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La Trobe University

  • 24% international / 76% domestic

Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Media and Communication

  • Bachelor (Honours)

The media landscape is evolving, and we need new legal frameworks. In our digital age, journalists and members of the public often find themselves navigating with laws designed for an analogue world. A double degree in law and media and communication prepares you to stay one step ahead.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor (Honours)
Duration
5 years full-time
Course Code
106774F
Study Mode
In person
Intake Months
Feb, Jul
Domestic Fees
$14,630 per year / $73,150 total
International Fees
$41,600 per year / $208,000 total

About this course

The media landscape is evolving, and we need new legal frameworks. In our digital age, journalists and members of the public often find themselves navigating with laws designed for an analogue world. A double degree in law and media and communication prepares you to stay one step ahead.

La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Media and Communication gives you the skills and experience to navigate media as it is now - and as it evolves in the future.

In your law studies, you'll cover key areas of legal practice and build transferable skills that you can take into a range of workplaces - such as advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution.

You'll also build expertise in media and communication as you build your understanding of contract management, media regulation and representation.

Ready to get your hands dirty? Get to work in our student-run media outlet, Upstart. You'll also have the opportunity to undertake placements in a range of legal settings, including community legal centres, law firms, government agencies and with judges and magistrates (subject to availability). If you want to take things further, you can put your legal skills to the test with both local and international law competitions.

Graduate ready to take your place in the exciting and ever-changing world of media.

You'll learn:

  • Dispute resolution
    • Build key skills in negotiation and mediation to support your future practice.
  • Private and public law
    • Learn how to apply the legal principles underpinning contract law, develop the skills to specialise as a corporate legal expert and discover how government power is distributed, exercised and controlled.
  • Journalism
    • Learn how to write, produce, report on and present compelling stories for video, audio, mobile and online platforms.
  • Media industries
    • Develop skills in mobile storytelling, script writing and digital, radio and TV production, including shooting and editing on smart devices and studio cameras for social and broadcast platforms.

The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 8 - Bachelor Degree Honours.

Sample course structure

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 Media and Communication, students must complete a total of 600 credit points across 5 years.

Year 1 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 90 credit points from chosen Core
  • 30 credit points from chosen Major

Year 2 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 90 credit points from chosen Core
  • 30 credit points from chosen Major

Year 3 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 60 credit points from chosen Core
  • 30 credit points from chosen Major
  • 30 credit points from chosen Electives

Year 4 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 30 credit points from chosen Core
  • 30 credit points from chosen Major
  • 30 credit points from chosen Elective
  • 30 credit points from chosen Electives

Year 5 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

  • 45 credit points from chosen Capstone
  • 15 credit points from chosen Core
  • 15 credit points from chosen Core choice
  • 15 credit points from chosen Electives
  • 30 credit points from chosen Electives
Study options

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 DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW1DR 1 15 LEGAL INSTITUTIONS AND METHODS LAW1LIM 1 15 MAKING MEDIA MAC1MME 1 15 PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL LAW LAW1CRL 1 15 PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC LAW LAW1PPL 1 15 WRITING FOR MEDIA MAC1WFM 1 15 CONTRACT LAW A LAW2CTA 2 15 CONTRACT LAW B LAW2CTB 2 15 MEDIA, LAW AND ETHICS MAC2MLE 2 15 PRINCIPLES OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW LAW2CSL 2 15 PRINCIPLES OF TORT LAW LAW2TOT 2 15 USING SOCIAL MEDIA MAC2USM 2 15 CIVIL PROCEDURE LAW3004 3 15 FOUNDATIONS OF PROPERTY LAW LAW3002 3 15 REAL PROPERTY LAW LAW3005 3 15 STATUTORY INTERPRETATION LAW3003 3 15 EVIDENCE AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW3001 4 15 PRINCIPLES OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW LAW4004 4 15 PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND TRUSTS LAW4003 5 15

A major is a sequence of related subjects studied in your course. To attain a major, this sequence must add up to 120 credit points. In some courses, you need to complete at least one major from your course's discipline to attain your degree. If there is room in your degree for more than one major, you may wish to complete an open access major from another discipline area.

Course majors Major code Creative and professional writing StudyFlex major
A StudyFlex major, minor or specialisation is a specified subject sequence in your course that offers at least half of its subjects on campus or online.
MAJOR-CPW-2 Journalism MJR-JRN-MC5 Marketing StudyFlex major
A StudyFlex major, minor or specialisation is a specified subject sequence in your course that offers at least half of its subjects on campus or online.
MAJOR-MKT-1 Media industries MEDIND MJR Sports media MJR-SME01 Open access majors View our open access majors

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 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 15
See La Trobe University Handbook for more details

The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course structures, electives and options. The delivery of this course can vary between campuses.

  • Melbourne (Bundoora)

To view other campus handbook course details, please select relevant campus in the drop down.

Study locations

Melbourne

Career pathways

La Trobe's Bachelor of Laws (Honours) satisfies the academic requirements for admission to practise law in Victoria.

This double degree prepares you to pursue a range of roles within the law as well as specialised roles in the media and production industries.

Possible roles include:

  • Intellectual property lawyer
    • Work for media companies to protect their intellectual property rights, negotiate and prepare licence agreements, and represent them in claims.
  • In-house counsel
    • Combine your legal expertise with other interests as you work as a dedicated legal practitioner in a business or other organisation.
  • Barrister or solicitor
    • Advocate for justice as you prepare cases, represent clients in court, assist in creating and reviewing contracts, and provide advice on legal issues.
  • Media and communications manager
    • Manage the public image of organisations by handling media inquiries, creating a positive relationship with the public and keeping communications on-brand.
  • Social media manager
    • Play a vital role in communications strategy by creating, editing and managing social media campaigns on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Media and Communication 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.