Undergraduate Law Courses
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Double Degrees
The University of New England offers several double undergraduate degree programs and a stand-alone law degree. The double degree programs include:
- Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Computer Science/Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Economics/Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Financial Administration/Bachelor of Laws
- Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws
The University of New England also offers a full-fee three year Bachelor of Laws (LLB) to international students.
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
The University of New England
The University of New England offers a flexible approach to the study of law, with the LLB providing both internal and external (off campus) study opportunities. Graduates of a three-year Bachelor’s course, international school leavers, or mature age applicants who meet all the requirements for undergraduate entry to the University, together with at least three years’ relevant legal work experience are eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Laws.
Our LLB is accredited by the Supreme Court of New South Wales for admission to practice in this State and mutual recognition legislation extends this recognition to other Australian jurisdictions.
Bachelor of Laws with Honours (LLB Hons)
Students who have achieved a grade point average of 5.5 or better in the preceding eight law units may be admitted to the Honours Program in the final year of study. This program is based on a thesis of up to 15,000 words. The Honours result is based on the grade awarded for the thesis plus grades for the best 15 units taken towards the degree. For more information see the LLB with Honours page.
Structure of the Degree
Students are required to pass all 16 core units and eight elective units. Full-time students normally study four units in each semester.
The units available within the degree program are as follows:
| Course cps | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Core Units | 96 cps | ||
Unit Code | Unit Title | Unit cps |
|
LS100 | Introduction to Legal Systems and Methods | 6 | |
LS160 | Criminal Law and Procedure | 6 | |
LS200 | Administrative Law | 6 | |
LS210 | Civil Procedure and Evidence | 6 | |
LS220 | Constitutional Law | 6 | |
LS231 | Law of Torts I | 6 | |
LS232 | Law of Torts II | 6 | |
LS240 | Equity and Trusts | 6 | |
LS281 | Property Law I | 6 | |
LS282 | Property Law II | 6 | |
LS320 | Professional Conduct | 6 | |
LS351 | Corporation Law | 6 | |
LS355 | Jurisprudence | 6 | |
LS371 | Law of Contracts I | 6 | |
LS372 | Law of Contracts II | 6 | |
LS480 | Advanced Research, Writing and Advocacy | 6 | |
Elective units | 48 cps | ||
Unit Code | Unit Title | Unit cps |
|
LS301 | Succession | 6 | |
LS315 | Criminal Process, Sentencing and Punishment | 6 | |
LS321 | Conveyancing | 6 | |
LS331 | Intellectual Property Law | 6 | |
LS332 | Industrial Law | 6 | |
LS334 | Banking and Finance Law | 6 | |
LS335 | Human Rights | 6 | |
LS336 | Local Government Law | 6 | |
LS341 | Introduction to Environmental Law | 6 | |
LS342 | Medico-Legal Issues | 6 | |
LS352 | Taxation Law | 6 | |
LS357 | Alternative Dispute Resolution | 6 | |
LS358 | Natural Resources Law | 6 | |
LS360 | Conflict of Laws | 6 | |
LS361 | Public International Law | 6 | |
LS364 | Indigenous Australians and Law | 6 | |
LS368 | Commercial Transactions | 6 | |
LS370 | Family Law | 6 | |
LS377 | Information Technology Law | 6 | |
LS378 | Media Law | 6 | |
LS379 | Commercial Law | 6 | |
LS400 | Honours in Law | 12 | |
LS403 | Rese arch Topic in Legal Studies | 6 | |
LS459 | Advanced Torts | 6 | |
LS471 | Trade Practices and Consumer Protection | 6 | |
LS478 | Advanced Criminal Law | 6 | |
| Candidates who have completed 96 credit points of the course with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5 or better may select one LLM unit in which to enrol, not being LLM619, 620, 621 or 622. |
| ||
Total | 144 cps | ||
Suggested Full Time Course Plan
The following are standard patterns of enrolment or pathways for candidates studying on a full-time or part-time basis. They take into account unit pre-requisite, co-requisite and timetabling requirements where possible. Candidates can each year choose to study less units than the full-time pattern or more units than the part-time pattern, but if doing so should use these standard patterns as guides as to how best to structure their studies.
