-
Top 2% universities worldwide
-
Top 10 Catholic universities globally
-
Top 40 young universities worldwide
Bachelor of Human Rights/Bachelor of Laws
Course information for - 2023 entry
Offered at 4 locations
- Duration
- 5 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- QTAC code
- 112081
- ATAR
- N/A
- Start dates
-
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2023Applications open August 2022Midyear (Semester 2) intake: to be advised
Overview
Human rights advocacy has never been more important. It’s a rapidly growing field across the world and involves aspects of law, criminal justice, history, philosophy and politics.
Studying a Bachelor of Human Rights/Bachelor of Laws will prepare you for a rewarding legal career in human rights both in Australia and globally.
Your strong commitment to social justice is at the heart of this double degree. Like you, we believe in standing up for people in need and issues that matter. We want you to see life through the eyes of others and be inspired to become the leading human rights lawyers and advocates of the 21st century. As a central part of your studies, you will gain essential skills in critical thinking, writing, analysis and debating – skills in high demand from employers.
Our law degree fulfills the academic requirements for admission to the legal profession in Australia.
You can also study the Bachelor of Human Rights or the Bachelor of Human Rights/Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Work placement
Pro bono placements are undertaken from the second year of law studies. You’ll engage in practical, law related activities, especially on behalf of those who are the most marginalised and disadvantaged in our community. These placements will provide valuable experience in the practical operation of the law. Through community engagement you’ll have the opportunity to reflect upon the capacity of the law to respond to social justice issues involving those who are marginalised and disadvantaged as well as in law reform. You’ll benefit from, develop and reflect upon the values of collaboration, equality, mutual respect and commitment to justice in an ethically-based profession.
Volunteer experience
The pro bono program provides practical, work-place based experience in a community context.
Professional recognition
This degree has been approved by accreditation authorities as a prerequisite for admission to legal practice in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, and is recognised for the purposes of admission in other Australian states and territories.
Careers
Our graduates can pursue careers in:
- the legal profession
- advocacy: domestic and International advocacy, humanitarian services, disaster relief, policy development, volunteer co-ordination
- social services: human services provision, public health, economic development, policy development
- government administration
- industry regulation
- communications: foreign news reporting/correspondence, investigative journalism, research
- politics
- NGOs, both domestic and international
- academia
- diplomacy
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Human Rights/Bachelor of Laws, a student must complete 400 credit points (cp).
Sample program map
| Year - Study period | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 | Unit 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 Semester 1 | LAWS104 Foundations of Law and Legal Research data-versionlabel=3 > | LAWS105 Contract Law data-versionlabel=3 > | LHRG103 Legal Institutions and Human Rights | PHIL104 Introduction to Ethics data-versionlabel=3 > | |
Year 1 Semester 2 | LAWS107 Introduction to Australian Public Law data-versionlabel=3 > | LAWS108 Commercial Law data-versionlabel=3 > | SOCS108 - Contemporary Society and Change | HIST106 Australian Indigenous Peoples Past and Present data-versionlabel=3 > | |
Year 2 Semester 1 | LAWS106 Criminal Law and Procedure data-versionlabel=3 > | LAWS206 Torts data-versionlabel=3 > | UNCC100 Self and Community: Exploring the Anatomy of Modern Society data-versionlabel=3 > | PHIL202 Justice, Authority and Human Rights data-versionlabel=3 > | |
Year 2 Semester 2 | LAWS200 Business Organisations data-versionlabel=3 > | LAWS213 Community Legal Engagement Pro Bono data-versionlabel=3 > | LHRG106 Human Rights and Business Regulation | POLS213 Security, Terrorism and Human Rights data-versionlabel=3 > | |
Year 3 Semester 1 | LAWS314 Statutory Interpretation data-versionlabel=3 > | LAWS205 Property data-versionlabel=3 > | UNCC300 Justice and Change in a Global World data-versionlabel=3 > | LHRG203 Australian Human Rights Law and Policy | |
