Ever wonder why Law exists in this world? Why are human beings bound to certains rules, and why are there consequences for those who don’t adhere to these rules set by mankind?
If you observe closely, you’ll notice that Law exists everywhere; from the social media that you’re scrolling, online or in-person purchasing, driving on the road and countless others that have various laws revolving around our daily lives.
How do we know if these rules apply to us? What kind of punishment would one get if he chose to disobey one of the rules? What is the proper way to hold someone accountable? These are among the questions that you’ll get answered by pursuing a Law degree.
What is Law?
Law can be defined as a set of rules that is established to regulate or set boundaries towards a community or citizens’ behavior. This is to ensure our rights are protected and justice is served in order to live in a peaceful society.
By studying Law degree, you’ll have the opportunity to develop a range of skills and explore many aspects of human life including business, economics, politics, the environment, human rights, international relations, and commerce. You will be exposed to numerous case studies and have in-depth learning of how law works in our life.
There are many areas of specialisation you can choose from doing a Law degree. Among the common specialisations include Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Succession Law, Contract Law, Family Law and many others. After pursuing your law degree, you may want to think about which division you are interested in.
Not only studying law requires a lot of reading and memorising, you will learn how to critically think and provide best possible solutions to any given case. From writing to communicating verbally, you will be taught the right way to make judgement and validate your point analytically, rationally and critically to defend your argument or give a solution that is appropriate to the case given to you.
Skills Needed to study Law
Being in the legal field can be both challenging and rewarding, you’ll have the opportunity to make the world a better place, given the right knowledge and skills cultivated. Here are the top skills required to study Law:
- Logical Reasoning
You must have good powers of logical reasoning in order to analyse and conclude every situation correctly. This is important to form a strong argument in the court. To become a lawyer, you must be able to provide possible conclusions from premises and demonstrate a relation between them in order to argue logically and convincingly in court.
- Research and Analysis
Research and analysis skills are important when compiling a case, providing legal advice, and drafting legal documents. Your research must be sufficiently detailed in order to enable you to put forward your argument to the judge convincingly and concisely.
- Problem-solving and sound-judgement
Being a lawyer requires you to have the ability to critically analyse a challenging situation. You should be able to fully utilise your problem-solving skills to provide the appropriate solutions for case given through marking out the best possible course of argument.
- Strong Communication Skills
Communication skill is crucial when it comes to being a lawyer. A lawyer must be able to speak confidently and clearly to ensure everyone in court understands the points delivered. How well the lawyer expresses their points and puts forward the case to the judge can influence whether they can win or lose the case.
General Entry Requirements for Law in Australia
i) Academic Entry Requirements
Qualification | Scores |
STPM | Min. 3 A’s |
A-Levels | Min. 3 A’s |
IB Diploma | Min. 39 points |
Australian Matriculation | Min. ATAR 97 |
UEC | Min. 6 A1 |
*NOTE : Different universities may have different entry requirements. For inquiries on specific requirements, contact us now!
ii) English Language Entry Requirements
Qualification | Scores |
IELTS | Min. 7.5 |
Pearson Test of English (PTE) | Min. 76 |
TOEFL (IBT) | Min. 105 |
*NOTE : Different universities may have different entry requirements. For inquiries on specific requirements, contact us now!
General Pathway to become a qualified Lawyer
The Educational pathway to become a qualified lawyer may differ based on the country you want to practise in. In this article, we are focusing on law graduates who wish to practice law in Malaysia. If you’re looking to become a qualified lawyer in Australia read this guide about becoming a lawyer in Australia.
With SPM, IGCSE or other equivalent qualification, you have to start with a pre-university program first, before progressing to Bachelors Degree. You can choose between Foundation, Diploma, Matriculation, STPM or other equivalent qualification as your pre-uni pathway to study Law Degree.
Your choice of pre-uni pathway must be aligned with your choice of Bachelors Degree program such as Foundation in Arts or Diploma in Law. If you wish to study abroad for your Bachelors Degree, you should opt for more internationally recognized pre-uni program such as A-Level and AUSMAT.
Once you have completed the pre-uni program, only then you can progress to Bachelors Degree in Law. It is also crucial to ensure your Law Degree is recognised by Legal Profession Qualifying Board of Malaysia (LPQB) if you wish to practice in Malaysia.
In order to become a qualified lawyer in Malaysia, you are required to pass the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) exam upon your completion of Bachelor’s Degree in Law.
After your CLP, you will enter your chambering period where you will be attached to a law firm for 9 months. Chambering; also known as pupillage, is an internship for law graduates to gain working experience in the legal sector as a lawyer.
