Help protect the environment with a law degree
Become a defender of the environment with this dual degree. You’ll cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia, and build practical skills through active learning experiences right from your first year. You’ll also gain an in-depth understanding of human impacts on the environment, with a strong focus on tropical and subtropical environments. Law Honours is available, usually without extending the time required to complete your degree.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2023 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- ^ It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
- ^ It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
Become a defender of the environment with this dual degree. You’ll cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia, and build practical skills through active learning experiences right from your first year. You’ll also gain an in-depth understanding of human impacts on the environment, with a strong focus on tropical and subtropical environments. Law Honours is available, usually without extending the time required to complete your degree.
In this program you will:
- Research answers to legal problems, prepare advice, present legal argument, observe court proceedings, and take part in simulated court presentations in USC’s Moot Court
- Develop your skills by working with legal service clients under legal supervision in law practice
- Build your skillset and knowledge by specialising in an environmental area such as coastal and marine environments, urban design and town planning, geospatial analysis and global environment security and policy.
- Travel to fieldwork locations such as Fraser Island and the Noosa Biosphere to learn about conservation and restoration of the natural environment
Career opportunities
- In-house counsel for industry, conservation or research organisation
- Government positions
- Natural resource management
- Ecosystem conservation and restoration
- Policy and legislation development
- International negotiations
- Solicitor
- Barrister
- Judge's associate
Membership
The Law degree is an approved academic qualification for admission to the legal profession. After graduating you must undertake a further period of practical legal training before being admitted as a legal practitioner.
On graduation you can apply to become Associate Member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) while you acquire relevant work experience. You can apply for Full Membership in EIANZ after you acquired two years of professional experience in one or more functional areas of environmental practice.
Program structure
Law courses
Introductory courses (4) 48 units
LAW101 Corporations Law
LAW102 Civil Procedure
LAW103 Administrative Law
LAW104 Professional Conduct
Developing and Graduate courses (20) 240 units
14 required courses (168 units):
LAW201 Evidence
LAW202 Regulation
LAW203 Commercial Law
LAW204 Children & the Law
LAW205 Law Professional Practice
LAW206 Competition and Consumer Law
LAW301 Building & Construction Law #
LAW302 Indigenous Legal Issues #
LAW303 Advocacy
LAW304 Legal Dispute Resolution
LAW401 Planning and Environment Law
LAW402 Elder Law and Succession
LAW403 Intellectual Property
LAW404 Taxation #
PLUS select 6 elective courses (72 units) from:
Not all electives are offered every year. For a list of current Law elective courses click HERE.
LAW307 Public International Law
LAW310 Private International Law
LAW311 International Human Rights Law
LAW312 Legal Internship
LAW313 Sports Law
LAW315 International Commercial Disputes
LAW318 Employment Law
LAW405 Health Law
LAW406 Family Law
LAW407 Anti-Discrimination Law
LAW408 Cyber Laws and the Rules of Evidence
LAW409 Cultural Legal Studies
LAW410 Honours Research Methods, Design and Confirmation
LAW411 Law Honours Thesis
LAW412 Introduction to Criminology
LAW414 Understanding Crime
LAW415 Punishment and Corrections
LAW416 Policing
LAW417 Foundations of Human Behaviour
LAW418 Australian Society: How does(n't) it work? - An Introduction to Sociology
LAW419 Applied Crime Prevention
LAW420 Professional Development
LAW421 Professional Ethics and Integrity Management
LAW422 Diversity, Crime and Justice
The following 2 elective courses (24 units) are only available to students who have been accepted into Honours in Law:
LAW440 Social Research
LAW441 Criminal Profiling & Intelligence
Environmental Management courses
Introductory courses (5) 60 units
ENS120 Homicide, Investigations & Forensic Science
ENS103 International Justice and Human Rights
SCI102 Youth Justice & Restorative Justice
SCI110 Professional Placement
SUS101 Crime Research Methods
Developing and Graduate courses (11) 132 units
ENP211 Working with Victims and Offenders
ENS204 Introduction to Cyber Crime
ENS221 Business Law and Ethics
ENS223 Law of Business Associations
ENS253 Taxation Law and Practice
ENS300 Employment and Industrial Law
ENS351 Property Law
GEO310 Foundations of Australian Law A
SUS201 Foundations of Australian Law B
PUB262 Environmental Health Risk Management
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
ENS330 K'gari Field Studies
ENS333 Special Field Studies Topic
SRP301 Special Research Project
SUS310
WPL310 Workplace Learning I
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 480
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 480 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 15 introductory level (100 coded) courses (180 units) in total, including the core course
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- Semester offerings for Law elective courses are subject to change and are dependent on student demand. For more information on elective availability please contact your Program Coordinator
- Honours in Law available for high performing students
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.