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Law and Legal Practice in Asia (LAWS90006)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 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
February
Graduate Services Coordinator (International)
Email: law-global@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 4475
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
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 |
---|---|
Fees | Look 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
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Only approved applicants can enrol into this subject. Some host organisations may have specific requirements regarding prerequisite subjects. Successful completion of 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 |
LAWS50025 | Torts |
November (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50026 | Obligations |
May (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
LAWS50028 | Constitutional Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50029 | Contracts | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50031 | Legal Theory |
November (On Campus - Parkville)
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
None
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 |
---|---|---|
Completion of a minimum placement at a host organisation
| Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Class participation in 'Understanding Law and Legal Practice in Asia' seminar
| Early in the teaching period | 10% |
In-Class Test based on 'Understanding Law and Legal Practice in Asia' seminar
| Early in the teaching period | 20% |
Reflection piece on understanding of jurisdiction gained from work placement
| During the assessment period | 20% |
Short presentation on understanding of jurisdiction gained from work placement at a 3 hour seminar | During the assessment period | 10% |
Legal research(*)
| End of the assessment period | 40% |
Additional details
(*) Note: the assessed research work may take a variety of forms (including substantial research memoranda or advice, briefs or written submissions, legal policy advocacy, and research essays).
The due dates of the above assessment will be available to students via the Assessment Schedule on the LMS Community.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- February
Principal coordinator Jeff Redding Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Students must complete at least 20 days of placement at a host organisation, and participate in pre-placement orientation and post-placement debrief sessions Total time commitment 178 hours Teaching period 27 February 2020 to 24 July 2020 Last self-enrol date 10 November 2019 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 17 July 2020 Assessment period ends 2 October 2020 February contact information
Graduate Services Coordinator (International)
Email: law-global@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 4475
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Additional delivery details
This subject has an enrolment quota of 12 students.
This subject is an application-based enrichment subject. More information about the application process can be found on the JD LMS Community.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Required readings will be provided to you electronically via the LMS, in class, or through the library.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Juris Doctor
Last updated: 3 November 2022