Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Science

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

La Trobe University

Program Overview

If you’re interested in both science and law and don’t want to choose just one path, this double degree gives you the best of both worlds. You’ll graduate with a strong foundation in Chemistry and a professionally recognised Law qualification — a powerful combination for careers in environmental law, intellectual property, forensic science, pharmaceuticals, and regulatory compliance.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Strong Foundations in Both Fields
In your first year, you’re introduced to the fundamentals of legal systems through subjects like LAW1STL – Foundations of Law and LAW1CRL – Criminal Law and Procedure. Alongside this, you’ll build your chemistry base with CHE1GEN – General Chemistry A and CHE1GEN – General Chemistry B, developing core laboratory skills and understanding chemical principles that underpin modern science.

Year 2 – Developing Legal Insight and Scientific Depth
Second year deepens your knowledge in both disciplines. You’ll study LAW2CON – Constitutional Law and LAW2CIV – Civil Procedure and Dispute Resolution, while expanding your scientific expertise through CHE2ORG – Organic Chemistry and CHE2ANA – Analytical Chemistry. This is where you begin to see how scientific evidence and legal frameworks often intersect.

Year 3 – Applying Knowledge in Practical Contexts
By third year, your law studies move into key areas such as LAW3CON – Contracts and LAW3TRU – Trusts, while your chemistry training advances with CHE2PHY – Physical Chemistry and higher-level electives. Laboratory work becomes more complex, strengthening your analytical and investigative skills.

Year 4 – Specialisation and Professional Skills
You’ll continue with core law subjects including LAW3TORT – Torts and LAW3EQT – Equity, while choosing advanced chemistry options such as CHE3SYN – Advanced Synthetic Chemistry or CHE3ENV – Environmental Chemistry. This year sharpens your ability to think critically about scientific data, ethical responsibilities and regulatory systems.

Year 5 – Bringing It All Together
In your final year, you complete the remaining law requirements and advanced science electives, tying both disciplines together. Whether you see yourself working in patent law, environmental protection, forensic analysis or scientific consultancy, this year prepares you to confidently step into your chosen career path.

Focus Areas

Criminal law, constitutional law, contracts and equity, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, forensic science, intellectual property, regulatory law.

Learning Outcomes

Graduate with the ability to interpret and apply legal principles, conduct and analyse chemical experiments, evaluate scientific evidence within legal contexts, understand regulatory frameworks, and communicate clearly in both scientific and legal environments.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Law component satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Victoria (subject to completing Practical Legal Training). The Chemistry major aligns with the professional standards of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), supporting long-term recognition in the science profession.

Reputation (Employability & Recognition)

La Trobe University is globally recognised and ranked in the QS World University Rankings. The university is known for producing career-ready graduates with strong practical skills and industry connections across both legal and scientific sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

What makes this double degree exciting is that you’re constantly applying what you learn. In Chemistry, you’ll spend significant time in modern laboratories developing real technical skills, and in Law, you’ll practice legal reasoning, advocacy and professional communication in authentic settings. You’re not just learning two disciplines — you’re experiencing how they work in the real world, side by side.

Your chemistry training takes place in the impressive La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science (LIMS), a purpose-built research facility where undergraduate teaching happens in the same environment as advanced scientific research. At the same time, your law studies include practical and work-integrated learning opportunities designed to prepare you for professional legal practice:

Advanced chemistry laboratories at LIMS: Work in high-quality teaching and research labs equipped for spectroscopy, chromatography and other analytical techniques used in professional chemical research.
Hands-on laboratory classes: Regular practical sessions where you design experiments, collect and interpret data, and collaborate with classmates — building both technical and teamwork skills.
Research exposure in chemistry: Opportunities to engage with research-active academics and explore real-world scientific investigations.
Law clinical and placement options: Eligible students can undertake law electives that include clinical placements or practical legal experiences, giving insight into how law operates in professional environments.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL): La Trobe supports industry-based experiences and projects that help you connect your legal and scientific knowledge to workplace contexts.
Comprehensive library and digital resources: Access specialised legal databases, scientific journals, and research tools through La Trobe’s library services to strengthen both your lab reports and legal research.

By the time you graduate, you’ll have practical laboratory competence, professional legal insight, and the confidence to apply both in complex real-world situations.

Progression & Future Opportunities

With this double degree, you graduate with something quite rare — strong legal expertise combined with solid scientific knowledge. That opens doors to careers like Environmental Lawyer, Patent or Intellectual Property Specialist, Forensic Scientist, or Regulatory Affairs Advisor, where understanding both the science and the legal framework gives you a real advantage. Whether you see yourself in a courtroom, a laboratory, a government agency or a global corporation, this qualification gives you flexibility and long-term career security:

Career Ready support: La Trobe’s Career Ready team works closely with you on resume building, interview preparation, networking events and employer connections, helping you transition smoothly into the workforce.
Industry mentoring opportunities: Through mentoring programs, you can connect with professionals and alumni in both law and science, gaining practical advice and valuable industry insights.
Competitive employment prospects: Law graduates in Australia commonly enter the workforce with starting salaries in the range of AUD $60,000–$80,000, and your added chemistry expertise can broaden your opportunities in consulting, environmental regulation, pharmaceuticals, and intellectual property sectors.
Professional recognition: The Law component satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Victoria (subject to Practical Legal Training), while the Chemistry major aligns with standards set by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), supporting long-term professional credibility.
Strong graduate pathways: La Trobe graduates move into roles across legal firms, government departments, research institutes and corporate compliance teams, reflecting the versatility of this combined qualification.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this program, you can undertake Practical Legal Training to qualify as a practising lawyer, or continue into postgraduate study such as a Master of Laws (LLM) in areas like environmental or intellectual property law. If your passion leans more toward science, you could also pursue Honours or postgraduate research in chemistry or related fields — positioning yourself for advanced research, policy or specialist advisory roles.