For candidates studying Full-Time = 48cps per year or 24cps per semester
Year | Notes | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | In their first year candidates should enrol in these 8 core units. | LS100 | LS160 |
LS231 | LS232 | ||
LS371 | LS372 | ||
LS220 | LS200 | ||
2 | In Yr 2 candidates should enrol in these 6 core units and 2 elective units in Semester 2. | LS240 | LS210 |
LS281 | LS282 | ||
LS351 | Elective Unit | ||
LS355 | Elective Unit | ||
3 | In Yr 3 candidates should enrol in LS320 in Semester 1 and LS480 in either Semester 1 or Semester 2, together with 6 elective units. | LS320 | Elective Unit or LS480 |
Elective Unit or LS480 | Elective Unit | ||
Elective Unit | Elective Unit | ||
Elective Unit | Elective Unit |
Suggested Part Time Course Plan
For candidates studying Part-Time = 24cps per year or 12cps per semester
Year | Notes | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | In their first year candidates should enrol in these 4 core units. | LS100 | LS160 |
LS231 | LS232 | ||
2 | In Yr 2 candidates should enrol in these 4 core units. | LS371 | LS372 |
LS220 | LS200 | ||
3 | In Yr 3 candidates should enrol in these 4 core units/ | LS281 | LS210 |
LS355 | LS282 | ||
4 | In Yr 4 candidates should enrol in these 2 core units and 2 elective units, both in Semester 2. | LS351 | Elective Unit |
LS240 | Elective Unit | ||
5 | In Yr 5 candidates should enrol in LS320 and three elective units. | LS320 | Elective Unit |
Elective Unit | Elective Unit | ||
6 | In Yr 6 candidates should enrol in LS480 in either Semester 1 or Semester 2 and 3 elective units. | Elective Unit | Elective Unit |
Elective Unit or LS480 | Elective Unit or LS480 |
Sample Law Units
The following unit descriptions give a sample of the types of units students may undertake in their first year of enrolment in the Bachelor of Laws.
LS 100 – Introduction to Legal Systems and Methods
This unit is an introduction to law, legal institutions and legal reasoning. It provides an historical overview of the development of Australian law, an introduction to the constitutional foundations of the Commonwealth and States of Australia. It examines the two major forms of law, legislation and case-law, and the methods by which these laws are discovered and interpreted.
LS 160 – Criminal Law and Procedure
This unit will introduce students to the fundamental concepts and essential elements of the criminal law, such as the physical and mental elements of crime, criminal defences and the laws of complicity and attempt.
LS 200 – Administrative Law
This unit consists of an examination of the development and the contemporary operation of administrative law in Australia. The topics examined include origins and scope of administrative law, the operation of administrative agencies and their relations with citizens, the control of delegated legislation, control of discretionary powers, freedom of information, administrative tribunals, ombudsman and anti-discrimination law.
LS 220 – Constitutional Law
This unit consists of an examination of the development and contemporary operation of constitutional law in Australia. Topics include origins and interpretation of the Commonwealth constitution, Federal legislative powers, executive and judicial powers, constitutional guarantees and freedoms, Commonwealth/State relations, and constitutional reform.
LS 231 – Law of Torts I
This unit introduces students to the principles of law governing liability for accidents. It examines in detail the elements of the tort of negligence: duty of care; standard of care and breach of duty; and the problems of proof of breach, causation and remoteness. The defences of contributory negligence and volenti non fit injuria and the principles of vicarious liability are studied.
LS 372 – Law of Contract II
This unit focuses on the enforcement of contracts, considering performance, breach of contract, discharge and termination. It also deals with matters vitiating the contract, public policy, illegality, mistake and misrepresentation.
Advanced Standing
Advanced standing may be granted in respect of units completed within the past 10 years at this University or at other institutions. In general, approval will be granted for equivalent work completed elsewhere. The Faculty rules prescribe a maximum limit of 67% for the granting of advanced standing toward the Law degree.
Applications for advanced standing should be made with accompanying academic transcripts and unit outlines at the time of application for admission.
Some students may have relevant work experience or prior learning and thus an understanding, which will allow them to apply for a challenge exam in a particular unit.
Methods of Teaching
The School of Law adopts a variety of teaching methods. In most cases teaching for internal students is by way of a combination of lectures and tutorials. Usually students receive three hours of face-to-face teaching per unit per week. Some advanced level units are taught wholly by way of seminars. Emphasis is placed on students developing online research skills using law databases accessible via the Internet.
As the School is a specialist in providing legal education by the distance education mode it extends the benefits of this mode to the teaching of its internal students as well, thereby focusing on self-directed student learning, as well as on lectures and tutorials.
