Master of Laws

In this expert graduate course, law graduates develop advanced professional skills and knowledge of developments in the law, practice and scholarship of one or more areas of law. Students can focus on a specialised area or select from a broad range of electives for professional practice. The course enhances the capacity to undertake independent research, and provides options for a pathway to doctoral studies.

Students investigate contemporary issues in law, practice and scholarship, and evaluate complex legal issues from theoretical, international and interdisciplinary perspectives.

Specialisations

Commercial law

The commercial law specialisation provides you with a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in commercial law and develops the advanced professional skills and specialist knowledge required for working in the commercial field. You can choose from an extensive range of commercial law units including units in corporate law, competition law, banking and finance law, and tax law. The specialisation is suitable for graduates interested in developing or enhancing specialist careers in professions and occupations that require a sound grasp of commercial law issues, including as accountants, company administrators and business managers.

You will investigate contemporary issues in law, practice and scholarship, and evaluate complex issues relevant to the field from theoretical, international and interdisciplinary perspectives. The course enhances your capacity to undertake independent research, and includes options for a pathway to doctoral studies.

Dispute resolution

The dispute resolution specialisation provides you with a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in dispute resolution and develops the advanced professional skills and specialist knowledge required for working as a dispute resolution practitioner, including as an arbitrator, mediator or other dispute resolution practitioner. It is suitable for graduates interested in developing or enhancing specialist careers in dispute resolution.

You will investigate contemporary issues in law, practice and scholarship, and evaluate complex issues relevant to the field from theoretical, international and interdisciplinary perspectives. The course enhances your capacity to undertake independent research, and includes options for a pathway to doctoral studies.

Government law and regulatory practice

The Government law and regulatory practice specialisation provide you with a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in government law and regulatory practice and develops the advanced professional skills and specialist knowledge required for working with or within government and regulatory bodies. It is suitable for graduates interested developing or enhancing specialist careers in the federal, state or local government sectors or in occupations that require a high level of interaction with government and regulatory bodies.

You will investigate contemporary issues in law, practice and scholarship, and evaluate complex issues relevant to the field from theoretical, international and interdisciplinary perspectives. The course enhances your capacity to undertake independent research, and includes options for a pathway to doctoral studies.

Human rights law

The human rights specialisation provides you with a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in the laws governing international and domestic human rights, and develops the advanced professional skills and specialist knowledge required for work in this diverse field. The extensive range of units enables students to develop and enhance their knowledge across the breadth of human rights law. The specialisation is suitable for graduates interested developing or enhancing specialist careers within the government sector or in development agencies and other local and international human rights-related organisations.

You will investigate contemporary issues in law, practice and scholarship, and evaluate complex issues relevant to the field from theoretical, international and interdisciplinary perspectives. The course enhances your capacity to undertake independent research, and includes options for a pathway to doctoral studies.

Intellectual property and communications law

The intellectual property and communications specialisation provides you with a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in the laws regulating intellectual property regimes and the broader field of communications, and develops the advanced professional skills and specialist knowledge required for work in this complex and dynamic field. It is suitable for graduates interested developing or enhancing specialist careers in intellectual property and communications, including careers within media organisations and the public sector.

You will investigate contemporary issues in law, practice and scholarship, and evaluate complex issues relevant to the field from theoretical, international and interdisciplinary perspectives. The course enhances your capacity to undertake independent research, and includes options for a pathway to doctoral studies.

International and comparative law

The international and comparative law specialisation provides you with advanced legal knowledge across a broad spectrum of legal issues with international significance. These range across broad issues of public international law, international human rights and humanitarian law, international criminal law and justice, international commercial and comparative law and international trade and finance law, and the impact of international legal frameworks.

Your in-depth studies will enable you to work in non-government organisations (NGOs), government and industry (domestically or internationally) in positions that call for knowledge and understanding of international legal frameworks.

Law and international development

The law and international development specialisation provides you with a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in the laws and regulatory frameworks governing the ways in which the international community provides assistance to developing countries to improve the economic, political and social quality of life for their people. It also develops the advanced professional skills and specialist knowledge required for working as a professional in this field. It is suitable for graduates interested developing or enhancing specialist careers in international development within government, non-government or not-for-profit sectors.

