A student admitted to a program for a coursework award must enrol in the courses, sequences of courses, or combinations of courses, that the University determines may be included in the program for the year in which the student is admitted to the program.
Please ensure that you follow the study requirements of the academic year you were admitted or, if accepted, will be admitted to the program.
A Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree provides candidates with a law degree that opens doors to a diverse range of professional careers in Australia and around the world.
In addition to equipping you with an understanding of law and the contexts in which it operates, the LLB (Hons) places a significant emphasis on building your high-level research skills through opportunities to conduct independent legal research.
Through the LLB (Hons), you will graduate with an honours-degree, giving you additional advantages in establishing your career or providing a strong foundation for postgraduate study. The program satisfies the academic component to be admitted as a legal practitioner in Australia.
The Bachelor of Arts is the most diverse, most flexible, and most popular degree at The Australian National University. Each of its some fifty majors, in fields throughout the arts, humanities and social sciences, is taught by truly outstanding scholars to ensure that each student receives the very best education, is engaged with cutting-edge research, and learns to think like a researcher. These majors can be coupled with more than seventy minors and specialisations to broaden or deepen your study. Regardless of your choices, your Arts degree will provide you with core skills in critical analysis and in written and oral communication, while developing your adaptability and ability to help shape change and prepare you for a multifaceted career or further study.
Career Options
ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world.
We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life.
Employment Opportunities
Law graduates may find work either in areas where a law degree is a professional requirement or more general fields in which law is especially useful.
A Bachelor of Laws would normally be a requirement for the following occupations: a Barrister or Solicitor in professional practice; a Legal Officer in government departments or private enterprise; a Corporate Legal Officer in private industry, commerce and finance; community legal work; law teaching and academic research; a Judge's Associate, and legal journalism.
To practice as a Barrister or Solicitor graduates must also complete Practical Legal Training at an accredited institution.
More general fields of employment include: the Australian Foreign Service; industrial relations; social welfare; government administration; business management; lobbying; media; public relations; law librarianship; court reporting; environmental agencies; technology and communications; and Federal and State police forces.
Law graduates may find work either in areas where a law degree is a professional requirement or more general fields in which law is especially useful.
A Bachelor of Laws would normally be a requirement for the following occupations: a Barrister or Solicitor in professional practice; a Legal Officer in government departments or private enterprise; a Corporate Legal Officer in private industry, commerce and finance; community legal work; law teaching and academic research; a Judge's Associate, and legal journalism.
To practice as a Barrister or Solicitor graduates must also complete Practical Legal Training at an accredited institution.
More general fields of employment include: the Australian Foreign Service; industrial relations; social welfare; government administration; business management; lobbying; media; public relations; law librarianship; court reporting; environmental agencies; technology and communications; and Federal and State police forces.
Learning Outcomes
Review, analyse, and synthesise knowledge from primary and secondary legal sources to identify and provide solutions to complex legal and justice problems.
Interpret and critically evaluate the nature of law and its social and ethical impact on society, at a local, national, and international level.
Undertake technical legal research to access a range of legal materials, literature databases, and other online sources, and apply legal or interdisciplinary research methodologies to evaluate and synthesise findings.
Communicate to a variety of legal and non-legal audiences in a range of oral and written formats.
Develop insight into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ diverse perspectives on laws and society and evaluate their relationship and importance to contemporary Australian law and society.
Work both independently and collaboratively as required, and evaluate and reflect on feedback to develop personal, professional and ethical capability across a range of legal disciplines.
- critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understanding national and international issues and problems;
- identify, including through interrogation of databases, relevant sources of information from across a variety of media (print and digital, written and audio-visual) and judge the importance and reliability of those sources;
- evaluate ideas and develop creative solutions to problems, including through independent pursuit of knowledge and making connections between different disciplinary approaches and methods;
- communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media; and
- understand the ethical implications of ideas, communications, and actions.
Admission Requirements
At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not guarantee entry into the program.
In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.
The University reserves the right to alter or discontinue its programs and change admission requirements as needed.
- ATAR:
- 97
- International Baccalaureate:
- 39
Domestic applicants
Before applying for a program, you should review the general information about domestic undergraduate admission to ANU programs and how to apply, and the program-specific information below.
- Applicants with recent secondary education are assessed on:
- completion of Australian Year 12 or equivalent, and the minimum Selection Rank (from their academic qualifications, plus any adjustment factors) requirement for this program; and
- co-curricular or service requirement (applies to applicants who complete secondary education in the year prior to commencing at ANU); and
- English language proficiency; and
- any program-specific requirements listed below.