Upon the completion of your Chambering, you will be called to the Malaysian Bar to be admitted as advocate and solicitor. Only then you can finally become a qualified lawyer and practice law as a profession in Malaysia.
What can you do with a Law Degree?
Being a law graduate with qualifications like Certified Legal Practice (CLP) will open you doors to many job opportunities. Here are among the career prospects that you can explore in, but not limited to:
- Corporate Lawyer
- Advocate and Solicitor
- Judiciary
- In house counsel
- Paralegal
- Forensic Investigator
- Attorney-General’s Chambers
- Legal Writer & Editor
Top Universities in Australia to study Law based on Times Higher Education 2022
#1 UNSW Sydney
The Faculty of Law and Justice of the University of New South Wales is a law school situated in Sydney, Australia. It is well known as one of Australia’s top law schools. The school practices research that is interdisciplinary, collaborative and leads to real change in public policy development, the justice system and the law.
UNSW Law & Justice School focuses on student-centred and research-based teaching. Students are equipped to have flexible skills, critical perspectives and broad horizons in order to thrive in an ever-changing world. This is to ensure that students will emerge to become ‘career ready’ with practical skills for the contemporary workplace especially in the legal industry.
Programme name | Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice |
Intake | February, May |
Duration | 3 years |
Indicative Fees (2022) |
For more information regarding the fees, program structure and entry requirements, contact us now for free consultation.
#2 University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is one of the world’s leading, comprehensive research and teaching universities. It has one of the best law schools in the world for teaching and research. The students will gain world class legal education as they will learn from the recognised legal educators, world-renowned researchers, professional practitioners as well as prominent international scholars and leaders in the judiciary and government.
Students will also have the chance to have access to student exchange programs, offshore units of study and a range of international, comparative and transnational law electives. The law school also has International and community engagement opportunities in which students will be given the opportunity to get experience in social justice initiatives with a clinical placement at the university’s partner community legal centres or organisations.
Programme name | Bachelor of Laws |
Intake | February, August |
Duration | 3 years |
Indicative Fees (2022) |
For more information regarding the fees, program structure and entry requirements, contact us now for free consultation.
#3 University of Queensland
The University of Queensland is a public research university located primarily in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland. The UQ Law School is founded in 1936, making it the sixth-oldest law school in Australia and the oldest and most prestigious in Queensland. It is currently the most-cited law school in Australia.
The School brings together leading national and international scholars, distinguished alumni and leaders of the legal profession to provide students with an outstanding legal education to equip them for a wide variety of careers, both within Australia and internationally. Students are offered a variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities, both within the School itself and within the broader UQ community. Opportunities include study abroad, mooting, pro bono work and undertaking legal research under the supervision of leading scholars.
Programme name | Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice |
Intake | February, July |
Duration | 3-4 years |
Indicative Fees (2022) |
For more information regarding the fees, program structure and entry requirements, contact us now for free consultation.
#4 Monash University
Monash University is one of a member of the Group of Eight, an organisation of Australia’s leading research. The university is known to be the university in Australia with the most student numbers. Monash law school has approximately 3,914 undergraduate and postgraduate students and over 100 professors, lecturers and teaching associates.
Founded in 1963, Monash Law School is based in Melbourne, Australia. The school is consistently ranked as one of the top law schools in Australia and globally. Monash Law is the only law school in Australia that emphasises clinical legal experience. Students will have the opportunity to work on real cases with real clients, under supervision of expert lawyers, while earning credit towards their degree.
Programme name | Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree |
Intake | February, July |
Duration | 4 – 4.25 years |
Indicative Fees (2022) |
For more information regarding the fees, program structure and entry requirements, contact us now for free consultation.
#5 University of Technology Sydney
UTS Law is a dynamic and innovative law school located in the heart of Sydney, New South Wales. Established in 1977, it has achieved great success for the quality of its legal education and its commitment to practice-oriented learning.
UTS Law School focuses on a rapidly changing future for law graduates. With its Future of the Legal Profession series, UTS Law is singularly positioned as a thought leader as a law school at a technology university situated in Sydney’s innovation hub. The school offers a number of Professional Development opportunities, from postgraduate studies to short courses and tailor-made programs.
Programme name | Bachelor of Laws |
Intake | February, August |
Duration | 4 Years |
Indicative Fees (2022) |
For more information regarding the fees, program structure and entry requirements, contact us now for free consultation.
About The Author
Diyanah
Like a river that keeps flowing, like a tree that absorbs and gives back to the soil and air, we stay curious and learning.
