Develop a strong understanding and foundational knowledge of contemporary law. We are recognised for our practical, real-world legal training delivered in high quality, city-based learning facilities.

Units you can choose

Gain an Australian perspective on the system of law. Create your own law study abroad or exchange semester from the units below. Or, why not select one of the two approved packages? You don't need previous studies in law for many of the units and packages.

Enrolment restrictions

  • Undergraduate students cannot enrol in postgraduate units.
  • Capstone and honours units are not available as part of our study abroad and exchange program.

Packages

All units provide 12 credit points unless otherwise specified.

No previous studies in law required

Requires some knowledge of law

Law, Technology and Innovation package

Approved units

All students can study these units, regardless of your academic background. These units will be approved on your QUT study plan after you apply.

Law

LLB101 Introduction to Law

Introduction to Law provides a necessary foundation for legal studies by introducing you to core legal knowledge and the skills of legal reasoning, problem solving, legal writing and research.

LLB102 Torts

In this unit, you will apply the skills you are developing in LLB101 Introduction to Law and be introduced to the skills of legal problem solving and legal interviewing and questioning as you look at how the law of torts operates in a real world context. The knowledge and skills that you develop in this unit provide a foundation for more advanced units in later years. The study of torts law is required for admission as a legal practitioner in Australia.

LLB104 Contemporary Law and Justice

This unit provides a foundation for the development of your legal oral communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills that will be further developed in later units including LLB203 Constitutional Law, LLB204 Commercial and Personal Property Law, and LLB303 Evidence. A key emphasis of the unit is on the interaction of Australia's first peoples with the Australian legal system and introducing you to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and perspectives of law, which will be further examined in LLB106 Criminal Law, LLB301 Real Property Law, and LLB303 Evidence.

LLB140 Human Rights Law

This unit is a general law elective that provides students with the knowledge and skills to effectively apply human rights. It places equal emphasis on the concepts, institutions and principles that human rights law comprises of, as well as the implementation and research of human rights law. This unit engages with both international human rights law and Australian human rights law as well as substantive human rights issues.   

LLB142 Regulation of Business

This elective unit commences the process of educating you in matters of business and commercial law. It is intended to provide an overview of a number of critical areas in the study of business law and regulation. Further, this unit will provide you with theoretical and critical analysis skills. Law graduates are increasingly required to have a strong knowledge base and understanding of business and commerce, and more specifically an understanding of how business operates within the context of the Australian legal system. This unit is intended to provide foundation skills and knowledge that are essential for an understanding of law and regulation as it applies to business.

LWS008 Entertainment Law

The entertainment industry involves a myriad of transactions and interactions that are governed by a wide range of laws. A basic understanding of the laws most commonly encountered in the entertainment industry should assist those involved in the industry to have a better understanding of the legal context in which they are operating. This in turn may assist them in avoiding problems, or to have a better appreciation of when they should seek professional legal assistance.

LWS009 Introduction to Law

For students involved in a wide range of industries, it is important to have a fundamental understanding of the Australian legal system. In this unit, students will be introduced to several aspects of the law that are relevant to industry, including the sources of law (both cases and legislation), parliament and the court hierarchy, negligence, forms of business organisation, contract law, consumer law, and property law. This unit will support students as they prepare for their future role in industry.

LWS011 Journalism Law

The study of law is important for journalists as they are endowed with a public responsibility to engage in sound legal and ethical practice. The public role journalists play in society means that there is a high level of scrutiny of their actions. Legal transgressions by journalists can prove costly and painful for journalists, their families, friends, colleagues and employers. Furthermore, journalists also need to have a good working understanding of the legal framework that applies to society in general, as the law will be relevant to a wide range of issues that will be reported by journalists in their professional practice. In addition, the unit seeks to foster an appreciation of the developing nature of the law through court decisions and its capacity to adapt to new circumstances, as well as providing you with the scope to appreciate the development of law through changes in policy through the intervention of parliaments.

LWS012 Urban Development Law

This unit provides to students an introduction to the Australian legal environment in which context they will be working. It addresses specific legal issues that impact on urban development and is intended to inform the decisions that will need to be made while working in this area. An understanding of the legal framework is essential to professionals practising in all areas of the built environment. The foundation skills and knowledge acquired in this unit will underpin future learning.

