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International Commercial Law & Disputes (LAWS50094)
Graduate coursework level 5Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | Semester 1 July |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will examine, from an advanced and specialist point of view, a number of common commercial transactions entered into between private individuals located in different countries and between individuals and foreign governments. It will also cover important related issues such as corruption, foreign investment and dispute resolution. This course aims at equipping students with an expert knowledge of the major topics within the field as well as integrating new skills in international and comparative analysis. The topics to be examined are:
- International trade in goods, including the contracts for sale, transport and financing of goods to and from Australia;
- Corruption in global business;
- Entry into a foreign market through the mechanisms of distributorship, agency, franchising, licensing, technology transfer and foreign direct investment; and
- International dispute resolution—negotiation, mediation, litigation and arbitration (both commercial and investment).
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject should have:
- Advanced, high level awareness of the kinds of legal problems that arise from international commercial transactions;
- Acquired an expert knowledge of how the law of sale of goods, negotiable instruments, carriage of goods and dispute settlement, is affected when goods cross national boundaries;
- A mastery of the principal mechanisms that trading parties use to resolve or reduce those problems; and
- A sophisticated understanding of the problem of corruption in international business and possible solutions.
Generic skills
On completion of the subject, students should have developed and demonstrated expert skills in the following areas:
- Advanced cognitive skills to solve problems by practical application of often complex legal principles;
- Cognitive and technical skills to interpret, analyse and draft effective clauses in international commercial contracts;
- Strong conceptual understanding of preferred methods of cross-border dispute resolution and a demonstrated ability to provide sophisticated and informed advice to commercial and government clients on such methods;
- Cognitive and technical skills to establish mastery in using comparative legal materials;
- Creative and technical skills to understand and critically reflect upon diverse cultural approaches to business and dispute resolution; and
- Independent communication and technical research skills as demonstrated in either scholarly writing to a publishable level or client advice work.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Successful completion of all the below subjects:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning |
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
April (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
June (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50026 | Obligations |
May (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50029 | Contracts | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
And one of:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50027 | Dispute Resolution | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
LAWS90140 | Disputes and Ethics | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Students who have completed any of the below subjects are not permitted to take LAWS50094 International Commercial Law and Disputes:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS70028 | International Trade Law | July (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Option 1: Independent research paper (see below)
| Semester 1: due during exam period July: due Friday 14 August | 100% |
Option 2: Take-home examination
| Semester 1: during the exam period July: Friday 24 July | 100% |
Additional details
Note: Students must choose assessment from the options listed above. If an option contains parts, all parts must be completed if that option is chosen.
The due date of the above assessment will be available to students via the Assessment Schedule on the LMS Community.
Independent Research Paper
The research paper will be on a topic set or approved by the subject coordinator. The research paper will demand advanced research skills, critical analysis of a complex and diverse array of international and comparative law source materials and an articulation of a clear and sophisticated legal argument.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Richard Garnett Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 30 hours Total time commitment 144 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020 - July
Coordinator Richard Garnett Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 144 hours Pre teaching start date 22 June 2020 Pre teaching requirements Subejct materials will be made available on the LMS. Students will be required to access the subject materials in preparation for the beginning of classes. Teaching period 6 July 2020 to 17 July 2020 Last self-enrol date 24 June 2020 Census date 8 July 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 July 2020 Assessment period ends 14 August 2020
Additional delivery details
This subject has an enrolment quota of 60 students.
Enrolments occur on a first come, first served basis up to quota, except for the timely re-enrolment period. Timely enrolments enter a selection process, and unsuccessful enrolments are withdrawn.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law School website for further information about the management of subject quotas.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Specialist printed materials will be made available from Melbourne Law School.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Juris Doctor - Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022