The course will give you insight into the worlds of psychology and law, with particular relevance to health law. It will allow you to take a psychological perspective on legal and mental health issues, and be able to advise on and analyse legal situations. The psychology component provides an understanding of human behaviour (including social, clinical and cognitive studies), with application to forensic and legal settings. You will develop skills in communication, research, problem solving and critical analysis that can be applied in a range of settings in both the public and private sectors.

QUT’s Bachelor of Laws (Honours) is a higher-level qualification than a bachelor degree, as it has honours-level content integrated throughout the course. The advanced knowledge and skills in this course will benefit your professional career, or future research and study.

As a student, you will benefit immediately and into the future from:

• a course that has been designed in consultation with industry to have a strong foundation in contemporary law knowledge, understanding and experience
• meaningful connections with high profile industry employers
• practical and effective hands-on learning experiences during your studies
• classes with leading and expert teachers
• international study and placement opportunities
• our high quality law library, expert librarians and Law Moot Court facilities

Real-world learning

You will study a combination of psychology and law units in the first four years, with law units and electives only in the final three semesters.

In your first year, you will be introduced to foundation psychology along with the law of torts (negligence, damages and no fault compensation schemes), legal interviewing, legal problem solving and dispute resolution.

In your second year, you can choose an introductory law elective unit and will learn social and organisational psychology, research design and data analysis, criminal law, legal research, developmental psychology, counselling and the variety of contexts in which Australian law operates.

Your third year of study will further develop your psychology skills with your choice of a psychology unit and you will also further develop your knowledge and skills in the law by studying constitutional law, commercial and personal property law, contract law, and equity and trusts.

In fourth year, you can choose two to three electives to study alongside physiological psychology, real property law, psychopathology, administrative law and evidence.

In your final semesters you will study law units only and the course allows you to choose general and advanced law elective units that interest you. You will also study corporate law, commercial remedies, civil procedure and ethics, before undertaking a legal research capstone project.

A double degree in psychology and law offers you greater flexibility in your career. You will enter the workforce with a solid scientific and practical base making you suitable for positions in the development of mental health and legal policies, in research in the legal-psychological domain, and to work as either a lawyer or psychologist within legal, corporate, government, social and clinical arenas. Developing health law or advising clients on health law issues is another option to combine both sets of skills. The skills and knowledge you have acquired will be transferable to a wide range of areas such as business or to communication and policy advice roles.

The double degree will also allow you to work in legal environments as a solicitor, in-house lawyer, Crown Law officer or mediator. Outside the specialist psychology and legal environments, the skills and knowledge you have acquired will be transferable to a wide range of areas such as business, communication and policy and public service.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). To pursue a career in a professional area of psychology, you will need to undertake further study to gain registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.

For further information on psychology, please refer to the Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) online course information.

The law degree is approved by the Queensland Legal Practitioners Admissions Board. If you want to become a lawyer at the end of your degree, you will need to complete further practical legal training (PLT) before you can apply for admission to practice. We offer PLT in the form of the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

Research pathways

Completing a degree with an honours component provides a pathway into research careers. You may be interested in the Australian Centre for Health Law Research, based at our Gardens Point campus.

Possible careers

• Barrister
• In-House Lawyer
• Policy Officer
• Psychologist
• Solicitor