Practising lawyers may eventually specialise in a particular area of the law, for example commercial law or civil and social law. Specialisation may indeed extend to a more defined area.
Every lawyer must develop certain skills and resources: an ability to use and interpret words, particularly the specialised terminology essential to many legal concepts; a capacity to deduce legal principles from a mass of legal materials; and powers of criticism and analysis which are valuable in understanding and solving problems.
The course is designed to enable students to develop such skills, and also to equip them for careers outside traditional legal practice.
Arts/law career opportunities
In addition to preparing the graduate for traditional legal practice, completion of the combined degree program opens up other up other career opportunities in government, politics, the media, parliament and business.
Business (banking and finance)/law career opportunities
Typical career opportunities include commercial law, international banking, international finance, investments management, treasury management, money market operations, lease finance, consumer finance, business finance, project finance and financial modelling and forecasting.
Business (management)/law career opportunities
Graduates should be equipped to embark on a career in corporate law or to establish a career track towards employment as company secretaries or management executives.
Commerce/law and economics/law career opportunities
In addition to preparing the graduate for traditional legal practice, completion of the commerce/economics and law combined degree program opens up many career opportunities in business, finance and commerce. Career opportunities in government, politics, the media and parliament are also possibilities (see also to the entries under Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Commerce).
Engineering/law career opportunities
In addition to career opportunities in legal practice and engineering, the graduate in engineering/law has specialist career opportunities to explore which often combine expertise in the two areas.
Much of the work of engineers is concerned with design and implementation, particularly in the areas of civil, mechanical and chemical engineering. Environmental considerations in terms of the law are increasingly significant in project development. With both the private and public sectors involved in engineering projects, the role for graduates with legal training is increasing in significance.
Science/law career opportunities
In addition to preparing the graduate for traditional legal practice, completion of the combined degree program opens up other career opportunities in scientific research, the manufacturing industry and government.
Opportunities arise for lawyers with a science degree in the fields of intellectual property, mining exploration and environmental protection and development. Students with a strength in mathematics might also pursue careers in merchant banking, financial management and the actuarial profession.
For further careers information contact the Course and Careers Centre, Clayton campus, telephone (03) 905 3150.