LWS075 International Business and Law

This unit addresses a broad range of legal problems that arise in the formation and operation of commercial transactions of an international nature. An understanding of the law and practice regarding international commercial transactions is a basic prerequisite for the development of trade with Australian businesses, such activity being generally recognised as crucial to Australia's economic well-being.

LWS101 Ethics Law and Health Care

Nursing practice involves making decisions for, and with, others. An important requirement of such decisions is that they are consistent with nurses' public and professional responsibilities and that they serve to promote the needs of patient/clients. In short, nursing practice is guided by normative requirements. The basic requirements and considerations are established by law, ethics and professional values. The unit explores the relationship between law and ethics to lay the foundations of understanding of both law and ethics as they relate to healthcare and to your professional practice.

Units requiring approval

Students need specific academic background knowledge to study these units, so the faculty will assess your eligibility and determine if you’re able to take these units after you apply. We will let you know the outcome through the application portal as soon as possible.

Law

LLB106 Criminal Law

This core unit introduces you to the criminal law of Queensland.  Knowledge of criminal law offences and defences/excuses is essential for understanding the type of behaviour that is permitted by the state.  Criminal law content knowledge is required for your admission to legal practice.

LLB107 Statutory Interpretation

This unit introduces the foundational concepts of public law, the institutions of government and the rules and principles of statutory interpretation in Australia. Knowledge and skills relating to statutory interpretation are essential in legal practice. This unit provides a foundation for the development of your skills in statutory interpretation that will be honed further in more advanced units. This unit also develops your skills in legal research, written communication and problem solving that were introduced to you in LLB101 Introduction to Law.

LLB108 Law, Governance and Sustainability

This core unit requires you to consider the law, and your role in it, within a broader global system. Australian lawyers must be aware of, and consider the global implications of their practice, including different legal and regulatory systems that may be relevant to their practice. The fundamental concepts in this unit are taught through the lens of sustainability. You will learn about different levels of governance, the world’s legal systems, and different methods of resolving disputes by critically analysing current and emerging sustainability issues. This unit provides a foundation for several core skills, including oral communication, negotiation, critical thinking and reflective practice. 

LLB150 Behavioural Law and Economics

Law and economics incorporates economic analysis to predict human responses in legal environments. Traditionally, neo-classical economic theories were used to evaluate how rational actors would respond to law. Behavioural law and economics adopts a different approach, as it is based on common human characteristics identified through studies of behaviour. Behavioural economics is used to strengthen the predictive and analytical power of policymakers and economists to determine how people will respond to laws and regulations. In this unit, students will explore how law moderates behaviour, and how behavioural factors can be used to achieve legal outcomes, like deterring undesirable, or encouraging positive, behaviours. Beginning with a study of traditional economic principles and exploring traditional law and economic scholarship, students will gain insights into the differences offered by behavioural law and economics to aid in the development of meaningful legal interventions.

LLB202 Contract Law

In this unit, you will examine how contract law operates in a contemporary real world context and practise skills of contract interpretation and drafting, and legal problem solving. The knowledge and skills you develop in this unit also provide a foundation for later year units in the course, for example, LLB204 Commercial and Personal Property Law, LLB301 Real Property Law, LLB304 Commercial Remedies, and commercial law electives. An understanding of contract law is a requirement for admission to legal practice in Australia.

LLB203 Constitutional Law

Building on key principles of public law that were introduced in LLB107 Statutory Interpretation, this unit examines the structure, operation and main features of the Commonwealth and State constitutions. The unit considers how the principles of representative and responsible government, federalism, the separation of powers and the rule of law operate in Australia's constitutional system of government. It examines the relationships between the legislature, executive and judiciary in Australia and between the Commonwealth and the States. It also examines the scope of Commonwealth and State legislative power, Commonwealth executive power and the exercise of judicial power by federal and State courts. The unit also explores how the Australian Constitution limits the powers of the Commonwealth and the States. An understanding of constitutional law is required for admission into legal practice in Australia. 

LLB204 Commercial and Personal Property Law

The knowledge and skills you develop in this unit provide a foundation for later year units in the course, for example, LLH305 Corporate Law, and electives in the commercial area. The study of the content in this unit is required for admission to legal practice in Australia.

LLB205 Equity and Trusts

This unit builds on LLB202 Contract Law and your studies in other common law units, with a focus on developing your critical analysis and legal writing skills. An understanding of equity and trusts is also required for admission to legal practice.

