Why Study / Key Benefits

• This is a five-year double degree combining an accredited Bachelor of Laws with specialised study in Criminal Justice and Criminology.
• Swinburne describes it as the only double degree of its kind in Victoria.
• Students study both the legal framework surrounding crime and the causes, consequences and social responses to crime.
• The programme is particularly suitable for students interested in criminal prosecution, criminal defence, criminal justice, policing, corrections, criminology, government policy and related areas.
• Students develop skills in legal analysis, critical thinking, persuasive communication, criminal justice research, advocacy and problem solving.
• Work Integrated Learning is built into the degree. Students complete law-related professional experience and practical legal activities including moot-court scenarios and advocacy exercises.
• The Criminal Justice Capstone Project involves working on a problem-based project briefed by an industry partner.
• The Bachelor of Laws satisfies the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in Victoria and the Australian federal legal system, subject to completion of the other admission requirements and Practical Legal Training.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The current indicative programme contains 34 academic core units, four Law electives and three professional-experience units.

Bachelor of Laws core units include:

• Introduction to Australian Law and Statutory Interpretation
• Torts 1
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Torts 2
• Legal Writing
• Contract Law 1
• Contract Law 2
• Evidence
• Administrative Law
• Trade Marks and Related Rights
• Federal and State Constitutional Law
• Property Law
• Land Law
• Legal Technology and Innovation
• Copyright
• Patents and Designs
• Equity and Trusts
• Company Law
• Legal Practice and Professional Conduct
• Civil Procedure and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Professional experience in Law includes:

• Professional Experience in Law 1 – LAW10016
• Professional Experience in Law 2 – LAW20018
• Professional Experience in Law 3 – LAW30016

Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Criminology core units include:

• Crime, Deviance, and Conformity
• Victims, Justice and the Law
• Family Violence
• Fundamentals of Psychology
• Fundamentals of Criminology
• Policing: Systems and Practice
• Corrections: Systems and Practice
• Youth Justice and Crime
• Introduction to Forensic Psychology
• Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology
• Law and Social Science
• Crime and Punishment in the International Context
• Technological Advances in Dealing with Crime
• Criminal Justice Capstone Project.

Law elective options include:

• International Commercial Law
• Law and the Media
• Taxation Law
• Public and Private International Law
• Competition Law and Policy
• Privacy in Law and Society
• Law Study Tour
• Advanced Criminal Law and Sentencing
• Advanced Intellectual Property Law
• Commercial Law
• Legal Research Project
• Advanced Legal Research Project 1
• Advanced Legal Research Project 2.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The double degree itself combines two disciplines:

• Law
• Criminal Justice and Criminology

Areas available through the electives include:

• Criminal law and sentencing
• International law
• Commercial law
• Intellectual property
• Privacy law
• Competition law
• Legal research
• Law and media.

Programme Highlights

• Unique combination of Law and Criminal Justice and Criminology.
• 475 credit points.
• Five-year full-time double degree.
• 34 core units.
• Four specialised Law electives.
• 450 hours of Law professional experience.
• Practical legal education through moot courts and advocacy exercises.
• Industry-linked Criminal Justice Capstone Project.
• Study of Australian law, constitutional law, criminal law, property, contracts, evidence, intellectual property and legal practice.
• Study of criminology, policing, corrections, youth justice, forensic psychology, family violence and technological developments in crime.
• Professional recognition pathway for legal practice in Victoria and the Australian federal legal system, subject to all admission requirements.

Career Outcomes

The combination can support careers in:

• Criminal prosecution
• Criminal defence
• Legal practice
• Government legal services
• Criminal justice policy
• Law enforcement
• Intelligence and crime analysis
• Corrections
• Offender rehabilitation
• Victim support
• Government policy development
• Criminal justice research
• Legal research
• Regulatory and compliance-related work.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• Current course code: BB-LAWCRJ1.
• Current CRICOS code: 119076C.
• Current location: Hawthorn.
• Standard duration: 5 years full-time.
• Standard completion requirement: 475 credit points.
• Current published 2027 starts: 1 March 2027 and 2 August 2027.
• The indicative unit sequence published by Swinburne is for Semester 1, 2026 and may change according to unit availability, advanced standing and exemptions.
• Students must complete 450 hours of Law professional experience under the standard course structure.
• International students holding a Student visa cannot undertake the six- or 12-month Professional Placement option because of government regulations.
• Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning are assessed case by case.
• Students seeking admission to legal practice must complete Practical Legal Training after their academic law requirements.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students normally require the Australian Student visa, subclass 500, to study this CRICOS-registered degree in Australia.

Key requirements include:

• Enrolment in an eligible registered course.
• A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
• OSHC for the required period, unless an exemption applies.
• Meeting health and character requirements.
• Meeting the Genuine Student requirement.
• Demonstrating financial capacity where required.
• Providing English-language evidence where required by Home Affairs.
• Complying with all Student visa conditions.