Master of Government Law and Regulatory Practice

This expert graduate course provides 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.

Students 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 students' 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://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Graduates of the course will be able to:

1. demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge of, and recent developments in, the laws and regulatory frameworks relevant to public administration and regulatory practice
2. apply theories, knowledge and skills to different areas of government law and regulatory practice or to new situations in public administration and regulatory practice or scholarship in government law and regulatory practice
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 credit points) for previous masters level studies in law.

The course is structured in two parts. Part A: Government law and regulatory practice knowledge and Part B: Extending specialist knowledge electives and research.

Part A: Government law and regulatory practice knowledge

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

Part B: Extending specialist knowledge electives and research

These studies will provide you with in-depth knowledge of a wide range of areas of Government law and regulatory practice or you can select from across the range of Masters law elective units. You will focus on sources of information relevant to Government law and regulatory practice law and the application of research methods and specialist discipline knowledge and skills necessary to support law-related work in those closely interrelated fields. 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 structured into two parts: Part A. Government law and regulatory practice knowledge (30 points) and Part B Extending specialist knowledge electives and research (18 points).

The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/maps/map-l6006.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Government law and regulatory practice knowledge (30 points)

Students complete a. and b. below:

a. the following unit:

• LAW5080 Australian legal system or LAW5081 Australian legal process and research*

b. a minimum of four units chosen from the units listed below:**

• LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law
• LAW5307 Occupational health and safety
• LAW5310 Sentencing
• LAW5317 Principles of privacy and freedom of information
• LAW5319 Law of employee relations
• LAW5438 Current issues in sports law
• LAW5347 Consumer policy and regulation
• LAW5357 Corporate governance and directors' duties
• LAW5361 Foundations of regulation: Policy, principles and practice
• LAW5365 Terrorism and human rights
• LAW5367 Energy law, regulation and policy
• LAW5370 Discrimination law and human rights at work
• LAW5372 Principles of construction law
• LAW5382 Principles of environmental law
• LAW5383 International refugee law and human rights
• LAW5422 Victorian charter of rights and responsibilities
• LAW5428 Health law
• LAW5432 Workplace investigations and misconduct
• LAW5434 Principles of government law and administration
• LAW5449 Advanced administrative law

* LAW5081 is required for all international students and those students with a law degree from a non-Australian jurisdiction.

** Not all units are offered every year.

Part B. Extending specialist knowledge electives and research (18 points)

Students complete 18 points across a. and b. below:

a. 6 or 12 points of elective law units. These can be taken from:

• Part A above
• the list of Government law and regulatory practice electives listed below
• any unit from the General list of Level 5 law units, excluding those only offered in L6005 Master of Laws (Juris Doctor)

b. The remaining 6 or 12 points of research studies in Government law and regulatory practice law from the following:*

• LAW5082 Masters research (6 points)
• LAW5083 Extended research (12 points)

* Note: Students taking the course as a pathway to doctoral studies are advised to take the extended research option.

Government law and regulatory practice law electives

• LAW5312 Competition law
• LAW5313 Planning law
• LAW5320 Local government law
• LAW5341 Trade mark practice
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance: Law, policy and governance
• LAW5352 Electronic workplace law
• LAW5362 Regulatory methods
• LAW5363 Regulatory performance: evaluating what works.
• LAW5368 Regulation of Australian water resources
• LAW5370 Discrimination law and human rights at work
• LAW5371 Protecting the rights of minorities, marginalised and vulnerable people
• LAW5379 Procurement law
• LAW5380 International human rights law and development
• 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
• LAW5424 Human trafficking and the law
• LAW5426 Regulating business: Enforcement and compliance
• LAW5427 Freedom of speech - Law, theory and policy
• LAW5443 Language, communication and legal process
• LAW5453 Comparative conflict of laws
• LAW5454 Climate governance and citizen justice
• LAW5456 Science, technology and law
• LAW5458 Animal law, regulation and policy

Not all units are offered every year.

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

Students 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 Masters course:

• Graduate Certificate in Law after successful completion of 24 points of study with a minimum of 18 credit points at level 4 or above.