Course overview

Description

This course aims to provide students with an understanding of socio-legal theory, policy development and the skills required to work in or with governments. The course combines theory with more practically oriented units. Study for both degrees begins with foundational courses in law, policy and socio-legal theory. Students can then tailor their study through elective units to focus on policy areas of interest such as crime and justice, medicine and law, international law or governance. Students can also elect to undertake a research option which would provide a pathway to doctoral studies, or to higher level research roles in employment.

Course title
Master of Law, Policy and Government (coursework)
Award abbreviation
MLPG
Course code
21530
Course type
Master's degree by coursework only
Status
Current / 2024
Administered by
UWA Law School
CRICOS code
083871K

Course details

Intake periods
Throughout the year
Attendance type
Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
Credit points required
48
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Standard course duration
1 year
Time limit
4 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 Marilyn Bromberg
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.

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 with a recognised Law degree, take POLS5501 Public Policy (6 points) and LAWS5260 Intersections of Law, Policy and Government (6 points), and option units to the value of 18 points from Group A and 18 points from either Group B or Group C, of which at least 12 points must be LAWS coded.

Students without a recognised Law degree, take all core units (18 points) and option units to the value of 18 points from Group A and 12 points from Group B, of which at least 6 points must be LAWS coded.

Enrolment in SVLG5001 McCusker Centre for Citizenship Internship and SVLG5003 Wicked Problems is subject to approval by the course coordinator and is based on the suitability of the socio-legal study project or problem.

Take as per sequence notes:

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
NSLAWS4227Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
20820 Juris Doctor
or 21190 Bachelor of Laws
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.
NSLAWS5260Intersections of Law, Policy and GovernmentNoneThis unit will run as an intensive on 21-22 and 24-25 October as well as an introductory session on 9 September. Attendance at all sessions is compulsory.
NSPOLS5501The Politics of Public Policy
Incompatibility
LAWS5214 Public Policy
18 hours per semester.

Take as per sequence notes:

Group A
AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
NSLAWS5100Sustainability Law and Policy in Resource DevelopmentNoneThis unit will run intensively 3-5 April 2024. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory.
NSLAWS5109Ethical Dispute Resolution
Prerequisites
LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering
Incompatibility
LAWS4105 Dispute Resolution
Students must attend every day of the intensive period 12-23 February 2024. Refer to the timetable for exact class times.
N/ALAWS5167Comparative Legal Method
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor
and LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering and five Unit(s) ( LAWS4102 Criminal Law
, LAWS4103 Contract
, LAWS4104 Property
, LAWS4106 Torts
, LAWS4107 Land Law
, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law and ( LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4110 Interpretation
) )
Enrolment in
42580 Master of Public Policy
or 42280 Graduate Certificate in Public Policy
and LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions
Incompatibility
LAWS3331 Comparative Law
3 hours per week
N/ALAWS5215Theory & Practice of Risk RegulationNone
NSLAWS5223Theories for Contemporary Criminal Justice
Prerequisites
For Master of Public Policy
or Graduate Certificate of Public Policy students without a recognised Law degree: LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions.
This unit will run . Attendance at all sessions is 5,12,19,26 August. Attendance Compulsory
N/ALAWS5230Aviation Law
Prerequisites
Master of Public Policy students and Graduate Certificate of Public Policy students who do not have a legal background take LAWS4227 Foundations of Law as a prerequisite so as to more fully comprehend and understand the unit.
NSLAWS5261Planning LawNoneThis unit will run intensively 5-9 February 2024. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory.
NSLAWS5296Technology Law and Governance
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor
and LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering and five Unit(s) ( LAWS4102 Criminal Law
, LAWS4103 Contract
, LAWS4104 Property
, LAWS4106 Torts
, LAWS4107 Land Law
, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law and ( LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4110 Interpretation
) )
This unit will run 25-29 November and 2-6 December. Students must attend every day of the intensive period.
N/ALAWS5378Government Accountability—Law and Practice
Prerequisites
for Juris Doctor (JD) students: LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering
and 30 points from: LAWS4102 Criminal Law, LAWS4103 Contract, LAWS4104 Property, LAWS4106 Torts, LAWS4107 Land Law, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law, LAWS5106 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics)
NSLAWS5517Mining Law
Incompatibility
LAWS3371 Mining and Energy Law (formerly 200.371 Mining and Energy Law 371), LAWS5144 Mining and Energy Law
Students must attend every day of the intensive period 30 October - 1 November 2024. Refer to the timetable website for further information.
S1, S2LAWS5694Research Paper I
Prerequisites
For Master of Public Policy
or Graduate Certificate of Public Policy students without a recognised Law degree: LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions.
This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester.
NSLAWS5813Legal Issues for Not-for-Profit Entities
Prerequisites

Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor
and LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering and five Unit(s) ( LAWS4102 Criminal Law
, LAWS4103 Contract
, LAWS4104 Property
, LAWS4106 Torts
, LAWS4107 Land Law
, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law and ( LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4110 Interpretation
) )
or for all other students one Unit(s) LAWS4103 Contract
, LAWS5103 Equity and Trusts
or equivalent
This unit runs intensively 3-6 September. Students must attend every day of the intensive period.

Take units as per sequence notes:

Group B
AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
NSCOMM5200Digital Advocacy
Incompatibility
SOCS5200 Digital Advocacy (ID 6812)
up to 3 hours per teaching week
NSCOMM5604Media GovernanceNoneup to 24 hours
NSLAWS5109Ethical Dispute Resolution
Prerequisites
LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering
Incompatibility
LAWS4105 Dispute Resolution
Students must attend every day of the intensive period 12-23 February 2024. Refer to the timetable for exact class times.
N/ALAWS5114International Environmental Law
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor
and LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering and five Unit(s) ( LAWS4102 Criminal Law
, LAWS4103 Contract
, LAWS4104 Property
, LAWS4106 Torts
, LAWS4107 Land Law
, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law and ( LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4110 Interpretation
) )
Incompatibility
Enrolment in
LAWS6114 International Environmental Law
N/ALAWS5167Comparative Legal Method
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor
and LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering and five Unit(s) ( LAWS4102 Criminal Law
, LAWS4103 Contract
, LAWS4104 Property
, LAWS4106 Torts
, LAWS4107 Land Law
, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law and ( LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4110 Interpretation
) )
Enrolment in
42580 Master of Public Policy
or 42280 Graduate Certificate in Public Policy
and LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions
Incompatibility
LAWS3331 Comparative Law
3 hours per week
S1LAWS5182Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the Law
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor
and LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering and five Unit(s) ( LAWS4102 Criminal Law
, LAWS4103 Contract
, LAWS4104 Property
, LAWS4106 Torts
, LAWS4107 Land Law
, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law
)
Incompatibility
LAWS5534 Indigenous Peoples and the Law, LAWS3358 Indigenous Peoples and the Law
seminars: 3 hours per week
N/ALAWS5215Theory & Practice of Risk RegulationNone
NSLAWS5223Theories for Contemporary Criminal Justice
Prerequisites
For Master of Public Policy
or Graduate Certificate of Public Policy students without a recognised Law degree: LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions.
This unit will run . Attendance at all sessions is 5,12,19,26 August. Attendance Compulsory
NSLAWS5261Planning LawNoneThis unit will run intensively 5-9 February 2024. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory.
N/ALAWS5378Government Accountability—Law and Practice
Prerequisites
for Juris Doctor (JD) students: LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering
and 30 points from: LAWS4102 Criminal Law, LAWS4103 Contract, LAWS4104 Property, LAWS4106 Torts, LAWS4107 Land Law, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law, LAWS5106 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics)
NSLAWS5521Climate Change Law and Emissions Trading
Prerequisites
For Master of Public Policy and Graduate Certificate of Public Policy, the unit LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions is recommended as a pre-requisite for students who do not have a legal background.
Students must attend every day of the intensive period 17-19 July 2024. Refer to the timetable website for further information.
NSLAWS5540Environmental Protection Law
Prerequisites
For Master of Public Policy and Graduate Certificate in Public Policy students: LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions
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,
NSLAWS5577Space and Satellite Law
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor
and LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering and five Unit(s) ( LAWS4102 Criminal Law LAWS4103 Contract LAWS4104 Property LAWS4106 Torts LAWS4107 Land Law LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law and ( LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4110 Interpretation (
)
Enrolment in
42580 Master of Public Policy
and LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions
Students must attend every day of the intensive period 22-25 January 2024.
N/ALAWS5590Water Resources Law
Prerequisites
LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions for students who do not have a legal background, except for Master of Environmental Planning students will be required to undertake online learning modules as directed by the Unit Coordinator
S1, S2LAWS5694Research Paper I
Prerequisites
For Master of Public Policy
or Graduate Certificate of Public Policy students without a recognised Law degree: LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions.
This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester.
S1, S2LAWS5695Research Paper II (12 points)
Incompatibility
LAWS5696 Research Paper III Part 1,
and LAWS5697 Research Paper III Part 2
This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester.
S1, S2LAWS5696Research Paper III Part 1
Prerequisites
Approval of unit coordinator
Co-requisites
Students taking Part 1 in Semester 1 must take Part 2 in the following Semester 2.
students taking Part 1 in Semester 2 must take Part 2 in the following Semester 1.
Incompatibility
LAWS5695 Research Paper II
This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester.
S1, S2LAWS5697Research Paper III Part 2
Prerequisites
Students may only take this unit if they have completed LAWS5696 Research Paper III Part 1 in the previous semster.
This research unit involves unstructured contact with a supervisor throughout the semester.
NSPOLS5010NGOs, Governance and DevelopmentNoneseminars: 18 hours
NSPOLS5681Governance in the International SystemNoneseminars: 18 hours
NS, S1, S2SVLG5001McCusker Centre for Citizenship Internship
Prerequisites
All of the following LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering
and LAWS4102 Criminal Law
and LAWS4103 Contract
and LAWS4104 Property
and LAWS4106 Torts
and LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics for Juris Doctor students only
Incompatibility
for Juris Doctor students: LAWS5174 Legal Internship
Internship experience: approximately 100 hours; McCusker Centre attendance: approximately 8 hours
N/ASVLG5003Wicked Problems
Prerequisites
any bachelor's degree.
permission/approval is required to enrol
The unit is a 6 week intensive. Attendance at the service learning location is required every day for the first week. In the remaining weeks, students will work independently in project teams, with classroom time reduced to around 15-20 hours altogether.

