Australian residents
International students
ATAR:
Not required*
*Offers made in 2022. More about ATAR
Duration: 
3 years full time or longer for part time
Location: 
City Campus
Delivery mode: 
In person
Start date:
29 July 2024
Application due dates:
Direct applications are due on 21 July 2024 for our next intake which starts on 29 July 2024.
Apply

Overview

Build on your previous study and equip yourself for a fulfilling career in law with a Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) at Victoria University (VU).

If you hold a degree in any other discipline, you can fast-track your law degree with VU. By entering as a graduate, you’ll study the same core subjects as your classmates in the Bachelor of Laws but graduate in three years instead of four.

Enjoy the flexibility of studying in four-weeks blocks with the unique VU Block Model®, with the option to study some of your units fully online so you can manage work and family commitments.

You’ll be based in the heart of Melbourne’s legal precinct at our City Campus, learning from expert legal academics and supported by adjunct professors who are some of Australia’s most reputable legal professionals. Thanks to our partnerships with the courts and community legal services, you’ll also gain practical, real-world experience of the justice system – preparing you to work in the corporate, commercial, community or government legal sectors.

In this condensed law degree, you’ll gain a broad perspective on legal practice and gain specialist academic and professional skills including:

  • advocacy
  • ethical judgement
  • communication
  • legal research and writing
  • interviewing and negotiation
  • legal interpretation.

By studying all of the major areas of law (including contract, torts, property, constitutional, criminal and corporate), you’ll graduate from VU’s Bachelor of Laws having satisfied the academic requirements of the Victorian Legal Admissions Board for admission to legal practice in Victoria.

You may also be able to complete an honours thesis in your final year, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours). 

During your study, you'll benefit from the wisdom and experience of our adjunct professors who include:

  • the Hon. Michael Kirby AC, CMG former High Court Judge
  • the Hon. Justice Chris Maxwell, former President of the Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal
  • Professor Robert Richter KC, Barrister
  • the Hon Robert Stary, Magistrate at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court
  • Ian Gray AM, former Victorian Chief Magistrate
  • David Denton KC, Barrister
  • Picha Djohan, Barrister and member of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
  • David S Thomson OAM, FACE, fellow at Sir Zelman Cowen Centre
  • Melissa Kirby, Legal Director at Sharpe and Able.

Benefit from the unique flexibility of the VU Block Model®, which means you’ll focus on one subject at a time in four-weeks blocks. Like many of our graduate entry students, you can continue to work while you study.

Plus, you may be able to study some of your units fully online so you can manage work and family commitments. 

With 150 hours of legal work placement embedded in your Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry), you’ll benefit from VU’s commitment to connecting you with experiences that will get you work-ready before you graduate.

Take advantage of our extensive connections in the legal sector, including internship programs with the Supreme Court and County Court and other legal placement opportunities including:

  • State Trustees Program
  • Victoria Police (Prosecutions Division)
  • Victoria Legal Aid
  • Magistrate’s Courts program
  • Family Law Clinic
  • Infringements Clinic
  • Sunshine Youth Clinic
  • Family Law Clinic
  • Refugee Clinic.

Undertaking a work experience legal placement in the final years of your degree means you’ll work under the supervision of experienced legal professionals on cases that have a real impact on people – preparing you to begin your career in law with confidence.

Or, if you’re already working in the legal profession as a paralegal, legal clerk, legal assistant or similar, you may be able to use your work experience to gain credit towards the practical component of your degree (conditions apply).

As a Victoria Law School student, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in our renowned moot program in our new state-of-the-art moot court facilities in the Victoria Law School Heritage Building. Mooting involves you and your team participating in advocacy skills, simulating the proceedings of a live courtroom.

Give yourself a professional edge by sharpening your legal skills ready for the real world by taking part in mooting competitions both locally and internationally.

As a VU law student, you’ll study at our City Campus law hub building in the heart of Melbourne's legal district.

Take advantage of the facilities in our dedicated law campus, both in the Heritage Building and in the VU City Tower, including:

We also offer computer labs, seminar rooms, lecture theatres, state-of-the-art classrooms, student lounges, study spaces, a parenting room, cafes, a pride room and a prayer room.

