Are you passionate about working in the media and communications industry? Are you curious about how the law affects issues such as intellectual property and competition policy? A combined Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Communications & Media at The University of Notre Dame Australia provides the perfect opportunity for you to develop your understanding of the legal framework in which the media industry operates. Completed in five years of full-time study, or the equivalent part-time, this program allows you to specialise in your chosen field of advertising, journalism or film and screen production.

Why study this degree?

Do you want to complete a practical degree that will make you job-ready? The University of Notre Dame Australia Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Communications & Media is a convenient degree that delivers job-ready graduates who are fully trained to excel in the workplace.

As a student in the School of Law, we encourage you to take advantage of our intimate seminar settings. With small class sizes, this is the perfect environment for exploring and developing your skills in public speaking, advocacy, negotiation and dispute resolution.

Students are encouraged to learn outside the classroom, particularly by attending our Eminent Speakers Series. This unique forum connects students and graduates with leading experts in discussing contemporary legal and professional matters.

In your degree's Communications & Media component, you will consider how people find, evaluate, and present information in modern society. You will explore various media types such as electronic, print and broadcast journalism, web design, screenwriting, film production and digital photography.

Year One

• Legal Research & Writing
• Legal Process & Statutory Interpretation
• Media Ethics and Law
• Legal History
• Media and Society
• Two Communications and Media Subjects

Year Two

• Criminal Law A
• Contract Law A
• Torts A
• Criminal Law B
• Contract Law B
• Torts B
• Three Communications and Media Subjects

Year Three

• Property Law A
• Property Law B
• Arts Major Elective Seven
• Arts Major Elective Eight
• Four Communications and Media Subjects
• One Communications and Media Elective

Year Four

• Advocacy
• Constitutional Law
• Equity
• Corporations & Partnerships
• Evidence
• Administrative Law
• Trusts
• Law Elective One

Year Five

• Remedies
• Civil Procedure
• Legal Philosophy
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Commercial Practice & Ethics
• Law Elective Two (International)
• Law Elective Three
• Law Elective Four

Law Electives*

• Advanced Administrative Law
• Advanced Civil Procedure
• Advanced Constitutional Law
• Advanced Evidence
• Advanced Research Project (i.e. Honours research - 2 courses)
• Bioethics and the Law
• Advanced Taxation Law
• Commercial Drafting
• Commercial Law
• Construction and Building Contract Law
• Contemporary Legal Issues
• Directed Research Project
• Employee Relations Law
• Entertainment Law
• Environmental Law
• Family Law
• Health Law
• Human Rights Law
• Indigenous Law
• Insolvency
• Intellectual Property Law
• International Dispute Resolution
• Canon Law (i.e. Church Law)
• Law and Religion
• Law in Context (Externships) – involves work experience
• Mining and Petroleum Law
• Occupational Safety and Health Law
• Introduction to Australian Taxation Law
• Succession
• Competition and Consumer Law
• Trial Advocacy

*Available law electives are subject to change and may vary depending on your campus and year of study. Please check with your school for the current electives on offer.

Communications & Media Majors

• Advertising
• Film & Screen Production
• Journalism

Communications &  Media Electives

• Screenwriting
• Documentary Studies
• Advanced Screen Production:  Drama
• Digital Media Production
• Journalism for TV & Video
• Australian and World Cinema
• Radio
• Interactive Media
• Online Newsroom
• Digital Photography
• Photojournalism

Core Curriculum

• CORE I: Foundations of Wisdom
• CORE II: Elective
  • Electives in philosophy and\or theology
  • Professional embedded electives that integrate studies in a profession with philosophy and\or theology
  • An option to undertake a pilgrimage embedded in the study of the philosophy and theology of pilgrimage, e.g., World Youth Day
  • An option to undertake a course that integrates philosophy & theology with community service and charity work
  • An option to undertake an elective in philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts contained within an international experience

More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions pages Fremantle Sydney.

Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

Graduates of this program can follow diverse career paths in the private and public sectors; career opportunities range from solicitor, barrister, judge’s associate, and research assistant. This double degree's Bachelor of Communications & Media component will prepare you to specialise in a law career in journalism or marketing.

Applicants must meet High school qualifications (or equivalent) to apply for undergraduate program. Academic minimum entry requirements for international applicants vary from country to count

IELTS (Academic) - 6.5 overall, with no individual band score lower than 6.0; CAE/CPE - 176 overall, with no individual band score lower than 169; PTE Academic - 58 overall, with no individual band score lower than 50; TOEFL (iBT) - 84 overall, with no score lower than 21 in writing and no other band score lower than 17.