Monash LLM is unlike any other Australian legal masters program. That’s because it’s specifically designed to help you take your legal career to the next level.
The LLM is specifically designed to provide you with a competitive edge in your legal career. Combining both practical and theoretical study, it empowers you to build an in-depth specialisation in key areas of the law, whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional.
Whether you’re an experienced legal practitioner or a recent law graduate, the Monash LLM is your key to a more rewarding career in the law. That’s because Monash Law School combines theoretical study with real-world practicality, making sure each unit is relevant to your professional as well as your academic life. We also give the best teachers the amenities and resources they need to help students reach their academic and professional potential. The result is that our students have a track record of post-study employment and promotion that stands out among Australia’s law schools.
Our two-year Master of Laws program provides a level of in-depth study that puts you ahead of the field when it comes to understanding Australian law and legal practice.
In the first year, you'll have the opportunity to gain a thorough and rigorous knowledge of crucial areas of Australian law, including contract law, tort law, Constitutional law and legal process and history.
In the second year, you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in one of nine different areas of the law or to graduate with a generalist Masters degree.
As a Master of Laws student at Monash University, you’ll have the option of studying towards one of nine legal specialisations, including Technology and Innovation, Labour and Employment, Commercial and Corporate Law and Dispute Resolution.
Unlike many law schools, when you study for a Monash Master of Laws you don’t have to nominate a specific specialisation or path of study before you enrol. Instead, you can simply study the units that interest you most over the course of your Master’s degree. Alternatively, you can choose any units you like and graduate with a generalist Master of Laws.
Become an expert in the laws that regulate business
The Commercial and Corporate Law specialisation in the Monash University Master of Laws program equips students with a theoretical and practical grounding in commercial and corporate law and lets them pursue new areas of study or explore existing knowledge at a deeper level.
Suitable for: Law graduates interested in developing or enhancing a specialist career as commercial lawyers or in-house counsel. It also suits graduates from non-law disciplines in occupations requiring a sound grasp of commercial law issues, including accounting, company administration and business management.
Become an expert in the laws that regulate criminal law and forensics
The Criminal Law and Forensics specialisation will equip you with a theoretical and practical grounding in the interaction between science, medicine, technology and the law. This specialisation gives you the opportunity to pursue emerging areas of study or explore existing knowledge at a deeper level.
Suitable for: Law graduates interested in developing or enhancing a specialist career as criminal lawyers, investigators, forensics practitioners or evidence experts. It also suits graduates from non-law disciplines in occupations requiring a sound grasp of crime scene investigation, death investigations, forensic medicine, mental health evidence, biological and chemical evidence, technological evidence.
Master the laws and regulations of resolving disputes
This specialisation aims to provide graduates with both advanced professional skills and specialist knowledge in the fields of formal and informal dispute resolution.
Suitable for: Law graduates interested in developing or enhancing specialist careers in dispute resolution, whether as a barrister, arbitrator, mediator or other dispute resolution practitioner. It also suits graduates from non-law disciplines in occupations requiring in depth knowledge of dispute resolution.
Master the laws regulating Human Rights both internationally and in Australia
The Global Society and Human Rights specialisation equips students with theoretical and practical knowledge in the laws governing human and civil rights. It aims to expand students’ expertise, allowing them to pursue new areas of study or explore existing knowledge at a deeper level.
Suitable for: Law graduates interested in developing or enhancing a specialist career as a human rights lawyer. It also suits graduates from non-law disciplines interested in developing or enhancing a career in the government or development sectors, or in a human rights-focused organisation.
Master the laws regulating the health and community sectors
Monash University’s Master of Laws Health Law and Community specialisation equips students with a theoretical and practical grounding in the laws regulating the health and community sectors. It allows students to expand their expertise in this important area of the law by pursuing new areas of study or explore existing knowledge at a deeper level.
Suitable for: Law graduates practising in the fields of health and family law. It also suits graduates from non-law backgrounds such as health professionals, health administrators, government officers, health advocates and others who want a deeper understanding of the laws that impact on the health and community sectors.
Specialist Master of Laws in Labour and Employment Law
Master the laws regulating industrial and employee relations
The Labour and Employment Law specialisation equips students with a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in the laws regulating employee relations. This includes labour law as well as the laws around employee management, occupational health and safety, digital workplaces, investigations and discrimination.
Suitable for: Law graduates practising in the field of labour and employment law. It also suits graduates from non-law disciplines interested in developing or enhancing a specialist career in employment law, human resources and management for the public sector, corporations, trade unions, and employer associations.
The Public Sector Governance and Regulation specialisation equips students to develop a thorough theoretical and practical grounding in laws relevant to government and the processes and products of government regulation.
Suitable for: Law graduates interested in developing or enhancing specialist careers in the government and regulatory sector or as barristers or solicitors focusing on the laws affecting government and public bodies. It also suits graduates from non-law disciplines interested in regulation in the public sector.
Master the regulations governing disruption and digitalisation
New technologies are impacting upon legal practice, providing new opportunities for innovation and leading to widespread digital disruption of the law and legal processes.
