Macquarie University

Students undertaking a combined law degree program will combine their LLB program with their other program of study (i.e. Arts, Commerce etc.) over the first 3 years of their degree. In 4th and 5th year, only LAW units are studied (a combination of compulsory and elective units).

The standard study template for the LLB curriculum (72 credit points) for a combined law degree program is summarised as follows:

Start of the calendar year entry:

Full-Time Students, First Year Program

Full-Time Students, Second Year Program

Full-Time Students, Third Year Program

Full-Time Students, Fourth Year Program

Full-Time Students, Fifth Year Program

Mid-year entry:

Full-Time Students, First Year Program

Full-Time Students, Second Year Program

Full-Time Students, Third Year Program

Full-Time Students, Fourth Year Program

Full-Time Students, Fifth Year Program

Full-Time Students, Sixth Year Program

* Students commencing the Combined LLB Program in 2012 will be required to complete an accredited LAW PACE Unit unless they have already completed an accredited PACE Unit with their other degree.

** Please note that for current information, the definitive source for all Macquarie University programs is the Handbook of Undergraduate Studies: http://handbook.mq.edu.au/. Please see the University Timetable for more details about unit availability: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/.

If you wish to enrol in units which require prerequisites which you have not met, you will require a waiver form. Please note that this is subject to academic approval. Please send any waivers via scanned email copy to an academic advisor (and provide your signature and reason/s for seeking the waiver).

If you wish to undertake more than 14 credit points in a particular semester, please see the Application to undertaken more than 14 credit points in a semester form. Please note that this is subject to academic approval, and depends on your prior marks and GPA, in order to determine whether you are a suitable candidate to study more than the usual load.

The Macquarie LLB is accredited with professional bodies regulating the admission of law graduates to legal practice. The Bachelor of Laws provides the appropriate qualification for admission to practise as a lawyer throughout Australia.

In addition to completing a law program at an accredited institution such as Macquarie Law School, the profession (via the LPAB - Legal Practitioner's Admission Board) requires all law graduates to complete a period of Practical Legal Training (PLT) including further study (Coursework Component), Continuing Professional Development Units (CPD Component) and supervised experience in a legal practice (Work Experience Component), before being admitted to practice as a barrister or solicitor. This typically takes six months to one year to complete, and usually involves options to study full-time, part-time and online through various institutions.

To be qualified as an Australian Legal Practitioner in New South Wales, a solicitor or barrister also requires a Practising Certificate issued by the Councils of the Law Society of New South Wales or the New South Wales Bar Association respectively. Similar bodies and systems of accreditation exist in the other States.

As a student of the University, you will have the chance to hear from young solicitors from top Australian law firms, attend alternative law careers events (for those students interested in careers outside the corporate sector, in Community Legal Centres, Legal Aid and NGOs), gain assistance in writing your best cover letters and CVs, and learn how to develop superior interview preparation skills. The Careers Service can help guide your path through the competitive arena of summer clerkships and internship programs which provide an amazing opportunity for law students to secure a prestigious career in the area of their choice. See the Careers Service website for more details: www.mq.edu.au/careers.

Most graduates will pursue careers as either barristers or solicitors. However, there are many other alternative and rewarding careers that are open to law graduates. Graduates can find employment with a wide variety of institutions and organisations, both within the public and private sectors, including:

• The public service
• The diplomatic service
• Banks and other financial institutions
• Community legal centres (CLCs)
• Public Interests Advocacy Bodies (e.g. PIAC - Public Interest Advocacy Centre)
• Health Services, including NSW Justice Health and hospitals
• Legal Practitioner (barrister or solicitor)
• Media organizations
• Trade unions
• Education - at schools or universities

See the Macquarie University Careers Service for more details: www.careers.mq.edu.au/home