Submitted by u7278207 on meta

Published on

What can you do with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree?

 
Law & legal studies
Why choose ANU
Reading time: 4 minutes
Share:

The ANU College of Law offers just one undergraduate degree: the Bachelor of Laws (Honours). This highly competitive degree provides an excellent law education and builds your research skills.

Many students undertake this degree with their eye on a career as a solicitor or barrister, but there are more pathways beyond being a legal practitioner. So, what can you do with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from ANU?

Overview

  • The critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills embedded in a law degree can prepare you for success as a barrister or solicitor in a law firm, a solo practitioner or even a career in academia or journalism.
  • Many Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree graduates at ANU are drawn to government positions, working as public prosecutors, in-house counsel or legal officers across various ministries and government departments.
  • Increasingly, there is a growing need for graduates with expertise in law and technology as blockchain, artificial intelligence, automation and cryptocurrencies reshape society.

Become a lawyer and argue the case

We know this is obvious, but there's a reason so many Bachelor of Laws (Honours) graduates become lawyers.

In Australia, there are two main types of lawyers: barristers and solicitors. Solicitors are the most common and provide legal services to courts and barristers. Barristers typically have more experience and specialise in an area of the law and argue cases before courts. They have a relationship like GPs and specialists: a solicitor will refer you to a barrister if you need their advocacy and expertise in court.

Can't decide? The good news is that a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) puts you on track for both career paths. You must complete further training and gain experience before formally becoming a solicitor or barrister. Still, with the knowledge and skills from your degree, you have the foundations for success.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. What else can you do with a Bachelor of Laws? Read on!

Four ANU law degree students discuss a legal matter sitting around a table.

Studying a law degree can lead to a career as a solicitor or barrister.

Provide expert advice

A Bachelor of Laws (Honours) doesn't restrict you to arguing before a judge. Large organisations, such as private companies or government departments, need expert legal advice daily to ensure compliance and mitigate risk.

These organisations employ legal officers in-house. Being an in-house counsel requires solid legal knowledge and the ability to answer important questions quickly, which is why the research skills you'll acquire during your degree are so important.

Can you see yourself as the go-to person when a colleague needs the right information quickly? Working in a legal department as an in-house counsel would be perfect for you.

You could go so far as to start your own business. You'll know how to navigate the legal questions of running a business and getting yourself legally compliant will be a breeze.

Inform and educate

The law is complex and needs experts to explain it. If you're a communicator, that could be your job.

You might become a legal journalist, distilling complex information into a digestible report that a lay audience understands. Or you might pursue postgraduate studies and see yourself at the front of a lecture theatre, teaching the intricacies of the law to the next generation.

An ANU law degree student conducting research.

A Bachelor of Laws (Honours) could lead you to a career in legal journalism or as an academic.

Work in the courts

Courts are complex organisations that need specialised staff to keep things running. If you graduate with high grades, consider following the path of many ANU law graduates and work as a judge's associate, also known as a tipstaff.

This would see you working closely with a judge, giving you invaluable experience in how courts run day-to-day. Performing a judge's associate role takes serious research skills, and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) is a great way to open that door.

A law degree graduate sitting on a judge’s bench.

A law degree from ANU could see you working as a judge’s associate in the courts.

And much more

A Bachelor of Laws (Honours) gives you a great base of legal knowledge and the research skills to back it up. That means you're open to more than obvious career choices, such as working in the legal system.

Consulting firms often seek out law graduates for their critical thinking skills and knowledge of legal procedures. Non-government organisations (NGOs) also seek them out for advocacy and lobbying so you can use your understanding of the law to make a difference in the world.

Or go even further and get into government directly. Many Australian prime ministers have earned law degrees - including Malcolm Turnbull, Bob Hawke and Australia's first female PM, Julia Gillard, not to mention countless ministers and senior diplomats.

There are many options for a creative law graduate looking for an exciting and rigorous career. So, what can you do with a Bachelor of Laws? Whatever you set your mind to!

Two ANU law degree students walking through a library.

Many Australian lawmakers earned law degrees before going into public service.

Bulb Icon

Find out everything you can do with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at the ANU College of Law.