L6004 Master of Laws

The course is structured in four parts: Part A. Introduction to Australian Law, Part B. Law Core Units, Part C. Extending specialist knowledge electives, and Part D. Law research and knowledge.

Part A. Introduction to Australian Law
The foundation knowledge for studies in Law.

Part B. Law Core Units
7 units which provide knowledge, skills and the academic requirements for admission to practice in Australia.

Part C. 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 D. 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.

Master's entry points

If you admitted at entry Level 1 you must complete 96 points, comprising all of Parts A, B, C, and D.
If you are admitted at entry Level 2 you must complete 48 points, comprising all of Parts C and D.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 96 points structured in four parts: Part A. Introduction to Australian Law (6 points), Part B. Law Core Units (42 points), Part C. Extending specialist knowledge electives (24, 36 or 42 points), and Part D. Law research and knowledge (6, 12 or 24 points).

If you admitted at entry Level 1 you must complete 96 points, comprising all of Parts A, B, C, and D.
If you are admitted at entry Level 2 you must complete 48 points, comprising all of Parts C and D.

Part A. Introduction to Australian Law (6 points)
You must complete:

• LAW5081 Australian legal process and research

Part B. Law Core Units (42 points)
You must complete either a. or b. below:

a. You must complete

• LAW5007 Principles of constitutional law
• LAW5014 Principles of administrative law

and you must complete up to 30 points from the following as determined by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB) prior to course application:

• LAW5001 Principles of criminal law and procedure
• LAW5002 Principles of contract law A
• LAW5003 Principles of torts
• LAW5005 Principles of contract law B
• LAW5006 Principles of property law
• LAW5008 Principles of equity
• LAW5018 Advanced property law
• LAW5010 Principles of trusts
• LAW5011 Principles of company law
• LAW5012 Principles of evidence
• LAW5013 Principles of litigation and dispute resolution
• LAW5015 Ethics in legal practice

b. You must complete

• LAW5004 Pubic law and statutory interpretation
• LAW5006 Principles of property law
• LAW5007 Principles of constitutional law
• LAW5013 Principles of litigation and dispute resolution
• LAW5014 Principles of administrative law
• LAW5015 Ethics in legal practice
• LAW5018 Advanced property law

Part C: Extending specialist knowledge electives (24, 36 or 42 points)

You must 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, who are admitted at entry level 2 must complete LAW5081 Australian legal process and research.

Not all elective units are offered in each semester or year.

Part D. Law research and knowledge (6, 12 or 24 points)

You must complete a. and b. below:
a. one of the following on an approved law topic in their area of specialisation:

• LAW5082 Masters research (6 points)
• LAW5083 Extended research (12 points)*
• LAW5084 Minor thesis (24 points)*

* Students taking the course as a pathway to doctoral studies are advised to complete one of these units.
Note: Where students complete LAW5083 (Extended research), they may count 6 credit points towards Part C requirements and 6 credit points towards Part D. Similarly, students completing LAW5084 (Minor thesis) may count 18 credit points towards Part C and 6 credit points towards Part D. In both instances this will be subject to the Board of Examiners certifying that the research topic falls within the area of specialisation.

b. any remaining units to take the overall total of Part C and D to 48 credit points from across all units listed below. Units are 6 points unless otherwise indicated.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise indicated.

