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Pandemic Law and Practice (LAWS90199)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online

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Overview

Availability(Quotas apply)
March - Online
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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

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Class participation

Throughout the teaching period10%

Option 1: Take-Home Examination

  • 6000 words
3 - 6 May 202490%

Option 2: Research Paper (word limit Code 2)

  • 7000 words
15 May 202490%

Attendance

Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required.		Throughout the teaching periodN/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

  • March - Online
    Principal coordinatorIan Freckelton
    Mode of deliveryOnline
    Contact hoursNote, this class runs from a Friday to Monday (including the weekend)
    Total time commitment150 hours
    Pre teaching start date 9 February 2024
    Pre teaching requirementsPlease 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 8 March 2024 to 11 March 2024
    Last self-enrol date14 February 2024
    Census date 8 March 2024
    Last date to withdraw without fail12 April 2024
    Assessment period ends15 May 2024

    March contact information

    Lecturer

    Professor Ian Freckelton AO KC (Coordinator)

    Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
    Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352), International: +(61 3) 9035 5511
    Website: law.unimelb.edu.au

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 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

    law.unimelb.edu.au

  • 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