You will investigate contemporary issues in law, practice and scholarship, and evaluate complex issues relevant to the field from theoretical, international and interdisciplinary perspectives. The course enhances your capacity to undertake independent research, and includes options for a pathway to doctoral studies.

Law studies

In the Law studies specialisation, you will develop advanced professional skills and knowledge of developments in the law, practice and scholarship of one or more areas of law. You can select from a broad range of electives for professional practice. The course enhances the capacity to undertake independent research, and provides options for a pathway to doctoral studies.

You will investigate contemporary issues in law, practice and scholarship, and evaluate complex legal issues from theoretical, international and interdisciplinary perspectives.

The course provides you with a springboard from which to launch or further a career in one of the many fields of law that are open to trained lawyers.

Workplace and employment law

Workplace and employment law provides you with a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in workplace and employment law and develops the advanced professional skills and specialist knowledge required for working in workplace and employment relations, including in the public sector, corporate management, trade unions and employer associations. It is suitable for graduates interested in developing or enhancing specialist careers in human resources and the management of workplace and employment relations.

You will investigate contemporary issues in law, practice and scholarship, and evaluate complex issues relevant to the field from theoretical, international and interdisciplinary perspectives. The course enhances your capacity to undertake independent research, and includes options for a pathway to doctoral studies.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Graduates of the course will be able to:

1. demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and recent developments in a range of areas of law and legal practice
2. apply theories, knowledge and skills to different areas of law or to new situations in legal practice or legal scholarship law
3. design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to global professional practice or scholarship
4. explain and justify arguments, methods, and conclusions to legal and lay audiences
5. apply with integrity appropriate research principles and methods to plan, carry out and report on an original project
6. demonstrate high level personal autonomy and judgment.

Students may be eligible for credit for up to 50 per cent of the course (24 points) for previous masters level studies in law. Students who have completed an independent research project in a bachelor of law honours degree may be exempted from the masters research unit but must still complete 48 points of level 5 units.

The course is structured in two parts. Part A: Extending specialist knowledge electives and Part B: Law research and knowledge.

Part A: Extending specialist knowledge electives

The studies enable you to develop specialised knowledge and advanced skills in areas of law that suit your interests, skills and career goals.

Part B: Law research and knowledge

These studies will provide you with in-depth knowledge of a wide range of areas of law and legal practice. You will be able to focus on sources of information relevant to your specialisation and the application of research methods and specialist discipline knowledge and skills necessary to support law-related work. Depending on your interests and motivation, you can choose a program of study in which you plan and execute a major research-based project with a high level of personal autonomy and accountability.

The course comprises 48 points of law studies structured into two parts: Part A: Extending specialist knowledge electives and Part B: Law research and knowledge.

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/maps/map-l6004.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Part A: Extending specialist knowledge electives*

Students complete either a) or b) below:

a. 24, 36 or 42 points of study from your chosen specialisation below

b. 24, 36 or 42 points of general law studies from across all lists below

International students and those with a law degree from a non-Australian jurisdiction must complete LAW5081 (Australian legal process and research).

*Note: not all units are offered in each semester or year.

Part B. Law research and knowledge

Students complete a. and b. below:

a. one of the following:

• LAW5082 Masters research (6 points), LAW5083 Extended research* (on an approved topic in law) (12 points) or LAW5084 Minor thesis (on an approved topic in law) (24 points) in your specialisation

b. any remaining units to take the overall total to 48 credit points from across all units listed below

* Students taking the course as a pathway to doctoral studies are advised to take the extended research or minor thesis option.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise indicated.

