CourseMaster's Degree (Coursework)MLS

L6013 Master of Legal Studies

Faculty of Law

Master of Legal Studies (L6013) is a 1.5 years full-time, 48-credit-point, master's degree (coursework) course from the Faculty of Law, taught at Monash Law Chambers. In 2023 you can choose from 9 specialisations. Map your units semester by semester with the MonMap planner.

Credit points
48
Duration
1.5 years full time
3 years part time
Campus
Monash Law Chambers
On campus

This is the 2023 handbook entry. See the 2026 entry.

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Requisite map

Overview

This expert graduate course provides a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in one or more areas of law. It is suitable for graduates interested in developing or enhancing specialist careers with knowledge of the law.

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

Course structure

Part A. Introductory knowledge and core electives6 credit points

Domestic students

6 credit points
If you are a domestic student you must complete the following unit

International students

6 credit points
If you are an international student you must complete the following unit
Part B. Legal studies specialisation30 credit points
Part C. Law electives
You must complete any remaining credit points from units in any law specialisation.
The handbook's description of this structure

The course is structured in three parts. Part A Introductory knowledge and Part B Extending specialist knowledge, and Part C Research knowledge.

Part A Introductory knowledge

These studies enable you to gain fundamental knowledge of legal principles and concepts, and develop core skills in legal research and writing.

Part B Legal studies specialisation

These studies enable you to develop specialised knowledge and advanced skills in a particular area of law that suit your interests, skills and career goals. 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.

Part C: Law electives

Elective units can be chosen from any specialisation to meet the credit point requirement for the course.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

  • If you admitted at entry Level 1 you must complete 72 credit points, comprising all of Parts A, B, and C.
  • If you are admitted at entry Level 2 you must complete 48 credit points, comprising all of Parts A, B, and C.

Course progression map

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

The course comprises 48 points structured in three parts, Part A Introductory knowledge and core electives (6 points) and Part B Extending specialist knowledge (24 points) and Part C Research knowledge (18 points).

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A Introductory knowledge (6 points)

You must complete either:

LAW5000 Australian legal reasoning and methods or LAW5081 Australian legal process and research.

Part B: Legal Studies Specialisation (30 points)

Complete one of the specialisations below.

Note that if you do not want to complete a specialisation you must compete 12 points from the list of research-integrated electives in any specialisation and a further 18 points from units in any specialisation.

  • Commercial and corporate law
  • Criminal law and forensics
  • Dispute resolution
  • Global society and human rights
  • Health law and community
  • Labour and employment law
  • Public sector governance and regulation
  • Technology and innovation
  • Transnational economic regulation

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

Part C: Law Electives

You must complete any remaining credit points from units in any law specialisation

Areas of study

Learning outcomes

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and Monash Graduate Attributes.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that you will be able to:

  1. 1

    Demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and recent developments in a range of areas of law practice.

  2. 2

    Apply theories, knowledge and skills to different areas of law or to new situations in law or legal scholarship.

  3. 3

    Design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise developments that contribute to global professional practice or scholarship.

  4. 4

    Explain and justify arguments, methods, and conclusions to professional and non-professional audiences.

  5. 5

    Apply with integrity appropriate research principles and methods to plan, carry out and report on an original project.

  6. 6

    Demonstrate high level personal autonomy and judgement.

Entry requirements

English language

Monash Level A that is:  IELTS (Academic): 6.5 overall (no band lower than 6.0); or Pearson Test of English (Academic): score of 58 overall with no band lower than 50; or TOEFL Internet-based test: score of 79 overall with minimum scores: Writing: 21, Listening: 12, Reading: 13 and Speaking: 18; or Equivalent approved English test

More information

Progression to further studies

Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to a graduate research degree. If you wish to progress to graduate research degree you are advised to take LAW5083.

Other information

This expert graduate course provides a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in one or more areas of law. It is suitable for graduates interested in developing or enhancing specialist careers with knowledge of the law.

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

Common questions

How long is Master of Legal Studies?

1.5 years full time, 48 credit points. At 24 credit points a semester, that is 2 semesters of full-time study.

Where can I study Master of Legal Studies?

At Monash Law Chambers.

How do I plan my Master of Legal Studies units?

Open the course in the MonMap planner. It lays out your semesters, checks prerequisites as you drag units in, and tracks the credit points each requirement still needs.

Course details

Qualification
Master's Degree (Coursework)
AQF level
Level 9
Credit points
48
Full time
1.5 Years
Part time
3 Years
Maximum time
5 years
Faculty
Faculty of Law
CRICOS code
112791K
Abbreviation
MLS
Award titles
Master of Legal Studies in Commercial and Corporate LawMaster of Legal Studies in Public Sector governance and RegulationMaster of Legal Studies in Transnational Economic RegulationMaster of Legal Studies in Global Society and Human RightsMaster of Legal Studies in Health Law and CommunityMaster of Legal Studies in Dispute ResolutionMaster of Legal Studies in Technology and InnovationMaster of Legal Studies in Criminal Law and ForensicsMaster of Legal Studies in Labour and Employment LawMaster of Legal Studies
Handbook years
2020202120222023202420252026