100% Online
100% Online
Learning Mode
Undergraduate
Qualification
4 years full-time
Duration
Mar, Jul, Nov
Start Dates
32
Units
$2,124*
Fees Per Unit
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 continually innovating legal landscapes.
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 be able to take advantage of the growing number of technology-focused opportunities in legal fields that govern cyber security, media, branding and advertising.
Like all Swinburne Online courses, practical experience is fundamental. This is why the Bachelor of Laws prioritises work integrated learning through professional placements. By participating you’ll 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.
‘The support level has been unmatched. OLAs, student advisors, anyone you contact is always there for you. There is always someone to reach out to, always someone to help, always someone you can lean on.’
Corey, Swinburne Online graduate
As a Lawyer, you’ll have a strong future ahead of you, with a 20% increase expected in the next five years.
Our Law courses have ranked in the Top 250 by THE World Universities Rankings for 2025.
Our Law courses have ranked in the Top 250 by THE World Universities Rankings for 2025.
To be awarded the Bachelor of Laws you must complete 32 units in total made up of:
Each year is split into 3 Teaching Periods (14 weeks per Teaching Period). You can choose to study full-time or part-time depending on your preference.
Supervised examinations
Please note that an accreditation requirement for the Bachelor of Laws is that all supervised examinations are only held in-person, in paper format.
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.
These are foundational units in major law study areas:
Learning and Communicating for Innovative Business Practice
Introduction to Australian Law & Statutory Interpretation
Federal & State Constitutional Law
Legal Technology and Innovation
You must complete seven (7) of the following:
Crime and Punishment in the International Context
Technological Advances in Dealing with Crime
Critical Thinking in Management
To apply, you must have completed one of the following:
This course is not available to international students.
Students who do not meet the above entry requirements can still gain admission to the Bachelor of Laws through one of several alternative pathways.
These pathways include both dedicated undergraduate certificates that help you prepare for the subject matter and workload of the Bachelor of Laws, as well as complementary studies through related undergraduate degrees.
Please see tabs below for information on individual pathways.
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee offer of a place. See Admissions at Swinburne, for general information about admission process.
This pathway qualification helps students develop the analytical and planning skills essential to a career in law. A focus on business strategy and innovation equips students to flourish in a corporate law environment, ideal for students ultimately seeking a role as general counsel.
A four-unit course typically requiring six months of full-time study, the Undergraduate Certificate of Business provides significant flexibility, offering students the ability to tailor their entry into law to suit their career goals.
Core unit:
Choose three units from the below:
Students seeking to enter the Bachelor of Laws are recommended to select Financial Information for Decision Making as one of their electives. This unit will better prepare students for the workload required in the Bachelor of Laws and will be more relevant to material covered in the degree.
Students will need to complete all four units with an average mark of 60% to gain entry to the Bachelor of Laws. All completed units will be credited against the Bachelor of Laws.
Upon successful completion of the Undergraduate Certificate of Business, students will need to contact the admissions office to transfer to the Bachelor of Laws.
The Undergraduate Certificate of Criminal Justice and Criminology exposes students to foundational concepts in criminal law. Students will develop an understanding of different theoretical models of crime and the structure of the Australian legal system. It also explores the processes and procedures used by different parts of the legal system to manage, deter, and punish criminal offences.
As a four-unit course which typically requires six months of full-time study, the Undergraduate Certificate of Criminal Justice and Criminology is ideal for those considering a career in criminal law. It equips you with the essential knowledge needed to progress to the Bachelor of Laws with confidence.
Core units:
Students will need to complete all four units with an average mark of 60% to gain entry to the Bachelor of Laws. All completed units will be credited against the Bachelor of Laws.
Upon successful completion of the Undergraduate Certificate of Criminal Justice and Criminology, students will need to contact the admissions office to transfer to the Bachelor of Laws.
Students can transfer to the Bachelor of Laws after completing four units in the Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology.
An alternative to the Undergraduate Certificate of Criminal Justice and Criminology, this pathway offers a different range of foundational units for students interested in criminal law.
Students interested in enrolling in this pathway with the intent of transferring the Bachelor of Laws are recommended to select from the following units:
Students will need to complete all four units with an average mark of 60% to gain entry to the Bachelor of Laws. All completed units will be credited as secondary electives against the Bachelor of Laws.
Upon successful completion of the required units, students will need to contact the admissions office to transfer to the Bachelor of Laws.
To apply, you must have completed one of the following:
This course is not available to international students.
Students who do not meet the above entry requirements can still gain admission to the Bachelor of Laws through one of several alternative pathways.
These pathways include both dedicated undergraduate certificates that help you prepare for the subject matter and workload of the Bachelor of Laws, as well as complementary studies through related undergraduate degrees.
Please see tabs below for information on individual pathways.
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee offer of a place. See Admissions at Swinburne, for general information about admission process.
This pathway qualification helps students develop the analytical and planning skills essential to a career in law. A focus on business strategy and innovation equips students to flourish in a corporate law environment, ideal for students ultimately seeking a role as general counsel.