Specialisation Electives

Commercial and Corporate Law

• LAW5300 Commercial tenancy 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
• LAW5323 Collective labour rights
• LAW5328 International business transactions
• LAW5332 International commercial arbitration
• LAW5339 Technology contracts and licensing law
• LAW5340 Intellectual property
• LAW5341 Trade mark practice
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance: Law, policy and governance
• LAW5344 Negotiation: Essential skills for dispute resolution
• LAW5345 Business and human rights
• LAW5346 Design law and practice
• LAW5347 Consumer policy and regulation
• LAW5350 Principles of taxation
• LAW5351 Comparative competition law
• LAW5352 Electronic workplace law
• LAW5353 Cybercrime
• LAW5356 Corporate and white collar crim
• LAW5357 Corporate governance and directors' duties
• LAW5358 Current issues in workplace law
• LAW5366 International banking and finance: Law and practice
• LAW5367 Energy law, regulation and policy
• LAW5370 Discrimination law and human rights at work
• LAW5375 Arbitration of international commercial disputes
• LAW5384 International investment law
• LAW5385 Corporate finance law
• LAW5388 Patenting for commercialisation
• LAW5392 Globalisation and international economic law
• LAW5394 Banking law
• LAW5399 Personal property securities
• LAW5402 Innovation: Labour, competition and intellectual property law perspectives
• LAW5408 Remedies in commercial disputes
• LAW5419 The law of financial transactions
• LAW5425 Current issues in copyright
• LAW5426 Regulating business: Enforcement and compliance
• LAW5431 International entertainment law
• LAW5437 China's legal system
• LAW5440 International commercial dispute resolution advocacy
• LAW5441 Australian tax policy
• LAW5444 Advanced commercial contracts masterclass
• LAW5445 Commercial equity
• LAW5447 Intellectual property and the internet
• LAW5448 Copyright X: US and international copyright law and theory
• LAW5450 Principles of succession law
• LAW5452 Private investment law
• LAW5461 Entrepreneurship and the law
• LAW5464 Negotiation and influence: Strategy and skills
• LAW5466 Financial services law
• LAW5606 Restitution
• LAW5611 Comparative issues in patent law
• LAW5612 International litigation and arbitration
• LAW5617 International and comparative taxation law
• LAW5626 International and comparative insolvency law
• LAW5628 International and comparative trademark law
• LAW5632 International information and media law
• LAW5634 Global economic law
• LAW5642 The global lawyer
• LAW5645 Conventional and islamic international banking and finance law
• LAW5646 Real property law in Asia and Australia
• LAW5648 Comparative and commercial transactions
• LAW5649 Law in the age of artificial intelligence
• LAW5650 Legal tech studio

Transnational Economic Law

• LAW5301 Copyright
• LAW5302 European Union law and policy
• LAW5305 International trade law
• LAW5312 Competition law
• LAW5314 International environmental law
• LAW5318 International aspects of intellectual property
• LAW5325 Defamation law
• LAW5328 International business transactions
• LAW5332 International commercial arbitration
• LAW5339 Technology contracts and licensing law
• LAW5345 Business and human rights
• LAW5351 Comparative competition law
• LAW5366 International banking and finance: Law and practice
• LAW5375 Arbitration of international commercial disputes
• LAW5384 International investment law
• LAW5389 The law of climate change
• LAW5392 Globalisation and international economic law
• LAW5398 Transnational labour law
• LAW5402 Innovation: Labour, competition and intellectual property law perspectives
• LAW5431 International entertainment law
• LAW5440 International commercial dispute resolution advocacy
• LAW5447 Intellectual property and the internet
• LAW5448 Copyright X: US and international copyright law and theory
• LAW5603 Comparative cyberlaw
• LAW5604 International environmental governance
• LAW5608 Transnational litigation
• LAW5611 Comparative issues in patent law
• LAW5615 Environmental activism, ecoterrorism and the law
• LAW5617 International and comparative taxation law
• LAW5618 Comparative cybercrime
• LAW5620 Privacy and surveillance in an information age: Comparative law perspectives
• LAW5626 International and comparative insolvency law
• LAW5628 International and comparative trademark law
• LAW5630 European and international monetary law
• LAW5632 International information and media law
• LAW5634 Global economic law
• LAW5635 Contemporary issues in international sports law
• LAW5636 EU external relations: Law and policy
• LAW5637 Asian legal systems
• LAW5640 International and transnational law and the green economy
• LAW5642 The global lawyer
• LAW5645 Conventional and islamic international banking and finance law
• LAW5646 Real property law in Asia and Australia
• LAW5648 Comparative and commercial transactions
• LAW5649 Law in the age of artificial intelligence

Technology and Innovation

• LAW5301 Copyright
• LAW5305 International trade law
• 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
• LAW5328 International business transactions
• LAW5339 Technology contracts and licensing law
• LAW5340 Intellectual property
• LAW5341 Trade mark practice
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance: Law, policy and governance
• LAW5346 Design law and practice
• LAW5352 Electronic workplace law
• LAW5353 Cybercrime
• LAW5367 Energy law, regulation and policy
• LAW5388 Patenting for commercialisation
• LAW5389 The law of climate change
• LAW5402 Innovation: Labour, competition and intellectual property law perspectives
• LAW5425 Current issues in copyright
• LAW5444 Advanced commercial contracts masterclass
• LAW5447 Intellectual property and the internet
• LAW5448 Copyright X: US and international copyright law and theory
• LAW5455 Chinese law and innovation policies
• LAW5456 Science, technology and law
• LAW5457 Forensic evidence: Law, science, medicine and technology
• LAW5460 Online dispute resolution
• LAW5461 Entrepreneurship and the law
• LAW5600 Issues in medical ethics and law
• LAW5603 Comparative cyberlaw
• LAW5611 Comparative issues in patent law
• LAW5616 Air and space law
• LAW5618 Comparative cybercrime
• LAW5620 Privacy and surveillance in an information age: Comparative law perspectives
• LAW5628 International and comparative trademark law
• LAW5632 International information and media law
• LAW5649 Law in the age of artificial intelligence
• LAW5650 Legal tech studio

