Bachelor (Honours)
Want to play a role in shaping the future of health? By combining legal and biomedical expertise, you'll build the foundations you need to make a difference.
Blend a law qualification and knowledge in biomedicine with La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Biomedicine. This future-focused double degree gives you the knowledge and skills to launch your career in the world of scientific advancement.
Your studies in law will give you a solid legal grounding and the flexibility and practical experience to shape your learning to your career goals. Explore the fundamentals of legal practice and hone your skills in advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution through a mix of intellectual and skills-based training.
At the same time, delve into the diverse field of biomedicine with subjects in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, data analysis and disease control. Take your learnings into the lab, where you'll build your practical scientific skills under the supervision of our supportive academic staff.
There's plentiful opportunities for hands-on experience in this double degree. Law placements offer the chance to learn in a real-world environment, such as community legal centres, law firms, government agencies and building mentor relationships with judges, magistrates and coroners. Depending on the subjects you choose, you may also be able to put your skills to work with an internship in the biomedical industry.
Our range of electives allows you to tailor this double degree to your interests and career aspirations.
You will learn:
The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 8 - Bachelor Degree Honours.
Please note, the following course structure is indicative and subject to change depending on your course location, offer year or how you tailor your course with specialisations, majors, minors and electives. Structures for the following year are not normally finalised until October, so the sample provided is based on the most recently approved structure. For more information, please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Biomedicine, students must complete a total of 600 credit points across 5 years.
Year 1 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Year 2 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Year 3 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Year 4 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Year 5 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:
Core subjects are required subjects in your course. You need to complete these subjects to attain your degree.
Subject name Subject code Year Credit points ACADEMIC INTEGRITY MODULE LTU0AIM 1 0 WOMINJEKA LA TROBE: INDIGENOUS CULTURAL LITERACY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION ABS0WOM 1 0 APPLICATIONS OF CHEMISTRY CHE1APL 1 15 CHEMISTRY FOUNDATIONS CHE1CHF 1 15 DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW1DR 1 15 FOUNDATIONS OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE MED1BSF 1 15 LEGAL INSTITUTIONS AND METHODS LAW1LIM 1 15 PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LAW LAW1CRL 1 15 PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC LAW LAW1PPL 1 15 CONTRACT LAW A LAW2CTA 2 15 CONTRACT LAW B LAW2CTB 2 15 HUMAN BIOSCIENCES B HBS1HBB 2 15 HUMAN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION PAM1HSF 2 15 INFECTIONS, PANDEMICS and EPIDEMICS MIC1IPE 2 15 MOLECULES, GENES AND CELLS BIO1MGC 2 15 PRINCIPLES OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW LAW2CSL 2 15 PRINCIPLES OF TORT LAW LAW2TOT 2 15 CIVIL PROCEDURE LAW3004 3 15 FOUNDATIONS OF PROPERTY LAW LAW3002 3 15 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY 1 PAM2HP1 3 15 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY 2 PAM2HP2 3 15 INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY BCH2IBM 3 15 REAL PROPERTY LAW LAW3005 3 15 STATUTORY INTERPRETATION LAW3003 3 15 ADVANCED TOPICS IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE A MED3ATA 4 15 CAREER OPTIONS AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY SHE2001 4 15 EVIDENCE AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW3001 4 15 METABOLIC BIOCHEMISTRY AND CELL BIOLOGY BCH2MBC 4 15 PRINCIPLES OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LAW4004 4 15 ADVANCED BIOCHEMISTRY AND MEDICAL BIOLOGY LABORATORY COURSE MED3LAB 5 15 ADVANCED TOPICS IN MEDICAL SCIENCES B MED3ATB 5 15 PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND TRUSTS LAW4003 5 15
A range of standalone elective subjects is available in this course. Some electives are recommended for your course, but you may also be able to choose from a range of University-wide electives or electives from other interest areas or disciplines. Note these electives may have their own prerequisites and other requirements. Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook for the subjects available.
Core choice subjects are one or more subject groups you need to select in your course. Core choice subjects may be specific to your course, major, minor, specialisation or other learning requirements.
Subject name Subject code Year Credit points APPLICATIONS OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE MED3ABS 5 15 INDUSTRY PLACEMENT LTU3IND 5 15 LAW INTERNSHIP B LAW4INB 5 15 LEGAL RESEARCH PROJECT LAW4005 5 15
Capstone subjects are required subjects in your course or major that help you integrate and apply the knowledge and skills you gain to solve real world problems. Capstone subjects are often taken towards the end of your course.
Subject name Subject code Year Credit points COMPANY LAW LAW4002 5 15The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course structures, electives and options. The delivery of this course can vary between campuses.
To view other campus handbook course details, please select relevant campus in the drop down.
La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours) satisfies the academic requirements for admission to practise law in Victoria. After graduation from this double degree, you could pursue a range of roles across law, health and biotechnology.
With the blend of legal and biomedical expertise you'll build in this degree, your potential roles include:
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Biomedicine course includes the subjects required by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board to meet the academic requirements for admission to the legal profession in Victoria as an Australian lawyer.
Admission to the legal profession by the Supreme Court of Victoria also requires the completion of practical legal training via either a 12-month period of supervised legal training or completion of an approved practical legal training course (for example, at the Leo Cussen Institute or The College of Law). Candidates for admission to practice must also satisfy the Admissions Board that they are a fit and proper person to be admitted to practice.
International students are advised to obtain assurance of recognition of the course by the relevant professional bodies in their preferred country of practice.
International graduates require a relevant visa to complete a practical legal traineeship and a supervised workplace traineeship in Australia. Please contact the Australian Department of Immigration for details.
Professional registration may require an application to the professional body and may have additional or ongoing requirements beyond the completion of the degree. For further details, including admission to the legal profession and/or relevant visa requirements, please contact the professional body for details.