Course overview
- Description
This is a course designed for overseas qualified lawyers. It is provided primarily for those people who have fulfilled the requirements of a law degree and been admitted to practice, usually in another country, and have been advised by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia to undertake extra units of study in order to be admitted to practice in this State. For students in the Master of Legal Practice (Coursework) who have a qualifying degree from non-common law jurisdiction LAWS4101 or LAWS4227 are core pre-requisites to taking any other units in this program.
- Course title
- Master of Legal Practice (coursework)
- Award abbreviation
- MLegalPrac
- Course code
- 21560
- Course type
- Master's degree by coursework only
- Status
- Current / 2024
- Administered by
- UWA Law School
- CRICOS code
- 098378M
Course details
- Intake periods
- Beginning of year and mid-year
- Attendance type
- Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
- Articulation
- The Master of Legal Practice has the following exit award: 20350 Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (48 points including up to 24 points of advanced standing points) (48 points including up to 24 points of advanced standing points)
- Credit points required
- 96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester. - Standard course duration
- 2 years
- Time limit
- 5 years
- Delivery mode
- Internal
- Locations offered
- UWA (Perth)
- Domestic fee type
- Postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
- Available to international students
- Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
- Course Coordinator(s)
- Dr Penny Carruthers
- Fees
- Visit the fees calculator.
Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.
No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.
Specialisations
Course structure
Key to availability of units:
- S1
- Semester 1
- S2
- Semester 2
- N/A
- not available in 2024 – may be available in 2025 or 2026
- NS
- non-standard teaching period
All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.
Students who have a qualifying degree from a non-common law jurisdiction must complete LAWS4101 or LAWS4227, as advised by the Law School, before taking any other units in this program.
Group A
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | LAWS4101 | Foundations of Law and Lawyering | None | This unit is taught intensively. Students must attend classes in person (on campus) from 8:30am to 5:00pm every weekday from 12-23 February 2024. Attendance at each session is mandatory. A full schedule with session times and venues will be released via the unit's LMS page by mid-January. |
| NS | LAWS4227 | Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions |
| This unit is delivered intensively in 'flipped mode' and is offered twice a year. 10 online modules are to be completed in advance (opening two weeks before) of two face-to-face sessions which will run 22 and 23 February 2024 and 18-19 July 2024. Students must attend the face-to-face sessions. |
Take unit(s) to the value of 48-96 points, as advised by the Law School, and as required by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia::
Group B
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS | LAWS4101 | Foundations of Law and Lawyering | None | This unit is taught intensively. Students must attend classes in person (on campus) from 8:30am to 5:00pm every weekday from 12-23 February 2024. Attendance at each session is mandatory. A full schedule with session times and venues will be released via the unit's LMS page by mid-January. |
| S1 | LAWS4102 | Criminal Law |
| 4 hours per week |
| S1 | LAWS4103 | Contract |
| 4 hours per week |
| S1 | LAWS4104 | Property Law |
| 4 hours per week |
| S2 | LAWS4106 | Torts |
| 4 hours per week |
| S2 | LAWS4107 | Land Law | up to 4 hours per week | |
| S2 | LAWS4108 | Foundations of Public Law |
| 4 hours per week |
| S2 | LAWS4110 | Legal Interpretation |
| 4 hours per week |
| S1 | LAWS5101 | Constitutional Law |
| lectures: 3 hours per week; tutorials: 2 hours per fortnight |
| S2 | LAWS5102 | Administrative Law |
| up 4 hours per week |
| S1 | LAWS5103 | Equity and Trusts | 4 hours per week | |
| S2 | LAWS5104 | Corporations Law | up to 4 hours per week | |
| S2 | LAWS5105 | Remedies | 4 hours per week | |
| S1 | LAWS5107 | Evidence |
| 4 hours per week |
| NS | LAWS5108 | Professional and Ethical Practice |
| Two week intensive workshop period: Monday 12 February to Friday 23 February 2024, workshops from 9-4 weekdays. Tutorials (2 hours/week) will run during the intensive period and for the week immediately following. |
| NS | LAWS5109 | Ethical Dispute Resolution |
| Students must attend every day of the intensive period 12-23 February 2024. Refer to the timetable for exact class times. |
| S2 | LAWS5115 | Procedure |
|
Take remaining unit(s) to a total of 96 points::
Group C
| Availability | Unit code | Unitname | Unit requirements | Contact hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | LAWS5111 | Corporate Governance for Resources Companies | None | |
| N/A | LAWS5114 | International Environmental Law |
| |
| NS | LAWS5117 | Advanced Evidence and Proof |
| Students must attend every day of the intensive period 2 to 5 April 2024. Refer to the timetable website for further information. |
| S2 | LAWS5118 | Family Law |
| 3 hours per week |
| N/A | LAWS5128 | Consumer Law |
| 4 hours per week |
| S2 | LAWS5132 | Income Taxation Law |
| lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 5 x 2 hours |
| S1 | LAWS5144 | Mining and Energy Law |
| Lectures: 12 x 2 hour lectures Tutorials: 5 x 2 hour tutorials |
| S1 | LAWS5150 | Intellectual Property Law |
| 3 hours per week |
| S2 | LAWS5165 | Public International Law |
| 3 hours per week |
| N/A | LAWS5167 | Comparative Legal Method |
| 3 hours per week |
| N/A | LAWS5175 | Heritage Governance: from Global to Local | None | |
| NS | LAWS5179 | Law of the Sea | None | Teaching dates for this unit are 16,18,23,25 October 2024. Please refer to the timetable website for session times and venues. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory. |
| S2 | LAWS5181 | Health Law and Policy |
| 3 hours per week |