Commercial law

• LAW5301 Copyright
• LAW5302 European union law and policy
• LAW5305 International trade law
• LAW5306 Corporate insolvency
• LAW5307 Occupational health and safety
• LAW5311 Takeovers
• LAW5312 Competition law
• LAW5314 International environmental law
• LAW5315 Commercial alternative dispute resolution
• LAW5316 Trade marks and commercial designations
• LAW5317 Principles of privacy and freedom of information
• LAW5318 International aspects of intellectual property
• LAW5319 Law of employee relations
• LAW5321 Protecting commercial innovation: Patents and trade secrets
• LAW5322 Superannuation law and practice
• LAW5339 Technology contracts and licensing law
• LAW5340 Intellectual property
• LAW5341 Trade mark practice
• LAW5342 Current issues in electronic commerce law
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance: Law, policy and governance
• LAW5344 Negotiation: Essential skills for dispute resolution
• LAW5345 Human rights, business and the global economy
• LAW5346 Design law and practice
• LAW5347 Consumer policy and regulation
• LAW5349 Corporate law
• LAW5350 Principles of taxation
• LAW5352 Electronic workplace law
• LAW5353 Cybercrime
• LAW5356 Corporate and white collar crime
• LAW5357 Corporate governance and directors' duties
• LAW5360 Advanced conflict resolution skills
• LAW5366 International banking and finance: Law and practice
• LAW5367 Energy law, regulation and policy
• LAW5368 Regulation of Australian water resources
• LAW5369 World Trade Organization (WTO) law
• LAW5370 Discrimination law and human rights at work
• LAW5372 Principles of construction law
• LAW5374 Federal labour law
• LAW5375 Arbitration of international commercial disputes
• LAW5378 Comparative corporate governance
• LAW5379 Procurement law
• LAW5384 International investment law
• LAW5385 Corporate finance law
• LAW5392 Globalisation and international economic law
• LAW5394 Banking law
• LAW5395 Arbitration of domestic commercial disputes
• LAW5399 Personal property securities
• LAW5400 International trade mark law
• LAW5407 Current issues in torts law
• LAW5408 Remedies in commercial disputes
• LAW5415 Domestic and international debt capital markets
• LAW5423 Private international law in commercial disputes
• LAW5426 Regulating business: Enforcement and compliance
• LAW5429 Advanced commercial negotiation skills
• LAW5430 Advanced evidence and proof in litigation
• LAW5431 International entertainment law
• LAW5432 Workplace investigations and misconduct
• LAW5437 China's legal system
• LAW5438 Current issues in sports law
• LAW5441 Australian tax policy
• LAW5444 Advanced commercial contracts masterclass
• LAW5445 Commercial equity
• LAW5447 Intellectual property and the internet
• LAW5448 Copyright x: Monash
• LAW5450 Principles of succession law
• LAW5452 Private investment law
• LAW5453 Comparative international litigation
• LAW5455 Issues in Chinese business law and civil society

Dispute resolution

• LAW5308 Current issues in evidence
• LAW5310 Sentencing
• LAW5315 Commercial alternative dispute resolution
• LAW5344 Negotiation: Essential skills for dispute resolution
• LAW5355 Advocacy: Theory and practice
• LAW5360 Advanced conflict resolution skills
• LAW5375 Arbitration of international commercial disputes
• LAW5381 Human rights advocacy: Australian law and practice
• LAW5387 Non-adversarial family and children's law
• LAW5408 Remedies in commercial disputes
• LAW5410 Collaborative practice
• LAW5411 Advanced mediation: Skills and theory A
• LAW5412 Advanced mediation: Skills and theory B
• LAW5421 Managing high conflict personalities in legal disputes
• LAW5423 Private international law in commercial disputes
• LAW5429 Advanced commercial negotiation skills
• LAW5430 Advanced evidence and proof in litigation
• LAW5443 Language, communication and legal process
• LAW5453 Comparative conflict of laws
• LAW5453 Comparative international litigation

