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MLS Tax Clinic (LAWS90164)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
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 1 - Online Semester 2 - Online |
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Fees | Look up fees |
The MLS Tax Clinic is a unique course and the first of its kind at the MLS.
This course 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 and profession to advise and resolve issues presented by vulnerable taxpayer clients of the clinic.
The MLS Tax Clinic is a ‘live’ client facing clinic with provides students with the opportunity to put their existing tax law knowledge into practice. This course 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 hardship applications, private binding rulings, lodgments and amendments 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 and other stakeholders for appropriate outcomes for clients.
Students will be required to undertake a series of orientation sessions during weeks 1 and 2 of the semester. The seminars will focus on topics of relevance to the MLS Tax Clinic such as; fundamental legal skills on tax administration and process, client interviewing techniques, file preparation and management, collecting, managing and storing sensitive information, interacting with and establishing rapport with clients and navigating ATO systems and databases. Further seminars or guest speakers may be organised during the semester as necessary.
The Clinic will see clients from Weeks 3 – 12 (excluding the non-teaching period).
In Semester 1, the Clinic will operate on one day per week
In Semester 2, the Clinic will operate over three days in each week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Students will be required to attend one regular non-client facing session (2 hours) and one regular client facing session (4 hours) each week (one full day in total). It is highly preferable for students to register into their non-client facing session and their client facing session on the same day.
During their clinic work time, students will also take part in debrief sessions with the Clinic Supervisor, where students will discuss their matter, 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 competently prepare for and interview clients with a view to resolving their tax query;
- 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).
Only approved applicants can enrol into this subject.
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
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Introductory seminars
| From Week 1 to Week 2 | N/A |
Clinic attendance and satisfactory participation Hurdle requirement: This includes: - Attending and actively participating in client and non-client facing sessions; - Preparing file notes and associated materials for clients; - Preparing follow up emails and advice for clients, post-interview; and - Associated tasks. | Throughout the teaching period | 20% |
Practical clinical task (e.g. preparation of memoranda, file notes)
| Throughout the teaching period | 20% |
Individual oral presentation
| Week 9 | 30% |
Legal writing brief
| During the assessment period | 50% |
Additional details
The due dates of the above assessment will be available to students via the Assessment Schedule on the JD LMS Community.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- Semester 1 - Online
Coordinator Julian Panetta Mode of delivery Online Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 1 March 2021 to 30 May 2021 Last self-enrol date 20 November 2020 Census date 31 March 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 7 May 2021 Assessment period ends 25 June 2021 - Semester 2 - Online
Principal coordinator Julian Panetta Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 83 hours. Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 26 July 2021 to 24 October 2021 Last self-enrol date 20 November 2020 Census date 31 August 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 September 2021 Assessment period ends 19 November 2021
Additional delivery details
This subject has an enrolment quota of 4 students in Semester 1 and 16 students in Semester 2.
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
Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS.
Last updated: 3 November 2022