BP204 - Bachelor of Legal and Dispute Studies

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Plan: BP204P16 - Bachelor of Legal and Dispute Studies
Campus: City Campus

Overview

Program details
Purpose of the Program
Articulation and pathways
Entrance requirements
External accreditation and industry links
Student expenses and charges in addition to fees
Library, IT and specialist resources

Program details

Award title: Bachelor of Legal and Dispute Studies
Award abbreviation: BLeg&DispSt
Total credit points: 288
Career: UGRD
Duration: 3 years full-time/6 years part-time
Location: Onshore, City Campus
Owning school: Global, Urban and Social Studies (365H)
Owning school URL: www.rmit.edu.au/about/schools-colleges/global-urban-and-social-studies
ASCED code: 091100
CRICOS code: 052088A

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Purpose of the Program

The Bachelor of Legal and Dispute Studies is focused on law in its social and political context. You will study law from a number of local and global perspectives including policy, politics and sociology, as well as the mechanisms for change in legal systems. You will learn about topical areas of legal practice in labour relations law, civil law, criminal law and evidence law, laws relating to information, family law, international human rights, and civil procedure. In particular, you will engage with primary dispute resolution processes that offer alternative mechanisms for resolving legal disputes.

You will also consider the cultural context of professional practice and communication. You can specialise by taking by taking an optional minor (area of specialisation) in law, dispute resolution, youth justice, policy, advocacy, investigations, case management, social work, and criminal justice streams. In your final year, you will be provided with a capstone experience in the 50 day HWSS2181 Justice and Legal Internship in a relevant organisation through which you will integrate and synthesise your knowledge, connect theory to practice, and demonstrate your holistic achievement of the program learning outcomes. 

You will gain skills in research, primary dispute resolution, mediation and policy analysis, and you will discover the growing significance of human rights in legal practice, government, business, and the community. The program will assist you to develop analytical and communication skills that can be applied in a range of practical contexts.

As a graduate of the program, you will work in diverse areas such as the Department of Justice, and the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria, the Department of Health, dispute settlement centres, the courts and tribunals, law offices, legal aid, as well as local government and community centres, activist organisations, human rights organisations and other international organisations. You can apply your skills in areas as diverse as the media, government and policy, the arts, communications, project management, finance, engineering, banking, industry associations, and non-governmental organisations. You can progress to further study in law, justice, mediation and negotiation.

Successful completion of this program provides a pathway into a Masters. Upon successful completion of this program you may also be eligible to undertake further studies in related programs at RMIT University.

The delivery of this program is blended comprising of face-to-face learning supplemented by online learning. 

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Articulation and pathways

Successful completion of RMIT's Associate Degree in Legal Practice (Paralegal) guarantees entry into this program with 96 credit points of exemptions (equivalent to 1 year full-time study).

Graduates of the following RMIT programs may be eligible for credit in this program:

If you have already developed areas of skill and knowledge included in this program (for example, through prior studies or work experience), you can apply for credit once you have enrolled in this program.

Upon successful completion of this program you may be eligible to undertake further studies in RMIT University programs including the Bachelor of Justice and Criminology (Honours), Master of Justice and Criminology, Juris Doctor, Master of Public Policy and Master of Global Studies, subject to each program's entry requirements.

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Entrance requirements

You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school) qualification.

For equivalents to Australian academic entry requirements, see the Country Equivalency web page on the RMIT website.

Prerequisites

Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in any other English.

International English language requirement

A minimum of IELTS (Academic module) overall score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0, or equivalent. For equivalents to English entry requirements, see the English requirements web page.

NDIS Worker Screening Check

You may be required to apply for, and receive an acceptable NDIS Worker Screening Check prior to undertaking professional placement with an NDIS provider as part of this program.

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External accreditation and industry links

In Australia there are no professional bodies that recognise or accredit programs in Legal and Dispute studies. This program has strong, ongoing links with relevant industry and sectoral organisations, particularly those within the Victorian justice sector.

The program has an Industry Advisory Committee comprised of people drawn from a cross-section of government and non-government organizations where graduates can reasonably expect to be employed. It has also built up an extended network of links with organizations as part of its work integrated learning courses. These links will continue to be refined and embellished as part of a continuous process of evaluation and refinement of the School's work integrated learning operations. Work integrated learning provides an indispensable part of your learning experience.

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Student expenses and charges in addition to fees

Once you are enrolled as a student in this program you will need to allow for expenses other than university tuition fees.  Additional expenses may relate to the purchase of lecture notes, textbooks, stationery, consumables such as printer paper, fees levied by commercial internet service providers for internet access outside of the university campus, and other relevant costs.

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Library, IT and specialist resources

Library resources and services

RMIT Library provides extensive resources, services and study spaces. All RMIT students have access to scholarly resources including course related material, books, e-books, journals and databases.
Computers and printers are available at every Library. You can access the Internet and Library e-resources. You can also access the RMIT University wireless network in the Library.
Contact Ask the Library for information on Library resources and services:http://www.rmit.edu.au/library. Study support is available for assistance with assignment preparation, academic writing, information literacy, referencing,maths and study skills. 

Online learning tools and content

As a student in this program you may access online learning tools and content for your program and associated courses from the student portal, myRMIT http://www.rmit.edu.au/myrmit.

Learning services available to you as a student at RMIT

RMIT provides a wide range of resources and opportunities to assist your learning and wellbeing so you can achieve your study and career goals. 

Services are available face to face and online assisting with:

  • transition to tertiary study and learning
  • study skills, academic skills including literacy, mathematics and basic sciences if relevant
  • enabling assistance if you have a disability, long term medical condition or other form of disadvantage which may impact on your learning
  • career development and employment
  • living and wellbeing (including advice on health, housing and financial matters)
  • opportunities for scholarships, leadership and study abroad
  • opportunities for participating in arts, sport, recreation, fitness activities as well as student activism and university governance

We also offer a friendly and supportive environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. 
You can find more information at https://www.rmit.edu.au/students

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