Year 3 Semester 2 | LAWS201 Civil Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution data-versionlabel=3 > | LAWS204 Land Law data-versionlabel=3 > | PHIL225 The Ground and Nature of Rights | LHRG207 Human Rights and Criminal Justice | |
Year 4 Semester 1 | LAWS304 Evidence data-versionlabel=3 > | LAWS421 Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility data-versionlabel=3 > | HIST251 Human Rights in History data-versionlabel=3 > | SOCS300 Power Wealth and Welfare: Social Issues and Policy data-versionlabel=3 > | |
Year 4 Semester 2 | LAWS419 Constitutional Law data-versionlabel=3 > | LAWS420 Equity and Trusts data-versionlabel=3 > | LAWS403 Legal Theory data-versionlabel=3 > | PHIL324 Human Rights: Contemporary Moral Issues | |
Year 5 Semester 1 | LAWS418 Administrative Law data-versionlabel=3 > | LAWS404 International Law data-versionlabel=3 > | LHRG306 Human Rights Advocacy | Law Elective (Pre: LAWS104) | |
Year 5 Semester 2 | LHRG303 - International Humanitarian Law | LAW Elective 2 (Pre: LAWS104) | LAW Elective 3 (Pre: LAWS104) | POLS309 World Politics and Justice data-versionlabel=3 > |
This is a sample program only and units will vary depending on your campus and mode of study. Please refer to the handbook for the prerequisite units and the current listing.
To qualify for the degree, a student must also complete at least 80 hours of 0cp pro bono placement after completion of LAWS213 Community Legal Engagement: Pro Bono.
AQF framework
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
International applicants must also meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
| State | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | English (Standard) (Band 3) or English as an Additional Language (EAL) (Band 4) |
| Queensland | English (4, SA) at year 12 level |
| Victoria | Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 30 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or 25 in any other English. |
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2023 Admission. The Course entry requirements above are for 2023 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.
Adjustment factors
If you’re currently completing Year 12 you may be eligible for adjustment factors that can boost your rank and help you get into your desired course.
Adjustment factors may be applied to your TAC application if you study particular subjects, attend schools geographically close to our campuses or in certain regional areas, apply as an elite athlete or performer or meet certain other criteria.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Fees
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
How to apply
Domestic applicants
Staff Profile
Mr David Spencer
Senior Law Lecturer, Thomas More Law School
David Spencer was admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia in 1992. He currently holds a Principal’s practising certificate in Victoria. David is also an academic and in 2008 was appointed Professor moving from Macquarie University in Sydney to La Trobe University in Melbourne. He moved to the Australian Catholic University in 2012 as Professor and Deputy Provost. He now teaches law in the Thomas More Law School at the Australian Catholic University in Melbourne. He has won numerous University and a national teaching award and competitive research grants. As a result of a recent Australian Research Council grant to investigate whether deaf people can serve as members of a jury, he was the lead author of an article that won the inaugural “Andrea Durbach Award for Human Rights Scholarship” awarded by the Australian Human Rights Institute and the Australian Journal of Human Rights.
He began researching and writing about dispute resolution in the mid 1990’s and is currently one of Australia’s leading authorities on the theory, philosophy and practice of alternative dispute resolution. He has had published: 7 books and research monographs; 5 book chapters; 22 articles and 90 case notes in refereed law journals; and, over 100 articles in other journals and conference presentations. He is the Chief Editorial Consultant for the Australasian Dispute Resolution Journal published by Thomson Reuters.
Dr Kunle Ola
Senior Lecturer, Thomas More Law School
Dr Kunle Ola is a lawyer with an academic, legal, regulatory, enforcement and administrative background. He started his formal legal career at the Corporate Affairs Commission in Nigeria and then joined a private law firm as a partner. Dr Ola has represented Nigeria on several United Nations’ specialised committees including the Standing Committee for Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) General Assembly and the WIPO Committee for Development in Intellectual Property (CDIP). He has extensive international legal experience, and a passion for sharing this with his students at ACU.