Overview
Notes
Admission to practise: Disciplinary reports
Warning to students of the consequences of cheating or general misconduct
Students should note that a domestic applicant applying for admission to practise law in Victoria is required by the Legal Profession Uniform Admissions Rule 2015 to provide to the Victorian Legal Admissions Board:
- a report from the University disclosing any disciplinary action taken against the student during the course.
- a statutory declaration stating that the applicant has made full written disclosure of "every matter which a reasonable applicant would consider that the Board might regard as not being favourable to the applicant". This may include an incident of academic or general misconduct, even if it did not lead to disciplinary action.
The Victorian Legal Admissions Board will consider these matters in assessing whether the applicant is a 'fit and proper person to be admitted to the legal profession'.
Mode and location
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:
Professional recognition
This degree is recognised by the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB).
Structure
The course is designed to equip you with basic legal knowledge and skills that are required for admission to legal practice, with the opportunity to develop specialised knowledge in areas of law of your choice. The basic knowledge is imparted through three broad themes: legal methodology and legal practice, public law and private law. The specialised knowledge and advanced skills are imparted in later year elective units.
Part A. Legal methodology and legal practice
This theme includes the nature of law, and particularly statute law enacted by parliaments and common law developed by courts. It also includes the key concepts, principles and methods of research and reasoning that enable lawyers to identify and interpret law and apply it to relevant facts in order to provide legal advice. It covers the law of procedure and evidence that governs judicial proceedings, alternative methods of resolving legal disputes, and the code of ethics that regulates the professional conduct of legal practitioners.
Part B. Public law
Public law includes constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law. It concerns the powers and procedures of the legislative, executive and judicial organs of government, and how they are regulated and controlled by 'the rule of law'. It also concerns the legal relationship between government and individuals, including the protection of individual rights.
Part C. Private law
Private law deals with legal relationships between legal persons, including corporations as well as individuals. It includes the study of property rights, contractual rights and obligations, wrongs (called 'torts') such as trespass and the negligent infliction of injury, and the law of equity and trusts.
Part D. Extending specialised knowledge and advanced skills
In these studies you will complete at least one commercial law unit and a professional project and will also add to your expertise by choosing from a broad range of elective law units. Elective law units enable you to develop specialised knowledge and advanced skills in areas of law that suit your own interests, skills and career goals.
Course progression map
The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.
Requirements
144 credit points
Alternative exit(s)
You may exit this course early and apply to graduate with one of the following awards, provided you have satisfied the requirements for that award during your enrolment in this course:
- Graduate Certificate of Legal Studies (L4004) after successful completion of 24 credit points of study with a minimum of 18 credit points at level 4 or above.
- Graduate Diploma of Legal Studies (L5004) after successful completion of 48 credit points of study with a minimum of 36 credit points at level 4 or above.
Progression to further studies
Successful completion of this course may provide a pathway to a graduate research degree if you choose to complete a research thesis (24 credit points).