External teaching varies from unit to unit. In some, it is by way of written notes and reading materials, and in others audio tapes of lectures are used. Frequently there is a combination of methods. In most units there are scheduled, but optional, residential schools, usually of two days duration. In some, class contact is offered by way of video and audio conferencing. All units have a unit website. Websites often include features such as discussion forums, chat rooms and access to unit content. Often supplementary CD-ROMs are provided. It is essential that students have reliable Internet access.
Summer Semester
Summer semesters provide an opportunity for students to fast-track their academic progression or to catch up on units required for degree completion. A selection of units of study is offered by distance education from November to February, enabling students to study from home and to accelerate their progress towards graduation.
After Graduation
Graduates who wish to be admitted to practice as a solicitor, barrister or legal practitioner anywhere in Australia will also have to undertake a course of professional legal training. This can consist of approximately half a year’s full-time training, undertaken internally or externally, or of equivalent part-time training. In some jurisdictions, it is still possible to do articles of clerkship instead. Because the system adopted varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, enquiries should be made to the admission authority in the state or territory in which you intend to practice; this is usually a committee of the Supreme Court of that state or territory.
However entry into legal practice is no longer the only career path for a student completing a Bachelor of Laws program. Many law graduates obtain employment in occupations such as commerce, banking, management, the public service, the diplomatic service, counselling, social work and teaching.
Program Flexibility
Program flexibility allows students to arrange their study to suit their lifestyle preferences. Students may:
- study on campus (internal enrolment)
- study off-campus by distance education (external enrolment)
- study full-time or part-time
- commence in first or second semester
- switch between study modes as circumstances require
- access online study options
Academic Support
Comparatively small class sizes and tutorial groups within the Faculty mean that students are able to obtain individual assistance with course work. The residential colleges at UNE also provide tutorial support for their residents.
The Academic Skills Office organises a range of programs to assist all students with their learning, assignment work and examination preparation. Workshops are advertised regularly, and individual consultations can be arranged by phoning the Office on (02) 6773 3600. Our Faculty Mentor is available for individual consultations. The mentor’s role is to give general and specialised academic skills advice (including help with all aspects of assignment writing, time management and effective study).
Do you want to know more?
The UNE School of Law was established in 1992 and is located, physically and administratively, within the Faculty of Economics, Business and Law. It is one of the most rapidly growing law schools in Australia and currently has 25 full-time academic staff members.
The Law Library is located within the Faculty building and provides access to up-to-the minute references for students. The Law Library homepage is linked to several key law databases.
There is an active Law Students’ Society at UNE, which organises inter-varsity mooting and social activities for students. The Society also represents the interests of Law students through its elected representatives on School Committees and provides a range of services for law alumni as well as facilitating links between legal practitioners and students.
Costs
Commonwealth Supported Places
Under Commonwealth legislation each unit has a fee per semester of tuition. Students who are eligible for HECS-HELP assistance may pay their student contribution in three different ways:
- pay all of their student contribution up-front and receive a HECS-HELP discount of 20%
- receive a HECS-HELP loan for the full student contribution or
- pay some of the student contribution up-front (and receive a 20% discount on payments over $500) and receive a HECS-HELP loan for the balance.
For more information please visit the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) website at: www.goingtouni.gov.au
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Laws applicants must be graduates of a three-year Bachelor’s course or equivalent or meet the University’s criteria for Alternative Entry admission, together with three years’ relevant legal work experience as determined by the Course Coordinator (Law), which involves administration and/or interpretation of law (eg legal secretary, police prosecutor).
International students must have fulfilled all the requirements for undergraduate entry to the University.
An Alternative Entry program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students is conducted by the Oorala Aboriginal Centre at UNE. For information contact the Centre on (02) 6773 3034.
Quotas apply for admission in the Bachelor of Laws.
For further information, consult the School of Law Handbook
Admission Procedures
Enquiries regarding eligibility for admission should be directed to the:
Student Centre
The University of New England NSW 2351
Website: www.une.edu.au/studentcentre
Help for Students
You can find instant answers to many of your questions or contact UNE directly via AskUNE
Future Students may also call 1800 818 865
Application forms for external admission are available from the Student Centre. Applications for external admission for first semester close on 30 September, for second semester on 31 May, and for summer semester on 31 October (late applications may be considered).
All internal undergraduate applications must be made through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).
UAC
Locked Bag 112
SILVERWATER NSW 2128
www.uac.edu.au
QTAC
PO Box 1331
MILTON QLD 4064
www.qtac.edu.au
Information correct at the time of publication (September 2004).