You may also gain a global perspective on the law by exploring international legal systems on a law and justice study tour.

As part of your law degree, you may choose to take part in VU’s annual law and justice study tour to India, where you’ll gain a better understanding of the Indian justice system.

Study abroad options are also available – where you can complete some of your law studies with our international partner institutions. 

Need some advice?

Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.

Request a call back
VU & VicBar Shadowing Program - Transcript
VU student stories – life as a Law student - Transcript

Careers

Take advantage of the strong future growth predicted in the legal sector, with job opportunities for solicitors and barristers expected to grow by more than 20% over the next five years, and opportunities also strong for judicial and other legal professionals.

In Melbourne, law graduates are in high demand particularly in banking and finance, corporate/commercial, litigation, private equity, projects, property, tax and workplace relations.

With a Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) from VU, you’ll be in high-demand and equipped to work as a lawyer or in legal practice in areas including criminal law, human rights law, family law, commercial law and business.

Like many of our graduates, you may choose to work in community legal centres providing legal access to disadvantaged groups, and in not-for-profit organisations.

You could take on roles in the legal field such as:

  • lawyer (barrister or solicitor)
  • in-house legal counsel
  • policy adviser
  • legal adviser
  • human-rights advocate.
A practical legal advantage

A practical legal advantage

Robert Stary, leading Criminal Defence Lawyer, believes VU graduates have a deeper understanding of the justice system.

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Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Laws (Graduate Entry) students will be required to complete 288 credit points consisting of:

228 credit points of Core Law studies

60 credit points of Law Elective studies.

To be awarded a Bachelor of Laws with Honours:
Students who enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws prior to 31 Dec 2014 may apply to undertake the unit Advanced Legal Research Dissertation in their later years in this degree based on the aggregate of points attributed to the top two thirds of units so listed shall then be calculated and a grade point average determined. Students will be further assessed on an outline of a proposed thesis topic and availability of a college based or college affiliated supervisor. Students will be awarded a Bachelor of Laws with Honours (Class H1, H2A, H2B or H3) based on their aggregate of points and overall mark in Advanced Legal Research Dissertation.

To be awarded a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (For students enrolled post 1 January 2015):
Students in any Bachelor of Laws course may apply to transfer into any Bachelor of Laws (Honours) course if the selection criteria is met.

First Year

Year 2

24 credit points of Law Elective studies

Year 3

36 credit points of Law Elective studies

Law Electives

Honours units available on application only:

We are the first Australian university to use a 'block' model of learning, where you study one unit at a time rather than juggling several at once.

Introduced in 2018, the VU Block Model has improved our student results and achievements, and has won awards for innovation and excellence. Initially for first-year students, it now applies to all students studying at our Melbourne campuses.

You'll study in short bursts, called blocks, of three 2-3 hour face-to-face teaching sessions per week.

Each block focuses on one unit (subject) and is only four weeks long, with up to four days between. Our two semesters have four blocks each, and there are optional blocks over winter and summer where you can catch up on a missed unit.

Some courses have labs and pracs too, and these are generally scheduled on the same days as teaching sessions. There are also workshops where you'll develop your study skills and prepare for your future career.

Find out more about the VU Block Model.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Integrate conceptual understandings of the Australian legal system, fundamental areas of legal knowledge and relevant advanced specialist bodies of knowledge within the discipline of law;  
  2. Critically review, analyse, adapt and apply broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge of law and underlying principles and concepts in diverse contemporary local and international and comparative contexts;  
  3. Identify, articulate and respond to legal issues by critically analysing and applying information with initiative and judgement in order to both anticipate and creatively solve problems and promote justice in authentic/contemporary professional, community and global settings;  
  4. Exhibit professional accountabilities and ethical judgement, by evaluating, synthesising and adapting knowledge, skills legal reasoning and research to make appropriate responses to legal issues that reflect the social, political and contextual factors;  
  5. Communicate a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and skills appropriate for legal and non-legal audiences, in both oral and written form;  
  6. Reflect on personal learning and skills in relation to career goals and implement effective, creative strategies to promote lifelong learning and pathways to further learning including a commitment to ongoing professional development;  
  7. Apply personal and interpersonal competencies including organisational and collaborative skills necessary to operate within broad parameters in the immensely divergent and complex global and Australian cultures;  
  8. Contribute effectively, with personal accountability for outcomes in a dynamic 21st century work team, working in an ethical and socially responsible manner.  

