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MLS Tax Clinic (LAWS90164)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
The MLS Tax Clinic provides students with the opportunity to undertake advice and representation work for vulnerable taxpayers (individuals and small businesses). Students will be engaged in all aspects of the Clinic’s operation and will work under the guidance and supervision of the Clinic Supervisor and members of the tax profession to advise and resolve issues presented by vulnerable taxpayer clients of the clinic. The MLS Tax Clinic will enhance students’ understanding of taxation law and practice and will also develop fundamental legal skills of general application such as client interviewing, file and practice management, research and writing. Examples of matters that may be dealt with by the MLS Tax Clinic include tax residency, capital gains tax, deductions, penalties and interest waivers and the gig economy. In appropriate cases, students will have the opportunity to represent clients in disputes with the Australian Taxation Office and negotiate with the ATO for appropriate outcomes for clients.
Students will be required to undertake a one-day intensive orientation before the start of semester, which will include seminars on fundamental legal skills and tax administration and process. In addition, one 3-hour seminar will be organised in each of the first two weeks of semester to cover topics of relevance to the MLS Tax Clinic. The timing of those seminars will be determined in line with student availability. Further seminars or guest speakers may be organised during the course of the semester as necessary. The Clinic will see clients from Weeks 3-12 (excluding the non-teaching period). Students will be required to attend one regular morning and afternoon clinic session per week (one full day total per week). During their clinic work time, students will also take part in debrief sessions with an MLS academic and the Clinic supervisor, where students will evaluate their progress and discuss their perceptions of the law in practice and their own role.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have an advanced and integrated understanding of the practical aspects of providing tax advice;
- Be able to critically examine and analyse the requirements of the key documents that need to be prepared in practice;
- Have a sophisticated appreciation of the tax dispute process;
- Have a detailed understanding of the tax advisor’s legal, ethical and practical obligations;
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to generate critical and creative ideas relating to the practical aspects of tax practice;
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to independently examine, research and analyse the key elements and features of effective tax advice;
- Have the communication skills to clearly articulate and convey complex information to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Generic skills
- Applied research skills, including the ability to research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual and legal issues in the context of a complex area of law;
- Legal practice skills, including critical legal analysis, client interviewing, negotiation, professional ethics and writing legal briefs;
- Personal and professional skills, including learning autonomously, being accountable for one’s work, time management and self-reflection on performance;
- Skills required for effective workplace performance, including teamwork, communication, office organisation and co-worker collaboration; and
- Research and reflection skills, including the ability to engage in high-level analysis and critical reflection, and to develop and articulate clear and credible legal analysis.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Demonstrated completed study in tax law (undergraduate or postgraduate).
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
Melbourne Law School welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Law School policy to take all reasonable steps to enable the participation of students with disabilities, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the School's programs.
The inherent academic requirements for study at Melbourne Law School are:
- The ability to attend classes and actively engage in the analysis of complex materials and debate;
- The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
- The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
- The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
- The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
- The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.
Students must possess behavioural and social attributes that enable them to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
Orientation (hurdle): day-long; before semester
Introductory seminars (hurdle): Weeks 1-2
Clinic attendance and satisfactory participation (hurdle): ongoing
Reflective essay (1,000 words; 20%): Week 10
10-minute individual oral presentation (20%): Weeks 10 - 12
Legal research brief (3,000 words; 60%): due after Week 12
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Julian Panetta Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 83 hours. Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching requirements Students will be required to attend a one-day Orientation session on the Friday before the start of semester two. Students are expected to access and review the Reading Guide that will be available from the LMS subject page and the subject materials provided by the subject coordinator, which will be available from Melbourne Law School. Refer to the Reading Guide for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 29 July 2019 to 27 October 2019 Last self-enrol date 11 November 2018 Census date 31 August 2019 Last date to withdraw without fail 27 September 2019 Assessment period ends 22 November 2019
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 20 students. Applicants are selected through a competitive application process. Please refer to the JD LMS Community for more details.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Subject materials will be provided by Melbourne Law School.
- Links to additional information
law.unimelb.edu.au
Last updated: 3 November 2022