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Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Bachelor of Journalism and Professional Writing

Gain a competitive advantage by combining law with journalism and professional writing, and graduate with two degrees in just five years.

A double degree expands your knowledge and opens doors to a broad range of career opportunities.

You will graduate with professional honours, an advanced understanding of legal principles of Australian law and the latest legal concepts in journalism and professional writing. This legal expertise, combined with the knowledge and skills you’ll gain from your specialisation, will set you on track for a leadership career.

In your law studies you’ll gain practical real-world experience by undertaking an industry or clinic placement, a law reform project or high-level research in your final year. You’ll also be involved in mock-trials in our moot court, learning what it’s like to act as an advocate and argue a case before a judge. You can also gain valuable experience at our Legal Advice Clinic, solving legal problems of clients under the guidance of a managing solicitor.

In your journalism and professional writing studies you will develop the skills and knowledge to work as a journalist and writer in mainstream media and the field of communication. The emphasis on professional writing opens doors into professions such as technical writing, tender presentations, and marketing and communication.

If you wish to practise law, you should also familiarise yourself with the requirements for admission as a legal practitioner in South Australia.

This degree is made up of 40 courses. You will do 24 courses in law and 16 courses in journalism and professional writing.

Laws (Honours)
From your first few weeks as a law student you'll do practical courses and see what it's like to argue a case and provide legal advice. You’ll gain valuable skills that you can apply in reasoning, reporting, analysis, negotiation, communication and advocacy to resolve complex legal problems.

Throughout your degree you will study core courses that teach you the fundamental legal concepts that underpin the Australian legal system. Courses such as torts, contracts, criminal law and constitutional law will give you a good understanding of basic legal principles.

Through practical learning experiences including mooting and witness examination, you will be prepared for legal practice upon graduation.

You'll also be able to choose from an industry or clinic placement, a law reform project or high-level research in your final year.

Journalism and Professional Writing
You will study courses that provide you with the skills and knowledge to work as a journalist and writer. For example you will:

learn how to author and edit written and visual texts within news and non-news environments
develop the production skills required by news and online media, including filming and editing, problem-solving and decision-making
learn how to use industry-standard hardware and software
develop research skills
develop production skills, such as filming and editing
A final year internship at a news or production organisation will synthesise your knowledge and training.

Through your choice of electives you can also expand your knowledge in an area of professional interest such as health law, sports law, family law and human rights law.

Campus Information

Adelaide- City West

On the edge of Adelaide’s central business district, City West houses studies in business, law, art, architecture, design, Indigenous cultures and Australian society.

Intakes

Feb
July

Application Processing Time in Days: 14

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description	IELTS (1.0 -9.0)	TOEFL IBT (0-120)	TOEFL CBT (0-300)	PTE (10-90)
Expert	9	120	297-300	86-90
Very Good	8.5	115-119	280-293	83-86
Very Good	8	110-114	270-280	79-83
Good	7.5	102-109	253-267	73-79
Good	7	94-101	240-253	65-73
Competent	6.5	79-93	213-233	58-65
Competent	6	60-78	170-210	50-58
Modest	5.5	46-59	133-210	43-50
Modest	5	35-45	107-133	36-43
Limited	4	32-34	97-103	30-36
Extremely Limited	< 4	< 31	< 93	< 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Our quality teaching focuses on developing your practical skills and identifying opportunities for you to connect with industry beyond the classroom, which will ensure you graduate career-ready.

You will hold a desirable skillset for a diverse range of careers including:

Court reporter: attending court sessions and recording proceedings related to evidence, objections and rulings; creating a full record of jury arguments; liaising with lawyers, judges or other officials; taking witness depositions, managing commissions and creating of certificates of proceedings.
Industry spokesperson: offering an expert industry opinion, view or insight for a specific purpose or use.
Investigative journalist: researching and writing news and current affairs stories for media publications.
Legal/political commentator: offering expert commentary on a specific topic or subject of interest to mass media.
Media adviser: managing the rollout of media and communications campaigns.
Opinion writer: crafting persuasive editorial pieces on topical issues.
Solicitor: Commercial Solicitor: focusing on business-specific legal practice such as: corporate, contract, competition, communications, commercial property, finance, employment, intellectual property, transport, sports and media law.
Personal Solicitor: focusing on areas such as personal injury, family and tort law, criminal litigation, succession and inheritance, residential property, taxation and trusts.
Barrister: advocacy, litigation and dispute resolution, preparing matters for trial.

PSW Opportunity

Bachelor Degree or Masters by Coursework Degree - 2 years - 3 years (Adelaide)

Masters by Research - 3 years - 4 years (Adelaide)

PhD qualification - 4 years - 5 years (Adelaide)

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:

Recent secondary education

Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND
Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE,
or
Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points

Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.

OR
Higher education study

Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above
OR

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Diploma level or above
OR

Work and life experience

Qualify for Special Entry, or
Complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past.

University of South Australia (UNISA)

Adelaide , South Australia ,Australia