Postgraduate course information

The UTS: Law postgraduate program has grown dramatically in recent years. Postgraduate course offerings are continuously being updated to ensure they are aligned with and meet the needs of the profession and the community.

Close student interaction between the legal profession and UTS: Law offers students a first-class education and a marketable postgraduate legal qualification. Classes are taught by a mix of practising professionals and full-time academic staff who ensure students gain specialised knowledge and training within their degrees.

UTS: Law strives to meet the expectations of its students to foster a collegial environment in which both academics and students are driven by a commitment to outstanding intellectual achievement.

Internal course transfer

Students may apply to articulate up or down between graduate certificates, graduate diplomas and master's programs, within the same area of study. Students should apply for an internal course transfer before the program they are currently enrolled in is completed. Appropriate successfully completed subjects are credited to the new course if the transfer is approved.

Students are also permitted to apply for an internal course transfer across postgraduate courses of the same level. Only completed subjects relevant to the new course can be credited if the transfer is approved. Students are not permitted to apply for an internal course transfer between undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Further information is available at:

www.sau.uts.edu.au/enrolment/course/transfer/continuing.html

Credit recognition

Credit recognition based on previous studies may be granted subject to University Rules and UTS: Law guidelines.

The granting of exemptions is at the discretion of the associate dean (teaching and learning). All students seeking credit recognition based on previous studies must lodge an application to the Haymarket Student Centre prior to enrolment.

Information on applying for credit recognition based on previous studies, including the precedent list, is available at:

www.law.uts.edu.au/cr

Students may be able to obtain exemption from law subjects if they are able to satisfy the Faculty Board in Law that a comparable course of study has been successfully undertaken at another recognised university.

To verify this, if the subject upon which the student is basing their application for credit recognition does not appear on the precedent list, the student must provide a transcript of his or her academic record and a detailed subject outline, together with the subject reading guide that was current at the time of study, for assessment. Students who have undertaken a law subject at another university, either in the year before or after that which is published on the precedent list, may seek an exemption without supplying the full subject outline as part of their credit recognition application.

Exemptions from core subjects, as well as practical legal training subjects, are only granted to students on the basis of equivalent subjects completed as part of a law degree leading to professional practice and offered by a law school at a recognised university.

Exemptions for postgraduate law option subjects are only granted to students on the basis of study undertaken as part of a postgraduate law course offered by a law school at a recognised university.

Exemptions are not granted to students who base their application for credit recognition on the completion of cross-disciplinary subjects.

Exemptions are not granted on the basis of studies completed through the Law Extension Committee of the Supreme Court (LPAB).

The following limits apply to credit granted to postgraduate courses of three years, or less, full time:

1. from a completed postgraduate degree, a maximum of one quarter of the credit-point value of the current UTS course
2. from an incomplete postgraduate degree, a maximum of half of the credit-point value of the current UTS course.

Notwithstanding 1 or 2 above, the maximum overall amount of credit granted for a UTS: Law postgraduate coursework course shall not exceed one half of the credit-point value of that course.

Students who completed 8-credit-point postgraduate electives as part of their Juris Doctor (C04236) candidature may apply to have these subjects credited towards the Master of Laws (C04143) or Doctor of Juridical Science (C02027), up to a maximum of 24 credit points.

As a general rule, exemptions for law subjects are not given if the subject upon which the student is basing their application for credit recognition was studied more than six years ago. The period in the 'six-year rule' is calculated from the date the subject was successfully completed to when it is due to be undertaken at UTS: Law.

The Faculty Board in Law shall always retain discretion however to waive the application of the rule in cases where there is additional evidence of work or study experience. Indeed, in subjects where there have been significant recent changes in the law, an exemption may not be granted even though the subject was successfully completed less than six years ago.

Applications for credit recognition for practical legal training subjects have a time limit of three years.

