Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

Outline Outline

The Bachelor of Laws (Hons) is an additional year of study offered to high-achieving LLB students. It progresses your understanding of the law and prepares you to work in top tier legal firms, government agencies, courts and tribunals.

You'll advance your skills in research and writing, which are increasingly relevant to the legal profession and other industries. You'll also build on your existing legal skills, solve complex legal problems and contribute to the body of legal knowledge.

In addition to coursework, you'll undertake advanced legal research under the guidance of a supervisor, and write a 12,000-15,000-word dissertation on a topic of legal significance and personal interest.

Classes take place in the evening in Perth city, close to the legal professional environment of the courts, tribunals and law firms.

Studying honours can be a pathway towards postgraduate study, such as the Master of Philosophy (Law), or Doctor of Philosophy.

See the Curtin handbook for more course information.

How this course will make you industry ready

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) program significantly enhances students' already developed legal knowledge and skills so that they can conduct sophisticated legal research to solve complex legal problems and contribute to the body of legal knowledge. Students gain a sophisticated understanding of contemporary legal issues and the theoretical foundations of law through focused study in a seminar setting. Under the guidance of their Honours supervisor, students learn project management techniques and collaboration while also strengthening their capacity for independent learning and critical thinking. In completing and defending a research dissertation, students also further develop and gain confidence in their legal writing and oral presentation skills.

What you'll learn

• apply knowledge of legal research methodology, the Australian legal system, statutory rules and case law principles to understand and evaluate current and emerging research in law; contribute to the body of legal knowledge through research
• critically and creatively analyse complex legal problems to articulate the issues involved and apply legal reasoning to make a considered choice between competing solutions
• identify, access, assess and synthesise relevant information from primary legal sources such as cases and legislation and secondary sources as journal articles and commentaries (including electronic versions of these sources) and gather relevant oral and documentary evidence
• communicate the outcome of legal research and analysis effectively, appropriately and persuasively to colleagues, to clients and to other professionals and the broader community
• use appropriate electronic legal databases for advanced legal research purposes and be able to communicate effectively in electronic forms
• critically reflect on their own performance as legal professionals, making use of feedback as appropriate and demonstrate intellectual curiosity
• articulate the similarities and differences between local and other jurisdictions, including interstate and overseas ones, and be aware of the principles of public and private international law
• demonstrate a highly developed understanding of and be able to articulate distinct concepts of law, justice and human rights, with an awareness of different legal traditions and cultures, particularly indigenous cultures; critically analyse how and where indigenous person and other identifiable social groups are differentially impacted by the legal system
• critique and reconceptualise the roles of leadership, ethical legal practice and professional integrity when working within a team and independently