The Bachelor of Laws course at CQUniversity is a three-year full-time or four-year part-time undergraduate degree. The course covers all the areas of law required to satisfy professional accreditation through the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board. The course enables graduates to proceed to practice as a legal practitioner after completing the required professional training. During your studies you will learn about legal procedures and key legislation, and be given the opportunity to develop skills necessary to identify, analyse and evaluate facts in relation to legal frameworks. The core areas of law covered in the course match those required for admission to the legal profession (Priestley 11) and other requirements of the Law Admissions Consultative Committee including statutory interpretation, criminal law and procedure, contracts, torts, federal and state constitutional law, equity (including trusts), administrative law, property, company law, evidence, ethics and professional responsibility and civil dispute resolution. The course also offers five elective choices from a diverse range of electives including alternative dispute resolution, legal drafting, legal advocacy, commercial law, family law, succession, revenue law, jurisprudence, eLaw, Australian employment law, environmental law, international and human rights law etc. The course is taught at Australian Qualifications Framework level 7 Bachelor degree (see www.aqf.edu.au/aqf-levels). Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent knowledge and skills for professional work and/or further learning.
The Bachelor of Laws prepares graduates for a career as a legal professional. Aside from the traditional roles as a solicitor, barrister or in-house counsel, a law degree is useful for careers in academia, business, the public service and politics.
Duration | 3 years full-time or 4 years part-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 144 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in undergraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Undergraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | LLB |
AQF Level | Level 7: Bachelor Degree |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
|
Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
|
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
Rank Threshold | SR 74 | ATAR 74 |
Domestic students
Prerequisites: English, Queensland Year 12 or equivalent.
If you were not
born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa
or United States of America you are required to meet the English Language
Proficiency requirements set by the University.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of
completion of:
·
a secondary qualification (Year
11 or 12, or equivalent), or
·
tertiary diploma level
qualification, or
·
bachelor level qualification
study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0
completed within
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or
United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.
If you do not
satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language
proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below.
·
An International English
Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0
overall with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or
·
Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL) ‐ Requires 550 or better overall & minimum TWE score of
4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17
(Internet Based Test); or
·
Pearson Test of English
Academic (PTE Academic) ‐ Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub‐score
less than 46; or
·
An Occupational English Test
with Grades A or B only in each of the four components; or
·
Cambridge Certificate in
Advanced English (CAE) ‐ Score of 180 or above; or
·
Cambridge Certificate of
Proficiency in English ‐ Score of 200 or above; or
·
Combined Universities Language
Test (CULT) ‐ 70% with no individual component score of less than 15.
English test
results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date
and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result
certificate.
Each student
will be assessed individually.
N/A
Interim Awards | Not applicable |
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Exit Awards | CL95 - Associate Degree of Paralegal Studies CL96 - Diploma of Legal Studies |
Accreditation |
|
No Residential School for this course.
LAWS13020 - CQUniversity discipline of law has fully mapped its curriculum to include experiential learning opportunities in numerous subjects. These opportunities focus on skills development and include: • Simulations - moots, branching simulations, role plays • Drafting legal documents • Client interviewing exercises • Developing legal apps • Emerging Clinical programs - embedded within individual units, as digitally badged experiences, probono community service opportunities and where possible work placements (organised by students). |
LAWS12073 - Students will undertake a three-week legal humanitarian mission to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in conjunction with the organisation Antipodeans. Prior to the overseas humanitarian mission, students will study appropriate aspects of international humanitarian law; appropriate aspects of Cambodian law and culture; and will develop practical skills necessary to support their overseas mission. Upon return to Australia, students will undertake an analysis and presentation of their accomplishment. Students will be assessed prior to departing to Cambodia; continuously during the placement period; and on the basis of their contribution to a final group presentation. |
LAWS13020 - CQUniversity is also entering into a Work Experience Placement Program at the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). Some CQUniversity law subjects have assessment options which enable students to organise and gain recognition of physical placements in legal firms, with barristers and in government legal agencies. The reason these work placements are optional is that the majority of the student body studies part-time online. Placements need to match the flexibility requirements of students. |
LAWS13020 - A memorandum of understanding has been signed between CQUniversity and the Central Queensland Community Legal Centre Inc (CQCLC). The CQCLC is a community-based, government funded organisation which provides free legal advice and minor assistance to members of the community who may not otherwise be able to access or afford such assistance. The initiative involves the introduction into the CQCLC of CQU law student probono volunteers, both in person and online, supervised by CQU staff with the intention of expanding the course into distance advice if the initial trial is satisfactory. It is intended that all CQUniversity law students will have the opportunity to be involved with this course. Should this initiative prove successful it will be rolled out to further rural and regional community legal centres. |
Year | Number of Students |
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2024 | 447 |
2023 | 508 |
2022 | 560 |
2021 | 652 |
2020 | 647 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
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Course Learning Outcomes | ||||||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have a broad and coherent body of knowledge, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines as a basis for independent lifelong learning | ||||||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review critically, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge | ||||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive and technical skills to demonstrate a broad understanding of knowledge with depth in some areas | ||||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive and creative skills to exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence | ||||||
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas | ||||||
6. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship | ||||||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts | ||||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters | ||||||
KNOWLEDGE Develop an understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture in contemporary and historical context using the respectful and appropriate protocols and terminology | ||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Engage in reflective self-evaluation of own cultural values and perspectives to proactively create an inclusive workplace that affirms and celebrates cultural diversity | ||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Display leadership by creating inclusive work environments and work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a culturally respectful manner |
Number of units: 19 | Total credit points: 114 |
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For the purposes of accreditation and admission students must complete the LLB course over a period of three or more calendar years.
