DEGREE STRUCTURE

A career in the law industry is becoming increasingly competitive but also more diverse than ever before. It is important that law students are prepared to meet the demands of the law in 2021 and beyond. Just like the industry, the law degree at QUT is constantly changing and updating to meet these new pressures. As you progress throughout your law degree you will take a variety of subjects that will qualify you to enter into the workforce as a lawyer or any other career!

“PRIESTLY 11”

As part of your law degree you will have a mix of core units and elective units. There are 11 core units known as the “Priestly 11”. In Australia, the completion of these units is mandatory to become a professional in the legal industry. These subjects are:

• Administrative Law

• Civil Procedure

• Corporations Law • Constitutional Law

• Contract Law • Criminal Law

QUT-SPECIFIC CORE UNITS

QUT also has their own mandatory subjects. These subjects are ones that the Law School believes are highly important to becoming a well-rounded lawyer. You will take a few of these subjects in your first year! These subjects include:

• Introduction to Law

• Statutory Interpretation • Dispute Resolution • Contemporary Law and Justice

CREDIT POINTS

A certain number of points are allocated to each subject at university. This credit system is standard across every single degree offered at QUT. Almost all QUT law subjects are worth 12 credit points, or CP for short. This is the university’s way of measuring how far through your degree you are, and it also assists them in making sure you have met all the course requirements so you can graduate at the end!

ELECTIVES

Electives subjects give you the chance to explore areas of law that you might be interested in practicing in. Electives are broken down into three groups depending on what stage of your degree you are at. These categories are introductory, general and advanced. Below, the three introductory law electives are outlined to get you thinking about what one you might like to do.

A good tip with electives is to keep an open mind about the subjects you want to take. Due to demand, teaching staff availability, and timetabling restraints, not every elective is offered every year. Therefore, if you see a subject you are keen on completing and it fits within your course structure, definitely do it because you do not know when it will be offered next! Also if you are unsure of which elective to pick definitely ask friends or Facebook groups such as Fellow Surviving Law Students for advice on the subject content and assessment.

You do not have to choose law-related electives! If you want to study subjects in different disciplines, you can choose from a list of university-wide subjects. You can also save up your elective credit points to use on exchanges throughout your degree.

PRE-REQUISITES

Almost all subjects beyond the first year will have prerequisite units, meaning you must have passed a certain unit to be able to take another unit. This becomes a problem when you haven’t completed a certain prerequisite unit/s and can find yourself locked out of classes and unable to progress in your degree.

Another important thing to note is that unit coordinators will often try to organise assessment and exam timetables so they are more advantageous for students who are following the course structure, so this will help you avoid having two exams in one day!

WHAT IF I DEVIATE FROM THE RECOMMENDED COURSE STRUCTURE?

The key word is ‘recommended’, not ‘mandatory’. Tertiary education is different to all other levels of study because it is so flexible. We are all adults on different life paths and QUT Law reflects that fact superbly.

There will be various reasons why you may be unable to follow the course structure. These might include embarking on exchange, failing a unit, taking a break from study for a semester or two, or changing from full time to part time study. Any of these factors will not prevent you from graduating. At most, you will be at university longer than the time frame suggested.

Planning ahead can help you keep on track to graduate as early as possible, but venturing off the beaten path can sometimes open you up to new opportunities too!

UNIT OUTLINES

Below are the first year law subjects according to QUT’s recommended course structure. This is based on a single degree, full time law study load. If you are studying a double degree or do less than four subjects a semester, the semesters and years that you complete these subjects will be different. That is okay, and it is becoming more common than ever for tertiary students to study double degrees as they can make you more employable and educated.

SEMESTER 1

LLB101 INTRODUCTION TO LAW

Introduction to Law provides a necessary foundation for legal studies by introducing you to core legal knowledge and the skills of legal reasoning, problem solving, legal writing and research. The assessments are a writing and research skills task, a take-home examination, and a case analysis assignment.

LLB102 TORTS

In this unit, you will apply the skills you are developing in LLB101 Introduction to Law and be introduced to the skills of legal problem solving and legal interviewing and questioning as you look at how the law of torts operates in a real world context. Tort is the area of law that protects people’s private rights and liberties, such as trespass and negligence. The knowledge and skills that you develop in this unit provide a foundation for more advanced units in later years. The study of torts law is required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia. The assessments are a client interview and advice, a multiple choice exam, and an examination in the end-of-semester exam block.

LLB103 DISPUTE RESOLUTION

This unit introduces you to non-adversarial approaches to practice and advocacy commonly used in legal practice, such as mediation, conciliation, and negotiation. It also introduces you to the significant and positive role that lawyers play in society in upholding the rule of law and assisting people to resolve disputes. An understanding of these approaches is an important part of legal practice where lawyers must advise clients on the most effective way to deal with a dispute. The assessments are a role-play exercise and written reflection, and an examination in the end-of-semester examination block.

