Enrolment guidelines for postgraduate unit LAW5082 - Masters research

Students should read through and consider the information below before embarking on the application process that is required for LAW5082 Masters research (6 credit points).

Eligibility and enrolment information

• Masters of Laws and Masters of Legal Studies students can apply to undertake LAW5082 Masters research after completion of four units with 70% or above in each of the units.
• Juris Doctor students can apply to undertake LAW5082 Masters research after completion of four elective units with 70% or above in each of the elective units.

The following units are be prohibited to use as a host unit for LAW5082 Masters Research:

LAW5304 Overview of international human rights law

LAW5340 Intellectual property

LAW5315 Commercial alternative dispute resolution

LAW5344 Negotiation: Essential skills for dispute resolution

LAW5464 Negotiation and influence: Strategy and skills

LAW5355 Advocacy

LAW5411 Advanced mediation: Skills and theory A

LAW5412 Advanced mediation: Skills and theory B

LAW5421 Managing high conflict personalities in dispute resolution

LAW5466 Financial services law

LAW5471 Legal project management

How LAW5082 works:

Students who decide to undertake LAW5082 must do so in conjunction with a ‘host’ masters unit offered in the same teaching period. Students enrolled in a specialist masters should select a unit in their specialist area.

• Students may select as host unit a subject they have not previously studied.
• They may alternatively select a ‘host’ unit that they have already studied, so long as their research area for LAW5082 does not overlap with work previously submitted for assessment.
• A third option is for students to select a unit in which they are simultaneously enrolled on an ordinary ‘coursework’ basis. For example, a student may be enrolled in LAW5301 Copyright, and LAW5082 (with LAW5301 Copyright as the host unit) in the same teaching period. Students who opt for this third enrolment option should plan their time very carefully, as they will be required to complete the assessments for both units at the same time. Again, if this enrolment option is selected, there must be no overlap between the pieces of work submitted for assessment across the two units.

Students should consider these options carefully and review the postgraduate law unit timetable and Handbook to determine their ‘host’ unit preferences based on the area of research they wish to pursue. Students should then email Student Services via ask.monash to request enrolment in LAW5082, providing at least three subjects, in order of preference, and their scheduled teaching periods (per the published timetable).

Please note that not all units are available for this program (for example, students cannot select introductory or foundation units, such as ‘Overview’ units – see the Unit Handbook for current details on restrictions). Please note also that, while we will endeavour to satisfy your preference, there is a cap on the number of research track students who can be attached to any unit. Enrolments are on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so get in early to avoid disappointment. At the very latest, students should submit their enrolment requests at least six weeks before their preferred units are scheduled to begin.

Once students have been accepted into one of their requested units, they will be formally enrolled in LAW5082 and given Moodle access to the host unit.

Note that, while LAW5082 is the ‘vehicle’ by which students complete their research component, they are full members of the host unit, and will be expected to prepare for, attend and participate in those classes in the same way as for their other units.

As the unit is one taken in the last or penultimate semester of the course, students are expected to complete their project with a high degree of autonomy and independence. The Chief Examiner of the host unit will be involved only in approving the suitability of students’ preliminary topics and assessing the project plans and final essays. For further assistance with their research, including the development of project planning skills and writing techniques, students are encouraged to work with the Law Library’s learning skills advisers and reference librarians.