Bachelor of Laws

What you’ll learn

1. Legal Technology & Innovation: Investigate how technological change and automation are transforming legal practice. Explore how to harness these innovations to ensure legal services are more accessible and efficient than ever before.
2. Legal Theory & Practice: Examine the legal theory that underpins the Rule of Law in Australia and internationally – and informs all legal practice.
3. Ethical & Legal Responsibility: Develop a current understanding of legal ethics and professional standards to ensure your practice aligns with the modern legal system.
4. International Diplomacy: Manage legal relationships between governments and international organisations by applying a strategic understanding of jurisdictional law to the global legal landscape.

Embark on a tech-savvy career in the innovative legal sector

The sweeping uptake of digital technologies in legal professions is revolutionising legal practice, just as it is changing the way we all live and work. Today’s legal professionals need to be not only commercially savvy, but have the adaptability to work with emerging technologies across legal landscapes that are continually innovating.

Pathway to becoming a lawyer

Swinburne Online’s Bachelor of Laws is approved by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board, with this course fulfilling the first requirement on the pathway to becoming a practicing lawyer.

You’ll develop a nuanced understanding of digital disruption and its legal implications, which will open your legal career for work in criminal, international, commercial, finance law and more. With a digitally informed toolkit at your disposal, you will also be able to take advantage of the growing number of technology-centric opportunities in legal fields that govern cybersecurity, media and entertainment, design, branding and advertising.

Like all Swinburne Online courses, practical experience is fundamental. This is why the Bachelor of Laws prioritises work integrated learning through a series of moot court exercises and competitions, as well as professional placements. By participating you will have the opportunity to network and learn directly from experienced legal professionals, while acquiring a practical legal skill set.

Your placement can be at any workplace where legal work is performed, as long as your work experience during the placement is of a legal nature. You can take your placement overseas or in Australia, as long as it’s approved by the Course Director, so you have the opportunity to try different legal work during your practical experience.

Swinburne Online will prepare you to meet the challenges of rapid technological change and upheaval in the legal sector, and set you up to chart a success career in law.

Supervised examinations

Supervised examinations are a compulsory component of the course and will be scheduled for a specific date and start time at the end of each teaching period. If you are an Australian citizen, you’ll still be able to sit these exams in-person at most capital cities around the world.

Recommended study pattern

The Bachelor of Laws consists of 24 units, including 20 core Law units and 4 Law electives. You will also complete three Professional Experiences in law.

Your learning will focus on legal technology and innovation, looking at how the relationship between law and technology has changed and will continue to over time. Your units will focus on how to understand the different nuances and adapt to new technologies.

Each year is split into 3 Teaching Periods (13 weeks per Teaching Period). You can choose to study full-time or part-time, depending on your preference.

Core Units

Introduction to Australian Law & Statutory Interpretation (LAW10010)

Contract Law (LAW10028)

Commercial Law (LAW10029)

Torts 1 (LAW10014)

Torts 2 (LAW10025)

Criminal Law & Procedure (LAW10015)

Legal Writing (LAW10026)

Evidence (LAW20009)

Administrative Law (LAW20010)

Trade Marks & Related Rights (LAW20011)

Federal & State Constitutional Law (LAW20012)

Property Law (LAW20013)

Land Law (LAW20014)

Legal Technology and Innovation (LAW20040)

Copyright (LAW20043)

Patents & Designs (LAW30011)

Equity & Trusts (LAW30012)

Company Law (LAW30013)

Legal Practice & Professional Conduct (LAW30015)

Civil Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution (LAW30029)

Law Electives

International Commercial Law (LAW20007)

Law and the Media (LAW20024)

Competition Law & Policy (LAW20036)

Advanced Criminal Law and Sentencing (LAW20041)

Award requirements

To qualify, a student must successfully complete the requirements according to the program details in the Recommended Study Pattern.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $52,197

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Study on your own terms with this forward-thinking university.

It offers a wide range of study options, from pre-apprenticeships, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhDs, including online degrees with Open Universities Australia. Swinburne is known for career-oriented education and encouraging lifelong learning.

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QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

19

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

15

Applicants are required to meet one of the following minimum entry requirements to gain direct entry into the Bachelor of Laws:

• Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) – Successful completion of the VCE or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification, with a minimum ATAR of 77, and a minimum study score of 25 in any English (except EAL) or 30 in EAL (or equivalent), or
• Bachelor’s Degree – Completion, or partial completion of a Bachelor’s degree, or
• Undergraduate Certificate in Law, meeting the minimum Weighted Average Mark requirements on your first attempt.

Note: This course is not available to international students.

If you do not meet the standard entry requirements, you may still qualify for the Bachelor of Laws through an approved alternative entry pathway. For detailed information on how this pathway works, please refer to the Undergraduate Certificate in Law information below. 

Undergraduate Certificate of Law pathway

The Undergraduate Certificate of Law is a supported pathway if you wish to pursue a career in law but do not yet meet the direct entry requirements for the Bachelor of Laws. 

Across four introductory units, you will build essential legal thinking, problem-solving, and academic skills while gaining a real-world introduction to areas such as contract law, torts, and statutory interpretation. This program allows you to experience university-level legal study before committing to a full degree – building the confidence, capability, and readiness needed for the next step in your qualification. 

Typically completed in six months full-time (or part-time equivalent), this certificate creates a supported and accessible pathway into the Bachelor of Laws with no loss of credit for completed subjects. 

Core units

Introduction to Australian Law and Statutory Interpretation 

Torts 1 

Contract Law 1 

Choose one of the below units:

Criminal Law and Procedure 

Torts 2 

Legal Writing 

Contract Law 2 

To qualify for entry into the Bachelor of Laws you’ll need to complete all four units with a minimum credit average (60%) on your first attempt. 

English Language requirements will also apply.

International students are required to demonstrate their English proficiency before enrolling into a Swinburne Online degree by undertaking one of the following English language tests; The International English Language Test Score (IELTS) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for RPL.