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
Law courses
Introductory courses (4) 48 units
LAW101 Injury in the Community
LAW102 Legal and Ethical Practice in EMS (Emergency Medical Services)
LAW103 Maternal and Child Health
LAW104 Substance Misuse and Toxicology
Developing and Graduate courses (20) 240 units
14 required courses (168 units):
LAW201 Leadership in Clinical Practice
LAW202 Paramedic Clinical Practicum 3
LAW203 Transition to Practice
LAW204 Foundations of Australian Law A
LAW205 Foundations of Australian Law B
LAW206 Criminal Law and Procedure A
LAW301 Criminal Law and Procedure B
LAW302 Torts A
LAW303 Torts B
LAW304 Contracts A
LAW401 Contracts B
LAW402 Property A
LAW403 Property B
LAW404 Constitutional Law
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 Equity & Trusts
LAW310 Corporations Law
LAW311 Civil Procedure
LAW312 Administrative Law
LAW313 Professional Conduct
LAW315 Evidence
LAW318 Regulation
LAW405 Commercial Law
LAW406 Children & the Law
LAW407 Law Professional Practice
LAW408 Competition and Consumer Law
LAW409 Building & Construction Law #
LAW410 Indigenous Legal Issues #
LAW411 Advocacy
LAW412 Legal Dispute Resolution
LAW414 Planning and Environment Law
LAW415 Elder Law and Succession
LAW416 Intellectual Property
LAW417 Taxation #
LAW418 Public International Law
LAW419 Private International Law
LAW420 International Human Rights Law
LAW421 Legal Internship
LAW422 Sports Law
The following 2 elective courses (24 units) are only available to students who have been accepted into Honours in Law:
LAW440 International Commercial Disputes
LAW441 Employment Law
Environmental Management courses
Introductory courses (5) 60 units
ENS120 Health Law
ENS103 Family Law
SCI102 Anti-Discrimination Law
SCI110 Cyber Laws and the Rules of Evidence
SUS101 Cultural Legal Studies
Developing and Graduate courses (11) 132 units
ENP211 Honours Research Methods, Design and Confirmation
ENS204 Law Honours Thesis
ENS221 Introduction to Environmental Management
ENS223 Earth's Surface Processes
ENS253 Biodiversity and Ecology
ENS300 Science Research Methods
ENS351 Foundations of Sustainability
GEO310 Planning and Environmental Law
SUS201 Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
PUB262 Plant Diversity and Ecology
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
ENS330 Environmental Impact Assessment
ENS333 Geographic Information Science and Technology
SRP301 Environmental Economics
SUS310 Integrated Environmental Management
WPL310 Indigenous Peoples and the Environment
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.