Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability

5 Years On Campus Dual-bachelors Program

Australian Catholic University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability at Australian Catholic University is designed for students who want to combine legal expertise with a passion for creating a more sustainable and equitable future. By studying both disciplines together, you’ll gain the knowledge and practical skills to address complex social, environmental, and legal issues while preparing for a wide range of career opportunities in law, policy, government, and advocacy.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
Your first year builds a strong academic foundation in both law and sustainability. You’ll explore core legal concepts through subjects such as Foundations of Law and Legal Research and Contract Law, while units like Exploring Human Environments and Environmental Humanities introduce key ideas about society, culture, and environmental change.

Year 2
In the second year, you’ll expand your understanding of legal systems and sustainability challenges. Subjects including Introduction to Australian Public Law, Commercial Law, and Torts develop your legal reasoning, while Sustainability: The Global Challenge and Unsustainable: A Global History of Consumption encourage you to examine environmental issues from historical and policy perspectives.

Year 3
As you progress, the program places greater emphasis on practical experience and interdisciplinary learning. You’ll study units such as Civil Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution and Property, complete pro bono legal experience, and strengthen your research skills through subjects like Meaning of Life: Researching Qualitatively and Literature and the Environment.

Year 4
The fourth year focuses on advanced legal knowledge and sustainability planning. You’ll take subjects including Land Law, Evidence, Statutory Interpretation, International Law, and Administrative Law, alongside sustainability-focused units such as Sustainable Cities and Communities and The Oceanic Humanities, helping you understand the relationship between law, governance, and environmental responsibility.

Year 5
In your final year, you’ll refine your professional capabilities with subjects such as Constitutional Law, Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility, and Equity and Trusts, while continuing advanced sustainability studies through People Count: Researching Globally with Quantitative Methods. By graduation, you’ll have developed the analytical, legal, and research skills needed to contribute to sustainable solutions across a variety of sectors.

Focus Areas

Legal studies, environmental sustainability, climate change, public policy, commercial law, social sustainability, environmental humanities, human geography, research methods, sustainable cities, ethics, international law, community engagement, and governance.

Learning Outcomes

Develop strong legal knowledge and research skills, analyse social and environmental challenges from multiple perspectives, apply critical thinking to legal and policy issues, communicate effectively in professional settings, integrate ethical and sustainability principles into decision-making, conduct qualitative and quantitative research, and contribute to positive social and environmental outcomes.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The law component of the degree satisfies the academic requirements recognised by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board and the Legal Profession Admission Board in New South Wales. Students also complete a pro bono legal professional experience component that provides valuable exposure to real-world legal practice.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Australian Catholic University has a strong reputation for graduate outcomes, with 95% of its graduates employed. The university is also recognised among the world’s leading Catholic universities and is ranked within the top 40 young universities globally, reflecting its commitment to quality education and career readiness.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability at Australian Catholic University is designed to help you put theory into practice from an early stage. Alongside developing a strong understanding of legal systems and sustainability issues, you’ll gain hands-on experience through community engagement, practical research, and professional learning opportunities that prepare you for the workplace. By working on real-world challenges and building valuable research and analytical skills, you’ll graduate with experience that extends beyond the classroom:

Complete Community Legal Engagement: Pro Bono, where you contribute to community-focused legal initiatives and develop practical legal skills.
Undertake Pro Bono Legal Professional Experience, including a compulsory 80-hour placement that provides direct exposure to legal practice and professional environments.
Learn qualitative and quantitative research methods through subjects such as Meaning of Life: Researching Qualitatively and People Count: Researching Globally with Quantitative Methods, strengthening your ability to investigate and solve complex issues.
Explore real sustainability challenges in units like Sustainability: The Global Challenge and Sustainable Cities and Communities, applying your knowledge to contemporary environmental and social problems.
Build teamwork, communication, and critical thinking skills through collaborative projects and interdisciplinary learning across both law and sustainability disciplines.
Connect with industry and community partners through the Thomas More Law School, which supports professional engagement and practical learning experiences.
Make use of ACU’s extensive library collections, legal research databases, and digital learning resources to support coursework and independent study.
Study in modern teaching spaces equipped with technology that encourages interactive learning, collaboration, and academic research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability prepares you for a career where legal expertise meets real-world social and environmental impact. By graduating with knowledge across both disciplines, you’ll be equipped to pursue opportunities in legal practice, sustainability consulting, public policy, and advocacy, with potential roles including environmental lawyer, sustainability advisor, policy analyst, and corporate governance specialist.

As you take the next step in your career, Australian Catholic University offers valuable support and professional development opportunities to help you stand out in the job market:

Complete an 80-hour Pro Bono Legal Professional Experience placement that gives you practical exposure to legal work while serving the community.
Build connections with industry and community organisations through the Thomas More Law School and its professional engagement initiatives.
Access ACU’s career services, including CareerHub, where you can find job opportunities, attend career workshops, receive resume and interview support, and connect with potential employers.
Graduate from a law program that meets the academic requirements recognised by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board and the Legal Profession Admission Board in New South Wales, providing a pathway toward admission to legal practice in those jurisdictions.
Study at a university with strong graduate outcomes, where 95% of graduates are employed after completing their studies.
Develop transferable skills in legal analysis, research, communication, critical thinking, and sustainability that are valued across government agencies, law firms, businesses, and non-profit organisations.
Take advantage of the flexibility offered by this interdisciplinary degree to pursue careers focused on environmental governance, climate policy, corporate responsibility, social justice, and regulatory compliance.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this program, you can continue your education through honours or postgraduate study in areas such as law, environmental policy, sustainability, public administration, or related disciplines. Graduates who achieve the required academic standards may also be eligible to undertake research higher degrees, creating opportunities for advanced specialisation, academic careers, or leadership roles in industry and government.