Course

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Master of Laws

Approved Abbreviation: LLM

Western Sydney University Course Code: 2824.1

AQF Level: 9

CRICOS Code: 0101780

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year for this course is 2020 or later.

The Master of Laws (LLM) provides law and non-law graduates with a flexible postgraduate opportunity to develop advanced, integrated and contemporary knowledge in one or more areas of legal study. The LLM is a sophisticated degree with substantial consideration of relevant international, professional and transdisciplinary aspects of the law which will enhance student career expertise and prospects. The program develops advanced legal research and writing skills and enhances the ability of students to critically evaluate complex legal issues within a global context. All students will have the opportunity to apply their legal knowledge and skills by conducting independent research and by engaging in analytical studies on specialised topics in the student’s areas of interest.

The course offers an invaluable opportunity for law graduates without experience in a legal environment to be supervised and mentored by experienced legal practitioners through a legal placement unit. There is no tuition fee associated with this unit and the unit may be undertaken at the same time as the academic units.

Students may select a specialisation in International Governance. This specialisation enables students to enhance their knowledge and skills of both private and public law issues related to corporate governance, with a strong theoretical core, and a series of units providing specialist information and skills.

Study Mode
Two years full-time, one and a half years full-time or one year full-time depending upon entry qualifications (see Pathways listed under Course Structure below) or the equivalent part-time.

Admission

The Master of Laws (LLM) is open to graduates with or without a law degree. Different admission pathways, based on recognition of prior learning, apply to law and non-law graduates.

Course duration is typically one year for an 80 credit point pathway, one and a half years for a 120 credit point pathway and two years for a 160 credit point pathway.

Applicants with a law degree

On enrolment in this course, based on previous study and work experience, students can follow either an 80 or 120 credit point entry pathway.

Entry Pathway 1 (80 credit points)

Applicants must have successfully completed, in any jurisdiction, any one of the following:

Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree or Juris Doctor degree, at honours standard, or equivalent

Graduate Certificate, or higher, in Law

Bachelor of Laws degree or Juris Doctor degree, or equivalent, without honours and two years’ full time equivalent of documented relevant professional experience.

The applicant does not have to be admitted to practice as a lawyer in a jurisdiction.

Entry Pathway 2 (120 credit points)

Applicants must have successfully completed, in any jurisdiction, a:

Bachelor of Laws degree or Juris Doctor degree, or equivalent, without honours and without at least two years documented relevant professional experience.

The applicant does not have to be admitted to practice as a lawyer in a jurisdiction.

Applicants with a non-law degree

On enrolment in this course, based on previous study and work experience, students can follow an 80 or 120 credit point entry pathway.

Entry Pathway 3 (80 credit points)

Applicants must have successfully completed any one of the following:

Bachelor (Honours) degree in any discipline or equivalent, AND two years full-time equivalent relevant professional experience

Graduate Certificate, or higher, in any discipline and two years full-time equivalent documented relevant professional experience

Bachelor degree in any discipline, or equivalent, without honours, and five years full-time equivalent relevant professional experience

Entry Pathway 4 (120 credit points)

Applicants must have successfully completed

Bachelor degree in any discipline, or equivalent, and two years full-time equivalent relevant professional experience

Bachelor degree in any discipline, or equivalent, and five years full-time equivalent general work experience.

Applicants with or without a law degree

On enrolment in this course, based on previous study, students can follow a 160 credit point entry pathway.

Entry Pathway 5 (160 credit points)

Applicants must have successfully completed a Bachelor degree in any discipline, or equivalent.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office. International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Special Requirements Prerequisites
Students enrolling in work placement units may need to have a National Police Certificate and consent or prohibited employment declarations as they may be conducting their placement in circumstances where they work with minors. This would be managed on an as needs basis.

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline. This course includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a optional work component available in this course. Please contact the Course Advisor listed above for information.

International students should be aware that if an elective is a requirement of the course but the work itself was not registered with CRICOS, students can still complete these electives but it would be counted towards the work limitation. For more details, refer to the 'Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students' website.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Course Structure

The course length and structure varies based on the student’s previous study background and work experience.

See individual links for detailed course structure.

A2015

Master of Laws (Law Graduate) - 80cp pathway

A2016

Master of Laws (Law Graduate) - 120cp pathway

A2017

Master of Laws (Non Law Graduate) - 80cp pathway

A2018

Master of Laws (Non Law Graduate) - 120cp pathway

A2019

Master of Laws (Law & Non Law Graduates) - 160cp pathway

Students may select an optional specialisation in International Governance (refer to the course structure for details)

ST2007

International Governance