C09088v2 Bachelor of Information Technology Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Award(s): Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT)Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (LLB(Hons))
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 240
Course EFTSL: 5
Location: City campus
Notes
This is an exit-only course. There is no direct admission to it. Current UTS students may be able to submit an Internal Course Transfer (Graduating) application to exit with this course. See the Course transfer page for further details.
Overview
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Inherent (essential) requirements
Assumed knowledge
Recognition of prior learning
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course diagram
Course program
Levels of award
Honours
Professional recognition
Other information
Overview
The primary goal of this combined degree is to prepare lawyers with an expert knowledge of IT qualifying them to work as IT professionals in a legal environment.
The law component of this course provides a thorough grounding in Australian legal practice. The information technology component offers a sound education in all aspects of computing and information technology and allows students to gain a specialisation with an IT major.
Honours relates to the law component only and students must successfully complete both of the research subjects: 76090 Research Methodology and 76040 Research Thesis. Strong research skills are valued highly in contemporary professional practice.
The information technology component adopts a practice-based approach to IT education and the course content is a mix of theory and practice. As well as gaining strong technical skills in IT, students gain skills in business analysis, problem-solving, teamwork and communication.
Students have the opportunity to engage in deeper study of the law by studying 76090 Research Methodology and undertaking 76040 Research Thesis. This course can be a pathway to higher degree research programs.
Career options
Lawyers with IT skills are in demand. Career opportunities include lawyer or policy adviser in various government departments, in-house legal counsel to an IT or software company, or specialist in areas such as intellectual property, e-commerce and privacy or internet censorship. Alternatively, graduates can work as IT professionals in legal practice, legal publishing or private law firms.
Course intended learning outcomes
| FEIT.A.1 | Bachelor of Information Technology graduates are culturally and historically informed, able to work as respectful professionals with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. |
| FEIT.B.1 | Bachelor of Information Technology graduates are socially responsible professionals, able to engage with a broad range of stakeholders, to assess personal, organisational, social, ethical and environmental needs and impacts of IT systems. |
| FEIT.C.1 | Bachelor of Information Technology graduates apply design techniques and appropriate methodologies to develop IT systems and components to meet stakeholder requirements. |
| FEIT.D.1 | Bachelor of Information Technology graduates apply a range of discipline fundamentals, tools, and techniques to design, implement, operate and evaluate IT systems. |
| FEIT.E.1 | Bachelor of Information Technology graduates work as effective team members, communicating effectively, and operating within diverse contexts. |
| FEIT.F.1 | Bachelor of Information Technology graduates critically self-review their professional performance, to improve themselves and their teams. |
| LAW.1.1 | A coherent and advanced understanding of fundamental areas of legal knowledge including:
a. The Australian colonial and post-colonial legal system, international and comparative contexts, theoretical and technical knowledge; b. The broader contexts within which legal issues arise and the law operates including cultural awareness, social justice and policy; c. The impact of Anglo-Australian laws on Indigenous peoples, including their historical origins in the process of colonisation and ongoing impact; d. The principles and values of justice and ethical practices in lawyers’ roles; e. Advanced theoretical and technical knowledge of underlying legal principles and concepts in one or more areas of practice or inquiry. |
| LAW.2.1 | A capacity to value and promote honesty, integrity, accountability, public service and ethical standards including: a. An understanding of approaches to ethical decision making and professional responsibility; b. An ability to recognise, reflect upon and respond to ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts in ways that evidence professional judgment, promote justice and serve the community; and c. An ability to reflect on and engage constructively with diversity in practice. |
| LAW.3.1 | An advanced capacity to think critically, strategically and creatively, including the ability to: a. Identify and articulate legal issues in context, including the skill of critical reading and writing; b. Apply reasoning and research to generate appropriate responses to sometimes complex legal problems; c. Engage in critical analysis and make a reasoned choice amongst alternatives; and d. Think creatively in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate responses. |
| LAW.4.1 | Well-developed cognitive and practical skills necessary to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues; advanced knowledge of legal research principles and different methodologies, and technical and planning skills to design and apply research to a significant scholarly piece of work. |
