C04143v8 Master of Laws
Award(s): Master of Laws (LLM)CRICOS code: 001125A (Autumn Spring); 113536F (Summer)
Commonwealth supported place?: No
Load credit points: 48
Course EFTSL: 1
Location: City campus
Overview
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Inherent (essential) requirements
Recognition of prior learning
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course program
Levels of award
Articulation with UTS courses
Other information
Overview
This course gives students the opportunity to build specialist legal skills in their area of professional practice, as well as theoretical and practical research capabilities as they relate to the study of the law.
The degree is highly customisable – students pursue 48 credit points of study based on their personal or professional interests, choosing from a wide range of law electives (such as finance, patent, insurance, human rights, copyright, family, international and common law) and majors (corporate and commercial law, dispute resolution, and intellectual property).
Course content is delivered by a mix of practising law professionals, full-time academic staff and international visiting academics, giving students access to a wide range of expertise and perspectives on the study and practice of law. Cross-institutional study in Australia and overseas is encouraged as part of this degree.
Career options
Specialisation and development of expertise leads to careers in a range of sought-after specialist vocations in the practice of law.
Course intended learning outcomes
| 1.1 | a. A specialised understanding of a complex body of legal knowledge, including the Australian legal system, impacts of historical and ongoing Anglo-Australian laws, social justice, cultural and international contexts, the principles and values of ethical practice, and contemporary developments in law and its professional practice. b. An in-depth theoretical and professional knowledge of the law and its role in society, building on earlier legal knowledge and skills and/or practice. |
| 2.1 | a. An independent and advanced capacity to value and promote honesty, integrity, accountability, public service and ethical standards. b. A well developed ability to recognise, reflect upon and respond to ethical issues likely to arise in professional contexts in ways that evidence professional judgment, promote justice and serve the community. |
| 3.1 | a. A capacity to think critically, strategically and creatively, including an ability to identify and articulate complex legal issues, apply reasoning and research to generate appropriate theoretical and practical responses, and demonstrate sophisticated cognitive and creative skills in approaching complex legal issues and generating appropriate responses. b. Identify, synthesise and articulate complex legal and technical issues and apply advanced analytical skills to identify and generate clear, succinct and novel responses in professional practice or research. |
| 4.1 | a. Well-developed cognitive and practical skills necessary to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues and demonstrate advanced intellectual and practical skills necessary to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, legal methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions. b. Research, identify and evaluate technical information, legal judgments and issues to interpret, justify, or critique propositions, conclusions and professional decisions that are underpinned by ethical research practices in professional practice or research. |
| 5.1 | a. Advanced professional communication skills including highly effective use of the English language, an ability to inform, analyse, report and persuade using an appropriate medium and message and an ability to respond respectfully. b. Communicate accurately and appropriately with multidisciplinary audiences in a range of specialised formats, including productive collaboration with professional teams and clients. |
| 6.1 | a. Specialised collaboration skills, including effective team work to achieve a common goal in a group learning environment or the workplace. b. Take responsibility to give feedback and to respond to feedback in a professional context, to work effectively with colleagues and other stakeholders and to resolve challenges through effective negotiation. |
| 7.1 | a. A well-developed understanding of Indigenous perspectives informed by a commitment to build Indigenous professional capability, to work for and with Indigenous peoples. b. Identify and challenge the deficit narratives and biases of Anglo-Australian laws towards Indigenous Australians, particularly in relation to intellectual property and cultural rights. |
| 8.1 | a. A high level of autonomy, accountability and professionalism, the ability to implement appropriate self-management and lifelong learning strategies including initiating self-directed work and learning, judgment and responsibility, self-assessment of skills, personal wellbeing and appropriate use of feedback, and a capacity to adapt to and embrace change. b. Evaluate and implement their own professional development and incorporate personal skills in order to work with autonomy as a responsible and adaptable practitioner is a professional or higher degree research environment. |
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate studies.
Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate studies.
