Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Course

The study of law develops problem-solving skills and powers of analysis. It teaches precise and imaginative use of language. It also promotes ethical thinking and a focus on justice and fairness. It enhances students' thinking, reasoning and expressive abilities within legal and related contexts, leading to employment in the legal profession, law reform agencies, government service or other relevant areas of employment.

The objectives of the LLB program at Monash are to enable students to gain an understanding of basic legal concepts and legal institutions and of the historical, social, political and economic factors influencing their development. Upon completion of the LLB, students will be able to identify, use and evaluate the concepts, principles, rules and methods used in legal argument and will have developed oral and written skills, especially of legal argument, legal research and critical analysis. Students will have gained an understanding of concepts of justice, a concern to promote justice and an appreciation of their professional responsibilities.

Students who have, prior to admission to the LLB, successfully completed a minimum of 48 points of bachelor-degree-level study in a discipline other than law at Monash University or at another university will receive 36 points of unspecified credit towards the LLB. This may reduce the requirements for the LLB to 156 points of study and may allow students to complete the program in three to three and a half years of full-time study.

Admission to practice: Disciplinary reports

Warning to students of consequences of cheating or general misconduct

Students should note that a local applicant applying for admission to practise law in Victoria is required by the Admission Rules 2008 to provide to the Board of Examiners:

(1.) a report from the university disclosing any disciplinary action taken against the student during the course (including any finding under the University Discipline Statute that the student has cheated in an assessment); and

(2.) an affidavit stating that the applicant has made full written disclosure of "every matter which a reasonable applicant would consider that the Board of Examiners might regard as not being favourable to the applicant". This may include an incident of academic or general misconduct, even if it did not lead to disciplinary action.

The Board of Examiners will consider these matters in assessing whether the applicant is a 'fit and proper person to be admitted to the legal profession'.

The Bachelor of Laws course consists of 12 compulsory units which must be completed by all students enrolled in an LLB program plus a further six 'quasi-compulsory' units which must be completed by students who wish to be qualified for admission to practice as a barrister or solicitor in Victoria. The remainder of the program consists of elective units chosen by the student from the list available at http://www.monash.edu.au/law/current-students/t-tables/ug-electives-current-year.doc. Refer also to 'Bachelor of Laws - basic course structure' at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2010handbooks/undergrad/law-08.html. The award of an honours degree in law is based on the weighted average of marks obtained in Monash law units.

The following is the normal course progression for the LLB studied full-time without credit.

First year - 48 points

Students complete six compulsory units and two non-law electives.

Compulsory units

• LAW1101 Introduction to legal reasoning
• LAW1104 Research and writing
• LAW2101 Contract A
• LAW2102 Contract B
• LAW3301 Criminal law and procedure A
• LAW3302 Criminal law B

Electives

• 12 points of non-law electives*

* Those students who have received unspecified credit for previous studies do not complete these two non-law electives but must complete instead LAW2201 (Torts A) and LAW2202 (Torts B) in first year, and will need to adjust their unit choice and progression accordingly.

Second year - 48 points

Students complete five compuslory units and three law electives, one of which should include the quasi-compulsory unit for those students intending to practice law in Victoria.

Compulsory units

• LAW3201 Constitutional law
• LAW2201 Torts A**
• LAW2202 Torts B**
• LAW3401 Property A
• LAW3402 Property B

Quasi-compulsory unit

• LAW5159 Evidence

** Unless undertaken in first year.

Third year - 48 points

Students complete eight law electives which should include the three quasi-compulsory units for those students intending to practice law in Victoria.

Quasi-compulsory units

• LAW4169 Equity
• LAW4170 Trusts
• LAW4171 Corporations law

Fourth year - 48 points

Students complete one compulsory unit and five law electives, two of which should include the quasi-compulsory units for those students intending to practice law in Victoria.

Compulsory unit

• LAW3101 Administrative law

Quasi-compulsory units

• LAW5104 Civil procedure
• LAW5125 Lawyers, ethics and society

Bachelor of Laws

Bachelor of Laws (with Honours)

Where more than one award is listed the actual award(s) conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved, or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.