| NS | LAWS5219 | International Criminal Law | Students must attend every day of the intensive 4,6,11,13 September 2024. | |
| NS | LAWS5220 | International Humanitarian Law | None | Students must attend every day of the intensive period 20-21 and 23-24 May 2024. Refer to the timetable website for further information. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory. |
| NS | LAWS5223 | Theories for Contemporary Criminal Justice |
| This unit will run . Attendance at all sessions is 5,12,19,26 August. Attendance Compulsory |
| NS | LAWS5226 | International Human Rights Law | This unit will run 5-9 August 2024. Students must attend every day of the intensive period. | |
| N/A | LAWS5254 | International Trade Law |
| 3 hours per week |
| NS | LAWS5261 | Planning Law | None | This unit will run intensively 5-9 February 2024. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory. |
| N/A | LAWS5305 | Mediation: Practice and Skills | None | |
| N/A | LAWS5358 | Innovations in Lawyering |
| Students must attend every day of the intensive period. |
| N/A | LAWS5360 | Employment Law |
| |
| N/A | LAWS5378 | Government Accountability—Law and Practice |
| |
| S2 | LAWS5503 | Conflict of Laws |
| |
| N/A | LAWS5507 | International Oil and Gas Law | None | This unit will next run in 2023. |
| NS | LAWS5517 | Mining Law |
| Students must attend every day of the intensive period 30 October - 1 November 2024. Refer to the timetable website for further information. |
| NS | LAWS5521 | Climate Change Law and Emissions Trading |
| Students must attend every day of the intensive period 17-19 July 2024. Refer to the timetable website for further information. |
| N/A | LAWS5528 | Unjust Enrichment and Restitution |
| Students must attend every day of the intensive period. |
| NS | LAWS5532 | Energy Agreements: Oil and Gas, Alternative Energy and Sustainability |
| Students must attend every day of the intensive period 28-30 May 2024. Refer to the timetable website for further information. |
| NS | LAWS5540 | Environmental Protection Law |
| This unit will run online with pre-reading from 29 July. Interactive classes will be held 27-29 August 2024. Attendance at these sessions is mandatory. Refer to the LMS page for further information, |
| N/A | LAWS5541 | Equity Capital Markets & Securities Regulation |
| |
| NS | LAWS5576 | International Commercial Arbitration |
| Students must attend every day of the intensive period 24-28 June 2024. Refer to the timetable website for further information. |
| N/A | LAWS5589 | Energy Regulation: sustainable oil and gas and alternative energy production | None | Students must attend every day of the intensive period 15-17 August. Refer to the timetable website for further information. |
| N/A | LAWS5590 | Water Resources Law |
| |
| S1, S2 | LAWS5694 | Research Paper I |
| This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester. |
| S1, S2 | LAWS5695 | Research Paper II (12 points) | This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester. | |
| NS | LAWS5813 | Legal Issues for Not-for-Profit Entities |
| This unit runs intensively 3-6 September. Students must attend every day of the intensive period. |
| N/A | LAWS5891 | Principles and Practice of General Insurance Law | None |
See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.
Rules
Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules
2.(1) Except as stated in (2), a student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module).
(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the ACE module is not required to repeat the module.
English Language competency requirements
3.(1) To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.
(2) Applicants presenting with the IELTS Academic require an overall score of at least 7.0 and no band less than 6.5.
(3) Applicants presenting with the TOEFL iBT require an overall score of at least 106, a minimum score of 28 in the Speaking section, and no other sub-score less than 26.
(4) Applicants presenting with the TOEFL Paper Based score require an overall score of at least 580 and a minimum score of 5.0 in the Essay Rating / Test of Written English (TWE).
(5) Applicants presenting with the Pearson Test of English (PTE) (Academic) require an overall score of at least 70 and no sub-score less than 70.
(6) Applicants presenting with the UWA Centre for English Language Teaching (CELT) Bridging Course require a minimum grade of Grade B (75%) in the final CELT examination, with no band less than 70%.
Admission requirements
4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) a Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) an assessment of this qualification by the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia that outlines which units are required to practice.
Admission ranking and selection
5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
Articulations and exit awards
6.(1) This course has the following exit award:
- 20350 Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (48 points including up to 24 points of advanced standing points)
(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Legal Practice course before completing it, but after completing the requirements of the Graduate Diploma, may apply to the School to be awarded the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.
Course structure
7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points.
(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.
Satisfactory progress
8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.
9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.
Progress status
10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.
(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—
(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';
(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';
(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.
11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.
Award with distinction
12. This rule is not applicable to this course.
Deferrals
13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).
Additional rules
Non-Common Law Jurisdiction
14. Students who have a qualifying degree from a non-common law jurisdiction must complete LAWS4101 or LAWS4227, as advised by the Law School, before taking any other units in this program.