A four-unit course typically requiring six months of full-time study, the Undergraduate Certificate of Business provides significant flexibility, offering students the ability to tailor their entry into law to suit their career goals.
Core unit:
Choose three units from the below:
Students seeking to enter the Bachelor of Laws are recommended to select Financial Information for Decision Making as one of their electives. This unit will better prepare students for the workload required in the Bachelor of Laws and will be more relevant to material covered in the degree.
Students will need to complete all four units with an average mark of 60% to gain entry to the Bachelor of Laws. All completed units will be credited against the Bachelor of Laws.
Upon successful completion of the Undergraduate Certificate of Business, students will need to contact the admissions office to transfer to the Bachelor of Laws.
The Undergraduate Certificate of Criminal Justice and Criminology exposes students to foundational concepts in criminal law. Students will develop an understanding of different theoretical models of crime and the structure of the Australian legal system. It also explores the processes and procedures used by different parts of the legal system to manage, deter, and punish criminal offences.
As a four-unit course which typically requires six months of full-time study, the Undergraduate Certificate of Criminal Justice and Criminology is ideal for those considering a career in criminal law. It equips you with the essential knowledge needed to progress to the Bachelor of Laws with confidence.
Core units:
Students will need to complete all four units with an average mark of 60% to gain entry to the Bachelor of Laws. All completed units will be credited against the Bachelor of Laws.
Upon successful completion of the Undergraduate Certificate of Criminal Justice and Criminology, students will need to contact the admissions office to transfer to the Bachelor of Laws.
Students can transfer to the Bachelor of Laws after completing four units in the Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology.
An alternative to the Undergraduate Certificate of Criminal Justice and Criminology, this pathway offers a different range of foundational units for students interested in criminal law.
Students interested in enrolling in this pathway with the intent of transferring the Bachelor of Laws are recommended to select from the following units:
Students will need to complete all four units with an average mark of 60% to gain entry to the Bachelor of Laws. All completed units will be credited as secondary electives against the Bachelor of Laws.
Upon successful completion of the required units, students will need to contact the admissions office to transfer to the Bachelor of Laws.
*Note: Unit fees may change each year.
There are several ways to help manage your course fees:
Please contact our Course Consultant to find out if you’re eligible for financial support.
There are a variety of Swinburne Scholarships to help reduce your costs.
Scholarships are available for both new and current students.
Please contact our Course Consultant to find out if you’re eligible for Swinburne Scholarships.
Credit for prior study:
Services & amenities fee:
For more details on scholarships and financial support, visit the Swinburne website or speak with a Course Consultant!
Provide legal advice to clients in one or more areas of law as solicitors or barristers. While solicitors primarily advise clients and prepare legal documents, barristers specialize in advocacy and court representation.
Provide legal advice to clients in one or more areas of law as solicitors or barristers. While solicitors primarily advise clients and prepare legal documents, barristers specialize in advocacy and court representation.
Our graduates work in a range of rewarding roles and industries. The Bachelor of Laws prioritises enhancing your technical literacy so that you can graduate with a future-focused skill set. You will:
Commercial Law
Navigate the intricacies of commercial law, which govern commercial transactions within Australia and internationally. Work in specialist areas that include: company law, corporate governance, consumer protection, and environmental law.
Intellectual Property Law
In an era of digital disruption and diversifying media, you can gain expertise in the field of Intellectual Property law. Calling upon your informed understanding of technological change – and the important role that the law plays in encouraging further innovation – while protecting the rights of creators and businesses.
Native Title Law
Consider Native Title laws, in accordance with an informed and culturally sensitive approach to the mediation of the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, government and local communities.
International Law
Oversee the implementation of international law from an Australia perspective, taking into account the intersection of other jurisdictional legal systems and the complexities that may arise.
The Bachelor of Laws will provide you with a future-focused skill set combining traditional legal knowledge with technological literacy, enhancing your employability and ability to adapt to the evolving legal landscape.
Each degree is thoughtfully designed for online learning, ensuring your experience is fulfilling and supported. At Swinburne Online, we want to ensure that your journey with us is a success. Our team of academic and online experts have developed engaging, media-rich course materials using cutting-edge digital technology and advanced teaching resources.
Canvas is where all your classwork will take place. You’ll experience engaging lectures, tackle assignments, and connect with others on lively discussion boards. All within an easy-to-use platform. Stay on top of your progress, plan your studies with ease, and set your own pace — whether you want to fast-track your degree with up to 12 units a year or take it slow with part-time study. It’s all about balancing your studies with the rest of your life!
We’re there for you each step of the way. Our dedicated Student Advisors are your go-to guides. They’ll help you through your enrolment, course planning, technical support and other questions you might have.
Download a course guide
The suite of Swinburne Online Business degrees provides students with the opportunity to forge connections within the industry. Students hear from industry leaders and work with real-life clients with demonstrated experience within their respective fields, such as SEEK.
