Give legal advice, perform legal work and appear in court as a lawyer. An undergraduate degree in law is the first qualification you need to practise as a lawyer in Australia.

Curtin’s Law degree offers a foundation in essential areas of legal knowledge. You’ll develop core skills essential to effective legal practice and gain a high level of commercial awareness. You’ll also get to undertake optional units focusing on topics such as forensic advocacy, family law, human rights law, native title law and policy, or European Union law. And with over twenty-five optional units to choose from, you can tailor your degree to suit your career interests.

You will greatly benefit from the relationships you form with members of the profession and the proximity of the Supreme Court, the District Court and the Federal Court, which are located close to the Curtin Law School in Perth city. 

The course is delivered in a combination of semesters and trimesters and can be completed in three years. It is equivalent to a four-year, full-time undergraduate degree.

You’ll complete your first year at Curtin Perth in a semester format while your second and third years will be studied in trimesters at the law school's location at Curtin Murray Street in the Perth city centre. If you choose to study four units each study period, you can graduate in only three calendar years.

Why study

• You could elect to undertake a legal internship in which you can gain experience working under the supervision of an employer in a professional legal environment. The internship unit puts your law studies into context and provides opportunities to develop and apply your legal practice skills, critically analyse and reflect on the law in practice, and gain an appreciation of legal ethics.
• In your third year, you may enrol in the Law Clinic unit to put your legal skills into practice through professional activities. Under the supervision of experienced legal practitioners, you will meet and prepare advice for eligible small businesses.
• You can participate in simulated court proceedings at our moot court facility. This will hone your skills in public speaking and debating, and enhance your understanding of how a real court environment operates.
• You could study at Ghent University in Belgium as part of our Ghent summer law program.
• You can choose optional units that focus on high-demand areas for law graduates.

Professional recognition

• Legal Practice Board of Western Australia

Careers

• Criminal lawyer
• Employment lawyer
• Family lawyer
• Human rights lawyer
• In-house counsel
• Mining lawyer
• Solicitor

Industries

• Law
• Banking and finance
• Resources
• Courts and tribunals
• Government
• Private legal practice