Here is the short version. Most students study law as a combined, or double, degree, such as law with arts, commerce, or science. These widen your career options without adding much time. The law part usually sets the higher entry bar, so the cut-off is close to the standalone law cut-off, and it varies by combination and university. A combined degree usually takes around five to six years.
When people picture a law degree, they often imagine law on its own. In practice, most students do a combined degree, which changes how the ATAR works.
Below is how combined law degrees and their cut-offs work. To explore your options, use our law ATAR calculator.
Key takeaways
- Most students study law as a combined degree.
- Common pairs are law with arts, commerce, or science.
- The law part usually sets the higher entry bar.
- Cut-offs vary by combination and university.
- A combined degree usually takes five to six years.
- Combined degrees widen your career options.
What combined law degrees are
A combined, or double, law degree pairs law with another field. Common combinations are law with arts, law with commerce, and law with science. You graduate with both qualifications.
The appeal is breadth. A combined degree lets you study a second field that interests you, or that supports a career direction, while still qualifying in law.
How the ATAR works for a combined degree
Here is the key point on cut-offs. In a combined law degree, the law part usually sets the higher entry bar. So the cut-off tends to be close to the standalone law cut-off at that university.
That means pairing law with a lower-demand second field does not usually lower the bar much, because law drives the requirement. The cut-off still varies by combination and university, so check each one.
There is a useful strategic angle here. Because the law component sets the entry bar, the second discipline is often something you can add for interest at little extra cost in ATAR. A student aiming for, say, Law and Arts will usually face a cut-off very close to the standalone Law figure at that university, while gaining a full second major in politics, languages or criminology. This is why combined degrees are so popular: you broaden your qualifications and career options without needing a materially higher ATAR than law alone would demand. The exception is when the second field is itself highly competitive, such as certain commerce or biomedical streams, in which case whichever component is more in demand can lift the combined cut-off. As a rule of thumb, check both the standalone law cut-off and the combined cut-off at each university; if they are close, the second degree is effectively a free addition, and if the combined figure is noticeably higher, the second field is the one driving it.
Popular combinations
Some combinations are especially common. Law with arts is popular for its flexibility and breadth. Law with commerce suits students aiming at commercial or corporate law. Law with science can support careers in areas like patents or technology law.
The right combination depends on your interests and career plans. Each pairing shapes your options after graduation, so it is worth thinking about beyond just the ATAR. See our law ATAR guide.
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A combined law degree usually takes around five to six years, compared with about four for a standalone law degree. So you gain a second qualification for an extra year or so, rather than two full degrees back to back.
For many students, that is good value: two degrees, broader options, and not much extra time. Weigh the extra year against the benefits of the second field.
Are combined degrees worth it?
For most law students, yes, which is why they are the norm. A combined degree widens your career options and lets you pursue a second interest, without committing to two separate degrees.
The main trade-off is the extra year or so. If you are confident in law alone and want the fastest route, a standalone degree works. Otherwise, a combined degree is a popular, flexible choice. See our guide on the lowest ATAR for law.
It comes down to what you want from your degree. A combined degree pays off if you value flexibility: the second discipline can steer your career (commerce towards corporate law, arts towards policy or human rights, science towards patent and technology law), and it gives you a fallback qualification if you decide against practising. The cost is time and a heavier load, since you are genuinely completing two sets of requirements, usually in five years rather than three or four. A standalone law degree suits students who are certain about law, want to finish sooner, or plan to add breadth later through electives or postgraduate study. In career terms, employers do not treat a standalone LLB as lesser; the practising qualification is the same. So the honest answer is that combined degrees are worth it for the flexibility and the second field, not because they make you a better lawyer or lift your admission chances. Choose based on whether that flexibility is worth the extra year to you.
Common questions
What ATAR do you need for a combined law degree?
It is usually close to the standalone law cut-off at that university, since the law part sets the higher bar. So at a top university it is in the high 90s, while many others are far lower. It varies by combination and university.
Are double degrees harder to get into?
For law, not usually harder than law alone, because the law part drives the cut-off. Pairing law with a lower-demand field does not lower the bar much. The requirement still varies by combination and university.
What are popular law combinations?
Law with arts is popular for flexibility, law with commerce suits commercial or corporate careers, and law with science supports areas like patents or technology law. The right one depends on your interests and career plans.
How long is a combined law degree?
Usually around five to six years, compared with about four for a standalone law degree. So you gain a second qualification for roughly an extra year, rather than studying two full degrees one after the other.
Does the second field lower the ATAR needed?
Not usually. In a combined law degree, the law part sets the higher entry bar, so pairing it with a lower-demand field does not lower the cut-off much. The requirement is driven by law at that university.
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This guide is general information for students and parents, not formal admissions advice. ATAR cut-offs, degree structures and entry rules vary by university and change every year. The LSAT applies only to some postgraduate JD programs, not undergraduate law. Any figures here are approximate and based on recent years, so always confirm the current details with each university and your state admissions centre (such as UAC, VTAC, QTAC, SATAC or TISC). Reviewed by the ATARCalculators Editorial Team.