Help protect the environment with a law degree
Become a defender of the environment with this dual degree. You’ll cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia, and build practical skills through active learning experiences right from your first year. You’ll also gain an in-depth understanding of human impacts on the environment, with a strong focus on tropical and subtropical environments. Law Honours is available, usually without extending the time required to complete your degree.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- ^ It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
- ^ It is recommended that students planning to study part-time apply for the Bachelor of Laws rather than a double degree.
Become a defender of the environment with this dual degree. You’ll cover all the academic courses required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia, and build practical skills through active learning experiences right from your first year. You’ll also gain an in-depth understanding of human impacts on the environment, with a strong focus on tropical and subtropical environments. Law Honours is available, usually without extending the time required to complete your degree.
In this program you will:
- Research answers to legal problems, prepare advice, present legal argument, observe court proceedings, and take part in simulated court presentations in USC’s Moot Court
- Develop your skills by working with legal service clients under legal supervision in law practice
- Build your skillset and knowledge by specialising in an environmental area such as coastal and marine environments, urban design and town planning, geospatial analysis and global environment security and policy.
- Travel to fieldwork locations such as Fraser Island and the Noosa Biosphere to learn about conservation and restoration of the natural environment
Career opportunities
- In-house counsel for industry, conservation or research organisation
- Government positions
- Natural resource management
- Ecosystem conservation and restoration
- Policy and legislation development
- International negotiations
- Solicitor
- Barrister
- Judge's associate
Membership
The Law degree is an approved academic qualification for admission to the legal profession. After graduating you must undertake a further period of practical legal training before being admitted as a legal practitioner.
On graduation you can apply to become Associate Member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) while you acquire relevant work experience. You can apply for Full Membership in EIANZ after you acquired two years of professional experience in one or more functional areas of environmental practice.
Program structure
USC Law School courses
Introductory courses (5) 60 units
COR109 Teaching HPE in the Early Years
LAW101 Diversity and Inclusion
LAW102 Professional Experience: Differentiated Practice
LAW103 Teaching Science in Primary Schools
LAW104 Teaching HPE in Primary School
Developing and Graduate courses (20) 240 units
14 required courses (168 units):
LAW201 Integration Across the Curriculum
LAW202 Teaching Primary School Mathematics
LAW203 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Learning and Teaching
LAW204 Teaching the Australian Curriculum: Languages
LAW205 Teaching Arts in Primary Schools
LAW206 Professional Practice: The Inquiring Teacher
LAW301 Teacher as Global Practitioner
LAW302 Professional Experience: The Professional Teacher
LAW303 Teacher as Researcher
LAW304 Advanced and Transcultural Counselling
LAW401 Advanced Psychological Assessment and Reporting
LAW402 Clinical Psychological Practice 1
LAW403 Practicum Placement 1
LAW404 Advanced Research Design and Methods
PLUS select 6 elective courses (72 units) from:
Not all electives are offered every year. For a list of current Law elective courses click HERE.
LAW307 Clinical Psychological Practice 2
LAW310 Practicum Placement 2
LAW311 Research Project 1
LAW312 Ethical Professional Practice of Psychology
LAW313 Clinical Psychological Practice 3
LAW315 Practicum Placement 3
LAW318 Research Project 2
LAW405 Clinical Health Psychology and Psychopharmacology
LAW406 Research Project 3
LAW407 Research Project 4
LAW408 Practicum Placement 4
LAW409 Communication and Thought
LAW410 Foundations of Australian Law A
LAW411 Foundations of Australian Law B
LAW412 Criminal Law and Procedure A
LAW414 Criminal Law and Procedure B
LAW415 Torts A
LAW416 Torts B
LAW417 Contracts A
LAW418 Contracts B
LAW419 Property A
LAW420 Property B
LAW421 Constitutional Law
The following 2 elective courses (24 units) are only available to students who have been accepted into Honours in Law:
LAW440 Equity & Trusts
LAW441 Corporations Law
School of Science and Engineering courses
Introductory courses (4) 48 units
ENS120 Civil Procedure
ENS103 Administrative Law
SCI102 Professional Conduct
SCI110 Evidence
Developing and Graduate courses (11) 132 units
ENP211 Regulation
ENS204 Commercial Law
ENS221 Children & the Law
ENS223 Law Professional Practice
ENS253 Competition and Consumer Law
ENS300 Building & Construction Law
ENS351 Indigenous Legal Issues
GEO310 Advocacy
SUS201 Legal Dispute Resolution
PUB262 Planning and Environment Law
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
ENS330 Elder Law and Succession
ENS333 Intellectual Property
SRP301 Taxation
SUS310 Public International Law
WPL310 Private International Law
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 480
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 480 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 15 introductory level (100 coded) courses (180 units) in total, including the core course
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- Semester offerings for Law elective courses are subject to change and are dependent on student demand. For more information on elective availability please contact your Program Coordinator
- Honours in Law available for high performing students
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.