- Applicants with higher education study are assessed on:
- previous higher education studies; or secondary education results if completed less than one full-time equivalent year (1.0 FTE) of a degree; or the result from a bridging or preparatory course; and
- English language proficiency; and
- any program-specific requirements listed below.
- Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are assessed on:
- previously completed VET qualifications at AQF level 5 or higher (i.e. a Diploma or above); or secondary education results if the VET qualification is not completed; and
- English language proficiency; and
- any program-specific requirements listed below.
- Applicants with work and life experience are assessed on:
- ATAR or equivalent if secondary education was completed; or the Special Adult Entry Scheme (SAES); or work experience; and
- English language proficiency; and
- any program-specific requirements listed below.
International applicants
Applicants who complete a recognised secondary/senior secondary/post-secondary/tertiary sequence of study will be assessed on the basis of an equivalent selection rank that is calculated upon application. A list of commonly observed international qualifications and corresponding admission requirements can be found here. Applicants must also meet any program specific requirements that are listed below.
Diversity factors & English language proficiency
As Australia's national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe. If required, competitive ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency.
Further information is available for English Language Requirements for Admission
Prerequisites
Adjustment Factors
Adjustment factors are additional points added to an applicant's Selection Rank (for example an applicant's ATAR). ANU offers adjustment factors based on performance and equity principles, such as for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies.
Selection Rank adjustments are granted in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustment factors and maximum 10 equity-based adjustment factors) can be awarded.
You may be considered for adjustment factors if you have:
- applied for an eligible ANU Bachelor degree program
- undertaken Australian Year 12 or the International Baccalaureate
- achieved an ATAR or equivalent at or above 70
- not previously attempted tertiary study.
Please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.
Indicative fees
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
Bachelor of Arts - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $45,360.00
Scholarships
ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.
Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are. Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.
For further information see the Scholarships website.
Program Requirements
The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) flexible double degree component requires completion of 144 units, of which:
A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
The 144 units must include:
96 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:
LAWS1201 Foundations of Australian Law
LAWS1202 Lawyers, Justice and Ethics
LAWS1203 Torts
LAWS1204 Contracts
LAWS1205 Australian Public Law
LAWS1206 Criminal Law and Procedure
LAWS2201 Administrative Law
LAWS2202 Commonwealth Constitutional Law
LAWS2203 Corporations Law
LAWS2204 Property
LAWS2205 Equity and Trusts
LAWS2207 Evidence
LAWS2244 Litigation and Dispute Management
LAWS2248 Legal Research and Writing
LAWS2249 Legal Theory
LAWS2250 International Law
48 units from completion of 4000-level LAWS-coded courses including at least 6 units from completion of research courses on the following list:
LAWS4010 Jessup Moot
LAWS4213 Contemporary Issues in Constitutional Law
LAWS4218 Feminist and Critical Legal Theory
LAWS4220 Human Rights Law in Australia
LAWS4230 Law Internship
LAWS4256 Law and Sexualities
LAWS4258 International Organisations (Geneva)
LAWS4262 Advanced Administrative Law
LAWS4290 High Court of Australia
LAWS4300 Supervised Research Paper
LAWS4302 International Law Clinic
LAWS4315 Law and Development in the Contemporary South Pacific
LAWS4700 Law Research Capstone Project
HONS4300 Final Honours Grade will be used to record the class of honours. The final honour mark will be calculated using the formula S (mark x units) / S units, giving NCN and WN a nominal mark of zero. All LAWS-coded courses will be included in the calculation. @
The Bachelor of Arts flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:
A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
The 96 units must consist of:
48 units from the completion of one of the following majors
MAJORS
Disciplines and Fields
Technology, Networks and Society
Languages
Geographically Defined Area Studies
Asia and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Indian and South Asian Studies
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
EITHER:
48 units from completion of a second major from the list above
OR
24 units from completion of one of the following minors, which must have a different name to the major
MINORS
Disciplines and Fields
Technology, Networks and Society
Languages
Geographically Defined Area Studies
Asian and Pacific Anthropology
Asia and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Asia-Pacific International Relations
Asia and Pacific Literature and Film
Indian and South Asian Studies
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
ANIP
ANIP3007 Australian National Internships Program D *
And 24 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU
OR
