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