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This double degree program provides you with multi-skilling and highly marketable career paths in criminal justice and law. The Bachelor of. Criminal and Community Justice provides students with a foundation for working with offenders in institutions and in areas such as rehabilitation, through-care and resettlement in the community and will enable you to develop and evaluate practice with a view to enhancing working with offenders.
The Bachelor of Laws program satisfies the academic degree requirements for admission to practice as an Australian lawyer. Students will engage in collaborative face-to-face problem and case-based learning, will be supported by online learning materials, and will participate in authentic assessment to develop knowledge and skills.
Study options
FULL TIME
5 years
PART TIME
10 years
Start times
Spring
July
(2023)
Autumn
March
(2024)
Explore Western | 29 May-10 June
Get a head-start on your future with the wide range of programs available for mid-year entry at Western.
Chat to us one-on-one to explore your options so you can start your degree in 2023.
Criminal and Community Justice and Laws at Western
The Bachelor of Criminal and Community Justice degree is designed for current employees within Corrective Services, as well as students who wish to pursue a career in corrections, probation or parole. The degree will draw upon disciplinary areas such as Criminal Justice, Criminology, Psychology, Social Work and Welfare in order to provide a theoretical framework for those who work with offenders and on issues of rehabilitation, through-care and resettlement. As well as providing a theoretical framework, the program will provide those who complete the degree with the knowledge and skills to develop and evaluate practice with a view to enhancing working with offenders. The Bachelor of Criminal and Community Justice can be described as an ‘applied degree pathway’ insofar as the teaching within the program will link theory to practice. It is important to note that this degree does not guarantee direct employment into Corrections Services.
The Bachelor of Laws provides students with a broad progressive legal education with a strong practical orientation to the law. Students develop skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, research, communication, collaboration, self-management, and ethical and professional awareness and judgement. Students will also develop skills in legal advocacy, negotiation, and legal technology and extend their professional and learning experiences through work integrated learning, clinical placement and international exchange engagements.
The criminal and community justice and laws double degree structure allows concurrent study in the two degrees in the first three years, with the last two years dedicated to completing the Law component.
The Law component provides you with professional legal skills, including the ability to analyse legal material, understand fundamental legal principles, understand the relationship between law and society, and gain general analytical skills for critical thinking and problem-solving.
Our extensive range of elective subjects allows you to further develop your skills in advocacy, mediation, legal drafting and legal research. Your skills will be developed using our extensive law library and moot courts located on our Campbelltown and Parramatta campuses.
Real-world experience
Work with our Western Sydney University Justice Clinic, providing a much-needed community service. Get on-the-ground experience of legal drafting, court advocacy, client advising, oral communication, negotiation and mediation.
University Law Library
Access to the fourth largest e-law library in NSW, with over 50,000 titles and links to international resources.
Moot Courts
Learn how to successfully present a case in a moot court setting at our Campbelltown and Parramatta campuses. Get practical experience. Be prepared to step into any legal environment you choose.
Program structure
The program structure is outlined in our handbook. Here you can view all of the subjects you will be studying.
Please note: Criminology and Community Justice subjects are offered at Bankstown, Penrith and Parramatta campuses and Law subjects are offered at both Campbelltown and Parramatta campuses. You will be required to travel between campuses in order to complete your core subjects.
Fees and delivery
Fees: Varies depending on subjects selected. View available subjects in our handbook.
For further information on University fees, please visit Fees and University Costs.
Delivery: On campus
Fees: AUD $32,344*
Delivery: On campus
Start your unlimited journey today.
Your career
As a Criminal and Community Justice and Laws graduate, you can look forward to career opportunities as a:
- Legal Practitioner
- Solicitor or Barrister
- Criminal prosecutor
- Human rights advocate
- Judge's associate
- Legal advisor to an interest group such as the Aboriginal Legal Service
- Welfare
Your career
Correctional Officer
Correctional Officers work in prisons and correctional centres to ensure the safe supervision of inmates. Their duties involve observing prison behaviour, providing advice, administering first aid, assessing risk factors and preparing reports.
Solicitor
Solicitors provide legal advice, prepare and draft legal documents, and conduct negotiations on behalf of clients on matters associated with the law.
Barrister
Barristers receive briefs and verbal instructions concerning cases from Solicitors, other specialist Legal Professionals and clients to plead cases before civil, criminal and industrial courts and other tribunals.
Welfare Worker
Welfare Support Workers provide support, information and advice to clients on emotional, financial, recreational, health, housing and other social welfare matters, and evaluate and coordinate the services of welfare and community service agencies.
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Professional recognition
Our Bachelor of Criminal and Community Justice / Bachelor of Laws graduates are eligible to apply to the Legal Profession Admission Board for admission to legal practice in NSW after undertaking prescribed practical legal training.
Further study options
Apply now and start your unlimited journey.
*The tuition fees quoted above are the fees for the normal full-time study load of the program (80 credit points) per annum. International students will be subject to a variable fee regime; i.e. enrolled students will be required to pay fees during their program based on the approved fee for each calendar year. Fee changes (if any) will occur at 1 January each calendar year. Students who extend their program past the normal finish date of the program will be required to pay additional fees based on the prevailing fee level. Western Sydney University is a multi-campus institution. The University reserves the right to alter the location of its programs between campuses and other locations as necessary. Students should be aware of the possibility of change of location for the whole or part of programs for which they enrol and should plan for the need to travel between Western Sydney campuses.
** Lowest Selection Rank
