Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Philosophy

Completely unique to The University of Notre Dame Australia, the combined Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Philosophy is a double degree completed over five-years of full-time study. By combining these two separate disciplines graduates develop the skills to think clearly and creatively, as well as communicate coherently and convincingly. As a result, our graduates choose to follow a range of careers in law, journalism, politics, business and academia.

Are you thinking of studying a Bachelor of Philosophy degree in conjunction with the Bachelor of Laws degree? The University of Notre Dame Australia is the only university in Australia which offers this double degree. Students taking this degree combination will develop the ability to consider issues using two of the most developed forms of thinking and analysis utilised in Western civilisation: law and philosophy. This combination equips students will an array of skills which they can draw upon to resolve problems for themselves and for their clients.
The Bachelor of Laws degree is an accredited degree for admission to legal practice. It combines excellent coverage of underlying legal and ethical principles with an explanation of how those principles are applied in legal practice. However, as a student of the School of Philosophy, you will encounter the works of great minds such as Aquinas, Socrates and Plato. In doing so, you will be encouraged to reflect deeply and critically on the fundamental questions of existence, as well as question your own preconceptions of ethics and morality. As a result, graduates from the School of Philosophy are able to analyse and evaluate arguments about our current political, religious, and ethical systems – all valuable skills for a lawyer.

Similarly, the training you receive in the legal component of your degree will further develop your analytical mindset. Considered to be a degree of methodology rather than one solely of content, a Bachelor of Laws from Notre Dame teaches students to consider new approaches to problem solving and analysis. By participating in lively debate and the free exchange of ideas in intimate class settings, you will develop mastery of public speaking, advocacy, research, and dispute resolution.