This Master of Laws specialisation at Monash University is designed to place graduates to be at the forefront of these developments, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to embrace change and address the challenges of managing legal risks in a technology-driven environment.
Suitable for: Law graduates interested in developing or enhancing a specialist career as technology lawyers or in-house counsel. It also suits graduates from non-law disciplines looking for an in-depth understanding of the legal implications of technological change and digitalisation.
Specialist Master of Laws in Transnational Economic Regulation
Master the laws regulating international and cross-border trade
The Transnational Economic Regulation specialisation in the Monash University Master of Laws program aims to equip students with a theoretical and practical grounding of the conduct of states and private parties in international economics and business transactions.
Suitable for: Law graduates interested in developing or enhancing a career in legal practice based on expertise in transnational economic law. It also suits graduates from non-law disciplines working in government or the international development sector.
We also offer a fully online Graduate Digital Law course. Delivered 100% online, allowing you to upskill in a legal specialisation that is key to our dynamic digital world. Click here for more information.
At Monash Law School, we’re proud of our embedded links to the legal profession. Many of our advanced subjects are taught by practising lawyers and our alumni occupy some of the most prominent positions in Melbourne’s legal and corporate worlds. When you study at Monash, you become part of a close-knit community of professionals who stand out through their achievements and their collegiality.
The flexibility to suit your stage of practice
We offer the chance to take one of nine different specialisations as well as the opportunity to take single units of study.That way you can reinforce a specialisation, with the option of continuing to a full Masters degree. We also offer exemptions to our two-year course Masters course based on previous study and experience, which means some students have the opportunity to complete the LLM in just 12 months.
Units
Explore the units available for study in our Master of Laws program.
Are you looking for single-unit enrolments? Click here
Australia is progressive, thriving and beautiful. Our cities are urbane and cosmopolitan, and our landscapes range from pristine sandy beaches to perfect snowy mountains.
We're also one of the world's most culturally diverse nations. In the Australian state of Victoria, 45 per cent of people were either born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas. In Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, you will hear people speak more than 150 different languages.
Why Melbourne?
Our Australian base is a vibrant, multicultural city that offers an abundance of cultural festivities, international sporting events, cafés and restaurants with cuisines from around the world, beautiful parks and beaches, and an eclectic mix of music and arts. You couldn’t pick a better place to live.
Melburnians are friendly, smart and outgoing. We value equality, tolerance, respect, and freedom of speech and religion.
Melbourne student life
Monash University has multiple locations in the greater Melbourne area. Each has its own style and environment, and offers different academic and social opportunities. You can learn more about a specific campus by following the links below:
Hear what Monash international students have to say about living and studying in one of the best cities in the world – Melbourne, Australia.
Attractions
Melbourne is safe, well-designed and easy to get around. The city boasts:
Arts and culture
Melbourne hosts a number of international cultural events and festivals each year. The Melbourne International Arts Festival and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival are favourites. Federation Square, in the heart of Melbourne, often holds free special events that celebrate the multicultural nature of the city.
Sport
Melbourne is home to major sporting events, including the Australian Open (tennis), the Boxing Day Test (cricket) and the Spring Racing Carnival (horse racing). In winter, Melburnians flock to the Australian Football League (the AFL, or just 'the footy') – pick a team and join in. More recently, international football has become very popular, and in 2015 the city will co-host the AFC Asian Cup.
Cafes and restaurants
Melbourne is famous for its coffee, thanks in large part to the influx of southern European migrants that came here in the 1950s. We also love food, enjoy a variety of ethnic cuisines, and celebrate a food and wine festival each March. The city has a lively and unique laneway culture with many restaurants tucked away.
Shopping
As a bustling capital Melbourne features large department stores, international designer shops and fashion outlets. Our thriving laneway culture has helped foster a unique community of boutique designers and local artists. Surrounded on all sides by farmland and the coast, Melbourne also hosts a large number of outdoor markets, offering fresh food to shoppers daily. The Queen Victoria market, a local landmark, is the largest open-air market in the Southern Hemisphere.
Entertainment
Melbourne is home to amusement parks, recreation precincts, zoos, parks and gardens. Venture out of Melbourne to visit wineries, go bushwalking, or go on a balloon flight.
Night-life
At night, the streets and laneways light up with a variety of theatres, bars, nightclubs, night markets, restaurants and concerts.
Monash University is committed to fostering a welcoming environment that provides all students the opportunity to participate fully in campus life. We understand that visitors from other countries often have specific social, religious and cultural needs. Monash offers resources and programs to help international students settle into campus, make friends and adjust to life in Australia.
Our handbook for new Muslim students Salaam Monash (pdf, 2.60mb), also offers advice for settling in and adjusting to life in Australia, together with information about religious facilities and where to find Halal food.
The Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Victoria
Discover Melbourne: Australia's Cultural Capital
There’s something about Melbourne that captures the hearts of everyone. Whether you like fashion, art, sports or nature, Melbourne offers experiences that will fill your Instagram feed with unforgettable memories. Explore the city for its hidden street art, architecture, bustling cafes and vibrant arts scene, or even catch a world class event such as the Australian Open.
Top 10 things to do in Melbourne
Discover Melbourne’s secret laneways
Take a tram to explore the city
Check out the cultural hub of Federation Square
Explore designer boutiques, craft markets and local labels
Watch a footy game at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground
Bike ride along the Yarra River
Chill out at the Botanical Gardens
Take in the beach scene and spot some penguins at St. Kilda Esplanade
Catch an arts or music festival
Take a day trip to explore Melbourne’s wineries, forests and surf beaches
Experience Melbourne
A good place to start when planning your weekend adventures in Melbourne is Visit Victoria. Here you’ll find info about places to eat, things to do and events you can attend. There are lots of free things going on in the city all the time, so make sure you check back regularly.
What’s On Melbourne (run by the City of Melbourne council) has a festival calendar to help you find out what’s happening, and if you’re into nightlife, fashion and the arts (as well as knowing where to get a good coffee) you should take a look at Broadsheet.
You may like to check out some of Melbourne’s biggest events while you’re here, like:
Living in Australia can be expensive, so it’s a good idea to do your research and prepare a budget before you arrive. Your tuition and study fees do not include personal costs like accommodation, food, and other things you will need while in Australia.
You can learn more about the cost of living in Melbourne to help you prepare a budget. However, these figures are only estimates; costs will vary depending on your location and your lifestyle. Rent, for example, is more expensive in Melbourne than it is in a regional area. You may need to add other items to your budget, like ongoing mobile phone and internet fees. All costs are subject to inflation.
Accommodation
Find out more about finding a place to live on our accommodation page.
Next steps
Now that you have read about living in Melbourne, your next step is to click the button below and find out whether you are a Study Abroad or an Exchange student.
If you already know if you're a Study Abroad or an Exchange student, click the button below to learn more about what you can study during your time at Monash.
Studies show that Monash Law graduates enjoy a higher rate of employment on graduation than graduates from most other disciplines. A Law degree provides a sound general education, equipping graduates with excellent analytical, drafting and problem solving skills. As a result, our graduates have been successful in a range of careers.
Careers In Law
There are many career destinations for law graduates. Our graduates:
Work in leading national and international law firms, smaller city and suburban firms or legal practices in regional centres
Work as a barrister
The government sector, in areas such as the Office of Public Prosecution, the Department of Justice, the Attorney-General's Department or the Victorian Solicitor-General's Office
Large companies as corporate in-house legal counsel
Specialist legal firms, practising in particular areas of the law
Legal recruitment and consultancy
Academic or legal research
Careers outside the law
The possible career destinations for law graduates outside the legal industry are endless. Monash Law graduates have found employment in a huge range of areas, including:
Publishing, media, film and the arts
Marketing and communications
Government and politics
Business Management
Science and engineering
Environmental protection and development
Project management
Banking and finance
International organisations, e.g the UN
Non-governmental organisations e.g the Red Cross, Amnesty International
Life After Law School Podcast
Life After Law School returns with a new season, featuring three conversations with amazing law graduates who are doing inspiring things with their law degrees.
From managing partnerships and privacy at Google, to standup comedy, screenwriting and food startups - you'll meet some fascinating people and learn their tips and tricks for landing the career you love.
Produced by: Monash Law School Hosts: Isabel Melles Taberner and James Pattison
Becoming a lawyer
Requirements for Practicing Law
The Monash JD is specifically designed for graduates from non-law backgrounds. Monash JD graduates are equipped with the knowledge and academic requirements for admission as a legal practitioner.
Practical legal training can be completed by undertaking a training course which is delivered by a provider that has been accredited by VLAB.
Supervised legal training involves participating in the workforce for 12 months or more under a training plan which has been approved by VLAB.
Students are then able to apply for admission.
Requirements for Practicing Law for Overseas Practitioners
Overseas practitioners wanting to be admitted to practice law in Australia, should contact the governing body in the state in which they intend to practise to determine the requirements for admission.
In the State of Victoria, the governing body is known as the Victorian Legal Admissions Board (VLAB). For applicants admitted to practice in their home country, VLAB will assess their qualifications and determine which areas of study need to be undertaken in order to qualify for practice in the State of Victoria.
Single unit enrolment through Monash JD program allows admissions in State of Victoria
Monash Law School offers single unit subject enrolment through our Monash JD program, primarily for admissions in the State of Victoria. Core Monash JD units are endorsed by VLAB, meeting the areas of knowledge required for admission in Victoria.
Some student may be eligible for FEE-HELP under the following provision: "Bridging courses for overseas-trained professionals". Information about FEE-HELP can be found at www.studyassist.gov.au
In addition to the single unit application form, the following documents must be provided:
original or certified original copy of the VLAB assessment letter
original or certified original copy of your law degree transcripts and evidence of completion
certified original evidence of you citizenship status including a copy of your subclass visa number.