| LAW.5.1 | Effective and appropriate communication skills including: a. Highly effective use of the English language to convey legal ideas and views to different and diverse audiences and environments; b. An ability to communicate to inform, analyse, report and persuade; c. An ability to strategically select an appropriate medium and message; d. An ability to assess how messages are received and alter communication strategies accordingly; e. An ability to be responsive and adaptive to the perspectives of collaborators, clients, counter parties and others; and f. An ability to communicate a clear and coherent exposition of legal research and scholarship orally and in writing. |
| LAW.6.1 | Effective and appropriate collaboration skills in working together to achieve a common goal in a group learning environment or the workplace including: a. An ability to give and receive feedback; b. Appropriate professional and interpersonal skills in working collaboratively; c. A capacity to develop strategies to successfully negotiate group challenges; and d. An ability to be responsive and adaptive to the perspectives of collaborators, clients, counter parties and others. |
| LAW.7.1 | The capacity to work with Indigenous peoples in a professional context; a. To respect, recognise and advocate for Indigenous strengths and self-determination; b. To acknowledge and respect Indigenous Knowledges; c. To understand the impact of colonisation, specifically historical and ongoing racism and the economic impact of dispossession resulting in social and economic exclusion, and d. To identify and challenge the deficit narratives and biases of Anglo-Australian laws towards Indigenous Australians. |
| LAW.8.1 | The ability to implement appropriate self-management and lifelong learning strategies including: a. An ability to undertake and initiate self-directed work and learning, including authorship of a significant piece of work; b. Well-developed judgment and responsibility as a legal professional in a broader social context; c. The ability to support personal and professional development by: I. Reflecting on and assessing their own capabilities, wellbeing and performance; II. Making use of feedback as appropriate; III. Identifying and accessing appropriate resources and assistance; IV. Making use of resources and support in developing resilience; and d. A capacity to adapt to and embrace change and a commitment to ongoing learning. |
Key
LAW = Law course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
IT = Information Technology course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
Inherent (essential) requirements
Inherent (essential) requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course.
Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course. This Statement should be read in conjunction with the UTS Student Rules.
Prospective or current student concerned about their ability to meet these requirements should discuss their concerns with the Academic Liaison Officer in their faculty or school and/or UTS Accessibility Service on 9514 1177 or at accessibility@uts.edu.au.
UTS will make reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional experiences, course related work experience and other course activities to facilitate maximum participation by students with disabilities, carer responsibilities, and religious or cultural obligations in their courses.
For course specific information see the Faculty of Law Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.
Assumed knowledge
HSC or equivalent mathematics; and any two units of English.
Mathematics Extension 1 and English Advanced are recommended.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of prior learning is not normally granted in this course for study completed at a private college, except where UTS has an external articulation agreement with the college.
Course duration and attendance
The course duration is five years of full-time study. The law component requires attendance of 12–15 hours of lectures a week and timetable constraints require attendance at daytime and evening classes. The IT component normally requires around 12 hours attendance of lectures and seminars a week and attendance at some evening classes may be required. The Diploma in Information Technology Professional Practice (C20056) includes at least nine months of paid work experience in the IT industry.
Course structure
The course comprises a total of 240 credit points, allowing students to graduate with the separate degrees of Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Laws. The study components for course completion are as follows.
The law component of 144 credit points is made up of:
- 108 credit points of compulsory core law subjects
- a 6-credit-point legal theory option
- a 30-credit-point law option, which includes either:
- 18 credit points of law options, a 6-credit-point research methodology subject, a 6-credit-point research thesis subject, or
- a 6-credit-point technology law, policy and ethics (Capstone 1) subject, a 6-credit-point applied project in law, innovation and technology (Capstone 2) subject, a 6-credit-point research methodology subject, a 6-credit-point research thesis subject, and either a disruptive technologies and the law subject or a local internship.
The IT component of 96 credit points is made up of:
- 48 credit points of core IT subjects, and
- 48 credit points of subjects for an IT major.
Industrial training/professional practice
To practise as a lawyer in NSW, students need to successfully complete an accredited legal academic qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Laws) and an accredited course of practical legal training (PLT), which UTS offers through its PLT program.
