Businesses work with laws every day in entering contracts, acquiring business assets, leasing premises and hiring staff. Knowledge of business law is critical to complying with legal requirements and identifying and managing legal risk.

In this major, you’ll gain a sound knowledge of the laws that govern businesses and commercial transactions. You’ll learn how the law is created, changed and applied to business and government, and appreciate ethical issues in business situations.

In particular, you’ll discover how the law impacts businesses, identify and manage appropriate legal risks that arise in businesses and learn how to meet relevant legal requirements.

You’ll also develop significant knowledge about business law, contracts, torts, real property, company law, employment law, labour law, consumer and competition law, business intellectual property and taxation.

You can follow your interests by choosing to study units in public relations law, international business law, safety and environmental health law, and practical employment law. As a result, this major opens up a wide variety of career prospects for you, ranging from governance officer, contract and risk compliance manager to a director or company secretary.

While this major does not qualify you to practise as a lawyer, it does meet the increasing demand for graduates who have the legal knowledge and practical skills to work in corporate business or government and it may be a useful stepping-stone to further law studies, such as Curtin’s Bachelor of Laws.

This major sits within the Bachelor of Commerce degree. To apply for this major, you will apply for the Bachelor of Commerce.

Recommended double majors:

• Accounting
• Management
• Marketing

Why study

• With economic structures rapidly becoming globalised, knowledge of legal implications in corporate governance, and the wider aspects of business law and ethical practices, will give you relevant knowledge when entering the workforce.
• Due to Australia’s economic expansion, there is a strong demand for trained professionals in the corporate administrative field.
• Knowledge in areas of business law can give you a competitive edge in a rapidly changing marketplace.
• The course content is industry-focused, allowing you to apply your knowledge to case studies and practical scenarios.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia has partnered with Curtin to offer internships to students who have completed 200 credits or more of their commerce degree. These internships will give you credit towards your degree, increase your industry experience and put you in direct contact with leading professionals.

Careers

• Administrator
• Company secretary
• Compliance officer
• Contract manager
• Law clerk
• Legal administrator
• Settlement agent

Industries

• Accounting
• Banking and finance
• Government
• Human resources
• Law
• Media and marketing
• Property
• Resources