Gain a competitive advantage by combining law with journalism and professional writing, and graduate with two degrees in just five years.

A double degree expands your knowledge and opens doors to a broad range of career opportunities.

You will graduate with professional honours, an advanced understanding of legal principles of Australian law and the latest legal concepts in journalism and professional writing. This legal expertise, combined with the knowledge and skills you’ll gain from your specialisation, will set you on track for a leadership career.

In your law studies you’ll gain practical real-world experience by undertaking an industry or clinic placement, a law reform project or high-level research in your final year. You’ll also be involved in mock-trials in our moot court, learning what it’s like to act as an advocate and argue a case before a judge. You can also gain valuable experience at our Legal Advice Clinic, solving legal problems of clients under the guidance of a managing solicitor.

In your journalism and professional writing studies you will develop the skills and knowledge to work as a journalist and writer in mainstream media and the field of communication. The emphasis on professional writing opens doors into professions such as technical writing, tender presentations, and marketing and communication.

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

This degree is made up of 40 courses. You will do 24 courses in law and 16 courses in journalism and professional writing.

Laws (Honours)

From your first few weeks as a law student you'll do practical courses and see what it's like to argue a case and provide legal advice. You’ll gain valuable skills that you can apply in reasoning, reporting, analysis, negotiation, communication and advocacy to resolve complex legal problems.

Throughout your degree you will study core courses that teach you the fundamental legal concepts that underpin the Australian legal system. Courses such as torts, contracts, criminal law and constitutional law will give you a good understanding of basic legal principles.

Through practical learning experiences including mooting and witness examination, 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.

Journalism and Professional Writing

You will study courses that provide you with the skills and knowledge to work as a journalist and writer. For example you will:

• learn how to author and edit written and visual texts within news and non-news environments
• develop the production skills required by news and online media, including filming and editing, problem-solving and decision-making
• learn how to use industry-standard hardware and software
• develop research skills
• develop production skills, such as filming and editing 

A final year internship at a news or production organisation will synthesise your knowledge and training.

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

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:

• Court reporter: attending court sessions and recording proceedings related to evidence, objections and rulings; creating a full record of jury arguments; liaising with lawyers, judges or other officials; taking witness depositions, managing commissions and creating of certificates of proceedings
• Industry spokesperson: offering an expert industry opinion, view or insight for a specific purpose or use
• Legal/political commentator: offering expert commentary on a specific topic or subject of interest to mass media
• 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.