A student who transfers from a law degree at a recognised tertiary institution into a Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies (C07074), Master of Legal Studies (C04147) or Juris Doctor (C04236) at UTS, and unsuccessfully applies for an exemption from 70115 Perspectives on Law and/or 70120 Legal Method and Research because the completion of the introductory law subject(s) undertaken at the other university were insufficient to grant an exemption, the student can make a written request to the director (students) to have their application reconsidered.

• For 70115 Perspectives on Law, students must demonstrate that they have completed subjects covering contracts, criminal law, torts and constitutional law within the other university's law degree. Alternatively, the director (students) may approve an exemption from 70115 Perspectives on Law if in their view the student has acquired sufficient knowledge from the subjects completed at the other university to justify the exemption.
• For 70120 Legal Method and Research, students must demonstrate that they have completed subjects at the other university which collectively have a sufficient focus on legal method and research to justify an exemption.

If a student is unable to obtain an exemption from a UTS: Law core subject on the basis of having completed a similar core subject at another university, because the content of the subject completed at the other university was insufficient to warrant an exemption from the corresponding UTS: Law core subject, the student cannot use the completion of that similar core subject undertaken at the other university as the basis of an exemption from an unspecified elective within a postgraduate law course at UTS.

Students who have been admitted to the Master of Laws (C04143) and who have completed a Juris Doctor (C04236) at UTS, after transferring to this course from the Master of Law and Legal Practice, are able to claim:

• an 8-credit-point unspecified law elective exemption where the student completed a minimum of two law electives (12 credit points) within the Master of Law and Legal Practice that were not credited to their Juris Doctor study plan
• a 16 credit-point unspecified law elective exemption where the student completed a minimum of three law electives (18 credit points) within the Master of Law and Legal Practice which were not credited to their Juris Doctor study plan
• a 24 credit-point unspecified law elective exemption where the student completed a minimum of four law electives (24 credit points) within the Master of Law and Legal Practice which were not credited to their Juris Doctor study plan.

Further information is available at:

telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS www.ask.uts.edu.au

Concurrent study at another tertiary institution

Subject to approval by UTS: Law, students may apply to undertake subjects in postgraduate law courses at other universities for credit towards an unspecified option in their course at UTS. A concurrent studies application, detailing the academic content, attendance, assessment requirements and reading guide of the subject(s) proposed to be completed, should be submitted to the Haymarket Student Centre before applying to the other institution. Students who complete subjects concurrently at another institution without prior approval risk not being able to credit these subjects to their course at UTS.

• Students cannot undertake core subjects on a concurrent basis.
• Students cannot undertake options on a concurrent study basis if UTS: Law offers the equivalent subject during the proposed semester.
• Students must complete a minimum of 50 per cent of the credit-point value of their course at UTS.

The concurrent study application form is available from:

www.sau.uts.edu.au/forms

Juris Doctor with honours

It is possible for students to gain an award with honours in the Juris Doctor (pre-2012: C04236v1; current: C04236), and the Juris Doctor component of the combined Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration (C04250).

An additional year of study is not required. See the rules for the course you are enrolled in, below.

Transitional arrangements for students who commenced up to and including 2011

In 2011 the Faculty of Law amended the honours requirements for the Juris Doctor. All students who commenced studies prior to 2012 and who are due to complete the requirements of the Juris Doctor (C04236v1) in Spring 2012 or later, may choose the means by which their eligibility for honours is determined. They can choose either:

1. the original honours requirements for the course, i.e. to qualify with honours, candidates must attain a weighted average mark of 80 per cent across all subjects attempted calculated in accordance with the formula 'sum of all' (UTS law subject credit points multiplied by mark) divisible by the 'sum of all law subject credit points', OR
2. the pre-2012 requirements as set out in Honours regulations, pre-2012 below.

Juris Doctor, for students who commenced up to and including 2011

To qualify for honours in the Juris Doctor (C04236v1), students who commenced studying the course prior to 2012 must complete 77740 Research Paper, as a 6-credit-point option subject in the degree.