Global Society and Human Rights

• LAW5302 European Union law and policy
• LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law
• LAW5305 International trade law
• LAW5314 International environmental law
• LAW5317 Principles of privacy and freedom of information
• LAW5323 Collective labour rights
• LAW5325 Defamation law
• LAW5326 Comparative European legal systems
• LAW5327 International human rights
• LAW5330 International refugee law and practice
• LAW5331 Comparative constitution and rights
• LAW5333 Comparative criminal law
• LAW5334 Psychiatry, psychology and the law
• LAW5335 Contemporary problems in the administration of criminal justice
• LAW5338 International humanitarian law
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance: Law, policy and governance
• LAW5345 Business and human rights
• 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
• LAW5376 International criminal law: Procedural and practical aspects
• LAW5380 International human rights law and development
• LAW5381 Human rights advocacy: Australian law and practice
• LAW5383 International refugee law and human rights
• LAW5384 International investment law
• LAW5389 The law of climate change
• LAW5392 Globalisation and international economic law
• LAW5403 International covenant on civil and political rights
• LAW5404 Genocide and international law
• LAW5407 Current issues in torts
• LAW5414 Public international law
• LAW5417 Children's rights in international law
• LAW5418 Transitional justice
• LAW5420 Malaysian and Singaporean constitutional systems
• LAW5422 Victorian charter of rights and responsibilities
• LAW5424 Human trafficking, modern slavery and the law
• LAW5433 Victims, law and mass atrocity
• LAW5435 Comparative perspectives on crime and punishment
• LAW5436 International and comparative family law
• LAW5437 China's legal system
• LAW5439 Sexual and gender minorities and human rights
• LAW5451 Indigenous people and the law
• LAW5454 Climate change and displacement
• LAW5455 Chinese law and innovation policies
• LAW5459 Australians detained abroad
• LAW5463 Children's law in action
• LAW5465 Migration and Human Rights
• LAW5467 Gender and the law
• LAW5469 Family violence, gender and law
• LAW5603 Comparative cyberlaw
• LAW5604 International environmental governance
• LAW5610 Varieties of the secular: Law, religion, and social change
• LAW5619 European human rights law
• LAW5620 Privacy and surveillance in an information age: Comparative law perspectives
• LAW5622 Collaborative practice
• LAW5623 Human rights and the European Union
• LAW5624 Introduction to Islamic law
• LAW5638 Climate change and international law
• LAW5639 Comparative indigenous rights
• LAW5640 International and transnational law and the green economy
• LAW5642 The global lawyer
• LAW5644 Sovereignty and globalisation
• LAW5649 Law in the age of artificial intelligence
• LAW5651 Human Rights and Migration in comparative perspective

Public Sector Governance and Regulation

• LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law
• LAW5307 Occupational health and safety
• LAW5310 Sentencing
• LAW5311 Takeovers
• LAW5312 Competition law
• LAW5313 Planning law
• LAW5314 International environmental law
• LAW5317 Principles of privacy and freedom of information
• LAW5319 Law of employee relations
• LAW5320 Local government law
• LAW5322 Superannuation law and practice
• LAW5323 Collective labour rights
• LAW5327 International human rights
• LAW5331 Comparative constitution and rights
• LAW5333 Comparative criminal law
• LAW5335 Contemporary problems in the administration of criminal justice
• LAW5340 Intellectual property
• LAW5341 Trade mark practice
• LAW5343 Privacy and surveillance: Law, policy and governance
• LAW5347 Consumer policy and regulation
• LAW5348 Indigenous rights and international law
• LAW5350 Principles of taxation
• LAW5351 Comparative competition law
• LAW5352 Digital workplace law
• LAW5353 Cybercrime
• LAW5354 International criminal justice
• LAW5356 Corporate and white collar crime
• LAW5357 Corporate governance and directors' duties
• LAW5358 Current issues in workplace law
• 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
• LAW5370 Discrimination law and human rights at work
• LAW5376 International criminal law: Procedural and practical aspects
• LAW5382 Principles of environmental law
• LAW5389 The law of climate change
• LAW5402 Innovation: Labour, competition and intellectual property law perspectives
• LAW5407 Current issues in torts
• LAW5414 Public international law
• LAW5419 The law of financial transactions
• LAW5420 Malaysian and Singaporean constitutional systems
• LAW5422 Victorian charter of rights and responsibilities
• LAW5424 Human trafficking, modern slavery and the law
• LAW5426 Regulating business: Enforcement and compliance
• LAW5428 Health law
• LAW5434 Principles of government law and administration
• LAW5441 Australian tax policy
• LAW5449 Advanced administrative law
• LAW5451 Indigenous people and the law
• LAW5456 Science, technology and law
• LAW5458 Animal law, regulation and policy
• LAW5470 Exposing failures and wrongdoing: royal commissions and public inquiries
• LAW5614 Regulating relationships and families
• LAW5616 Air and space law
• LAW5620 Privacy and surveillance in an information age: Comparative law perspectives
• LAW5638 Climate change and international law
• LAW5639 Comparative indigenous rights
• LAW5647 Contemporary issues in public policy, regulation and the law

