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Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice

Course code K30

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Important

This course is not offered for study on-campus to international students with a student visa.

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About this Course

With this double degree you’ll not only learn how to practise as a lawyer, including courtroom and other skills, but you’ll also develop a solid understanding of the nature of criminology, social justice and the justice system.

It’s a great combination that could set you up for the future in many ways.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 7 Bachelor Degree Award.

Course code

K30

Entry requirements

85 Indicative ATAR

ECU admission and English language requirements apply.

See Course Entry for further information.

Fees

Commonwealth supported - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $21,750

See Fees and Scholarships for further information.

Duration

5 years full-time or part-time equivalent

See Course Details for further information.

Availability & Campus

Location Semester 1 Semester 2
Joondalup FT PT FT PT
Mount Lawley
South West
Online FT PT FT PT
*FT = Full-time study PT = Part-time study ECU City 2026** **ECU City will redefine higher education in Western Australia and will be open to students from February 2026. If you are unsure about how this course is affected, speak to one of our future student specialists.

Location

This course requires attendance at more than one campus or location. See Course Notes.

Course Entry

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

  • All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • AQF Advanced Diploma or equivalent;
    • Undergraduate Certificate;
    • Successfully completed 1 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
    • Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • University Preparation Course;*
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course; or*
    • Associate Degree.

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

    For international students, requirements include your secondary school results.

  • English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
    • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
    • IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0);
    • Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
    • University Preparation Course;
    • Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
    • AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree;
    • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
    • Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

    * Further information can be found on the Study course entry page.

Applications for this course are not accepted through ECU's Experience Based Entry Scheme.

Course Details

Semester availability

Semester 1: Study full-time at Joondalup or Online

Semester 1: Study part-time at Joondalup or Online

Semester 2: Study full-time at Joondalup or Online

Semester 2: Study part-time at Joondalup or Online

Course Structure

Students are required to complete 23 Core Law units and 9 recommended law elective units, plus 12 Core Criminology and Justice units and 6 recommended Criminology and Justice elective units.

Year 1 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW1116Legal Reasoning 15
LAW1600Legal Writing and Research15
LAW1111Contract Law I15
LAW1117Torts I15
CRI1107The Criminal Justice Process15
Year 1 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW1212Contract Law II15
LAW1218Torts II15
LAW2345Jurisprudence15
CRI1104The Psychology of Criminal Behaviour15
CRI1250Research in Action15
Year 2 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW1113Criminal Law I15
LAW2102Property Law I15
LAW2350Administrative Law15
CRI1103Criminology15
Elective Unitx 1 Recommended Law Elective Unit15
Year 2 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW2214Criminal Law II15
LAW2312Property Law II15
CRI2252Investigating Miscarriages of Justice15
CRI2101Professional Skills - Case Management15
Elective Unitx 1 Recommended Law Elective Unit15
Year 3 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW3103Equity15
CRI2151Policing and Social Justice15
CRI2103Correctional Studies - Theory and Practice15
Students should select 2 units of the following 3 Core Options:
CRI3130 ^Young People and Crime15
CRI3140 ^Global Criminology15
CRI3109 ^International Human Rights15
Year 3 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW3106Evidence15
LAW3107Law of Trusts15
Elective Unitx 1 Recommended Law Elective Unit15
Elective Unitx 2 Recommended Criminology and Justice Elective Units30
Year 4 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW3110Constitutional Law15
LAW3102Corporations Law15
LAW4620Commercial Practice15
Elective Unitx 1 Recommended Law Elective Unit 15
Elective Unitx 1 Recommended Criminology and Justice Elective Unit15
Year 4 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW4207Civil Procedure and Practice15
LAW4607Family Law15
LAW4625Statutory Interpretation15
LAW4704Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility15
Elective Unitx 1 Recommended Law Elective Unit15
Year 5 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW3855Human Rights Law15
Elective Unitx 4 Recommended Law Elective Units60
Year 5 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
CRI3300Criminology and Justice Capstone Project 30
Elective Unitx 3 Recommended Criminology and Justice Elective Units45

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES

9 Recommended Elective Law Units are to be selected from any of the following streams:

Criminal / Social Justice Electives
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW2215Cyberlaw15
LAW2605Security and Intelligence Governance15
LAW3600Coronial Law and Mortuary Practice15
LAW4206Contemporary Criminal Justice15
Private Law Electives
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW2106Intellectual Property Law15
LAW2108Workplace Laws and Regulations15
LAW3105Alternative Dispute Resolution15
LAW3018Law on Financial Institutions and Instruments15
LAW3460Competition and Consumer Protection Law15
LAW4601Mining and Resource Law15
LAW3207Law, Ethics, and Business Analytics15
SPM3113Sport and Leisure Law15
International Law Electives
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW2602Environmental Law and Administration15
LAW4108International Law15
LAW4110International Trade Law15
Practicum Electives
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
LAW3602Community Legal Practice15
LAW3650Mooting and Trial Advocacy15
LAW3700Supervised Legal Research Paper15
CRI3302Criminal Justice Review Project15
SBL3800Professional Practice15
6 Recommended Criminology and Justice Elective Units are to be selected from the following list:
PSY1101Introduction to Psychology15
YWK1220Youth Issues15
SCY2112Counterterrorism15
SCY2212Security Risk15
SCH2143Forensic Skills15
ADS2253Addiction Studies: Processes of Change15
ADS3355Addiction Studies: Social Action15
CRI3302Criminal Justice Review Project15

Or any other unit with the approval of the Course Coordinator.

