C10129v4 Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Arts in International Studies

Overview

The Bachelor of Laws Bachelor of Arts in International Studies is offered jointly by the Faculty of Law and the Institute for International Studies. The course is designed for students who wish to provide specialised legal services to international organisations and to satisfy the demand for lawyers who can act for foreign investors.

The program provides full-time study for students wishing to obtain a professional legal qualification that satisfies the requirements for admission as a lawyer together with an international specialisation. Career prospects are enhanced by international experience, making students more marketable to prospective employers both locally and internationally.

The course offers students the opportunity to gain an international perspective to their law studies. In developing language skills and undertaking overseas study in their fourth year, students are exposed to expertise and skills to enable them to work internationally and have an in-depth understanding of cross-cultural legal issues.

Career options

Career options include lawyer or legal policy adviser within a government department, private law firm, or commercial or corporate sector with international links. Graduates can work with international organisations such as the United Nations and opportunities also exist in Foreign Affairs.

Additional admission requirements

There is a range of entry levels to the various Language and Culture programs. Students are admitted to the International Studies program with no guarantee of entry to a specific major, although every effort is made to meet students' preferences.

Additional assumed knowledge

Proficiency in English is assumed. There are no prior language requirements for the International Studies program.

Course duration and attendance

The course duration is five years of full-time study. The Law component requires attendance of 10–15 hours of lectures per week and timetable constraints may require attendance at daytime and evening classes. Students spend their fourth year of study at a university overseas.

Course structure

The course comprises a total of 240 credit points. The study components for course completion are as follows.

The Law component of 144 credit points is made up of:

• 102 credit points of compulsory core law subjects (14 subjects)
• 18 credit points of law options (three subjects), and
• either 24 credit points of practical legal training subjects (five subjects) or an additional 24 credit points of law options (four subjects).

The International Studies component comprises 96 credit points of International Studies subjects.

Industrial training/professional practice

To practise as a lawyer in NSW students must successfully complete an accredited legal qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Laws) and an accredited course of practical legal training (PLT), such as the UTS Practical Legal Training program.

Course completion requirements

Course diagram

Course program

The standard program shown is for a full-time student who has chosen the Germany major in the International Studies component and has elected to undertake PLT within the Bachelor of Laws. Students have the choice of commencing PLT within the Bachelor of Laws in the final semesters of study or attempting an additional 24 credit points of Law options.

Levels of award

Professional recognition

Supreme Court of NSW

This course satisfies the requirements for admission as a lawyer, provided students undertake the optional PLT in the final semesters.

Other information

Further information is available from: