Law and Psychology

Overview

Overview

This double degree is ideal if you want to pursue a career in psychology within the criminal justice system.

You will gain the skills for legal practice along with a strong understanding of human behaviours and motivations. You’ll learn how to examine, explain and predict what people do as individuals and in groups.

Curtin’s Bachelor of Laws degree provides the first qualification you need to practise as a lawyer in Australia. Combining this with a degree in Psychology is ideal if you want to develop a deeper understanding of human behaviour, or pursue a career in psychology in areas such as the criminal and justice systems.

Our Law degree offers a rich and professionally relevant foundation in legal knowledge. You’ll learn core skills essential to effective legal practice and build a strong commercial awareness. From early on in your studies, you’ll start to recognise the importance of respecting the rule of law, along with the responsibilities and ethics of legal practice.

You’ll also have the opportunity to select optional units in areas such as forensic advocacy, family law, human rights law, native title law and policy, and law and technology. These optional units enable you to tailor your degree to suit your interests.

In the Bachelor of Science (Psychology), you will gain a strong understanding of emotion, behaviour, cognition, interpersonal relationships, perception and personality. You’ll learn how to examine, explain and predict what people do as individuals and in groups.

The first four years are delivered in semesters at Curtin Perth, while the fifth year, plus one trimester, is delivered at Curtin Law School in Perth city. If you choose to study full-time, you can graduate with two degrees in 5.5 years.

While studying in Perth city, you can gain practical experience by undertaking simulated proceedings in our high-tech moot court and working on real cases at the John Curtin Law Clinic. You’ll also benefit from the proximity of the Supreme Court, the District Court and the Federal Court; and from relationships with Curtin academics and practising solicitors and barristers based at Curtin Law School.

This can be a physically and mentally challenging course. Please familiarise yourself with the inherent requirements before applying.

What you'll learn

• apply knowledge of the Australian legal system, statutory rules and case law principles in both the fundamental areas of legal knowledge and a range of elective fields to the resolution of legal problems; apply psychological theory to evidence based practice and extend the boundaries of knowledge through research; discriminate between valid discipline knowledge and questionable esoteric theory and practice
• critically and creatively analyse legal problems to articulate the issues involved and apply legal reasoning to make a considered choice between competing solutions; apply logical and rational processes to critically analyse problems and generate innovative solutions to psychological questions
• identify, access, assess and synthesise relevant information from primary legal sources such as cases and legislation and secondary sources such as journal articles and commentaries (including electronic versions of these sources) and gather relevant oral and documentary evidence; access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information and evidence from a range of sources applicable to psychology
• communicate the outcomes of legal research and analysis effectively, appropriately and persuasively to colleagues, to clients and to other professionals and the broader community; communicate effectively with individuals, groups and communities
• use appropriate electronic legal databases for research purposes and be able to communicate effectively in electronic forms; select and effectively use appropriate technologies relevant to psychological research and practice
• maintain intellectual curiosity as to justice and its practical application in the legal system, be able to identify areas where their legal knowledge and skills require further development, and to critically reflect on their own performance as legal professionals, making use of feedback as appropriate; demonstrate ability for self directed learning and reflective practice
• articulate the similarities and differences between local and other jurisdictions, including interstate and overseas ones, and be aware of the principles of public and private international law; demonstrate knowledge and understanding of international perspectives in psychology
• articulate distinct concepts of law, justice and human rights, with an awareness of different legal traditions and cultures, particularly indigenous cultures; identify how and where indigenous persons and other identifiable social groups are differentially impacted by the legal system; demonstrate understanding and respect for human rights and cultural diversity
• work independently, as well as collaboratively, with a developing sense of the ethical issues that arise in legal practice and how these may be resolved; independently and collaboratively apply professional skills in an ethical manner