Environmental Law (LAWS50078)
Graduate coursework level 5Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
November
Teaching staff:
Cait Storr (Subject Coordinator)
Brad Jessup (Subject Coordinator)
For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | November |
|---|---|
| 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 legislation, treaties and international instruments, and case law to build an understanding of the interactions that define environmental law.
The subject addresses the philosophical and Indigenous understandings of place, values and principles that underpin environmental decision-making, structures of environmental governance and modes of environmental regulation, and the intersections of domestic and international environmental law.
The domestic, international and comparative topics and case studies considered throughout the subject provide students with an understanding of recent developments and controversies 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:
- Evaluate: the evolution of environmental law and the factors driving change at an international and domestic level, spanning national, state and territory, and local governance; and the intersections of environmental law with other disciplines, such as science, and the challenges this poses for decision-makers.
- Explain the pervasive nature of environmental regulation, the actors that shape it and the challenges faced, both domestically and internationally.
- Analyse and explain the principles underpinning current environmental law approaches, including the acknowledgement of and oftentimes ignorance of Indigenous knowledges and experiences.
- Apply case studies to 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.
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: 4 March 2025
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 (Dual-Delivery - 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 |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
November (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS70100 | Environmental Law | February (On Campus - Parkville) |
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: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Presentation and written response 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
| 7-8 weeks after teaching ends | 70% |
Additional details
The due dates of interim assessment will be made available to students on the Assessment Schedule on the Juris Doctor Canvas LMS Community. Note, these are updated regularly.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- November
Principal coordinators Brad Jessup and Cait Storr Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36 hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 3 November 2025 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to Canvas LMS to check on the pre-class readings and preparatory learning activities before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 17 November 2025 to 28 November 2025 Last self-enrol date 5 November 2025 Census date 21 November 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 19 December 2025 Assessment period ends 14 January 2026 November contact information
Teaching staff:
Cait Storr (Subject Coordinator)
Brad Jessup (Subject Coordinator)For current student enquiries, contact the Law School Academic Support Office
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. Please refer to the Juris Doctor enrolment webpage for further information about re-enrolment and subject quotas. Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for inbound study abroad and exchange students.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
- Links to additional information
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025