^ Core Option

K30|9

For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.

Student handbook

Course notes

Important course notes

  • All Law units will be delivered at the City Campus or online, while the Criminology and Justice units will be delivered at the Joondalup Campus or online.

  • Students are required to undertake WIL in their final semester of study. Students must select a capstone project. This project is run on-campus and requires students to work in small groups on an real life industry-based project.

    Attendance requirements

    The capstone project unit is timetabled in the same way as other units. Students are able to complete the capstone project on-campus or online.

  • Students will complete a minimum of 80 hours of professional practice in their major or chosen career area, taking significant responsibility for their own learning outcomes. During the 80 hours, students will be immersed into professional life, actively engaging with industry/community partners and applying their discipline learning and professional skills in a meaningful way. Examples of professional practice could be an internship, client-based project, consultancy, service learning, simulated practice, competition, or combination of. Students will reflect on their professional practice to inform their longer-term career planning and professional development. Students are responsible for sourcing their own professional practice opportunity, with the support of the School of Business and Law’s Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) team. All opportunities are vetted to ensure they can provide a meaningful learning experience. Recognition of Prior Learning will not be considered for this unit.

    Attendance requirements

    Students are required to attend host organisations to complete their learning in a work setting. Hours will be organised on an individual basis and host organisations may require students to attend after hours and on the weekends. In addition to their time in the work setting, students may be required to attend virtual and/or face-to-face sessions as instructed by the Unit Coordinator.

    Clearances and/or Risk Management Protocols Required

    Students must complete the relevant risk management documentation prescribed by the work-integrated learning team, in accordance with ECU policy and procedures. Students should be aware of any work-related restrictions in their visa conditions, if applicable. They must also provide any documentation required by their host partner, including police clearances and immunisations. Required documentation is likely to vary across host organisations.

    Professional practice rules

    Students are expected to behave in a professional manner in the work setting and adhere to the host organisation and/or industry's Code of Conduct. They are also required to meet the requirements outlined in the SBL WIL Guidelines for Students’. Host organisations are expected to the meet the requirements outlined in the 'SBL WIL Guidelines for Collaborators'.

  • Students have an opportunity to gain practical experience in collaboration with selected Community Legal Centres in Perth and through the Criminal Justice Review Project (Innocence Project).

    Clearances and/or Risk Management Protocols Required

    Conflict of interest checks may apply.

  • Students will need to graduate to be eligible to register with the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA). Registration with the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA) is required to practice in the profession.

    This degree satisfies the academic requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in Western Australia and is professionally accredited by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. This means that graduates are eligible to register with the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA). For further information about the admission process contact the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia.

Course learning outcomes

  1. Adopt professional and ethical behaviour and/or personal citizenship that reflect the interrelationship between ethics, codes of conduct, justice and community service.
  2. Apply broad and coherent range of legal, criminology and justice knowledge to a range of theoretical and practical issues, incorporating international/global/cultural/Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.
  3. Exercise critical thinking, judgement and intellectual independence to evaluate, consolidate and synthesise knowledge relevant to legal and criminology issues.
  4. Think creatively to anticipate challenges and generate solutions in legal, criminology and justice-based situations.
  5. Communicate legal, criminology and justice knowledge, concepts and advice using relevant technologies clearly and persuasively.
  6. Collaborate in team settings and demonstrate initiative to produce measurable outcomes.
  7. Reflect on feedback and critique on own performance to support scholarship and personal and professional development, demonstrating autonomy, responsibility and accountability.
  8. Use digital technologies to access, evaluate and synthesise criminological information.

Professional Recognition

Course

Accredited by: Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA)

Fees and Scholarships

Fees

  • AUD $21,750 - Commonwealth supported estimated 1st year indicative fee 1

Note

1 The 'estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for the individual units you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.

Some units require the payment of a fee for incidental goods or services required to complete those units. For more information and the full list of incidental fees for courses and units, visit What are Incidental Fees.

Scholarships

ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.

Find a scholarship

Career Opportunities

Graduates of ECU’s Law and Criminology double degree can pursue careers in private legal practice, corporate and government legal roles, or within the criminal justice system as police officers, parole officers, or youth justice officers. Strong communication and analytical skills also open doors to roles in government policy, politics, research, journalism, and corporate planning.

Possible future job titles

Lawyer, Barrister, Legal Practitioner, Solicitor, Police Officer, Community Corrections Officer, Parole Officer, Youth Justice Officer, Prison Officer, Research and Policy Officer

Similar courses to consider

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Quick guide to uni-speak

    • The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.

    • ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.

    • CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.

    • A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.

    • Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.

    • If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.

    • If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.

      Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.

    • Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.

    • A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.

    • We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.

    • These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.

    • An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.

Do you have any questions about the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice?

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Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.

Course Entry

There's more than one admission pathway into an ECU course. It depends on what you've studied already, or your work or life experience.

Fees & Scholarships

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Applying

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ECU Experience

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