This six year full-time program qualifies students for the professional practice of both social work and law.

Duration/Award
The program is a six year full-time combined program leading to the award of the two degrees of Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Laws (BSW LLB).

Assumed Knowledge
There are no general assumed knowledge requirements for the Social Work program but students must study Social Work courses in a sequence approved by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Bachelor of Social Work
The degree of Bachelor of Social Work is not awarded until the completion of the full six year program, but students unable to complete the full program may apply for advanced standing in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Social Work program.

Law or Non-Law Electives
Students may complete 6 units of credit in either law or non-law electives.

Pre-2001 Program
The following structure is for commencing students and for those who entered the program from 2001. There are different program requirements for students who entered the program prior to 2001.

Criminal Record Checks
It is a requirement that students who are undertaking placements in certain government departments and related organisations undergo a criminal record check.

Graduates will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to work in a variety of emerging areas which require an understanding of the law, social work theory and practice and a commitment to social justice. Such areas include consumer protection, tenancy obligations and entitlements, land rights, child custody and family property disputes, social security and welfare rights.

Note: The first fieldwork practicum commences with a 5 week block (5 days per week) and continues on 3 days per week during session time. The final practicum is a 75 day block.

Approved Sequence of Study
Students must study social work courses in a sequence approved by the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences and law courses in a sequence approved by the Faculty of Law. A direct link to the standard sequence of study is given below:

Plan for Social Work/Law 4785

Other sequences may be approved under special circumstances.

Students enrolled in combined law degrees (with exception to Jurisprudence/Law) are not required to complete general education courses.

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) will be awarded with the following levels of Honours:

Honours Class 1
Honours Class 2, Division 1
Honours Class 2, Division 2

The award of Honours in the LLB program is based on two requirements:

1) the Weighted Average Mark (WAM); and
2) satisfactory performance in written research.

1) Weighted average mark

In general terms, students who score a Law WAM in the top 10% of the graduating cohort in each semester will be eligible for the award of Honours Class 1; students with a WAM in the next 10% will be eligible for the award of Honours Class 2, Division 1; and students with a WAM in the next 10% will be eligible for the award of Honours Class 2, Division 2.
All courses taken towards the Law degree will be taken into account for written research requirements, but only those taken at UNSW Law School will count towards the WAM.

2) Satisfactory performance in written research

To demonstrate “satisfactory performance in written research” a student must complete one long substantial piece or three shorter substantial pieces of research writing in their program. In particular, a student must attain at least a credit grade either in LAWS2423 Research Thesis (8 uoc) or (16 uoc); or LAWS3423 Research Thesis (6 uoc) or (12 uoc); or in each of three (3) research papers of at least 3000 words each, taken in any three (3) courses in the LLB program.
At the time of enrolment in courses in their final semester, students who have demonstrated satisfactory performance in written research must submit an approved Honours Nomination Form to the Honours Committee detailing the basis upon which the research requirement has been met, and the course or courses in which the requisite grades were attained. If a student has not met the Honours research requirement before the end of their penultimate semester, he or she must notify the Honours committee of the LLB courses in which they propose to meet the requirement before the census date in their last semester.

Failures and Academic Misconduct

In no circumstances will a student be eligible for the award of Honours if he or she has

(a) failed more than one course in the LLB program;
(b) been found guilty of plagiarism or serious misconduct on more than one occasion.

For Academic Rules relating to the Bachelor of Laws component of this combined degree program, please refer to progam 4790. Although 4790 program is no longer on offer, all combined law students enrolled in the LLB will need to comply with the rules stated here. A direct link is given below:

Bachelor of Laws 4790

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html