LLB104 CONTEMPORARY LAW AND JUSTICE

This unit provides a foundation for the development of your legal oral communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills that will be further developed in later units including LLB203 Constitutional Law, LLB204 Commercial and Personal Property Law, and LLB303 Evidence. A key emphasis of the unit is on the interaction of Australia’s first peoples with the Australian legal system and introducing you to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal knowledges and perspectives of law, which will be further examined in LLB106 Criminal Law, LLB301 Real Property Law, and LLB303 Evidence. The assessments are a group oral presentation, a written policy submission, and an online examination in the end-of-semester exam block.

SEMESTER 2

LLB106 CRIMINAL LAW

This core unit introduces you to the criminal law of Queensland. Knowledge of criminal law offences and defences/excuses is essential for understanding the type of behaviour that is permitted by the state. Criminal law content knowledge is required for your admission to legal practice. The assessments are an oral advocacy exercise, an appellate brief, and an examination in the end-of-semester exam block.

LLB107 STATUTORY INTERPRETATION

This unit introduces the foundational concepts of public law, the institutions of government and the rules and principles of statutory interpretation in Australia. Knowledge and skills relating to statutory interpretation are essential in legal practice. This unit provides a foundation for the development of your skills in statutory interpretation that will be further examined in more advanced units. This unit also develops your skills in legal research, written communication and problem solving that were introduced to you in LLB101 Introduction to Law. The assessments are a multiple choice quiz, a research memorandum, and an examination in the end-of-semester exam block.

LLB140 HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

In recent decades, the international community has shown an increased awareness of and stronger commitment to the protection of human rights. However, this progress is far from complete and violations of basic human rights are still a pressing issue for the global community. This unit is a first year elective that is designed to develop the concepts and principles of human rights introduced in LLB104 Contemporary Law and Justice. It explores the theory and practice of international human rights law. In particular, it provides an overview of the history and origins of human rights and international rights and obligations while remaining grounded in the contemporary events and challenges to the protection of human rights. The unit also examines the institutions, instruments and implementation structures of human rights. The unit sets the foundational knowledge of the key issues and mechanisms for regulation and enforcement that are built on in later specialised units. The assessments are a written government report submission, and an examination in the end-of-semester exam block.

LLB141 INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL LAW

There are many ways in which the law operates in an international context. Issues of global concern such as climate change, terrorism and economic development require cooperation between nations through agreements and treaties. The increased internationalisation of communication, financial interests and business transactions means that individuals and companies are increasingly required to engage with the laws of other countries and that domestic legal systems must operate in an international context. In an increasingly globalised world it is important for you to understand how to identify, evaluate and apply the relevant law in international disputes and how international laws can impact on the Australian legal system. This unit builds on your knowledge of the Australian legal system introduced in LLB101 and extends it to the impact of other legal systems on the development of Australian law. The assessments are a written submission to the International Court, and an examination in the end-of-semester exam block.

LLB142 REGULATION OF BUSINESS

This elective unit commences the process of educating you in matters of business and commercial law. It is intended to provide an overview of a number of critical areas in the study of business law. Further, this subject will provide you with theoretical and critical analysis skills. As a law graduate, you are increasingly required to have a strong knowledge base and understanding of business and commerce and have an understanding of how business operates within the context of the Australian legal system. This unit is intended to provide foundation skills and knowledge that are essential for an understanding of law and regulation as it applies to business. The assessments are a written policy submission, and an examination in the end-of-semester exam block.

GENERAL LAW ELECTIVES

Full time law students can either study another introductory law elective, or choose a general law elective in their second semester. The list of electives on offer can be found here, alongside more comprehensive information about the QUT Law degree for 2021.

GENERAL LAW ELECTIVES

Piper Alderman Clerk Program Giving you the opportunity to do real legal work for 12-18 months

Our clerk program provides you with the opportunity to work for a national firm with reputable lawyers in the areas of Litigation, Commercial, Corporate or Property law.

Rather than a short-lived summer clerkship, we offer a 12-18 month program, designed to give you the opportunity to do real legal work and build lasting professional relationships with our team. You’ll typically work 2-3 days per week to ensure you’ve got the time you need to commit to your studies. As a law student, we know that your studies are demanding and flexibility is key, so you get to choose the days you work each semester depending on your university timetable. You’ll probably also need time off for exams, assessments or exchange programs - we’ve got you covered and will help you to balance your commitments. We don’t recruit law clerks to undertake administrative duties or make coffee, we carefully select talented and ambitious people to do real legal work for our current matters and clients. You’ll be allocated to a practice team and work closely with that team during your clerkship – giving you the chance to gain indepth knowledge and experience in a particular area. Each day will be different and you will be kept busy with legal research, drafting, analysis and attending court, amongst a variety of other things. Our aim is for our clerks to become our future grads. So by the end of the program, you’ll be ahead of the game and well-placed to be selected for a graduate role.

Interested or want to know more?

Contact:

Cass Hewson

HR Manager

T +61 7 3220 7735 E chewson@piperalderman.com.au