Career information for your major
Discipline Overview
Legal Studies equips you with knowledge and skills regarding legal concepts, ideas and institutions in Australia and internationally. You will learn key legal skills including the interpretation of legislation and case law, and the application of law to solve legal problems. You will develop a working understanding of the substance and process of law in social, government, environmental, commercial and international contexts. You will also develop skills in critically analysing relationships between law and justice, which can be applied to a range of other study areas.
Key employability skills
- Intellectual independence, including the ability to ask and answer cogent questions, identify gaps in their knowledge and acquire new knowledge, and engage in critical analysis and evaluation
- Attention to detail, innovative problem solving and adaptability
- Adeptness in conducting independent research, including accurate recognition of issue(s), the identification, retrieval and evaluation of accurate, current and relevant information from a diverse range of appropriate sources, and their appropriate application
- Ability to work with a range of data, including textual, numerical and statistical
- Clear, effective and precise verbal and/or non-verbal communication in responding appropriately and sensitively to a range of differing positions and arguments
- Digital literacy in finding, managing, creating and communicating information
- Time management and self-management, including an ability to reflect on their own learning, make effective use of feedback, a willingness to listen to advice and to acknowledge and correct errors
- Willingness and ability to work collaboratively
- Engagement with their own personal and professional development, including academic integrity
- Understanding of ethical conflicts that may arise and how to make reasoned, balanced judgements to resolve them
- Development of personal integrity and an awareness of the potential ethical impacts of decision-making
- Development of professional reflective capabilities to enhance personal practice, resilience and self-confidence
- Commercial awareness
Specialised areas
- Human Rights
- Media law
- Environmental and Planning
- Wills and estates
- Taxation
- Real Estate and Property law
- Public and Administrative law
- International law
- Intellectual Property law
- Family law
- Employment law
- Criminal law
- Consumer law
- Commercial law
- Civil litigation
- Banking and Finance law
Career Pathways
(data sourced from QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey and LinkedIn Alumni Search)
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Make sure you consider the fast-tracked career pathway programs which are offered by some large corporate organisations and government agencies. Here are some of the organisations that take graduates of this discipline.
Details of relevant graduate recruitment programs can be found on websites such as GradConnection. |
Whether you're considering a number of career possibilities, or already have a specific career path in mind, it's useful to investigate a wide range of career options. Below is a list of jobs held by UOW graduates, up to 6 months after graduation:
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The following list is of jobs held by UOW Alumni, more than 6 months after graduation. Note that some of these graduates have undertaken further study:
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Explore the type of organisations you would like to work for by looking at some of the employers in your field. Below is a list of organisations that have employed UOW graduates and Alumni.
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Key industry job websites
Professional Bodies and Associations
Build your career network and stay up to date with the latest developments in your industry by joining a professional association.
- Law Society of New South Wales
- New South Wales Bar Association
- International Law Association
- Law Council of Australia
- Australian Bar Association
- Australian Lawyers Alliance
- Australian and New Zealand Criminology Society
- Patent and Trademark Attorneys of Australia
- The Australian Institute of Criminology
Postgraduate study options
UOW offers postgraduate study options if you want to pursue further research or specialise through academic coursework.