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Human Rights Lawyering (LAWS50069)
Graduate coursework level 5Points: 12.5Not available in 2023
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
Overview
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Human rights are becoming increasingly important to the practice of law in a range of contexts whether at the domestic or international level, within government, the private sector or the community sector. Human Rights Lawyering is designed to equip students with the skills required for effective engagement with human rights in each of these contexts. Accordingly, the subject places a significant emphasis on developing the skills necessary to identify the meaning of a human right; when a human right has been violated and the procedures available to seek redress for such violations at both the domestic and international levels. However, it is also designed to extend students’ engagement with human rights beyond the development of their technical legal skills, to develop a critical, strategic and reflective approach to human rights lawyering. Attention will be given to developing the capacity to critically evaluate and respond to complex policy positions that impact on human rights or social and academic commentary that is critical of human rights. Careful consideration will also be given to an examination of how to develop strategies that will persuade actors from a diverse range of settings to adopt measures that enhance the protection of human rights. And students will be challenged to identify the limitations of human rights and the extent to which their own personal beliefs and values inform their understanding as to the meaning and relevance of human rights.
Importantly the development of each of these four competencies – the technical, critical, reflective and strategic – is to be achieved by an immersion in current human rights issues and case studies which will be drawn from both domestic and international developments. Significant efforts will be made to integrate the insights and experiences of legal professionals and human rights advocates into the teaching of the subject. Students will be expected to be active participants in the seminars and any extracurricular activities that are organised. And they will be encouraged to think about how they might contribute beyond the classroom to some of the many and challenging debates involving human rights both within Australia and beyond. Such contributions can take many forms including the publication of a research paper, the preparation of a submission to a Government inquiry, a letter to the editor or even undertaking an internship at the conclusion of the subject in a domestic or international human rights organisation.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject, students will:
- Have developed a deep understanding of the practical skills necessary to make use of human rights standards in a range of contexts including litigation (both domestic and international) and advocacy (being the capacity to invoke human rights at the domestic level to promote or respond to the development of legislation and the design and implementation of public policy);
- Be aware of the theoretical, strategic and technical limitations of human rights;
- Possess the legal research skills necessary to identify the meaning and content of human rights standards such as the prohibition against torture and right to health as developed by international, regional and domestic courts, tribunals and other human rights bodies;
- Be able to comment critically on the status of international human rights standards in domestic law and understand the circumstances when recourse can be made to human rights standards before domestic courts;
- Be able to identify and critically assess the domestic mechanisms for the protection of human rights, principally Bills of Rights by using the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities as a case study to assess the capacity of a dialogue model to provide effective protection of human rights; and
- Have the capacity to identify when a human rights issue arises on the facts of a particular case and possess the skills necessary to identify the strategies available for the protection of that right at both the domestic and international level.
Generic skills
Students who successfully complete this subject will have developed and demonstrated:
- Cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and critical reflection in the context of theoretical and professional debates regarding the promotion and protection of human rights;
- Expertise in recognising the complexities and tensions inherent in using law as an instrument for the promotion and protection of human rights;
- The capacity to critically evaluate and respond to complex policy positions that impact on human rights or social and academic commentary that is critical of human rights; and
- The ability to learn from encountering different perspectives, and to recognise the extent to which their own beliefs, values and experiences inform their understanding of the meaning and relevance of human rights.
Last updated: 30 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
All of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50023 | Legal Method and Reasoning | Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50026 | Obligations | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50027 | Dispute Resolution | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
If a student has previously enrolled in the below subject, they will need the approval of the Subject Coordinator to enrol in this subject:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS70186 | Human Rights Advocacy | Not available in 2024 |
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: 30 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
An assignment on a topic set by the Coordinator
| 30% | |
An independent research paper (or equivalent) on a topic developed by the student and approved by the Coordinator
| 70% |
Additional details
The due date of the above assessment will be available to students via the Assessment Schedule on the LMS Community.
Last updated: 30 January 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
Not available in 2023
Time commitment details
144 hours
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota.
Last updated: 30 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
- Specialist printed materials will also be made available from the 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: 30 January 2024