Monash University: University Handbooks: Postgraduate Handbook 2003: Units indexed by faculty
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Master of Laws

LLM by coursework and minor thesis and coursework alone

Normally applicants for admission to the degree of Master of Laws by coursework and minor thesis or coursework alone must have qualified for the degree of Bachelor of Laws or equivalent legal qualification at a credit standard. A student who is not so qualified, however, may be admitted to candidature if he or she has qualifications and experience which together are considered equivalent to a Bachelor of Laws qualification. Applications for admission to candidature for the LLM degree by coursework and minor thesis and by coursework alone are normally required to be lodged by 30 November for admission in the first semester and by 30 June for admission in the second semester. Late applications may be approved in special circumstances.

A candidate proceeding to the degree of LLM by coursework and minor thesis is required to complete four or six approved units and a minor thesis of approximately 15,000 or 30,000 words. A candidate proceeding to the LLM by coursework must complete eight approved units.
Students may enrol in the general LLM or one of the following specialisations:

Banking and finance law - for those who wish to keep abreast of local and international developments from a policy and a practical perspective and obtain a thorough grounding in fundamental principles of security and financial services law
Commercial law - for those who:

Digital economy law - for those who wish to keep abreast of laws relating to electronic commerce and the internet and develop further knowledge and skills in relation to electronic commerce.
Intellectual property - for those who wish to:

International and comparative law - for those who want to pursue an international career in law and law related work. This area is especially suited to:

Tribunal procedures - for those members of administrative tribunals who require certain core skills and knowledge to carry out their role, whatever their professional background. Monash Law has developed a comprehensive postgraduate program to enable members to develop those skills and that knowledge.
Workplace and employment law - for graduates in law who have an interest in the study of all facets of workplace and employment law at an advanced level. The faculty offers a wide range of units in the field covering workplace, employment, discrimination and human rights law.

Candidates enrolled in a specialist masters are required to complete a minimum number of units in that discipline. Further information concerning specialisations is available from the faculty's website at http://www.law.monash.edu.au/postgraduate/index.html or from the graduate studies officers, telephone (03) 9905 3338 or email graduate@law.monash.edu.au.
The faculty endeavours to offer a broad range of graduate units each year selected from the list below. The following units have been approved for the purpose of the coursework component in the postgraduate program.

Postgraduate offerings

The faculty reserves the right not to offer in a particular year any of the above units if it appears there are insufficient enrolments or if there are other overriding considerations. Enrolment quotas may have to be imposed in respect of all or some of the above units.

Thesis requirement

Candidates proceeding to the LLM degree by minor thesis must complete a thesis of either 15,000 or 30,000 words at a standard comparable to legal writings found in a learned law journal.

Candidates are required to submit a completed thesis proposal form to the graduate studies office. The prescribed proposal form is available from the graduate studies office upon request.
Candidates are encouraged to discuss proposals with members of academic staff. If required, the chair, Postgraduate Studies Committee, will assist in recommending an appropriate member of staff.
On receipt of the completed thesis proposal form, the administrative officer will submit it to the Postgraduate Studies Committee for approval of the topic and the appointment of a supervisor. In approving the research topic, the Postgraduate Studies Committee has regard to the adequacy of the candidate's preparation for the research project and the facilities available in the faculty for the supervision and carrying out of the research.
The requirements which must be met with respect to the certification of theses prior to their submission for examination are set out in sections 47 and 48 of the faculty's regulations.

LLM by major thesis

Applicants for admission to the degree of Master of Laws (LLM) by major thesis must have qualified for the degree of Bachelor of Laws or equivalent legal qualification at a high standard of excellence. A student who is not so qualified, however, may be admitted to candidature if he or she has qualifications and experience which together are considered equivalent to a Bachelor of Laws qualification. Applications for admission to candidature for the LLM degree by major thesis may be received at any time during the academic year.

Candidates proceeding to the LLM degree by major thesis must complete a thesis of about 70,000 words at a standard comparable to legal writings found in a learned law journal.
Candidates are required to submit a completed thesis proposal form to the research grants and consultancies office. The prescribed proposal form is available from the research grants and consultancies office upon request.
On receipt of the completed thesis proposal form, the research grants and consultancies officer will submit it to the Research Committee for approval of the topic and the appointment of a supervisor. In approving the research topic, the Research Committee has regard to the adequacy of the candidate's preparation for the research project and the facilities available in the faculty for the supervision and carrying out of the research.
The requirements which must be met with respect to the certification of theses prior to their submission for examination are set out in sections 47 and 48 of the faculty's regulations.

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