Prepare for a dynamic career in law with our professional law honours degree.

From your very first weeks as a student, you'll gain valuable skills that you can apply in reasoning, reporting, analysis, negotiation, communication and advocacy to resolve complex legal problems.

You will be involved in mock-trials in our Moot Court, learning what it’s like to act as an advocate and present before a judge. You will also be guided to reach your potential and become career ready, with opportunities for international study tours as well as local and national internships and clerkships.

In your final year, you will also choose from an industry or clinic placement, a law reform project or high-level research to complete the honours component of your degree.

If you wish to practise law, you should also familiarise yourself with the requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in South Australia. 

What you'll learn

During this degree you will study courses that teach you the fundamental legal principles and concepts that underpin the Australian legal system.

Courses such as torts, contracts, criminal law and constitutional law will give you a good understanding of the basic legal principles.

Through your choice of electives you can expand your knowledge in an area of professional interest such as health law, sports law, family law and human rights law.

Through practical learning experiences including mooting, negotiation, witness examination and the opportunity to undertake placement in a professional setting, you will be prepared for legal practice upon graduation.

You'll also be able to choose from an industry or clinic placement, a law reform project or high-level research in your final year.

Careers in law, along with jobs in social welfare, are predicted to increase 12.9% by 20221.

Our quality teaching, focus on developing your practical skills and opportunities to connect with industry beyond the classroom will ensure you graduate career-ready.

You will hold a desired skillset for a diverse range of careers including:

• Arbitrator/Mediator: facilitating negotiation and settlement between disputing parties by providing direction and encouragement; working collaboratively with the parties and finding creative ways to reach a mutual solution
• Human rights advocate: becoming a champion for social justice; defending the right for equal treatment of all people; helping develop training initiatives to educate particular audiences
• In-house counsel: working closely with the chief executive of a business to understand strategic business issues, manage risk and offer tangible solutions; offering legal advice to business units
• Judge’s associate: working closely with a judge in and out of court; conducting legal research; liaising with court staff, the legal profession, government departments, the press and the public; ensuring the effective and efficient conduct of the judge’s court
• Law clerk: performing clerical work for courts and legal practices such as organising jury and witness lists, maintaining order in courts, executing court orders, processing court documents, documenting court proceedings
• Paralegal: supporting legal practitioners with research on legal and regulatory requirements; trial prep; drafting of contracts and written reports; concentrating on a particular area of law such as personal injury, immigration or intellectual property
• Parliamentary draftsperson: working with government bodies; drafting precise legal instruments; outlining proposed bills and regulations that will pass into new legislation
• Policy/Ministerial adviser: analysing policies and their effects to provide advice and guidance to governments and organisations; offering strategic policy and planning advice on programs and operations; reviewing, developing, and implementing policies and strategies
• Solicitor: commercial solicitor: focusing on business-specific legal practice such as: corporate, contract, competition, communications, commercial property, finance, employment, intellectual property, transport, sports and media law
  personal solicitor: focusing on areas such as personal injury, family and tort law, criminal litigation, succession and inheritance, residential property, taxation and trusts

Professional accreditation and recognition

The Law degree is accredited by the Bar Council of India. Indian students studying in Australia can have their Law Degree recognised for the purposes of a legal career in their home country. Students who wish to be admitted in India are advised to consult with the Bar Council about what bridging courses they may need to complete.

This program covers in a comprehensive way the academic requirements for admission to practice (the Uniform Admissions Rules) as specified by the National Law Admissions Consultative Committee. Students seeking admission to practice are required to complete an approved practical legal training (PLT) program. It is expected that students will complete the law degree before commencing the PLT. Students seeking admission to practice in other Australian jurisdictions should apply to the appropriate admitting authority. There are additional course requirements for students who wish to seek professional accreditation.