Government law and regulatory practice

• LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law
• LAW5307 Occupational health and safety
• LAW5310 Sentencing
• LAW5312 Competition law
• LAW5313 Planning law
• LAW5317 Principles of privacy and freedom of information
• LAW5319 Law of employee relations
• LAW5320 Local government law
• LAW5341 Trade mark practice
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance: law, policy and governance
• LAW5347 Consumer protection: Regulation and compliance
• LAW5352 Electronic workplace law
• LAW5357 Corporate governance and directors' duties
• LAW5361 Foundations of regulation: Policy, principles and practice
• LAW5362 Regulatory methods
• LAW5363 Regulatory performance: evaluating what works.
• LAW5365 Terrorism and human rights
• LAW5367 Energy law, regulation and policy
• LAW5368 Regulation of Australian water resources
• LAW5370 Discrimination law and human rights at work
• LAW5371 Protecting the rights of minorities, marginalised and vulnerable people
• LAW5372 Principles of construction law
• LAW5379 Procurement law
• LAW5380 International human rights law and development
• LAW5382 Principles of environmental law
• LAW5383 International refugee law and human rights
• LAW5386 Health law and human rights
• LAW5389 The law of climate change
• LAW5396 Economics of regulation
• LAW5414 Public international law
• LAW5416 Children's rights in Australian law
• LAW5422 Victorian charter of rights and responsibilities
• LAW5424 Human trafficking and the law
• LAW5426 Regulating business: Enforcement and compliance
• LAW5427 Freedom of speech - Law, theory and policy
• LAW5428 Health law
• LAW5432 Workplace investigations and misconduct
• LAW5434 Principles of government law and administration
• LAW5438 Current issues in sports law
• LAW5443 Language, communication and legal process
• LAW5449 Advanced administrative law
• LAW5450 Principles of succession law
• LAW5453 Comparative international litigation
• LAW5454 Climate governance and citizen justice

Human rights law

• LAW5303 Forensic family law
• LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law
• LAW5310 Sentencing
• LAW5317 Principles of privacy and freedom of information
• LAW5324 Discrimination law, theory and policy
• LAW5334 Psychiatry, psychology and law
• LAW5338 International humanitarian law
• LAW5345 Human rights, business and the global economy
• LAW5348 Indigenous rights and international law
• LAW5354 International criminal justice
• LAW5359 International human rights law and women
• LAW5364 Economic social and cultural rights and international law
• LAW5365 Terrorism and human rights
• LAW5370 Discrimination law and human rights at work
• LAW5371 Protecting the rights of minorities, marginalised and vulnerable people
• LAW5373 Comparative bills of rights
• LAW5376 International criminal law: Procedural and practical aspects
• LAW5377 The use of force in an international law
• LAW5380 International human rights law and development
• LAW5381 Human rights advocacy: Australian law and practice
• LAW5383 International refugee law and human rights
• LAW5386 Health law and human rights
• LAW5403 International covenant on civil and political rights
• LAW5404 Genocide in international law
• LAW5407 Current issues in torts
• LAW5409 Principles of family law
• LAW5410 Collaborative practice
• LAW5414 Public international law
• LAW5416 Children's rights in Australian law
• LAW5417 Children's rights in international law
• LAW5418 Transitional justice
• LAW5422 Victorian charter of rights and responsibilities
• LAW5424 Human trafficking and the law
• LAW5427 Freedom of speech - law theory and policy
• LAW5428 Health law
• LAW5430 Advanced evidence and proof in litigation
• LAW5433 Victims, law and mass atrocity
• LAW5439 Sexual minorities and human rights
• LAW5442 Racial, ethnic and linguistic minorities and human rights
• LAW5451 Indigenous people and the law
• LAW5454 Climate governance and citizen justice

Intellectual property and communications law

• LAW5301 Copyright
• LAW5305 International trade law
• LAW5312 Competition law
• LAW5315 Commercial alternative dispute resolution
• LAW5316 Trade marks and commercial designations
• LAW5317 Principles of privacy and freedom of information
• LAW5318 International aspects of intellectual property
• LAW5321 Protecting commercial innovation: Patents and trade secrets
• LAW5325 Defamation law
• LAW5336 Law of the internet
• LAW5340 Intellectual property
• LAW5341 Trade mark practice
• LAW5346 Design law and practice
• LAW5352 Electronic workplace law
• LAW5353 Cybercrime
• LAW5369 World Trade Organisation (WTO) law
• LAW5400 International trade mark law
• LAW5425 Current issues in copyright
• LAW5427 Freedom of speech - law theory and policy
• LAW5431 International entertainment law
• LAW5443 Language, communication and legal process
• LAW5446 Comparative media law
• LAW5447 Intellectual property and the internet
• LAW5448 Copyright X: Monash