Students enrolled in this course may complete their practical legal training by undertaking a postgraduate course in PLT, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).
Students also have the option to undertake the Diploma in Information Technology Professional Practice (C20056) once they have secured suitable full-time employment in the IT industry. This incorporates a minimum of nine months' full-time paid work experience with four supporting subjects at UTS.
Course completion requirements
| STM91052 Law stream (Honours) | 144cp | |
| STM90651 Core subjects (Information Technology) | 48cp | |
| CBK90781 Major choice (Information Technology) | 48cp | |
| Total | 240cp |
Course diagram
Course program
The standard program shown is for a full-time student with law options.
All options shown are law options and are to be drawn from those on offer in CBK91100.
Students wishing to study the major MAJ09444 Legal Futures and Technology need to study 76106 Technology Law, Policy and Ethics (Capstone 1) in the Autumn session of their final year and 76107 Applied Project in Law, Innovation and Technology (Capstone 2) in their final Spring session.
All electives shown are IT electives and are to be drawn from those on offer in CBK90781.
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 31265 Communication for IT Professionals | 6cp | |
| 31268 Web Systems | 6cp | |
| 70102 Foundations of Law | 8cp | |
| 70103 Ethics Law and Justice | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 31266 Introduction to Information Systems | 6cp | |
| 48023 Programming Fundamentals | 6cp | |
| 70311 Torts | 8cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 31269 Business Requirements Modelling | 6cp | |
| 70114 Criminal Law and Procedure | 8cp | |
| 70211 Contracts | 8cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 31271 Database Fundamentals | 6cp | |
| 70616 Australian Constitutional Law | 8cp | |
| 70327 Introduction to Property and Commercial Law | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| C10245 Bachelor of Information Technology Bachelor of Laws | 240cp | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70104 Civil Practice | 6cp | |
| 70317 Real Property | 8cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| C10245 Bachelor of Information Technology Bachelor of Laws | 240cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 71116 Remedies | 6cp | |
| 70109 Evidence | 6cp | |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| C10245 Bachelor of Information Technology Bachelor of Laws | 240cp | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70617 Administrative Law | 8cp | |
| 70517 Equity and Trusts | 8cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| C10245 Bachelor of Information Technology Bachelor of Laws | 240cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 31272 Project Management and the Professional | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| CBK91100 Options (Honours) | 18cp | |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| C10245 Bachelor of Information Technology Bachelor of Laws | 240cp | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 70417 Corporate Law | 8cp | |
| 70108 Public International Law | 6cp | |
| 76090 Research Methodology | 6cp | |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| C10245 Bachelor of Information Technology Bachelor of Laws | 240cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6cp | |
| 76008 Jurisprudence | 6cp | |
| 76033 Animal Law and Policy in Australia | 6cp | |
| 76057 Judgment and the Rule of Law | 6cp | |
| 76081 Gender and Law | 6cp | |
| 78039 Wickedness and Vice | 6cp | |
| 76902 Law and Literature | 6cp | |
| 76012 Criminology | 6cp | |
| 76068 Indigenous Peoples and the Law | 6cp | |
| 76040 Research Thesis | 6cp | |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12cp | |
| CBK91100 Options (Honours) | 18cp | |
Levels of award
The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) may be awarded with first or second class honours, which does not require an additional honours year. Honours candidates must complete 76090 Research Methodology and 76040 Research Thesis within the course. The rules concerning the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) can be found in undergraduate course information.
Honours
Students interested in research and who excel in their IT studies are eligible to undertake one additional full-time year of study in the Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours) (C09019). The honours year is also available on a part-time basis over two years.
The Bachelor of Information Technology (C10148) may also be awarded with a distinction, credit or pass.
Professional recognition
This course satisfies the requirements for admission to the Supreme Court of NSW as a lawyer, provided students complete a practical legal training program, such as the Graduate Certificate in Professional Legal Practice (C11232).
The IT component qualifies for professional-level membership of the Australian Computer Society.
Other information
Further information on the law component or the IT component for current students is available from:
UTS Student Centre
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS
Further information for future students on the IT component is available from:
Engineering and Information Technology Outreach Office
telephone +61 2 9514 2666
email it@uts.edu.au