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 2024 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
USC Law School courses
Introductory courses (5) 60 units
COR109 Crime Research Methods
LAW101 Working with Victims and Offenders
LAW102 International Justice and Human Rights
LAW103 Social Research
LAW104 Ethical Practice in the Helping Professions
Developing and Graduate courses (20) 240 units
14 required courses (168 units):
LAW201 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
LAW202 Criminal Profiling & Intelligence
LAW203 Homicide, Investigations & Forensic Science
LAW204 Youth Justice & Restorative Justice
LAW205 Professional Placement
LAW206 Social Work Field Education 1
LAW301 Transition to Social Work Practice
LAW302 Professional Ethics and Integrity Management
LAW303 Diversity, Crime and Justice
LAW304 Direct Practice Processes
LAW401 Critical Social Policy Analysis
LAW402 Applied Crime Prevention
LAW403 Community Development and Social Action
LAW404 Professional Placement
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 Crime Research Methods
LAW310 Working with Victims and Offenders
LAW311 International Justice and Human Rights
LAW312 Social Work Field Education 2
LAW313 Context Responsive Social Work Practice
LAW315 Discovering Management
LAW318 Strategic Management
LAW405 Leadership and Team Dynamics
LAW406 Cross-Cultural Management
LAW407 Project Management
LAW408 Managing the Small Business
LAW409 Managing Quality
LAW410 Strategic Supply Chain Management
LAW411 Discovering Management
LAW412 Strategic Management
LAW414 Managing the Small Business
LAW415 Managing Quality
LAW416 Management Informatics
LAW417 Leading and Managing Organisations
LAW418 Understanding and Managing Organisational Behaviour
LAW419 Corporate Governance, Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
LAW420 Project Management Principles
LAW421 Supply Chain Management
The following 2 elective courses (24 units) are only available to students who have been accepted into Honours in Law:
LAW440 Corporate Entrepreneurship and Business Model Innovation
LAW441 Marine Vertebrates: Sharks, Seabirds, Fish, Turtles and Whales
School of Science and Engineering courses
Introductory courses (4) 48 units
ENS120 Invertebrate Biology and Ecology
ENS103 Terrestrial Vertebrate Diversity and Ecology
SCI102 Coastal and Marine Ecology
SCI110 Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Developing and Graduate courses (11) 132 units
ENP211 Coastal Conservation Planning
ENS204 Master of Social Work Field Education 1
ENS221 Master of Social Work Field Education 2
ENS223 Introduction to Social Work
ENS253 Direct Practice 1
ENS300 Direct Practice 2
ENS351 International and Global Practice
GEO310 Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
SUS201 Advocacy and Leadership in Social Policy and Legal Contexts
PUB262 Children, Youth and Families: Challenges, Critique and Change
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
ENS330 Social Work in Health and Mental Health
ENS333 Advanced Social Research
SRP301 Theories for Practice: Power, Oppression and the "Good Society"
SUS310 Master of Social Work Field Education 1
WPL310 Master of Social Work Field Education 2
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.