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Pandemic Law and Practice (LAWS90199)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
April
Lecturer
Professor Ian Freckelton AO QC (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | April - Online |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject brings together a number of relevant strands of law at the heart of pandemic response and the public health strategies that are deployed in the face of a global health crisis. It encompasses multiple areas of law, contextualised within historical precedents, human rights and public health law considerations. The subject will explore issues arising from pandemic outbreaks, such as those of COVID-19, SARS, MERS and Ebola, particularly by reference to:
- Australia’s emergency powers - domestic, national and international;
- issues arising for the Asia-Pacific region;
- human rights and privacy issues within a pandemic response, including in relation to testing and test results;
- regulatory issues;
- criminal law issues;
- civil litigation issues; and
- international trade and IP issues.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Have an advanced and integrated understanding of emergency public health strategies and powers;
- Be an engaged participant in debates regarding human rights and emergency powers;
- Be able to critically evaluate, examine and analyse the ramifications of pandemic responses for civil and criminal law;
- Have an understanding of the issues arising from the quest to find a pandemic vaccine;
- Be able to demonstrate expert judgment and responsibility as a practitioner in the field of public health and emergency law;
- Have the cognitive and technical skills to interpret relevant legislation and directions.
Generic skills
- Enhanced competencies in legal analysis;
- Problem solving abilities, including through the collection and evaluation of information;
- Capacity to communicate, orally and in writing;
- Ability to evaluate and synthesise existing knowledge in the area;
- Capacity for self-directed learning, organisation and time management.
- Capacity for critical and independent thought and reflection;
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Class participation | Throughout the teaching period | 10% |
Option 1: Take-Home Examination
| 3 - 6 June 2022 | 90% |
Option 2: Research Paper (word limit Code 2)
| 29 June 2022 | 90% |
Attendance Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance. Note: the attendance hurdle does not apply when the subject is delivered online, however attendance at all live online sessions is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
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.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- April - Online
Principal coordinator Ian Freckelton Mode of delivery Online Contact hours This subject will be taught Friday to Monday (inclusive of the weekend). Total time commitment 170 hours Pre teaching start date 4 March 2022 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 April 2022 to 4 April 2022 Last self-enrol date 9 March 2022 Census date 4 April 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 May 2022 Assessment period ends 29 June 2022 April contact information
Lecturer
Professor Ian Freckelton AO QC (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be available via the LMS subject page in the pre-teaching period.
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-masters@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- 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: 31 January 2024