48 units from completion of two of the above minors, which must have different names to the major
Majors
Bachelor of Arts Majors
- Ancient Greek
- Ancient History
- Anthropology
- Arabic
- Archaeology
- Art History and Theory
- Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
- Asian History
- Asian Studies
- Australian Indigenous Studies
- Biological Anthropology
- Chinese Language
- Chinese Studies
- Contemporary Europe
- Criminology
- Development Studies
- Digital Humanities
- Economic Studies
- English
- Environmental Studies
- French Language and Culture
- Gender, Sexuality and Culture
- Geography
- German Language and Culture
- Global Security
- Hindi Language
- History
- Human Evolutionary Biology
- Human Rights
- Indian and South Asian Studies
- Indonesian Language
- Indonesian Studies
- International Communication
- International Relations
- Italian Language and Culture
- Japanese Language
- Japanese Linguistics
- Japanese Studies
- Korean Language
- Korean Studies
- Latin
- Linguistics
- Mathematics
- Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
- Music
- Music Technology
- Musicology
- Northeast Asian Studies
- Pacific Studies
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Performance
- Persian
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sanskrit Language
- Screen Studies
- Sociology
- Southeast Asian Studies
- Spanish
- Technology, Networks and Society
- Thai Language
- Vietnamese Language
- War Studies
Minors
Bachelor of Arts Minors
- Advanced Ancient Greek
- Advanced Arabic
- Advanced Chinese Language
- Advanced English Language
- Advanced French Studies
- Advanced German Studies
- Advanced Italian Studies
- Advanced Japanese Language
- Advanced Korean Language
- Advanced Latin
- Advanced Persian
- Advanced Sanskrit Language
- Advanced Spanish Studies
- American Studies
- Ancient Greek
- Ancient History
- Anthropology
- Applied Linguistics
- Arabic
- Archaeology
- Archaeology of Aboriginal Australia in its Regional and Cultural Context
- Art History and Theory
- Asian and Pacific Anthropology
- Asian and Pacific Archaeology
- Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
- Asian and Pacific Linguistics
- Asian and Pacific Literature and Film
- Asian Art History
- Asian History
- Asian Studies
- Asia-Pacific International Relations
- Asia-Pacific Politics
- Australian Indigenous Studies
- Australian Politics
- Biological Anthropology
- Burmese Language
- Chinese Language
- Chinese Studies
- Climate Science and Policy
- Composition, Arranging and Sound Design
- Contemporary Europe
- Criminology
- Demography
- Design
- Development Studies
- Digital Humanities
- Economic Studies
- English
- Environmental Policy
- Environmental Studies
- Forensic Anthropology
- Forensic Linguistics
- French Language and Culture
- Gender and Sexuality
- Geography
- German Language and Culture
- Global Security
- Health, Medicine and the Body
- Heritage and Museum Studies
- Hindi Language
- History
- Human Ecology
- Human Evolutionary Biology
- Human Rights
- Indian and South Asian Studies
- Indonesian Language
- Indonesian Studies
- International Communication
- International Relations
- Italian Language and Culture
- Japanese Language
- Japanese Linguistics
- Japanese Studies
- Korean Language
- Korean Studies
- Latin
- Latin American Studies
- Linguistics
- Literary Chinese
- Mathematics
- Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
- Mongolian Language
- Music
- Music Technology
- Musicology
- Northeast Asian Studies
- Pacific Studies
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Performance
- Persian
- Philosophy
- Philosophy and Science
- Political Science
- Popular Music
- Russian
- Russian and Central Asian Studies
- Sanskrit Language
- Screen Studies
- Social Psychology
- Social Research Methods
- Sociology
- Southeast Asian Studies
- Spanish
- Sustainable Development
- Technology, Networks and Society
- Tetum Language
- Thai Language
- Tok Pisin Language
- Vietnamese Language
- Visual Arts Practice
- War Studies
Specialisations
Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Specialisations
Study Options
| Year 1 | LAWS1201 Foundations of Australian Law 6 units | LAWS1203 Torts 6 units | Arts Major 1000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 1000 level Course 6 units |
| LAWS1202 Lawyers Justice and Ethics 6 units | LAWS1204 Contracts 6 units | Arts Major 1000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 1000 level Course 6 units | |
| Year 2 | LAWS1205 Australian Public Law 6 units | LAWS1206 Criminal Law and Procedure 6 units | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 2000/3000 level Course 6 units |
| LAWS2250 International Law 6 units | LAWS2249 Legal Theory 6 units | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | |
| Year 3 | LAWS2201 Administrative Law 6 units | LAWS2203 Corporations Law 6 units | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units |
| LAWS2202 Commonwealth Constitutional Law 6 units | LAWS2248 Legal Research and Writing 6 units | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units | |
| Year 4 | LAWS2204 Property 6 units | Law Elective Course 6 units | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units |
| LAWS2205 Equity and Trusts 6 units | Law Elective Course 6 units | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units | |
| Year 5 | LAWS2244 Litigation and Dispute Management 6 units | Law Elective Courses 18 units | ||
| LAWS2207 Evidence 6 units | Law Elective Courses Law Capstone Courses 6 units 12 units |
Back to the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) page
The curriculum of the ANU law degree consists of compulsory and elective courses.