Number of units: 5 | Total credit points: 30 |
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Students must complete 5 electives selected from the LAWS units set out in the More Details area of the handbook ensuring that at least one is a Level 3 unit.
Study Schedule
For students commencing in Term 3: due to unit availability, students may only be able to complete a part-time study load of two units in Term 3 in their first year/term. However, students can then increase their study load to up to four units from Term 1 of the following year onwards.
A recommended study schedule for this course can be obtained from your Student Advisor (Courses and Careers) by contacting http://programadvice.cqu.edu.au.
Students may determine their own schedule based upon credit transfers and personal study requirements. It is important to note that full-time students usually enrol in four units per term and part-time students usually enrol in two units per term.
Students are not permitted to enrol in more than four units per term and must not complete their course in less than three academic years.
For Course Planners please refer to the following website: http://www.cqu.edu.au/student-life/new-students/planners-and-profiles
Please note: Students must also check to see when and where a unit is offered before enrolling. See the unit availability section in this handbook for details.
Computing Requirements
As a student, it is necessary to have access to a computer or equivalent device to complete your coursework. You should have a good understanding of technology and the ability to navigate the online environment, which may involve completing online assessments, participating in online forums and groupwork, and responding to emails. There may be instances where you need to use a computer or equivalent device for in-class tasks or assessments. It is important that you have dependable access to the internet and a computer or equivalent device capable of video conferencing, including a working microphone and video camera, for online classes and assessments. Make sure to review your unit profiles to learn about any specific technology requirements for your coursework.
Credit Transfer & Exemptions
Credit will not be granted towards the CQUniversity Bachelor of Laws course for law units studied at this or other institutions that are not part of an accredited law degree course. In order for students to receive professional accreditation upon completion of the course, all law units must meet the content requirements of the accrediting bodies as specified by legislation. Law units completed outside of a law degree course will not meet these requirements. Even where law units have addressed content similar to that in the CQUniversity Bachelor of Laws course, the assessment will be different in focus to that required in a law degree.
Students who have completed a law unit at an accredited Australian Law School, for which there is no equivalent law unit at Central Queensland University, may at the discretion of the Head of Course, be granted credit for an unspecified law elective in the LLB degree. The maximum allowable credit will not exceed four unspecified elective units.
Refer to the Credit Transfer website at http://www.cqu.edu.au/credittransfer for further details on the guidelines and application process.
Practising as a Solicitor in Australia
Queensland
To practise as a solicitor in Queensland, you must first complete an approved law degree such as the CQUniversity Bachelor of Laws. Graduates wishing to be admitted as a solicitor must also undertake additional legal training through either successful completion of a Practical Legal Training (PLT) course, or by serving as a Supervised Trainee.
Upon completion of the above, you can apply for admission as a Lawyer to the Roll of Lawyers in Queensland, providing you are able to satisfy the Admission Board and the Supreme Court of your fitness to practise. You can apply for a Practising Certificate through the Queensland Law Society.
Graduates admitted to practise in Queensland may apply for recognition of their practising certificate throughout the States and Territories due to mutual recognition principles.
For more detailed information on admission, please refer to the following websites:
Legal Practitioners Admissions Board: http://www.qls.com.au/Legal-Practitioners-Admissions-Board
Queensland Law Society: http://www.qls.com.au/
The Bar Association of Queensland: http://www.qldbar.asn.au/
For admission in other States and Territories, please refer to the following websites:
New South Wales
Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB): https://www.lpab.justice.nsw.gov.au/
Law Society of NSW: https://www.lawsociety.com.au/
NSW Bar Association: https://nswbar.asn.au/
Victoria
Victoria Legal Admissions Board: https://www.lawadmissions.vic.gov.au/
Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner: https://lsbc.vic.gov.au/
Law Institute of Victoria: https://www.liv.asn.au/
Victorian Bar: https://www.vicbar.com.au/
Western Australia
Legal Practice Board of Western Australia: https://www.lpbwa.org.au/
Law Society of Western Australia: https://lawsocietywa.asn.au/
Western Australian Bar Association: https;//wabar.asn.au/
South Australia
Law Society of South Australia: http://www.lawsocietysa.asn.au/
South Australian Bar Association: https://sabar.org.au/
Tasmania
The Supreme Court of Tasmania: https://www.supremecourt.tas.gov.au/practitioners/admission/
Law Society of Tasmania: https://www.lst.org.au/
Tasmanian Bar Association: https://tasbar.com.au/
Australian Capital Territory
The Supreme Court of the ACT website: https://www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/law-and-practice/admission-as-a-legal-pracitioner
ACT Law Society: https://www.actlawsociety.asn.au/
ACT Bar Association: https://www.actbar.com.au/
Northern Territory
The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory: https://supremecourt.nt.gov.au/
Law Society Northern Territory website: http://www.lawsocietynt.asn.au/
Northern Territory Bar Association: https://ntbar.asn.au/