International and comparative law

• LAW5302 European union law and policy
• LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law
• LAW5305 International trade law
• LAW5314 International environmental law
• LAW5318 International aspects of intellectual property
• LAW5336 Law of the internet
• LAW5338 International humanitarian law
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance: Law, policy and governance
• LAW5345 Human rights, business and the global economy
• LAW5348 Indigenous rights and international law
• LAW5353 Cybercrime
• LAW5354 International criminal justice
• LAW5358 Current issues in workplace law
• LAW5359 International human rights law and women
• LAW5364 Economic social and cultural rights and international law
• LAW5365 Terrorism and human rights
• LAW5366 International banking and finance: Law and practice
• LAW5367 Energy law, regulation and policy
• LAW5369 World Trade Organization (WTO) law
• LAW5371 Protecting the rights of minorities, marginalised and vunerable people
• LAW5373 Comparative bills of rights
• LAW5375 Arbitration of international commercial disputes
• LAW5376 International criminal law: Procedural and practical aspects
• LAW5377 The use of force in international law
• LAW5378 Comparative corporate governance
• LAW5380 International human rights law and development
• LAW5383 International refugee law and human rights
• LAW5384 International investment law
• LAW5392 Globalisation and international economic law
• LAW5398 International labour law
• LAW5400 International trade mark law
• LAW5403 International covenant on civil and political rights
• LAW5414 Public international law
• LAW5415 Domestic and international debt capital markets
• LAW5417 Children's rights in international law
• LAW5418 Transitional justice
• LAW5423 Private international law in commercial disputes
• LAW5424 Human trafficking and the law
• LAW5430 Advanced evidence and proof in litigation
• LAW5431 International entertainment law
• LAW5433 Victims, law and mass atrocity
• LAW5437 China's legal system
• LAW5438 Current issues in sports law
• LAW5439 Sexual minorities and human rights
• LAW5442 Racial, ethnic and linguistic minorities and human rights
• LAW5446 Comparative media law
• LAW5448 Copyright x: Monash
• LAW5452 Private investment law
• LAW5453 Comparative international litigation
• LAW5454 Climate governance and citizen justice
• LAW5455 Issues in Chinese business law and civil society

Law and international development

• LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law
• LAW5305 International trade law
• LAW5314 International environmental law
• LAW5338 International humanitarian law
• LAW5345 Human rights, business and the global economy
• LAW5354 International criminal justice
• LAW5359 International human rights law and women
• LAW5361 Foundations of regulation: Policy, principles and practice
• LAW5364 Economic, social and cultural rights and international law
• LAW5366 International banking and finance: Law and practice
• LAW5375 Arbitration of international commercial disputes
• LAW5380 International human rights law and development
• LAW5383 International refugee law and human rights
• LAW5384 International investment law
• LAW5392 Globalisation and international economic law
• LAW5398 International labour law

Workplace and employment law

• LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law
• LAW5307 Occupational health and safety
• LAW5312 Competition law
• LAW5315 Commercial alternative dispute resolution
• LAW5319 Law of employee relations
• LAW5324 Discrimination law, theory and policy
• LAW5344 Negotiation and mediation skills
• LAW5352 Electronic workplace law
• LAW5356 Corporate and white collar crime
• LAW5358 Current issues in workplace law
• LAW5360 Advanced conflict resolution skills
• LAW5370 Discrimination law and human rights at work
• LAW5374 Federal labour law
• LAW5390 Workplace bargaining and agreements law
• LAW5393 Law of workforce management
• LAW5398 International labour law
• LAW5407 Current issues in torts law
• LAW5424 Human trafficking and the law
• LAW5430 Advanced evidence and proof in litigation
• LAW5432 Workplace investigations and misconduct
• LAW5443 Language, communication and the legal process

Students taking the course as a pathway to doctoral studies are advised to take the extended research or minor thesis option which is a pathway to a higher degree by research.

Students with an AQF8 Level qualification In law may exit this course early and apply to graduate with the following award, provided they have satisfied the requirements indicated for that award during their enrolment in this master's course:

• Graduate Diploma in Law after successful completion of 24 credit points of study at level 4 or above in this master's course.