LLB243 Family Law

Family law professionals are involved in referring clients to, and representing them in, dispute resolution processes. They also help clients to reach resolution in a way that minimises the conflict experienced by family members, particularly where there are children. They assist clients with their parenting and financial issues and in applications to seek protection from family violence. This unit is important if you are considering working anywhere within the family law system or in general practice. It is a general law elective in the law degree.

LLB245 Sports Law

Sports Law covers the application of a wide range of legal principles to a sporting context. You will have studied some of the principles at a general level in core units, allowing you to consolidate your knowledge, while other areas of the unit will be new. Sport-specific legal principles (for example, regarding doping) will also be covered. Sport is an area that is becoming increasingly business-orientated and litigious. If you plan to work as a manager, administrator or lawyer in the area of sports you will, in the course of your day-to-day activities, encounter a wide variety of situations that could have potential legal consequences. The unit will draw upon your knowledge of legal systems and torts law and your research skills.

LLB250 Law, Privacy and Data Ethics

We live in an era where major advances in data-driven technologies are fundamentally changing many aspects of society. These technologies are not only becoming crucial to many businesses, which seek new avenues for creating competitive advantages and value, but also increasingly enmeshed in aspects of our everyday lives. This unit, therefore, explores the legal, ethical and social challenges raised by data-driven technologies in two main parts. The first centres on the information privacy law issues that arise from large-scale collection and aggregation of person information the second relates to the application of data analytics. Exploration of the challenges raised by different technologies across both parts of this unit are guided by broader considerations of fairness, accountability and transparency (FAT).

LLB251 Law and Design Thinking

The rapidly evolving legal landscape is changing the nature of law and increasing the need for lawyers to acquire new skills and capabilities suited to the future of work. This includes a growing demand for lawyers who can think differently about the law and who are able to develop empathic, creative, and innovative responses to complex legal problems. This unit introduces students to design thinking (or legal design) as both a mindset and a methodology. It enables them to develop creative confidence and respond to legal challenges from a human-centred perspective. Students will develop a deep understanding of client(s) needs, ideate responses using constraints to promote creativity, and prototype and test their ideas. They will use both analogue and technology-based tools during in-person or online workshops. All students will participate in a 2-day, in-person, Legal Design Sprint (hackathon) where they will work in collaborative teams to respond to a complex legal problem. 

LLB301 Real Property Law

Real Property Law is a core unit in the law degree. It is required for admission to legal practice in Australia. Real property law is a significant part of legal practice in government departments, in-house positions, general practice and specialised law firms. Being able to learn and apply the foundations of real property will enable your understanding and application in other specialist areas of law, for example, family law, environmental law, corporations law, bankruptcy law and succession law (wills and estates).

LLB303 Evidence

Evidence is a core unit in the law degree. Knowledge of the rules of evidence and of the procedures by which it must be tendered and dealt with in court is necessary for the conduct of litigation as either a barrister or a solicitor and for admission to practice. This unit builds upon your study of criminal procedure in LLB106 Criminal Law.

LLB304 Commercial Remedies

In this unit, you will learn the law of remedies, including remedies available under the common law, equity and statute. This understanding is necessary for any legal practitioner and will equip you with the necessary knowledge to support common commercial practice and assist with the effective resolution of real-world commercial disputes. 

LLB306 Civil Dispute Resolution

In this unit, you will study the rules of civil procedure and alternative dispute resolution in the Queensland State courts. This includes jurisdiction, the initiation and service of process, the definition of issues through pleadings, judgment and enforcement. An understanding of civil dispute resolution is required for admission to legal practice. This core unit draws on the knowledge that you have gained throughout your degree including contract law, torts, statutory interpretation and dispute resolution skills. 

LLB341 Artificial Intelligence, Robots and the Law

As new technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics become more infused in our business, government and social lives, difficult legal, ethical, regulatory and policy questions arise. Developments in machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics raise interesting and urgent issues surrounding the regulation of automated decision-making, privacy, liability and insurance, competition and consumer regimes, and the future of work. This unit considers the application of existing legal and regulatory principles but also the possible need for new principles and regulatory tools. Students will consider developments and innovations in these new technologies, and how the law might be asked to respond.

LLB344 Intellectual Property Law

Intellectual property law is the umbrella term that encompasses the legal rights and responsibilities of creators and users of intangible goods. This subject provides you with the ability to identify issues and apply the law in the key areas of intellectual property law, including copyright and related rights, patents, trademarks, designs, and confidential information. By developing a broad understanding of these key areas of law, you will become familiar with the main structure of intellectual property law as a basis for providing advice in practice. Importantly, since this area of law is in a continual and rapid state of development, this subject is also designed to enable you to identify competing policy interests and evaluate potential changes to intellectual property law in a connected society.

