Law at ACU
Studying Law at ACU
Want to study law that goes beyond the textbooks?
At ACU, the Bachelor of Laws is all about real-world experience. From pro bono placements with top barristers, firms, NGOs and government departments in Australia and overseas, to mooting and competitions, students learn from judges and legal professionals while building skills that matter. Graduates of this degree are ready to practise law – and live it with purpose.
ACU offers the following double-degrees with law:
Arts (Western Civilisation)/ Laws
Criminology & Criminal Justice/ Laws
To qualify for the degree, a student must also complete at least 80 hours of pro bono placement. It is also important to note that the Law degree structure and Law unit offerings have been approved by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board and the Legal Profession Admission Board (NSW). Find out more, including the range of law electives on offer, at Bachelor of Laws.
Difference between a Bachelor of Laws and the Juris Doctor
The Good Universities Guide provides a useful summary of the many types of law degrees that one can study for in Australia. Two such courses are:
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) - The Bachelor of Laws is typically a 4-year degree and is open to school leavers with a high enough ATAR (or equivalent) score. This undergraduate degree fulfills the academic side of qualifying for admission into legal practice.
*An undergraduate is someone who has no tertiary qualification
Juris Doctor (JD) -The Juris Doctor is a postgraduate degree that typically takes 3 years. It is equivalent to enrolling in a LLB as a graduate*. The main advantage of a JD over a LLB is that programs are designed to suit graduate students. Students should note though, that the JD normally costs far more than the LLB as, apart from generally higher tuition fees, postgraduate status means students may miss out on government financial concessions for undergraduate study.
*A graduate is someone who has a degree
Students are encouraged to browse Top Law Schools and Degrees in Australia to learn more.