Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Laws

5 Years On Campus Dual-bachelors Program

University of Canberra

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws at the University of Canberra combines a broad arts education with professional legal training, giving you the opportunity to explore society, culture and communication while developing the knowledge and practical skills needed for a legal career. Ideal for students who want to pair critical thinking with legal expertise, the degree prepares you for careers across law, government, business and the public sector.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
You'll build a strong foundation in both disciplines by studying introductory Arts and Law units. Core subjects such as Professional Orientation (Arts), Legal Methods and Skills, and Foundations of Law introduce you to academic writing, legal reasoning and critical thinking.

Year 2
As your studies progress, you'll explore key areas of legal practice while continuing to develop your chosen Arts major. Units including Contract Law, Constitutional Law, and Big Stories: Culture, Memory and Power strengthen your understanding of legal systems and contemporary social issues.

Year 3
In the middle years of the degree, you'll broaden your legal knowledge through subjects such as Administrative Law, Criminal Law, and Property Law, while advancing your Arts studies with major-specific units and electives.

Year 4
You'll tackle more specialised legal topics and gain practical experience through advanced coursework. Units such as Evidence, Civil Procedure, and Equity and Trusts help prepare you for professional legal practice while you continue developing expertise in your Arts discipline.

Year 5
Your final year focuses on professional readiness through advanced Law electives and capstone learning. You'll complete units such as Professional Evidence (Arts) and Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility, graduating with the interdisciplinary knowledge and practical skills needed for diverse professional careers.

Focus areas (in a string):
Law, legal studies, communication, public policy, culture, society, critical thinking, legal research, advocacy, humanities, professional practice.

Learning outcomes (in a string):
Legal analysis, advocacy, research, communication, ethical decision-making, problem-solving, critical thinking, negotiation, collaboration, professional practice.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
The Bachelor of Laws is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) of New South Wales, satisfying the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia, subject to completing Practical Legal Training (PLT).

Reputation (employability):
The University of Canberra is recognised for its strong emphasis on work-integrated learning, industry engagement and producing career-ready graduates with practical professional skills.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws at the University of Canberra blends academic learning with practical experience to prepare you for professional legal and public-sector careers. Throughout the degree, you'll apply legal theory to real-world scenarios, strengthen your advocacy and research skills, and work in collaborative learning environments. Depending on your Arts major, you'll also have access to specialist creative facilities, while your Law studies are supported by dedicated legal learning spaces and industry engagement opportunities:

Develop practical legal skills through moot courts, advocacy exercises, legal problem-solving and case analysis embedded within the Law curriculum.
Participate in Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities, internships and industry projects available across both the Law program and many Arts majors.
Gain workplace experience through the UC Law Clinic, where eligible students work on real legal matters under professional supervision while serving the local community.
Learn from practising lawyers, judges, government professionals and industry experts through guest lectures, networking events and professional seminars.
Complete collaborative legal research, negotiation and group-based assessment projects that reflect professional legal practice.
Access the Moot Court, purpose-built law teaching spaces and collaborative learning environments within the Faculty of Business, Government and Law.
Depending on your Arts major, access the Media Resource Centre (MRC), including television studios, radio and podcast studios, multimedia production spaces and professional digital media equipment.
Study using the University of Canberra Library, which provides extensive legal databases, law reports, journals, e-books, research collections, study spaces and academic support services.
Use the University's Canvas online learning platform and legal research databases to support coursework, legal research and collaboration.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws equips graduates with both legal expertise and a broad understanding of society, communication and public policy, making them highly sought after across the legal profession, government and corporate sectors. Graduates are well prepared for careers as Lawyers, Policy Advisors, Corporate Legal Advisers and Compliance Officers, with transferable skills that open doors to a wide range of leadership roles. To support your career journey, the University of Canberra offers a strong network of professional development opportunities:

Access UC Careers, which provides personalised career coaching, resume and interview support, employer networking events, career planning workshops and an online jobs portal for students and graduates.
Gain practical experience through Work Integrated Learning (WIL), internships, industry projects and the UC Law Clinic, where eligible students work on real legal matters under professional supervision.
Benefit from UC's strong partnerships with government departments, courts, legal firms, community legal centres and public sector organisations, leveraging Canberra's position as Australia's capital city.
The Bachelor of Laws is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) of New South Wales, satisfying the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Australia after completing Practical Legal Training (PLT).
The University of Canberra is recognised for producing career-ready graduates through practical learning, professional placements and strong employer engagement. Its graduates benefit from excellent employment outcomes supported by the university's close links with industry and government.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this dual degree, you can undertake Practical Legal Training (PLT) to qualify for admission as an Australian lawyer. You may also continue with postgraduate study through a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Public Policy, Master of International Relations, or other specialised master's and research degrees in law, government, public administration or the humanities.