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Overview

Please note: This program (LLB (Honours)) is not available for enrolment. It cannot be studied as a single stand alone degree.This program is for LLB students who commenced their LLB studies in or after 2015 who wish to graduate with an LLB (Honours) degree. Please see the list of LLB … For more content click the Read More button below. The LLB (Honours) is for high-achieving LLB students. While most of the requirements are identical to the LLB, what distinguishes the LLB (Honours) program is the requirement to undertake a mandatory, independent research project. Like the LLB, it must be undertaken as part of a double degree.

Learning Outcomes

1.
Conduct legal research and writing, including by having planned and executed project work and/or a piece of research and scholarship with some independence, for example: Professional research skills, Academic research skills, Concise writing, Extended writing (at least three research assessment tasks with a word length of 3,000 words or more, or a research thesis), Professional writing.
  • Scholars
  • Professionals
2.
Show that they have developed an understanding of research-based learning and demonstrate analytical skills, through the planning and execution of a piece of research or a professional project with some independence.
  • Leaders
  • Scholars
  • Global citizens
  • Professionals
3.
Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of legal knowledge in its broader contexts, for example: Fundamental areas of legal knowledge for practice in NSW, Understanding of the Australian legal system, Contextual disciplinary understanding, Theoretical perspectives underlying principles and concepts, Major theories, International and comparative approaches to law, Awareness of other jurisdictions and legal systems and understanding of their impact on local jurisdictions, Awareness of global legal practice, Broader contexts of law and legal practice, Environmental issues, Race and diversity based issues, Poverty and social inequity/class based issues, Commercial issues, Employer/employee power imbalances, Gender and sexuality based issues, Disability awareness, Ethical and professional responsibilities and rules, Relationship between law and ethics, and theories of ethics applicable to legal practice.
  • Global citizens
  • Scholars
4.
Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of indigenous legal issues, for example: Colonial dispossession, Historical and continuing impact of the law on Indigenous Australians, Indigenous rights, sovereignty and recognition in the Constitution, Native title, Interactions with legal professionals and enforcement officers, Indigenous laws and justice mechanisms, Cross-cultural communication issues.
  • Scholars
  • Global citizens
5.
Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of principles of justice and the rule of law, for example: Tensions between law and justice/morality, Distributive justice, including social justice, Corrective justice, Justice as desert and retributive justice, Restorative justice and ADR, Legal protection of rights, including by the Constitution, Legal practitioners' duties to clients, the court and society, Due process and natural justice, The maintenance and operation of the rule of law, Constraints upon government power and the review and correction of government decisions, The rule of law in context.
  • Scholars
  • Professionals
  • Global citizens
6.
Interpret and analyse statutes, for example: Navigating and applying statutory enactments in accordance with contemporary modes of statutory interpretation, Applying knowledge of the difference between interpretation of statutes and constitutions, Applying knowledge and ability to use extrinsic materials in the interpretation of statutes, Developing a coherent body of knowledge and skills about the rules of statutory interpretation, The application of statutory interpretation techniques in the context of problem-solving to generate appropriate analytical responses to statutory issues, Analysing the relationship between statutory interpretation and human rights instruments in different jurisdictions.
  • Global citizens
  • Scholars
7.
Engage in legal reasoning, for example: Case analysis, Problem-solving skills, Identifying and articulating legal issues, Applying legal reasoning and research to generate appropriate responses to legal issues, Engaging in critical analysis and making a reasoned choice amongst alternatives, Thinking creatively in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate responses.
  • Scholars
  • Global citizens
8.
Demonstrate professional capacity for self-management, for example: Ability to engage in independent learning, Time management skills, Personal and professional development, Reflective practice, Ability to reflect on and assess own capabilities and performance, including through self-assessment, Ability to use feedback, Reflection on personal values in the professional role.
  • Leaders
  • Professionals
9.
Demonstrate professional communication skills, for example: Oral communication in adversarial and non-adversarial contexts, Written communication in various formats and styles, General presentation capacities, Legal presentation capacities, Empathetic listening skills, Cross-cultural communication, including with Indigenous people.
  • Scholars
10.
Demonstrate professional interpersonal skills, for example: Collaboration skills, Ability to work as a member of a team, Respect for diversity, Dispute resolution, Understanding of formal legal rules, Appreciation of alternative and non-adversarial philosophies and practices, Understanding of lawyers' roles in disputes, Understanding of power dynamics.
  • Leaders
  • Scholars
  • Professionals
11.
Apply interdisciplinary perspectives to legal issues, in particular, the ability to bring perspectives from other disciplines to bear on legal issues.
  • Global citizens
  • Scholars
12.
Engage in reform-oriented analysis of law and policy, this includes: Ability to critique existing law in light of broader perspectives, current legal impact and future needs, Ability to contribute to reform processes.
  • Scholars
  • Professionals
  • Global citizens
  • Leaders
13.
Demonstrate and adopt professional and ethical dispositions and values, for example: Professional disposition and values, Developing ability to exercise professional judgment, Ability to reflect on professional responsibilities of lawyers in promoting justice, Understanding the law's role in serving society, Understanding the value of community engagement, Ethical practice, Understanding of ethical approaches to decision-making, Developing ability to respond to ethical issues arising in legal practice, Working sensitively with clients from diverse backgrounds and with a range of needs, Understanding prosecutors' and advocates' obligations both to the court and to the client, and judicial obligations to ensure a fair trial.
  • Global citizens
  • Professionals