LLB346 Succession Law

Our legal system is premised on the right of individuals to own private property. Succession deals with the legal consequences of death on a person's property. It has links to other important areas of law, namely equity and trusts, property law and family law. Succession is a strongly developing area of legal practice. Family provision actions are increasing as more people challenge will dispositions or inheritance by way of intestacy on the grounds of inadequate provision. Estate planning is becoming a major area of practice. The notion of what is the 'estate' at death is a developing area of law, with some inter vivos transactions being set aside as unconscionable bargains or contracts being of limited effect. The effect of these developing remedies is to increase the 'estate' available to be distributed at death. With its links to real property, equity, trusts and family law, Succession will assist you to see the connection between different areas of law.

LLB347 Taxation Law

Taxation law is a fundamental part of general commercial practice. Therefore, knowledge of taxation legislation and its commercial application to the business environment is required. Awareness of the incidence of Commonwealth taxes, including income tax, capital gains tax and fringe benefits tax, is essential in order to give advice in relation to commercial and domestic transactions. In addition to this knowledge of the taxation issues surrounding superannuation, companies, partnerships and trusts is essential for any aspiring tax professional. 

LLB440 Environmental Law

As Australian legal practitioners can increasingly expect to work on issues addressing climate change and environmental degradation,  an understanding of this area of law is important for all practitioners. The aim of this unit is to enable you to understand the principles and mechanisms of environmental law, how they apply to contemporary environmental issues and where the law needs reform. This unit will be beneficial if you are intending to practice in environmental, planning, property or construction law,  or if you intend to work in the public sector in relation to the implementation of international environmental obligations, conservation and protection of biodiversity and management of pollution of air, water and land.  This unit will develop your critical thinking skills, provide you with experience in drafting submissions and will involve assessment tasks framed on current environmental legal issues.  

LLB460 Competition Moots A

Mooting is a fundamental element of legal education. As a student mooter at QUT, you have the opportunity, because of the number of national and international competitions that the QUT Law School is invited to participate in, to take your skills to the national and international arena and experience mooting at the highest level. Each international and national moot that you participate in requires significant preparation and attention to detail. This unit is one of a number of work integrated learning units designed to provide you with the experience of using and developing your legal knowledge and skills. Mooting will provide you with an authentic learning experience with direct application in real world legal environments. Through this experience you should be better placed for a smooth transition to the workplace.  In order to enrol in this unit, you must have been selected to represent QUT in a moot competition which attracts academic credit.

LLB461 Competition Moots B

Mooting is a fundamental element of legal education. As a student mooter at QUT, you have the opportunity, because of the number of national and international competitions that the QUT Law School is invited to participate in, to take your skills to the national and international arena and experience mooting at the highest level. Each international and national moot that you participate in requires significant preparation and attention to detail. This unit is one of a number of work integrated learning units designed to provide you with the experience of using and developing your legal knowledge and skills. Mooting will provide you with an authentic learning experience with direct application in real world legal environments. Through this experience you should be better placed for a smooth transition to the workplace.  In order to enrol in this unit, you must have been selected to represent QUT in a moot competition which attracts academic credit.

LLH201 Legal Research

In this unit, you will develop problem-solving and research skills and apply them to ill-defined problems. You will also have the opportunity to reflect on your career goals and strategically build your skills to enhance your employability. You will then have the opportunity to reflect on and expand your research skills in LLH402 Legal Research Project and your career goals in LLH403 Legal Industry Capstone Project. 

LLH206 Administrative Law

This unit examines the manner in which the executive branch of government is legally accountable, particularly in its dealings with individuals. The unit builds on key principles studied in LLB203 Constitutional Law concerning the structure and operation of our federal system of government, in order to focus on judicial and extra-judicial means of reviewing administrative action. An understanding of administrative law is required for admission into legal practice in Australia.

LLH302 Ethics and the Legal Profession

This unit is a core unit in the law degree and is required for admission to legal practice in Australia. It builds on the legal research and critical analysis skills developed in LLB104 Contemporary Law and Justice and LLH201 Legal Research.