Take units as per sequence notes.

Group C
AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S2LAWS5181Health Law and Policy
Prerequisites

Enrolment in
20820 Juris Doctor
and LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering
and 30 points ( LAWS4102 Criminal Law
, LAWS4103 Contract
, LAWS4104 Property
, LAWS4106 Torts
, LAWS4107 Land Law
, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law and ( LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics
or LAWS4110 Interpretation
) ) for all other students LAWS4102 Criminal Law
, LAWS4106 Torts
, LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law
Incompatibility
LAWS3324 Medicine and the Law
3 hours per week

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) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module is not required to repeat the module.

(3) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

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 100, 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—1(a) a Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; or 

2(a) (i) a bachelor's degree in a cognate area, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and (ii) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent; or 

3(a) (i) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and (ii) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent; and (iii) at least two years of relevant professional experience.

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) The following courses form part of an articulated sequence:

  • 21340 Graduate Diploma in Law, Policy and Government (24 points)
  • 21530 Master of Law, Policy and Government (48 points)

(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Law, Policy and Government course before completing it, but after fulfilling the requirements of a lesser award in the above sequence, may apply for the relevant award.

(3) Credit for units completed in the Graduate Diploma will only be given if the course is not conferred.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 48 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. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree 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
Credit

14. Credit will not be granted for units that were taken in another degree that was conferred