Graduate Capabilities

For more information on Graduate Capabilities please click on this link

Program Structure

Students must complete 144 UOC when taken as a standalone program.

  1. Core Courses (96 UOC)
  2. Prescribed Theory Elective (6 UOC)
  3. Law Electives (36 UOC)
  4. Law Honours Research Core Course (6 UOC)

Disciplinary Component144 Units of Credit:

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program requirements.

Program Requirements

Progression Requirements

LLB (Honours) students whose Honours WAM falls below 75 on completion of their degrees are to be given the option of transferring back to the pass-level LLB program and graduating with an LLB. UNSW LLB students are eligible to transfer to the LLB (Honours) program if, at the time of making their application, they: a) have successfully completed a minimum of 96 UOC of LLB courses; b) have successfully completed at least 84 UOC of core LLB courses (which can include the prescribed elective); c) have a minimum of 6 UOC of LLB courses still to complete at UNSW; and d) have a WAM in their core LLB courses (including the prescribed elective, if applicable) of 75 or above.

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Associated Programs

Postgraduate Pathway

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD1730 - Law
Graduate Diploma in Legal Professional Practice - GDLPP5213 - Legal Professional Practice
Master of Laws - LLM9201 - Law

Professional Outcomes

Accreditations

Legal Profession Admission Board

Recognition of Achievement

University Medal

Honours Classes

Additional Information

Application to LLB (Honours) program

UNSW LLB students are eligible to transfer to the LLB (Honours) program if, at the time of making their application, they:

  1. have successfully completed a minimum of 96 UOC of LLB courses;
  2. have successfully completed at least 84 UOC of core LLB courses (which can include the prescribed elective);
  3. have a minimum of 6 UOC of LLB courses still to complete at UNSW; and
  4. have a WAM in their core LLB courses (including the prescribed elective, if applicable) of 75 or above.

Students entering the LLB (Honours) will be given full credit for all LLB courses completed.

Honours requirements

LLB (Honours) students must complete a supervised 6 UoC course LAWS3901 Honours Research Thesis. The research thesis will be of 10,000 words. It will be double marked. As part of the Honours Research Thesis course, students need to complete a mandatory Research Methods and Skills Workshop. The workshop will equip the students with the skills necessary to become researchers and successfully complete their thesis. The supervisor of the student with the approval of the Honours and Legal Research and Writing Coordinator may exempt the student from completing the workshop if the supervisor believes that the student has the necessary skills to conduct the required research or there are other exceptional grounds for excusing the student.

All remaining courses that an LLB (Honours) student needs to complete their 144 UOC of study are to be taken from the core and prescribed theory elective courses required to be completed as part of the LLB program (if these have not already been completed), and from the list of law elective courses available to LLB students.

Medallist Requirements

The recommended student for the University Medal is expected to have maintained Good Standing throughout their UG career (ie, while undertaking their LLB and LLB (Honours)) and usually rank the highest amongst their graduating LLB (Honours) cohort. In addition to that, the recommended Medallist will be compared in different categories with other students attaining the LLB (Honours) (Class 1) to identify the best/top student based on each category.

These categories of comparison include:

  • Honours WAM
  • WAM for all LAWS courses
  • WAM for LAWS core courses and LAWS prescribed elective
  • WAM for LAWS elective courses
  • WAM for best 4 LAWS elective courses
  • WAM for best 19 LAWS courses
  • WAM for all LAWS courses minus two lowest mark    

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Domestic Students
Commonwealth Supported Students (if applicable)
International Students

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)
Pre-2019 Handbook Editions