LLH305 Corporate Law

Corporate Law is designed to provide you with knowledge and understanding of the key legal principles and policy issues relevant to registered companies. This unit is a compulsory area of study in the law degree and is required for admission as a legal practitioner.

LLH470 Commercial Contracts in Practice

An advanced knowledge of contract law principles and their interaction with principles of equity and property law within the Australian context is crucial for all lawyers involved in negotiating, reviewing and drafting commercial agreements. The unit draws upon the fundamental principles of contract, equity and property studied earlier in your degree to examine at an advanced level the interaction of these principles in the context of common commercial transactions, including sales, leases and share sale agreements. Relevant regulatory provisions are examined to the extent they impact on the content and interpretation of commercial agreements. The unit provides an opportunity for you to gain an enhanced understanding of the principles of contract, equity and property in the context of common practical issues related to the negotiation, drafting and interpretation of common clauses within these agreements.

LLH471 Health Law and Practice

In this honours elective unit, you will apply the skills of communication, legal reasoning, critical and creative thinking, and research project management developed throughout the degree and consolidated in LLH401 Legal Research Capstone. You will also develop advanced knowledge in relation to health care law, building on the knowledge from LLB102 Torts. The relationship between the provider of health services and the patient has, in recent times, become more complex and there is consequently a significantly growing field of related legal scholarship and litigation.

LLH472 Public International Law

As Australian legal practitioners can increasingly expect to work within a global context, an understanding of this area of law is important for all practitioners. A good understanding of public international law is also essential for anyone wishing to work with an international organisation. As an advanced law elective, Public International Law will develop advanced knowledge of how international law is created and develops, and how it is applied by governments, legislatures, courts and international agencies.

LLH474 Insolvency Law

An understanding of the principles of insolvency and restructuring law will assist you to gain a more complete grasp of the legal system, particularly in a commercial context. Knowledge of the law as it applies to both personal and corporate insolvency provides opportunity to develop your skills in a range of legal areas as well as providing a base for those interested in working in this specialised field.

LLH475 Theories of Law

This unit advances your understanding and appreciation of the philosophical and theoretical foundations of the law. These notions guide the development of the policies underlying law, and inform changes to law through legislative and judicial action. This advanced elective is placed in the final year of the course as it builds on your existing attributes, skills and substantive knowledge, and develops these to a higher level.

LLH478 Advanced Criminal Law - Principles and Practice

A knowledge of criminal law and procedure is a requirement for admission to legal practice. Advanced knowledge of criminal law requires an understanding of the rapidly evolving, theoretical and applied contexts for those seeking to work within the criminal justice system. This advanced elective unit examines the changing role of the lawyer, judge and other justice professionals within the specialist criminal courts, lists and jurisdictions through the critical lens of therapeutic jurisprudence – in light of such developments as: problem solving and treatment courts, neurolaw, diversion programs, predictive algorithms and risk management tools.

LLH479 Research Thesis Extension

This unit will develop students' independent research and writing skills. It is for students considering a future career conducting research and managing research projects in public, community and private enterprises. The unit culminates with the production of a 10 000 word thesis. Completion of the thesis (and award of a 1 or 2A Honours) will be a strong basis for a competitive entry and scholarship application into Australian and overseas PhD programs. This unit builds upon the research and writing skills and experiences in the earlier honours courses, by applying the knowledge and experience to a supervised research project. Research topics will be nominated by supervisors. You will need to enrol in this unit in order to apply for a research project. However, your enrolment does not guarantee that you will be allocated to a research project and will be able to undertake this unit. Projects will be allocated by the end of week 1.  

LLH481 Private International Law

In this unit you will learn how Australian law guides and manages 'foreign' elements in a legal dispute or challenge. This advanced Honours elective develops your skills to: (1) identify the forum to use to legally assert yourself; (2) determine how to have your legal rights recognised and enforced in Australia or in an overseas jurisdiction; and (3) identify the law to use in assessing your legal issues with foreign elements in it. You will learn to apply and critique the use of these doctrines across important and often litigated issues in contracts, torts and family law. Private international law will help you understand processes and support you to apply concepts to legal problems that arise because you may travel, communicate with people across legal jurisdiction, and shop across the world.

Test your courtroom skills

The QUT Law Society Inc. runs a Moot Club and holds workshops for students to improve their skills. Argue your case in QUT's Moot Court.

Learn more about mooting

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Need more information?

If you have questions about choosing units, get in touch with the study abroad and exchange team and we’ll gladly help you out.