The compulsory courses are designed to ensure that every student gains a sufficient grounding in the fundamental branches of the law, as well as satisfying applicable requirements for admission to practice.
The elective courses provide an opportunity to develop particular interests, deepen understanding and engage students in research opportunities.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please refer to the New students | ANU College of Law page. You will find all the information you require to activate your ANU email account, enrol into courses and our O ‘Week and induction session details.
CREDIT/STATUS for PRIOR STUDY
Students who have undertaken previous study that is relevant to
their current academic program can request to receive course credit based on
their prior learning. University rules, policy and procedure relating to the
granting credit is set out in the Coursework Awards Rule, Policy: Credit and Procedure: Credit.
For more information and how to apply, please refer to the ANU College of Law Application for Credit/Status.
Single degree
The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) consists of 192 units. Most courses are worth 6 units each, with 48 units (8 courses) per year being the standard full-time load.
- 96 units (16 courses) are compulsory
- 42 units (7 courses) are elective and must be LAWS courses
- 6 units (1 course) must be used as the Research Capstone, selected from the study tab.
- 48 units (8 courses) of electives chosen from any other ANU College or from LAWS courses.
You must enrol in the following courses in first year in this order:
Commencing Semester 1:
Semester 1
Semester 2
Commencing Semester 2:
Semester 2
For your non-Law electives, you may wish to seek advice from the relevant college that offers the course or from a Law adviser.
Courses coded in the 1000 range are first year courses and most first year courses do not have any prerequisites – details of any prerequisites will be listed in the relevant course entry.
Double degree
The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in a flexible double degree consists of 144 units. Most courses are worth 6 units each, with 48 units (8 courses) per year being the standard full-time load.
- 96 units (16 courses) are compulsory
- 42 units (7 courses) are elective and must be LAWS courses
- 6 units (1 course) must be used as the Research Capstone, selected from the study tab.
Non-Law electives are usually taken by your other degree
You must enrol in the following courses in first year in this order:
Commencing Semester 1:
Semester 1
Semester 2
Commencing Semester 2:
Semester 2
Academic Advice
If
you require further information or advice regarding your degree,
please contact the ANU College of Law
College Student Administration Services Office | Ground Floor, 5 Fellows Rd
Telephone: (02) 6125 3483 or
Email: enquiries.law@anu.edu.au
Back to the Bachelor of Arts page
Course selection
Enrolling for the first time can seem like a big task. Below, you will find an example enrolment pattern for your first year of study.
There are a few items to note:
- Courses coded in the 1000 range are appropriate for first-year students. We strongly recommend that students new to tertiary study enrol in first-year courses during their first semester.
- We recommend you start a CASS Program Plan. This is a way to track how the courses you take fit within the overall structure of your degree and will help you pick your later year courses.
- The tables below represent only one possible combination. You are welcome to pick and choose from any other 1000-coded course found under the “Study Tab”.
- The tables below assume you are new to tertiary study and ineligible for course credit.
Single degree
Students starting in Semester 1 or Semester 2 –single degree Bachelor of Arts, example
Semester 1
Arts major
Arts minor
Elective
Elective
Semester 2
Arts major
Arts minor
Elective
Elective
Search Programs and Courses for the full list of available Majors and Minors and select a 1000-level that contributes to that major/minor.
Other first year courses available: to find all other 1000-level courses, refer to the Catalogue of Programs and Courses. You may refine your selection on the right-hand column of the webpage.
Double degree
Students starting in Semester 1 or Semester 2 – double degree Bachelor of Arts, example
Semester 1
Arts major
Arts minor
Course from other degree
Course from other degree
Semester 2
Arts major
Arts minor
Course from other degree
Course from other degree
Electives
Study Options
Study Plan
Please refer to the "Study" tab.Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | Arts major | Arts minor | Elective | Elective |
| Arts major | Arts minor | Elective | Elective |
Study Plan
Please refer to the "Study" tab.Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | Arts major | Arts minor | Course from other degree | Course from other degree |
| Arts major | Arts minor | Course from other degree | Course from other degree |
Academic Advice
Course credit
If you have undertaken previous study that is relevant to your current academic program, you can request to receive course credit. For more information and how to apply, see the CASS credit application webpage, or contact the CASS Student Office.
Other important information for new students
Please refer to the New students page. You will find all the information you require to activate your ANU email account, enrol into courses and our O week details.
Need help?
If you would like further information or advice regarding your degree, please contact the Student Office. We offer appointments, and you can reach us at students.cass@anu.edu.au.
You can also check out our in person opening hours and location on the CASS Student Office webpage.