Bachelor of Laws
Course rules
Bachelor of Laws
These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Resolutions of the Faculty, the University of Sydney (Student Appeals against Academic Decisions) Rule 2006 (as amended) and the Academic Board policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.
Course resolutions
1 Course codes
|
Code |
Course title |
|---|---|
|
JH000 |
Bachelor of Laws |
2 Attendance pattern
3 Admission to candidature
0.
Admission to this course is available through a combined degree program only. The degrees combined with the Bachelor of Laws are:
4 Requirements for the pass degree
(1)
The units of study that may be taken for the course are set out in the Faculty of Law Undergraduate Table.
(2)
To qualify for the award of the pass degree, a candidate must successfully complete 144 credit points taken from the Faculty of Law Undergraduate Table, comprising:
(b)
42 credit points of elective units of study, of which a maximum of 36 credit points are taken from Part 1 and a minimum of 6 credit points are taken from Part 2.
(3)
A candidate may substitute one compulsory unit of study with one elective unit of study in each semester of their penultimate year. Where such a replacement has occurred, a candidate must enrol in the deferred compulsory unit(s) in their final year of the program. A candidate may not enrol in more than two electives in total in their penultimate year.
5 Requirements for the Honours degree
(1)
Honours in the Bachelor of Laws is available to meritorious students who complete an alternative set of units of study in the final year of the program. Admission requires a minimum WAM of at least 75 in compulsory Law units of study completed to that point, with the exception of the unit of study Foundations of Law. Results in elective units will not be included in the WAM. Places in the Honours program are limited by available resources and entry is competitive. A higher WAM may be necessary for entry in any given year.
(2)
To qualify for the award of the Honours degree, a candidate must successfully complete 144 credit points taken from the Faculty of Law Undergraduate Table, comprising:
(b)
30 credit points of elective units of study, of which a maximum of 24 credit points are taken from Part 1 and a minimum of 6 credit points are taken from Part 2; and
(3)
The award of Honours also requires the completion of the combined degree in the standard minimum full time duration for that combined program. The grade of Honours will be determined by the candidate's Honours WAM (HWAM).
(4)
The HWAM is calculated from a minimum of 96 credit points of Law units of study, including all compulsory and elective units of study undertaken at the University of Sydney, with the exception of the unit of study Foundations of Law. The Honours units carry a weighting of two while all other units carry a weighting of one.
6 Award of the degree
(1)
The Bachelor of Laws is awarded in the grades of either Pass or Honours. The Honours degree is awarded in either First Class or Second Class, as specified below
|
Description |
HWAM |
|---|---|
|
Honours Class I |
HWAM >= 80 |
|
Honours Class II (Division 1) |
75 <= HWAM < 80 |
|
Honours not awarded |
HWAM <75 |
(2)
Candidates in the Honours program who do not meet the requirements of the award of Honours, but who in all other respects have satisfied the requirements for the degree, will be awarded the pass degree.
(3)
Each semester Pass and Honours graduands will be ranked together by WAM to determine a graduation merit ranking. This ranking is not recorded on testamurs or transcripts.
7 University medal
0.
A candidate who qualifies for first class honours may be awarded a University medal. The medal is awarded at the discretion of the Faculty Honours Committee to the highest achieving candidate(s) whose work is of outstanding merit.
8 Cross-institutional study
0.
In addition to the provisions for cross-institutional study described in the resolutions of the Faculty of Law, cross-institutional study is only available under the following terms:
(a)
Candidates are not permitted to undertake any compulsory unit or Part 2 elective (Jurisprudence) on a cross-institutional basis;
(b)
Candidates must have completed a minimum of 48 credit points towards the Bachelor of Laws before undertaking any cross-institutional study;
(e)
Candidates who apply in their penultimate year cannot enrol in more than 12 credit points of cross-institutional study in that year.
9 Suspension, discontinuation and lapse of candidature
(1)
Candidates are entitled to suspend their law candidature for one year. The Dean may permit a further suspension of one year in exceptional circumstances. Suspensions exceeding two years in total will not be approved except in cases of serious illness or misadventure.
(2)
Candidates will not be permitted to suspend in order to complete another award course unless they can provide evidence that the award course can be completed within two years and they have not previously suspended.
10 Credit for previous study
(1)
The following credit provisions apply to the Bachelor of Laws only. Credit for non-law units is covered by the resolutions for the degree combined with the Bachelor of Laws.
(2)
A candidate may be granted a maximum of 48 credit points towards the requirements of the Bachelor of Laws. Of these, a maximum of 24 credit points of non-specific credit may be granted in lieu of elective units (excluding the compulsory Jurisprudence requirement).
(a)
The unit of study was offered as part of a Bachelor of Laws or equivalent award course within a law school at an approved institution; and
(b)
The unit consists of equivalent face-to-face teaching hours and similar assessment requirements as units offered by the Faculty.
(c)
which have been relied upon to qualify for the award of another degree or qualification. The only exceptions made are for units of study which were undertaken as part of a Combined Law degree program and credited toward the non-law component of that program, or units taken as part of a completed overseas legal qualification
(5)
Candidates who have completed a law degree or equivalent professional legal qualification from a recognised law school outside Australia may be granted up to 42 credit points of non-specific credit, but will be required to complete all compulsory units listed in the Faculty of Law Undergraduate Table.
11 Transitional provisions
(1)
These resolutions apply to candidates who commenced their candidature on or after 1 January, 2011.
(2)
Subject to sub-rule (3), candidates who commenced prior to 1 January, 2011 should complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that requirements are completed by 1 January, 2016. The Faculty may specify a later date for completion or specify alternative requirements for completion of candidatures that extend beyond this time.
(3)
For all students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2011, eligibility for the award of Honours will depend upon the time at which the student completes the requirements for the award of the degree. Notwithstanding sub-rule (2), where a student completes those requirements after 31 July 2013, the award of Honours will be solely determined according to the requirements stated in clause 5 of these resolutions.