Undergraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Bachelor of Journalism - Bachelor of Laws

The course information on this page is for new students commencing their degree in 2016 only. 

Students should follow the rules and requirements for the year that they commenced their course. The online course information for years prior to 2016 are available from the Archives link in the menu.

Students should also review current subject availabilities via the Subject Descriptions link in the menu.

Testamur Title of Degree:

Bachelor of Journalism - Bachelor of Laws

Abbreviation:

BJrnl-LLB

UOW Course Code:

858

CRICOS Code:

058981A

Total Credit Points:

270*

Duration:

5 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Home Faculty:

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts

Intake Session(s):

Autumn

Delivery Mode:

On-campus

Delivery Campus / UAC Code:

Wollongong / 751211

Additional Information:

Course Finder

*This is a minimum figure and may vary depending on the major.

Overview

A Bachelor of Journalism and Bachelor of Laws double degree provides students with an expanded skill set - one that will set them apart from students who opt for a single degree option in either discipline. This double degree provides students with a wider range of career options through the acquisition of skills and knowledge in media law and ethics, as well as strong production skills in print, online and broadcast journalism. The Journalism degree also helps students gain practical experience and build connections with the media industry through journalism internships.

For the first year of the double degree, students enrol in Law subjects as prescribed in the table below. The first year of the LLB must be completed full time, except where approval is given on equity grounds. In the following four years of the degree, students enrol in subjects from the School of Law and the School of the Arts, English and Media.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements and English requirements are available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

A number of the course learning outcomes in each of these degrees complement and consolidate outcomes in the partner degree. Applied across two discipline areas, the outcomes are achieved at a broader and more comprehensive level.

The outcomes, which are common and consolidated in this double degree, ensure that on successful completion of the course students will be able to:

  1. Apply ethical principles to a range of contexts;
  2. Investigate, evaluate and interpret research sources;
  3. Communicate effectively to a range of audiences through a range of media.

Please refer to the Undergraduate Course Handbook page of each individual degree for a comprehensive list of degree course learning outcomes.

Course Structure

To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Journalism - Bachelor of Laws, a candidate must complete a total of at least 270 credit points including each of (a), (b) and (c) as follows:

  1. all compulsory Law subjects as set out in the Course Program below;
  2. elective subjects to the value of 40 credit points from the Bachelor of Laws Elective Law Schedule;
  3. 90 credit points from the Course Structure of the Bachelor of Journalism, comprising 84cp of core subjects, and 6cp of Journalism electives*.

 * Note: Students in the Bachelor of Journalism - Bachelor of Laws double degree will only be required to complete 6cp of Journalism electives (rather than 12cp which is normally required).

Subject Code Subject Name Credit Points Session(s)
Year 1
LLB 100 Foundations of Law A 8 Autumn
LLB 110 Legal Research and Writing 4 Autumn
LLB 120 Law of Contract A 8 Autumn
LLB 130 Criminal Law and Process A 8 Autumn
LLB 150 Communication Skills 2 Autumn
LLB 140 Advocacy Skills 2 Spring
LLB 160 Foundations of Law B 8 Spring
LLB 170 Law of Contract B 8 Spring
LLB 180 Criminal Law and Process B 8 Spring
LLB 197 Lawyers and Australian Society 6 Spring
Year 2
LLB 220 Property and Trusts A 8 Autumn
LLB 230 Administrative Law 8 Autumn
LLB 270 Property and Trusts B 8 Spring
LLB 280 Constitutional Law 8 Spring

Plus subjects from the Journalism and Graphic Design schedules

Year 3
LLB 240 Law of Torts 8 Autumn
LLB 260 Dispute Management Skills 2 Autumn
LLB 250 Drafting Skills 2 Spring
LLB 290 Legal Theory 8 Spring
LLB 397 Legal Internship 2 LIP1, LIP2, LIP Summer

Plus subjects from the Journalism and Graphic Design schedules

Year 4
LLB 300 Remedies and Procedure 8 Autumn
LLB 302 Law of Business Organisations 8 Autumn
LLB 301 Evidence 8 Spring
2 LLB Electives 16 Spring

Plus subjects from the Journalism schedules

Year 5
2 LLB Electives 16 Autumn
1 LLB Electives 8 Spring

Plus subjects from the Journalism schedules

Majors

Majors are not available in the Bachelor of Laws degree or the Bachelor of Journalism.

Students can consult with academic advisors in the relevant School concerning selection of appropriate subjects.

 

Honours

High achieving students, enrolled in a Bachelor of Laws double degree, are eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB Hons) (Course Code 351).

Academic requirements and credit transfer information for the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (Course Code 351) are available from the Course Finder.

Students accepted into this LLB (Hons) will be transferred out of their double degree and into a concurrent enrolment comprising the LLB (Hons) and their non-law degree. Students will then complete the LLB (Hons) course structure including the Year 4 honours subjects LLB 400 Legal Research Methodology and LLB 401 Legal Research Thesis.

A student who successfully transfers into the LLB (Hons) program but does not meet the minimum performance standards required for the award of Honours will be permitted to transfer back to the Bachelor of Laws double degree in which they were enrolled immediately prior to the transfer into the Honours course, and will be awarded credit to the Bachelor of Laws for the number of credit points passed in the Honours degree.

As an alternative, students who have completed all requirements for their LLB double degree with a weighted average mark of 70% in their LLB subjects are eligible to apply for entry to the Bachelor of Laws (Honours)(Graduate Entry) (Course Code 359), which is a standalone honours program, LLB (Hons). Students who enrol in this LLB (Hons) must complete the subject LLB 448 Research Honours in Law (48cp). Entry must be approved by the School of Law in consultation with the LLB Honours Coordinator. The School of Law shall not approve entry into this course unless the Coordinator has agreed, in consultation with the student, on the program of study that will form the basis of the course curriculum for the degree.

Credit Arrangements

Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.

Law Professional Recognition/Accreditation

The UOW Bachelor of Laws (single LLB or in combination with another degree) is accredited by the Legal Profession Admission Board (LPAB) as satisfying the academic requirements necessary for admission to practise as a lawyer. On completion of the Bachelor of Laws, a student who wishes to practise as a barrister or solicitor must also undertake some form of professional practical training, the requirements for which vary between each state and territory of Australia.


In New South Wales, a student who intends to qualify for admission to practise as a legal practitioner is required to undertake a practical legal training (PLT) course accredited by the LPAB, followed by or incorporating a period of practical experience in a law-related setting. Practical experience gained by students in LLB 397 Legal Internship may be counted towards this practical experience requirement (eg ANU and College of Law will recognise days completed as part of LLB 397). Graduates should check with their PLT provider. A list of LPAB accredited PLT courses can be found on the LPAB website.


Students who intend to practice as lawyers after admission should obtain further information about restricted practice and the mandatory continuing legal education requirements from the Law Society of New South Wales. Students who intend to practice as barristers after admission will be required to read with a senior barrister for a period of time and to undertake the Bar Readers' Course being qualified to take briefs on their own account. Further information is available from the New South Wales Bar Association.
 

Other Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 29 August, 2018