Dispute Resolution

• LAW5303 Forensic family law
• LAW5305 International trade law
• LAW5310 Sentencing
• LAW5315 Commercial alternative dispute resolution
• LAW5323 Collective labour rights
• LAW5325 Defamation law
• LAW5332 International commercial arbitration
• 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
• 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
• LAW5429 Advanced commercial negotiation skills
• LAW5430 Advanced evidence and proof in litigation
• LAW5432 Workplace investigations and misconduct
• LAW5440 International commercial dispute resolution advocacy
• LAW5443 Language, communication and legal process
• LAW5457 Forensic evidence: Law, science, medicine and technology
• LAW5460 Online dispute resolution
• LAW5462 Non-adversarial practice
• LAW5464 Negotiation and influence: Strategy and skills
• LAW5605 Comparative dispute resolution
• LAW5606 Restitution
• LAW5612 International litigation and arbitration
• LAW5621 Mediation and law: From problem solving to narrative building
• LAW5627 Judgment and decision-making

Labour and Employment Law

• LAW5307 Occupational health and safety
• LAW5315 Commercial alternative dispute resolution
• LAW5319 Law of employee relations
• LAW5323 Collective labour rights
• LAW5344 Negotiation: Essential skills for dispute resolution
• LAW5352 Electronic workplace law
• LAW5358 Current issues in workplace law
• LAW5370 Discrimination law and human rights at work
• LAW5374 Federal labour law
• LAW5390 Workplace bargaining and agreements law
• LAW5393 Law of workforce management
• LAW5398 Transnational labour law
• LAW5402 Innovation: Labour, competition and intellectual property law perspectives
• LAW5432 Workplace investigations and misconduct
• LAW5464 Negotiation and influence: Strategy and skills
• LAW5633 Contemporary workplace relations law

Criminal Law and Forensics

• LAW5303 Forensic family law
• LAW5310 Sentencing
• LAW5333 Comparative criminal law
• LAW5334 Psychiatry, psychology and law
• LAW5335 Contemporary problems in the administration of criminal justice
• LAW5353 Cybercrime
• LAW5354 International criminal justice
• LAW5356 Corporate and white collar crime
• LAW5365 Terrorism and human rights
• LAW5376 International criminal law: Procedural and practical aspects
• LAW5430 Advanced evidence and proof in litigation
• LAW5435 Comparative perspectives on crime and punishment
• LAW5457 Forensic evidence: Law, science, medicine and technology
• LAW5469 Family violence, gender and law
• LAW5615 Environmental activism, ecoterrorism and the law
• LAW5618 Comparative cybercrime

Health Law and Community

• LAW5303 Forensic family law
• LAW5307 Occupational health and safety
• LAW5334 Psychiatry, psychology and law
• LAW5359 International human rights law and women
• LAW5364 Economic, social and cultural rights and international law
• LAW5407 Current issues in torts
• LAW5409 Principles of family law
• LAW5417 Children's rights in international law
• LAW5424 Human trafficking, modern slavery and the law
• LAW5428 Health law
• LAW5436 International and comparative family law
• LAW5438 Current issues in sports law
• LAW5439 Sexual and gender minorities and human rights
• LAW5451 Indigenous people and the law
• LAW5456 Science, technology and law
• LAW5457 Forensic evidence: Law, science, medicine and technology
• LAW5459 Australians detained abroad
• LAW5463 Children's law in action
• LAW5467 Gender and the law
• LAW5469 Family violence, gender and law
• LAW5600 Issues in medical ethics and law
• LAW5614 Regulating relationships and families
• LAW5635 Contemporary issues in international sports law
• LAW5639 Comparative indigenous rights