A relevant, appropriate first degree is the:
- the Bachelor of Laws, or
- the Juris Doctor, or
- Master of Laws or
- LPAB Diploma in Law, together with a graduate certificate in the discipline of law.
Students with a Bachelor of Laws from a non-common law country are required to complete 79708 Contemporary Business Law in their first session of study. Students who have graduated with a Shari'a law degree are not eligible to apply for this course.
Applicants who have completed a Bachelor of Laws may support their application for admission with evidence of a minimum of one year’s experience as a legal practitioner.
Applicants who have completed an LPAB Diploma in Law, but who have not completed a Graduate Certificate in a legal discipline, may be considered for admission, on provision of evidence of a minimum of one year’s experience as a legal practitioner.
If an applicant does not formally meet the selection criteria but the Faculty deems the applicant to be eligible based on evidence of prior learning and demonstrated capability, the Faculty reserves the right to make an offer to the appropriate course.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Inherent (essential) requirements
Inherent (essential) requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course.
Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course. This Statement should be read in conjunction with the UTS Student Rules.
Prospective or current student concerned about their ability to meet these requirements should discuss their concerns with the Academic Liaison Officer in their faculty or school and/or UTS Accessibility Service on 9514 1177 or at accessibility@uts.edu.au.
UTS will make reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional experiences, course related work experience and other course activities to facilitate maximum participation by students with disabilities, carer responsibilities, and religious or cultural obligations in their courses.
For course specific information see the Faculty of Law Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.
Recognition of prior learning
A student in the Master of Laws will receive no more than one quarter of the credit-point value of the Master of Laws (12 credit points) on the basis of a completed award (except in circumstances outlined in the Credit point limits section).
Solicitors with current 'specialist accreditation' from the Law Society of NSW may be granted six credit points of unspecified electives. Unspecified credit points cannot count towards the requirements of a major in the Master of Laws. Students with specialist accreditation who are seeking credit for major subjects should be referred to the faculty for consideration.
Students who successfully complete Master of International Commercial and Business Law (C04432) or the Master of International Commercial and Business Law Master of Business Administration (C04433) may apply for 24cp of elective credit to be applied to the Juris Doctor (C04236), the Master of Legal Studies (C04264), or Master of Laws (C04143).
More detailed information (including application, credit point limits, time limits, appeal of decision, record of precedent) about Recognition of prior learning in the Master of Laws can be found in postgraduate course information.
Course duration and attendance
The course can be completed in a minimum of one year of full-time or two years of part-time study. Subjects may also be available in Summer session, allowing accelerated progression.
Course structure
Students in this course undertake eight 6-credit-point postgraduate subjects (totalling 48 credit points).
Students may choose to undertake one or two majors by completing at least four subjects (24 credit points) within the area of the major. Students may also choose not to major in a particular area and instead choose eight subjects (48 credit points) from across the major areas.
Course completion requirements
| Select 48 credit points of options: | 48cp | |
| CBK90400 Options (Law) | 24cp | |
| CBK91084 Options | 24cp | |
| MAJ09390 Corporate and Commercial Law | 24cp | |
| MAJ09425 Dispute Resolution and Legal Practice | 24cp | |
| MAJ09400 Intellectual Property | 24cp | |
| Total | 48cp |
Course program
Most subjects are timetabled over a two-year period and consequently not all subjects listed are offered in any one year. The UTS Timetable Planner enables current and future UTS students to view subject timetables.
Levels of award
To qualify for distinction in the Master of Laws, candidates must attain a weighted average mark of 75.00 per cent across all subjects attempted (note that in calculating the eligibility for a distinction mark, rounding occurs to two decimal places).
Articulation with UTS courses
Subjects undertaken within the Graduate Certificate in Laws (C11265) are recognised within the Master of Laws. Students enrolled in the graduate certificate may apply to internally transfer to the master's program following successful completion of four core subjects. Candidates are not awarded the graduate certificate but subjects undertaken are applied towards the master's.
Other information
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