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Environmental Law (LAWS50078)
Graduate coursework level 5Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | January |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject introduces students to the domestic and international dimensions of environmental regulation. It develops and integrates legal knowledge from a range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields (e.g. administrative law and torts law; environmental science and geography), augmenting this through study of specific environmental legislation and case law to build an understanding of the interactions that define environmental law. Topics addressed include the values the found and confound environmental law including philosophical and Indigenous understandings of place, structures of environmental governance, modes and principles of environmental regulation, and the intersections of domestic and international environmental law. Case studies considered throughout the subject provide students with an understanding of recent developments in this dynamic area.
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject should have an advanced and integrated understanding of, and be able to critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in relation to, the following issues:
- the evolution of environmental law and the factors driving change at an international and domestic level, spanning national, state and territory, and local governance.
- the pervasive nature of environmental regulation, the actors that shape it and the challenges faced, both domestically and internationally.
- the influence of other disciplines, such as science, on the scope and character of environmental law.
- the principles underpinning current environmental law approaches, including the acknowledgement of and oftentimes ignorance of Indigenous knowledges and experiences.
- key case studies that illustrate the dynamic trends in environmental law, drawing upon both comparative domestic law and international law, and the use of case study methodology to inform analysis of environmental law.
- the breadth of laws necessary to achieve environmental goals, such as ecologically sustainable development.
Generic skills
On completion of the subject, students should have developed and demonstrated expert skills, including:
- Mastery of theoretical knowledge and demonstrated ability to critically reflect on theory and professional practice on issues of environmental law;
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories, and to apply established theories to different areas of environmental regulation;
- Communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
- Technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to environmental professional practice or legal scholarship, at both a domestic and international level;
- Attitudes towards legal knowledge that include openness to new ideas and awareness of location, plural knowledges and politics in its creation and use;
- A critical and applied understanding of plural diverse international, regional and domestic legal systems;
- An expanded capacity for self-directed legal research involving interdisciplinary materials and high-level personal autonomy and accountability with respect to time management; and
- An awareness of the value of collaborative learning and participation in a seminar style teaching environment.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Admission into the MC-JURISD Juris Doctor
AND
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 |
LAWS50025 | Torts | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50028 | Constitutional Law | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50031 | Legal Theory |
November (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS70100 | Environmental Law | Not available in 2024 |
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
Students would benefit from having studied, studying alongside, or completing personal research and reading relevant to, the below subject prior to taking this subject.
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS50032 | Administrative Law | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
LAWS50030 | Property | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Presentation and written response (eg to a discussion board) to a set topic (10 minutes and 500 words)
| During the teaching period | 30% |
Case-study informed research essay on a topic approved by the subject co-ordinator
| 4 Weeks after the end of teaching | 70% |
Additional details
The due date of the above assessment(s) will be available to students via the Assessment Schedule on the LMS Community.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- January
Coordinators Cait Storr and Brad Jessup Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 4 hours per day on: Tuesday 31 January - Friday 3 February and Monday 13 February - Thursday 16 February In the interim week students will have 4 hours of self-directed learning (two recorded lectures and a walking tour) and there will be a session for the first assessment. Total time commitment 144 hours Pre teaching start date 23 January 2023 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 31 January 2023 to 16 February 2023 Last self-enrol date 24 January 2023 Census date 3 February 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 February 2023 Assessment period ends 17 March 2023
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
This subject has an enrolment quota of 60 students.
All timely JD elective enrolments are subject to a selection process, which the Academic Support Office will perform after the timely re-enrolment period ends. Late self-enrolment is on a first-in basis up to quota.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law School website for further information about the management of subject quotas.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS.
- 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: 31 January 2024