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Fees & scholarships

Fee type for this course: Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

Fee type definitions

The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) or a full fee-paying place.

Students who enrol in a:

In addition to your tuition fees, you may also be charged a Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF).

Scholarships & assistance

Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.

We can help with fee assistance and advice.

Admissions

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Admission criteria

The minimum criteria for admission varies depending on your education background. If you’re not sure which criteria applies to you, use the help tool on this page or make an enquiry and we can assist.

Applicants with recent secondary education (within the last 2 years)

  • Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE) or
  • an Australian or overseas equivalent or
  • an International Baccalaureate (IB).

Importance of ATAR for this course

ATAR+

We consider both ATAR and other criteria

NA

ATAR is not a consideration. We use other criteria

Admission criteria

Find out if you meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at VU.

Why is ATAR not applicable?

You will not need an ATAR score to meet the admission requirements for this course. Only the successful completion of your secondary school studies, and any additional prerequisites. Our courses and support programs are designed to prepare students from diverse cultures for success, regardless of their prior experience, ATAR, age, socioeconomic or educational background.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET/TAFE) study

This information is for people who have completed an accredited award at an Australian Registered Training Organisation.

Admission criteria

Find out if you meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at VU.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Applicants with higher education study

This information is for people whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course.

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent).

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Applicants with work & life experience

This information is for applicants who left secondary school more than two years ago and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then.

Admission criteria

Find out if you meet the admission criteria for a bachelor degree at VU.

Special admission programs

Our special admission programs cover a range of access and equity schemes that allow applicants from participating schools or disadvantaged social, economic or cultural environments to receive additional consideration. These include:

Additional information

All applicants are encouraged to complete the law supplementary form which may be used to adjust an applicant's Selection Rank.

The form will be available at: https://www.vu.edu.au/current-students/your-course/forms/supplementary-a...

Students in any Bachelor of Laws may apply to transfer into the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree once they have completed a minimum 192 credit points and have attained an average mark of Distinction or above i.e. 70–100%. Applicants will be assessed on the highest grades achieved in the top 12 Law units. Students will be further assessed on an outline of a proposed thesis topic and availability of a college based or college affiliated supervisor. Successful applicants will enrol in both Advanced Research Legal Methods and Advanced Legal Research Dissertation instead of 24 credit points of law electives.

Selection criteria assistance

Let us know which qualifications you have studied and we will help you find the admission information that most applies to you.

Which of the following qualifications have you studied, or are currently studying?

Still not sure? Make an enquiry and one of our advisors can assist.

Student profile

Take a look at a student profile to get an overview of students who have previously enrolled in this course.

Pathways & credits

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

Diploma of Policing

Victoria Police, Australia

You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.

Graduate Certificate in Police Prosecution

Victoria Police, Australia

You will be credited for up to 132 credit points of study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

On completion of this course you will be guaranteed entry into the following degree and in some cases receive credit for your study:

Graduate Diploma in Migration Law

You will be credited for up to 72 credit points of study.

Find out more about our study pathways to VU

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

CALCULATE YOUR CREDIT

How to apply

Available start dates:
  • 29 July 2024

Before you apply

Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:

  • Special admission programs: Depending on your life circumstances you may be eligible for special consideration of your application.
  • Advanced standing: If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.

Find out more about applying for our courses.

Apply direct to VU

Direct applications are due on 21 July 2024 for our next intake which starts on 29 July 2024.

Apply direct to VU

Already a VU student?

If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.

After you apply

  • It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
  • Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered

Enquire now

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Get help

At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.