Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Commerce

Effective from 01-JUL-2023 : Code W28

Do you want to be a lawyer and branch out into management in a practice or in the government, business or community sectors? ECU’s Law/Commerce double degree will prepare you for a rewarding career in the legal, corporate, commercial or social justice fields. You can tailor your course to your field of interest with a broad range of professionally accredited and recognised majors that are developed in consultation with industry. Through work placements, networking opportunities, as well as learning from industry experienced academics, you’ll graduate with the knowledge and skills to forge a career in your chosen field. There are also opportunities to work on real-life cases in our Community Legal Practice unit, compete in mooting competitions nationally and internationally, and be involved in the Law Society Peer Mentoring Program. You’ll graduate prepared for a career in the courtroom and beyond.

Disclaimer

This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.

Work Experience Option

The ECU Business Placement program provide students with a unique opportunity to gain valuable real-world experience in a public, private or not-for-profit organisation. The program enables students to gain relevant work experience, allowing them to develop professional networks, practice applying theory learned during their degree, develop skills and capabilities required to succeed in their chosen profession, and gain a better understanding of the nature of employment and professional conduct in their chosen industry.

Attendance requirements

Students complete between 100 and 150 hours of work experience within a public, private or not- for-profit organisation. some of this work may occur on-campus, in a workplace, or wherever appropriate to fulfil the needs of the defined program of work.

Application process

Students are required to submit a current resume, a statement addressing their suitability and may be required to attend an interview.

Work Experience Option

Students have the opportunity to gain practical experience at the on-campus Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre and through the Innocence Project.

Duty of care

Conflict of interest checks may apply.

Application process

Students are required to apply to the Unit Coordinator.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Apply broad and coherent range of legal and business knowledge incorporating international/global/cultural/Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.
2. Adopt professional and ethical behaviour and/or personal citizenship that reflect the interrelationship between ethics, code of conduct, justice and community service.
3. Collaborate effectively in team settings to produce measurable outcomes.
4. Communicate legal and business knowledge, concepts and advice using relevant technologies clearly and persuasively.
5. Exercise critical thinking, judgement and intellectual independence to evaluate, consolidate and synthesise legal and business knowledge, and solve related challenging problems.
6. Reflect on feedback and critique on own performance to support personal and professional development.
7. Think creatively to anticipate challenges and generate solutions in legal and business-based situations.

Professional Recognition

Course

This course has been Accredited by: Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA).
In-line with accreditation and registration specifications from the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA), this course contains units that require students to undertake invigilated face-to-face written examinations where applicable. Contact the Course Coordinator for additional information.

Majors

One or more of the majors in this course is externally recognised when studied within this course. Refer to the major for more information.

Registration

Students will need to graduate to be eligible to register with the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA). Registration with the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (LPBWA) is required to practice in the profession.

The Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) satisfies the academic requirements for the admission as a legal practitioner in Western Australia and is professionally accredited by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. For information about the admission process and the additional requirements that must be completed to be eligible for admission, contact the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia.

Admission requirements

Admission requirement (Band 5)

All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• AQF Advanced Diploma or equivalent;
• Undergraduate Certificate;
• Successfully completed 1 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test;
• University Preparation Course;
• Indigenous University Orientation Course;
• Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment; or
• Associate Degree.

English Language requirement (Band 3)

English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test;
• IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0);
• Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
• University Preparation Course;
• Indigenous University Orientation Course;
• Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment;
• AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree;
• Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
• Other tests, courses or programs as defined in the Admissions Policy.

Portfolio pathway applications are not accepted for this course.

Course Duration

• Full Time: 5 Years
• Part Time: 10 Years

Course Delivery

• Joondalup: Full Time, Part Time
• Online: Full Time, Part Time

Course Coordinator

Dr Cecilia ANTHONY DAS

Course Structure

Students are required to complete: 32 Law units, comprising of 22 Core Law units and 10 Law Elective units; plus 16 Commerce units, comprising of 7 Core Commerce units, an 8-unit Commerce Major and 1 Elective unit. Note: Students wishing to take the Accounting major will be required to complete additional credit points/units exceeding that required for completion of the Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Note: Students with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 70% or higher at the end of their fourth year may be invited to complete an Honours program. Those students will be transferred to the Bachelor of Laws Honours/Bachelor of Commerce for their 5th year of study.

Law Electives

10 elective units are to be selected from any of the following streams.

Note: FBL3501 Business Practicum is by application only.

Note: Students requiring LAW1100 Legal Framework as a pre-requisite unit for a Level 2000 or Level 3000 unit may use LAW1111 or LAW1117 as a substitute for LAW1100 in this double degree only. Students are required to contact the Course Information Hub for assistance in enrolling into any units that require LAW1100 as a pre-requisite.

^ Core Option

Unit sets that can be studied as part of this course

One or more of the majors in this course is externally recognised when studied within this course. Refer to the major for more information.