Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Criminology and Justice

This is a five-year double degree. You come out with two bachelor qualifications: a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Criminology and Justice. That is one year longer than a straight law degree, and the extra time goes into the criminology and justice side, the study of why crime happens, how the justice system responds, and where it falls short.

Australian bachelor degrees are built on units of study, usually eight per year, each worth a set number of credit points. You need a total credit count to graduate, and the two halves of this degree each contribute their own units. Expect the law side to cover the core areas every Australian law graduate must study, contract, torts, criminal law and procedure, property, constitutional law, administrative law, equity, evidence, and civil procedure, along with legal research, writing and ethics. The criminology and justice side typically covers policing, corrections, youth justice, crime prevention, victimology, research methods, and social policy. Teaching runs across semesters, with exams and assignments at the end of each. The exact unit list and credit rules are set by the university, so check the official course page before you plan your enrolment.

Work-integrated learning is normal in both fields. Law students often take a clinical legal placement or an internship with a community legal centre, a firm, or a government legal office. Criminology students may do placements with police, corrective services, youth justice, or community organisations. Some students take a capstone unit in their final year that pulls the research and practical strands together. Honours is a separate additional year in most Australian universities, and a master's is one to two years after that if you want to specialise.

This degree suits people who want to practise law but also want to understand the system around it, the police, courts, prisons, and policy that shape how cases actually move. It also suits those heading for policy, research, or justice administration rather than private practice. Graduates who want to be admitted as a lawyer in Australia still need to complete the practical legal training required by the admitting authority in the state or territory where they intend to practise, so confirm the admission pathway early.

• Solicitor or barrister (after completing the practical legal training required for admission in your state or territory)
• Legal officer in a government department or statutory body
• Police officer or analyst, including crime and intelligence roles
• Corrective services or probation and parole officer
• Youth justice caseworker or policy officer
• Crime prevention or community safety officer in local or state government
• Victim support or advocacy worker
• Compliance, investigations or integrity officer in the public or private sector
• Policy adviser in justice, policing or social services
• Researcher in criminology, justice or legal policy

Hiring industries in Australia include law firms, community legal centres, state and federal government departments, police services, corrective services, courts and tribunals, youth justice agencies, not-for-profits, and university research centres. International graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work after you finish. While you study, a Student visa generally allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight. Confirm visa conditions and admission requirements on the official pages.