Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws

5 Years On Campus Dual-bachelors Program

University of Sydney

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney is a prestigious five-year dual degree that combines professional legal education with advanced business knowledge, preparing students for leadership careers across corporate law, finance, consulting, banking, entrepreneurship, and global commerce. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Campus, Sydney, Australia — the program is ideal for students who want to develop commercial awareness, legal expertise, strategic thinking, and analytical skills while gaining a strong understanding of how businesses and legal systems operate together in modern economies.

This dual degree suits students interested in commercial law, finance, accounting, economics, marketing, international business, and corporate strategy alongside legal practice. Students study core law subjects together with Commerce majors, graduating with versatile professional skills in negotiation, business analysis, legal reasoning, communication, and decision-making that are highly valued across corporate and legal sectors worldwide.

Curriculum Structure

First Year

In the first year, students establish foundational knowledge in law, economics, accounting, and business systems while developing critical thinking and communication skills. Courses such as Foundations of Law, Business Analytics, and Economics for Business Decision Making introduce students to legal reasoning, commercial environments, quantitative analysis, and organisational decision-making. Students also begin understanding how legal frameworks influence corporate and financial operations.

Second Year

Second-year study deepens students’ understanding of business disciplines and legal principles through practical and analytical learning. Students may study Commerce subjects such as Financial Accounting, Marketing Principles, or Business Information Systems alongside law courses including Contracts, Torts, and Criminal Law. The year focuses on analysing commercial relationships, business strategy, and legal obligations within corporate environments.

Third Year

By third year, students engage with more specialised commercial and legal studies connected to corporate governance, economic systems, and business regulation. Commerce units such as Corporate Finance, Business Law, or International Business strengthen commercial decision-making and strategic analysis, while law courses including Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, and Equity deepen understanding of legal institutions and regulatory frameworks. Students also undertake collaborative projects and case-based business analysis activities.

Fourth Year

Fourth year combines advanced legal education with higher-level Commerce electives aligned with students’ professional interests. Students study law subjects such as Corporations Law, Evidence, and Taxation Law while specialising in areas such as finance, accounting, marketing, economics, business analytics, or management. Coursework emphasises leadership, negotiation, commercial problem-solving, and strategic thinking through practical business and legal scenarios.

Fifth Year

In the final year, students tailor the degree through advanced electives, research opportunities, and applied commercial law studies. Students may explore areas such as International Commercial Law, Competition Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, or strategic business subjects connected to entrepreneurship and corporate leadership. By graduation, students possess a highly adaptable combination of legal expertise and commercial capability suited to leadership roles across legal, financial, and global business sectors.

Focus areas

Commercial law, corporate governance, finance, accounting, economics, marketing, international business, taxation law, business analytics, negotiation, corporate strategy, commercial regulation, entrepreneurship, legal reasoning, and financial decision-making.

Learning outcomes

Graduates develop advanced legal analysis, commercial awareness, financial literacy, negotiation, communication, strategic thinking, and interdisciplinary problem-solving skills. Students learn to interpret legal and business frameworks, evaluate corporate and economic challenges, analyse financial information, manage commercial risk, and apply ethical and evidence-based decision-making in professional environments.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The Bachelor of Laws component satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, subject to completion of Practical Legal Training (PLT). Depending on the selected Commerce major, students may also meet academic requirements or gain preparation for professional pathways connected to CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), finance industries, economics, marketing, and business management sectors.

Reputation (employability rankings)

The University of Sydney is internationally recognised for excellence in law, business, and economics education, with strong employer reputation and graduate employability across corporate, legal, consulting, and financial industries. Sydney Law School and the University of Sydney Business School are highly regarded globally for academic quality, industry engagement, leadership development, and professional graduate outcomes.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney gain practical experience through legal clinics, commercial case studies, consulting projects, negotiation simulations, and industry-connected learning activities. The program combines professional legal training with applied business education, allowing students to develop real-world expertise in corporate strategy, finance, legal analysis, communication, and commercial decision-making within modern business and legal environments.

The University of Sydney provides students with access to professional legal facilities, collaborative business learning spaces, employer engagement programs, advanced digital tools, and practical industry experiences that prepare graduates for careers across law, consulting, banking, finance, and global business sectors:

