Master of Workplace and Employment Law

This expert graduate course provides 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.

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 and recent developments in areas of workplace and employment law and the practice of workplace and employment law
2. apply theories, knowledge and skills to different areas of workplace and employment law or to new situations in practice or scholarship in workplace and employment 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.

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

Part A: Workplace and Employment law knowledge

These studies enable you to develop specialised knowledge and advanced skills in areas of workplace and employment 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 workplace and employment law or you can select from across the range of Masters law elective units. You will focus on sources of information relevant to workplace and employment 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 Workplace and employment law 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-l6007.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. Workplace and employment law 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
• LAW5312 Competition law
• LAW5319 Law of employee relations
• LAW5344 Negotiation: Essential skills for dispute resolution
• LAW5356 Corporate and white collar crime
• LAW5358 Current issues in workplace law
• LAW5390 Workplace bargaining and agreements law
• LAW5370 Discrimination law and human rights at work
• LAW5374 Federal labour law
• LAW5393 Law of workforce management
• LAW5398 International labour law
• LAW5407 Current issues in torts law
• LAW5424 Human trafficking and the law
• LAW5432 Workplace investigations and misconduct
• LAW5430 Advanced evidence and proof in litigation

* Note 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 workplace and employment law 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 workplace and employment 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.

Workplace and employment law electives

Not all units are offered every year.

• LAW5315 Commercial alternative dispute resolution
• LAW5324 Discrimination law, theory and policy
• LAW5352 Electronic workplace law
• LAW5360 Advanced conflict resolution skills
• LAW5458 Animal law, regulation and policy

Students taking the course as a pathway to doctoral studies are advised to take an extended research or a minor thesis 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 master's 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.