Course overview
Set the bar high and become a legal practitioner.
Curtin's Bachelor of Laws offers a rich and professionally relevant foundation in legal knowledge. You’ll gain the skills to provide legal advice, perform legal work and appear in court as a legal practitioner.
An undergraduate degree in law is the first qualification you need on the path to becoming a lawyer in Australia. This course is ideal if you aspire to become a legal practitioner who utilises analysis, logic and persuasion skills to help people and organisations.
Career outcomes
Careers
- Solicitor in commercial or specialist area, eg: employment law, family law, criminal law etc.
- Government lawyer
- Corporate 'in-house' lawyer
- Community Legal Service lawyer
- Human rights lawyer
- Barrister
Industries
- Law
- Private legal practice
- Government
- Courts and tribunals
- Business, banking and finance
- Science, technology and innovation
- Media
Professional accreditation and recognition
Curtin University provides you with a complete pathway to legal practice. After gaining your Bachelor of Laws, you can continue your studies and complete the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, which will then satisfy the academic and practical legal training requirements to qualify for admission to the legal profession in Western Australia.
Why study at Curtin?
Get the Curtin edge
Curtin Law School is in the heart of Perth city and co-located with a barrister's chambers.
Accelerated learning
Our teaching staff include active legal practitioners, and you can practise legal presentations and debating at our purpose-designed Jeanette Hacket Moot Court.
Work experience
At the John Curtin Law Clinic, you can prepare advice for real clients under the supervision of experienced legal practitioners. 
Hear from our students
"Studying both Law and International Relations has allowed me to explore work within the legal profession and pursue extracurricular leadership opportunities. Balancing Law with a humanities area like International Relations has also enabled me to contextualise my legal studies from a global perspective. It has also led to my New Colombo Plan scholarship! I’ll be studying my final year at the National University of Singapore and undertake an Interpol internship to learn about the technologies used to address transnational crime."
Annabel Biscotto
Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts
Your student experience
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Not sure if uni is for you? Explore five clear reasons students choose Curtin – from flexible pathways and support to real-world skills and outcomes.
Find your entry pathway to Curtin
You may be finishing high school, coming from TAFE, or just thinking of a career change; but whatever your background, there’s an entry pathway to Curtin for you.
Other study options
Elevate your skillset by choosing a double degree and studying our postgraduate Practical Legal Training program.
Double degrees
We offer a range of double degrees with our Bachelor of Laws:
Practical Legal Training Graduate Diploma
Our Practical Legal Training (PLT) course is a graduate diploma designed for graduates who have completed a Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor course at an Australian university and intend to apply for admission to the legal profession in Western Australia.
Approved by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia, this is the first specialised PLT program to be delivered by a WA university.
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Course structure
What you’ll learn
In this course, you will learn core skills essential to effective legal practice and build a strong commercial awareness.
From early on in your studies, you’ll start to recognise the importance of respecting the rule of law, along with the responsibilities and ethics of legal practice.
You can also choose from a range of optional units that enable you to tailor your degree to your interests. You can focus on topics such as:
- forensic advocacy
- employment law
- environmental law and policy
- law and technology
- human rights law
- native title law and policy.
The first year of this course is delivered in semesters at Curtin Perth, with the second and third years delivered in trimesters at Curtin Law School in Perth city. This accelerated format, which is equivalent to a four-year (full-time) undergraduate degree, means that you can graduate after just three years of full-time study.
Practical learning
You can gain practical experience by undertaking simulated legal proceedings in our high-tech moot court, working on real cases at the John Curtin Law Clinic and participating in our Legal Internships Program.
Through the Legal Internships Program, you can experience working in a legal environment such as a court, law firm or community legal centre, with an organisation's in-house legal team or with a barrister. These experiences will develop your practical legal skills and help you identify the area of law in which you'd like to practise.
Curtin Law School has developed relationships with a range of organisations to offer legal internship placements to our students.
Detailed course structure and unit information
For detailed information and course structure, visit our Handbook.
Entry requirements
To study this course, you must meet the entry criteria:
- course ATAR, or equivalent, demonstrated via an accepted entry pathway
- any course-specific requirements
- English language requirement.
Guaranteed entry
If you achieve the guaranteed ATAR/selection rank for this course and meet all other entry requirements, you’re guaranteed a place in this course.
Entry pathways
There are different ways to meet our academic entry requirements. Choose the option that best suits the highest level of education that you’ve achieved.
Curious how students entered this course? See the entry pathways other students have taken.
Course-specific requirements
You’ll also need to meet any specific requirements to be eligible to apply for this course.
Study credit and support
You may be able to receive study credit or support based on your previous experience or personal circumstances.
Get credit towards your degree
You may be able to receive credit for recognised learning (CRL) from past study or professional experience, which could reduce the time it takes to finish your course.
Find specific details about CRL for this course on the Handbook.
Special consideration
If your studies were affected by circumstances beyond your control, you may be eligible for special consideration when applying to Curtin. This process is available to new applicants only and allows your application to be assessed in light of those circumstances.
Additional information
Notes about this course
Make sure you check the course notes for any other important information.
Fees
2025 Domestic indicative fees
2026 Domestic indicative fees
*The indicative first-year fee is based on a standard full-time study load of 200 credit points.
This fee is a guide only. Your total fee may vary depending on the units you choose, your study load or if your course includes additional requirements. For more information on fees, see other fees and charges.
Scholarships
Get the support you need to succeed with our diverse range of scholarships. Whether it’s financial support, assistance with relocation, or recognition for your academic achievements, we have scholarships tailored to your unique needs.
Curtin Excellence Scholarship
The Excellence scholarship offers support ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 in value to current high school leavers who receive an ATAR of 96 and above.
How to apply
Follow these steps to make sure you’re eligible, prepared and ready to apply for your course.
Check entry requirements
Entry requirements differ by course and your previous work and study experience.
Prepare your documents
The documents you need may vary depending on your course and application pathway.
Check application deadlines
Deadlines vary by course and whether you’re applying as a domestic or international student.
Choose your application pathway
I’m in year 12 or applying for Medicine
If you’re in year 12 or recently finished high school, you’ll need to apply through TISC.
You’ll apply through TISC no matter what you studied in high school, whether that was:
- ATAR
- General subjects
- Certificate IV
- or completing UniReady in Schools program.
TISC has different application dates to Curtin. Visit the TISC website for all important dates, including application deadlines.
I have finished high school
If you’re not a current year 12 student or recent graduate, you’re considered a non school leaver and you’ll apply directly to Curtin.
The only exception is Medicine, which must be applied for through TISC.
You’ll apply directly to Curtin if you are:
- a high school graduate who finished school last year or earlier
- transferring from another university
- returning to study or using your professional experience to qualify
- progressing from a VET or TAFE qualification or bridging program
- a current Curtin student changing courses or campuses.
Application deadlines can vary by course. Make sure to check application deadlines before you apply.
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