellectual property, mining, forensic law, climate change legislation, genetic modification, stem cell research, health and medicine law, and protection of intellectual property for life-saving drugs.

Typical career roles include Environmental and Climate Law Specialist, Bioethics and Healthcare Law Advisor, Scientific Policy Advisor, Intellectual Property and Patent Lawyer, Forensic Law Specialist, Legal Advisor in Health and Medicine, Technology Regulation Consultant, and Science Policy Officer.

Career development is supported through:

• Legal practice preparation: The law component provides the academic foundation required for admission to legal practice in Victoria, subject to completing Practical Legal Training or supervised legal training after the degree.

• Clinical Legal Education Guarantee: Students are offered the opportunity to complete real legal work for course credit, helping them develop practical skills before graduation.

• Client-facing legal skills: Monash Law Clinics help students develop skills in client interviewing, legal diagnosis, same-day advice, negotiation, influencing, mediation, and arbitration.

• Industry and community exposure: Placements can connect students with community legal centres, courts, government, private organisations, legal innovation-focused research organisations, and clinic-based legal services.

• Science-linked career pathways: The science component supports pathways in areas such as biological sciences, earth and environmental sciences, mathematical and computational sciences, physical and chemical sciences, and biomedical and behavioural sciences.

• Global career flexibility: Monash states that both degrees are internationally recognised, helping graduates consider overseas work depending on their area of specialisation.

• Long-term accreditation value: The law degree’s recognition by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board gives students a structured legal practice pathway, while the science degree strengthens opportunities in research, regulation, policy, innovation, environment, health, biotechnology, and technology-related industries.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Science, students can continue into Practical Legal Training if they want to qualify as a lawyer in Australia. They may also progress into postgraduate study in law, science, public policy, environmental law, intellectual property law, biotechnology, forensic science, bioethics, health law, science communication, research masters, or doctoral study, depending on their chosen science major and career direction.