Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies

Like the Master of Laws, the Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies allows students to tailor a course to meet their own professional and personal goals.

Many students who complete four subjects towards the Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies decide to take four more subjects to complete a Master of Laws.This course is available only for law graduates.

Course structure

Students must complete four subjects from the subjects available in the Master of Laws (excluding Fundamentals of the Common Law, International Legal Internship and the Minor Thesis).

Students can take one subject online from the Global Competition and Consumer Law program.

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

• a degree in Law leading to admission to legal practice (LLB, JD or equivalent), at honours standard or equivalent; or
• a degree in law leading to admission to legal practice (LLB, JD or equivalent), and at least one year of documented relevant professional experience.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider

• Prior academic performance; and
• Relevant professional experience.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The Melbourne Law Masters welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The inherent academic requirements for study in the Melbourne Law Masters are:

• The ability to attend a minimum of 75% of classes and actively engage in the analysis and critique of complex materials and debate;
• The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and to critically evaluate these;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
• The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
• The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.

Students who feel their disability will inhibit them from meeting these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact Student Equity and Disability Support.

Intended learning outcomes

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies will:

• Have advanced and integrated understanding of the complex body of knowledge in selected areas of law;
• Have expert, specialised cognitive and technical skills that equip them to independently:
• analyse, critically reflect on and synthesise complex information, concepts and theories in in selected areas of law
• research and apply such information, concepts and theories to the relevant body of knowledge and practice; and
• interpret and transmit their knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences
• Apply their knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, expert judgment, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner and learner in selected areas of law.