Charles Sturt University

What you'll study

The Bachelor of Laws delivers foundational legal knowledge alongside practical and professional skills. Core study areas typically include legal foundations (introduction to law and legal systems), contract law, torts, criminal law, property law, constitutional and administrative law, evidence, and legal research and writing. Students also encounter commercial and corporate law subjects, family law, succession and property transactions, dispute resolution and ethics and professional responsibility.

Course structure balances doctrinal subjects with skills-based units: legal research and writing, advocacy and negotiation, client interviewing, statutory interpretation and legal drafting. Many programmes incorporate experiential learning opportunities such as simulated client work, mooting and clinical placements or professional practicums. Elective options allow students to pursue topics like indigenous legal issues, intellectual property, employment law, taxation, environmental law and human rights.

Entry requirements

Admission to the Bachelor of Laws is generally based on one or more of the following pathways: successful completion of secondary school (or recognised equivalent), prior tertiary study, or recognised alternative entry such as mature-age and pathway programs. Applicants are assessed on academic achievement and, where applicable, other selection criteria used by the university.

International applicants and those whose prior study was in a language other than English must demonstrate competency in English in line with the university's requirements. Different campuses and modes of study (on-campus, online, mixed-mode) may have specific enrolment conditions; applicants should consult Charles Sturt University for precise entry guidance and available pathways, including articulation from related diplomas or combined degree options.

Career prospects

Graduates of the Bachelor of Laws pursue a wide range of careers. Many go on to further study or training required for legal practice (such as a practical legal training program and admission to the local legal profession) and work as solicitors or barristers. Other common pathways include roles as legal advisers in government departments, in-house counsel in business, compliance officers, policy advisors, regulators, and positions in community legal centres.

Beyond practitioner roles, law graduates are well placed for careers in dispute resolution and mediation, human resources, commercial and property transactions, advocacy and research, and leadership roles in not-for-profit and community organisations. The degree also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in specialised legal fields or related disciplines.

Why study at Charles Sturt University

Charles Sturt University emphasises practice-oriented legal education with flexible delivery options across regional campuses and online study, helping students balance study with work or other commitments. The university focuses on experiential learning through simulated legal practice, mooting competitions and placement opportunities that develop the professional skills employers seek.

Students benefit from industry engagement, regional legal networks and support services targeted at law students, including clinical and pro bono opportunities that provide real-world client experience. The course is designed to prepare graduates for the professional requirements of admission to practice (subject to completion of required practical legal training and meeting local admission board rules) while also offering electives and combined-degree pathways for broader career flexibility.