Sydney Law School Clinics & Practical Legal Experience : Students may participate in legal clinic programs and experiential legal education opportunities that strengthen client interviewing, advocacy, legal drafting, ethical reasoning, and professional communication skills through supervised practical work.
Moot Courts & Advocacy Training : Law students develop courtroom advocacy, negotiation, legal reasoning, and persuasive communication skills through mooting competitions, mock trials, dispute resolution exercises, and legal simulations conducted within dedicated moot court facilities.
Business Case Competitions & Consulting Projects : Commerce students engage in industry-style case studies, strategic business simulations, consulting challenges, and collaborative commercial problem-solving activities that mirror real corporate decision-making environments.
Industry-Standard Business Software & Analytics Tools : Depending on their Commerce major, students gain exposure to professional digital platforms and analytical tools including Excel financial modelling, accounting systems, business analytics software, economic analysis platforms, and data visualisation technologies commonly used across finance and consulting industries.
Capstone Projects & Collaborative Group Work : Many Commerce and Law subjects involve interdisciplinary teamwork, business presentations, negotiation exercises, legal case analysis, and strategic projects that replicate professional workplace environments in corporate and legal sectors.
Internships & Industry Placement Opportunities : The University of Sydney maintains strong relationships with commercial law firms, multinational corporations, consulting companies, financial institutions, and government organisations that support internship pathways, networking opportunities, clerkships, and graduate recruitment initiatives.
Research Centres & Commercial Law Institutes : Students benefit from access to research centres and institutes connected to corporate governance, international business, taxation, commercial law, finance, economics, and policy research. These facilities expose students to contemporary business and legal challenges shaping global markets.
Professional Legal & Financial Databases : Students use industry-standard research systems including LexisNexis, Westlaw, financial databases, economic research platforms, and business intelligence resources widely used within commercial law, consulting, and financial industries.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation Opportunities : Students may participate in entrepreneurship initiatives, startup programs, innovation challenges, and business incubator activities connected to the University of Sydney’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and industry engagement networks.
Libraries & Collaborative Learning Facilities : Students have access to specialised law libraries, business research collections, technology-enabled learning environments, collaborative study spaces, and digital research facilities supporting both commercial and legal education.
Career Development & Employer Engagement Programs : Students benefit from employability workshops, networking events, mentoring initiatives, leadership programs, and employer presentations designed to strengthen professional readiness and commercial awareness before graduation.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney are highly regarded for their combination of commercial expertise, legal knowledge, analytical thinking, and leadership capability. The degree prepares students for careers across corporate law, banking, consulting, finance, entrepreneurship, government, and multinational business by equipping them with strong legal reasoning, financial literacy, strategic decision-making, and professional communication skills. Typical career pathways include corporate lawyer, management consultant, investment analyst, commercial adviser, banking professional, compliance manager, financial consultant, and business strategist.

The University of Sydney strengthens graduate employability through industry-connected learning, professional development initiatives, employer partnerships, and strong global academic reputation across business and legal sectors:

Dedicated Employability & Career Services : The University of Sydney provides tailored career support through employability workshops, internship assistance, clerkship preparation, networking events, employer panels, résumé reviews, interview coaching, mentoring programs, and leadership development initiatives specifically designed for business and law students.
Strong Industry Partnerships : Students benefit from the university’s connections with leading organisations including major commercial law firms, Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG, Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, Macquarie Group, Accenture, and multinational corporations that support internships, graduate recruitment, consulting projects, and professional networking opportunities.
Professional Legal Qualification : The Bachelor of Laws component satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, subject to completion of Practical Legal Training (PLT). This qualification provides long-term professional flexibility across legal, regulatory, corporate, and public sectors.
Commerce Accreditation Pathways : Depending on the selected Commerce major, students may also satisfy academic preparation requirements connected to CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), finance industries, economics, business analytics, and management pathways.
Strong Graduate Employability Reputation : The University of Sydney is consistently recognised internationally for graduate employability, employer reputation, and academic excellence across law, commerce, finance, and economics disciplines. Employers value graduates for their commercial awareness, problem-solving capability, adaptability, and leadership potential.
Median Graduate Salary : Based on Australian graduate outcomes data across commerce, finance, and law-related professions, graduates commonly achieve median full-time salaries ranging between approximately AUD $85,000–$105,000 depending on industry sector, professional specialisation, and career progression.
Global Career Opportunities : The combination of Commerce and Law creates pathways into multinational corporations, investment banks, consulting firms, commercial law practices, government agencies, technology companies, and international business organisations across Australia and globally.
Practical Graduation Outcomes : Graduates leave the program with advanced business analysis skills, legal research expertise, financial decision-making capability, negotiation strengths, communication proficiency, and strategic leadership experience developed through internships, case competitions, legal simulations, collaborative projects, and industry engagement activities.
Entrepreneurship & Leadership Preparation : Students gain exposure to innovation programs, startup ecosystems, commercial problem-solving activities, and strategic management learning that prepare graduates for entrepreneurial ventures and executive leadership roles.
Long-Term Career Flexibility : Graduates are equipped to transition across legal practice, finance, consulting, governance, corporate strategy, entrepreneurship, regulatory affairs, and executive leadership positions throughout their careers.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this dual degree, graduates may continue into postgraduate qualifications such as a Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Commerce, Master of Finance, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of International Business, or specialised postgraduate studies in taxation law, corporate governance, banking and finance law, commercial strategy, or business analytics. High-achieving graduates may also pursue research-focused programs including Honours or PhD studies in Law, Finance, Economics, Management, Accounting, or Business Strategy, leading to careers in academia, advanced consulting, corporate leadership, policy advisory, or international business research.