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Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry)
Course information for - 2025 entry
Domestic
- Domestic
- International
- Domestic
- International
Offered at 3 locations
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
- North Sydney
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
- North Sydney
- Duration
- 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- QTAC code
- 116622
- ATAR
- 78.00 for Brisbane
- Fees (first year)*
- Start dates
-
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2025Applications open August 2024Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning July 2025Applications open April 2025
Overview
If you already have an undergraduate degree and you want to become a lawyer, this course is for you. Our focus is on making a strong and positive contribution to our communities, and you will put it all into practice with pro bono work whilst you study.
Students who have completed 120 credit points of law units with a grade point average of 5.75 and above may apply to complete an honours degree.
Professional experience
You will complete 80 hours pro bono experience (after your first year).
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.
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 have pursued careers in:
- the legal profession
- government administration
- industry regulation
- media
- politics
- NGOs, both domestic and international
- academia
- diplomacy
- the evolving digital environment will open unforeseen opportunities for thinkers trained in the law
Industry partnerships
ACU works with a variety of industry partners:
- Toongabbie Legal Centre
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry), a student must complete 240 credit points (cp).
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Overseas study available
You’ll have the opportunity to study the university Core Curriculum at our Rome campus. A number of elective units in this degree are also available to study overseas.
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have successfully completed a recognised three-year Bachelor degree in any field of study.
International students need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.
View transparency admission information
Applicants with recent secondary education
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If your school result was affected by circumstances outside of your control, such as financial hardship, illness, disability or a challenging home environment, you may qualify for an access scheme. You can apply through your TAC as part of your application process.
Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
For current year 12 students
If you’re a current Year 12 applicant you can be given a selection rank separate from, and in addition to, your ATAR if you’ve completed a competency-based and graded AQF Certificate III or above.
For non-school leavers
If you’ve completed, or are completing a competency-based AQF Certificate IV or AQF diploma you will be assigned a selection rank by your local Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC). This is an entry score based on your individual qualifications and achievements.
ACU has partnerships with TAFE and many private education providers. If you have completed a qualification with one of these partners or with ACU College, you may be eligible for guaranteed entry and/or credit into a related ACU degree. Please apply through your local TAC and then submit a credit application for your previous study.
Applicants with higher education study
You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we’ll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration, and grade point average.
If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.
You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.
Applicants with work and life experience
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have no formal education qualifications you may be eligible for a selection rank based on your work, life or service experience.
If you’ve been in paid employment, relevant to the course you’re applying for, for a minimum of six months full-time (or equivalent), this work may be assessed for your selection rank.
If you’re 21 years or older you can sit the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) through your local TAC.
You can apply for an ACU bridging course. Our bridging courses allow you to transition back into studying and can give you a head start on the relevant undergraduate degree.
If you have served in the defence force, your rank and time in service may contribute to your selection rank.
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
Pathways
Further study
A student who has completed at least 120 cp of LAWS units of the degree with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 5.75 may be eligible for Admission to the Bachelor (Honours degree).
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
A student who achieves an Honours at a minimum level of Second Class Division A (Distinction average) may be eligible for Admission to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Meeting the eligibility requirements for admission is not in itself a guarantee of admission. The candidate’s potential to undertake research, the quality and feasibility of the research proposal, the availability of appropriate supervision and the referee’s reports will all be taken into consideration. Please refer to the Higher Degree Research Regulations.
A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy must comply with the Higher Degree Research Regulations.
Fees
Course costs
*This is an indicative first-year fee based on the tuition fee rates for a full-time student, using unit enrolment data from domestic students who studied the course in the previous year.
A student’s annual fee will vary depending on factors including:
- Number of units studied per year
- Choice of major or specialisation
- Elective units
The University reviews fees annually.
You can view current course costs and domestic tuition fee rates by unit.
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
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment: Deferment Information.
Staff Profile
Dr Perla Guarneros
Lecturer, Thomas More Law School
Perla is a law academic at Thomas More Law School where she teaches contract law, family law, legal ethics and legal theory, among others. Her research interests include international human rights law, the rights of irregular migrants and international criminal law.
Perla was admitted to legal practice under Mexican jurisdiction in 2008. She holds an LLM from the University of Turin and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute; and an LLM in common law by La Trobe University in Australia, where she completed her PhD Thesis on the protection of the rights of transit migrants and the international responsibility of the State to protect them. This work is now being edited to turn it into a monograph.
Before coming to Australia, Perla worked as a legal counsel and barrister in Mexico; she was a legal officer at the National Human Rights Commission and then at the human rights branch of the Attorney General's Office in the Federal Government of Mexico.
She is an editor of the Australian Feminist Legal Journal; and is currently involved in various research projects within the Thomas More Law School.
Associate Professor Kunle Ola
Associate Professor, Thomas More Law School
Dr Kunle Ola’s research traverses Intellectual Property, Copyright Collective Administration, Open Access to knowledge, Company Law and Migration law. His works challenge institutional imbalance, develops, informs, and guides law reform, public policy and international norm setting.
Kunle is an associate professor at the Thomas More Law School). Kunle holds a Law degree (LL. B) from the University of Benin, LL.M from the University of South Africa, a PhD from the Australian Catholic University, a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education and a Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and has over twenty-three years of private, public, and international experience.
His research projects include collaborations with agencies such as, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Ford Foundation, United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD), Australian Research Council (ARC) and Canada's International Development Research Council (IDRC).
Testimonial
“One of the things I enjoy the most about studying at ACU is that I‘m not just a number here – my lecturers and tutors know my name. I feel there is a real support network of students and lecturers to help me through my degree. I think this is because ACU offers smaller classes, resulting in a more personal experience.”