Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Course Information

Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Psychology

Effective from 01-JAN-2022 : Code W83

This double degree combines legal studies with behavioural sciences. This interdisciplinary study will provide the student with a more extended choice of professions to venture into besides the legal profession. Having the ability to demonstrate the knowledge of human behavioural pattern and connecting it to the legal notions will prove to be a great ability which will enable the student to venture into specialist fields of practice within the legal practice or even as a clinical psychologist. Students in this program will be undertaking units which have been accredited by two reputable accrediting bodies specific for each of the areas i.e. Legal Practice Board of Western Australia and the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). The program has been designed based on the contemporary and future needs of an evolving society.

Disclaimer

This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.

Work Experience Option

Students have the opportunity to gain practical experience at the on-campus Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre and through the Criminal Justice Review Project (Innocence Project).

Duty of care

Conflict of interest checks may apply.

Application process

Students are required to apply to the Unit Coordinator.

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 and psychology knowledge to a range of theoretical and practical issues, incorporating international/global/cultural/Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.
3. Collaborate in team settings and demonstrate initiative to produce measurable outcomes.
4. Communicate legal and psychology knowledge, concepts and advice using relevant technologies clearly and persuasively.
5. Exercise critical thinking, judgement and intellectual independence to evaluate, consolidate and synthesise knowledge relevant to legal and psychology issues.
6. Reflect on feedback and critique on own performance to support scholarship and personal and professional development, demonstrating autonomy, responsibility and accountability.
7. Think creatively to anticipate challenges and generate solutions in legal, psychology-based situations.
8. Use digital technologies and [discipline related literacies] to [access, evaluate and synthesise] relevant information from [multiple sources]

Professional Recognition

Course

This course has been Accredited by: Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA).

This course has been Accredited by: Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Registration

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.

The Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) satisfies the academic requirements for the admission as a legal practitioner in Western Australia and is professionally accredited by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. For information about the admission process and the additional requirements that must be completed to be eligible for admission, contact the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia.

Admission requirements

Admission requirement (Band 5)

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);
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test;
• University Preparation Course;
• Indigenous University Orientation Course;
• Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment; or
• Associate Degree.

English Language requirement (Band 3)

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;
• Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment;
• 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 as defined in the Admissions Policy.

Portfolio pathway applications are not accepted for this course.

Course Duration

• Full Time: 5 Years
• Part Time: 10 Years

Course Delivery

• Joondalup: Full Time, Part Time
• Online: Full Time, Part Time

Course Coordinator

Dr Cecilia ANTHONY DAS

Course Structure

Students are required to complete: 22 Core Law units and 10 Law Elective units, plus 12 Core Psychology units.

Note: Generally, psychology units should be completed in year sequence (e.g. all first-year units should be completed before proceeding to second-year units)

Note: Students with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 70% or more after their fourth year (in the Bachelor of Laws component of this course) may be invited to complete an Honours program. Those students will transfer into the Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Psychology for their fifth and final year.

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES

10 Elective Units are to be selected from the following streams