1. Handbook
  2. Subjects
  3. Law and Legal Practice in Asia

Law and Legal Practice in Asia (LAWS90006)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

You’re viewing the 2020 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks
As part of the University’s response to COVID-19 and the associated Government restrictions and guidelines, most subjects will continue to be delivered online in Winter and Semester 2.
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.
You’re currently viewing the 2020 version of this subject

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)
February
FeesLook up fees

The aim of this subject is to provide students with an enhanced understanding of law and legal practice in an Asian jurisdiction through intensive pre-departure teaching, supervision of a research project on an Asian jurisdiction, a student-led seminar reflecting on their learning experiences and legal experience in an approved role in a workplace setting in Asia.

The intensive pre-departure teaching will be 8 hours long, spread over a couple of days. This teaching will be led by an expert in the chosen Asian jurisdiction and will offer an advanced introduction to the legal system of the jurisdiction. Core instruction will cover how to access current law and commentary on law in the relevant jurisdiction. In addition, students may engage actively with topical debates about law in Asia from among the following: Asian trade and investment flows and their significance for Australia businesses; managing risk in Asian investment; dispute resolution in Asia; regional regulation of the profession; human rights; public institutions; role of NGOs. Students must actively participate in pre-departure teaching and will be assessed by an hour long in-class test.

Students must also complete at least the equivalent of a 4-week unpaid work placement in the nominated Asian jurisdiction. Work placements will be hosted in an organisation approved by the subject coordinators. The work placement involves a minimum of 20 days work. Some employers expect students to attend 6 day/week placements.

During work placement, students must carry out legally-oriented work that offers students a practice-based exposure to law and legal practice in the jurisdiction.

The proposed work should build on the students’ studies to date in the Melbourne JD, involve written legal research work and be of an appropriately demanding standard to model professional practice.

At the end of their work placement, students are required to attend a 3-hour long seminar with student presentations. This seminar provides a structure for reflection on, and learning from, the work experience and how work in the jurisdiction was comparatively experienced by peers.

In 2020, the chosen jurisdiction is India. Students are responsible for making their own logistical arrangements and bookings, including visas, but the coordinators will provide support.

 

Intended learning outcomes

A student who successfully completes this subject will have:



  • An enhanced knowledge of a particular legal area relevant to an Asian jurisdiction and the work placement;
  • Strengthened their ability to understand professional practice in Asia, derived from doing challenging legal work in a practical setting;
  • An enhanced capacity to identify, develop and employ appropriate legal and professional skills for a workplace in another jurisdiction;
  • Increased capacity to engage with public discussion about comparative law and policy; and
  • Experienced a range of new opportunities and contacts through doing a work placement in a field in which they are interested.

Generic skills

A student who successfully completes this subject will have the capacity to:

  • Learn about a legal system in Asia;
  • Learn about, and adapt to, a professional workplace in a jurisdiction in Asia;
  • Establish and maintain professional working relationships throughout the duration of the work placement;
  • Contribute constructively and productively to the projects underway at the organisation hosting the work placement;
  • Formulate or refine their own topical and relevant research question related to or arising from either the nature of the organisation hosting the work placement or an issue with which the organisation has to deal; and
  • Refresh, reinforce and develop research and writing skills that students have acquired during their undergraduate degree and law studies.

Last updated: 3 November 2022