To be eligible to undertake 77740 Research Paper, students must successfully complete no less than 96 credit points within UTS: Law, including 70717 Evidence and Criminal Procedure; and attain a minimum weighted average mark of 73.00 across all subjects attempted.

The research subject forms part of the credit points required for degree completion. 77740 Research Paper has requirements that students must comply with, in addition to the honours regulations for the Juris Doctor (below). Further details are available in the online subject description.

Honours regulations, pre-2012

The Honours regulations for students who commenced studying the Juris Doctor (C04236v1) prior to 2012 are:

1. Awards

1.1 Awards of the Juris Doctor degree shall be classified as follows:

1. degree (with honours), and
2. degree.

2. Requirements of honours

2.1 To qualify for an award of the degree with honours a student who commended studying prior to 2012 shall:

1. successfully complete 77740 Research Paper
2. subject to requirements below, obtain an honours mark of no less than 75.00, calculated as a weighted average mark received in all subjects completed in accordance with the formula 'sum of all' (UTS law subject credit points multiplied by mark) divisible by the 'sum of all law subject credit points'
3. not fail any subject after the first semester of study
4. a student's honours mark shall include the mark obtained by the student in 77740 Research Paper.

2.2 In exceptional circumstances the director (students) may modify or dispense with the requirements of regulation 2.1, subject to appeal to the Faculty Board in Law.

Juris Doctor, for students who commenced study from 2012

To qualify for honours in the current Juris Doctor (C04236), students who commenced study in the course from 2012 onwards must complete 78102 LLM Project by Research as an 8-credit-point option subject within the degree.

To be eligible to undertake 78102 LLM Project by Research, students must successfully complete not less than 96 credit points within UTS: Law, including 70717 Evidence and Criminal Procedure; and attain a minimum weighted average mark of 73.00 across all subjects attempted.

The research subject forms part of the credit points required for degree completion. 78102 LLM Project by Research has requirements that students must comply with in addition to the honours regulations for the Juris Doctor (below). Further details are available in the online subject description.

Honours regulations, current

The Honours regulations for the current Juris Doctor, current (C04236) are:

1. Awards

1.1 Award of the Juris Doctor degree shall be classified as follows:

1. degree (with honours), and
2. degree.

2. Requirements of honours

2.1 To qualify for an award of the degree with honours a student shall:

1. successfully complete 78102 LLM Project by Research
2. subject to requirements below, obtain an honours mark, of no less than 75.00, calculated as a weighted average mark received in all subjects, in accordance with the formula 'sum of all' (UTS law subject credit points multiplied by mark) divisible by the 'sum of all law subject credit points'
3. not fail any subject after the first semester of study
4. a student's honours mark shall include the mark obtained by the student in 78102 LLM Project by Research.

2.2 In exceptional circumstances the director (students) may modify or dispense with the requirements of regulation 2.1, subject to appeal to the Faculty Board in Law.

Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration

To qualify for honours in the Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration (C04250), a student must complete 78102 LLM Project by Research as an 8-credit-point option within the Juris Doctor component of the degree.

To be eligible to undertake 78102 LLM Project by Research, students must successfully complete not less than 96 credit points within UTS: Law, including 70717 Evidence and Criminal Procedure; and attain a minimum weighted average mark of 73.00 across all subjects attempted.

The research subject forms part of the credit points required for degree completion. 78102 LLM Project by Research has requirements that students must comply with in addition to the honours regulations for the Juris Doctor component of the Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration (below). Further details are available in the online subject description.

Honours regulations, JD MBA

The Honours regulations for the Juris Doctor component of Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration (C04250) are:

1. Awards

1.1 Award of the Juris Doctor component of the Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration shall be classified as follows:

1. degree (with honours), and
2. degree.

2. Requirements of honours

2.1 To qualify for an award of the degree with honours a student shall:

1. successfully complete 78102 LLM Project by Research
2. subject to requirements below, obtain an honours mark, of no less than 75.00, calculated as a weighted average mark received in all subjects completed in the Juris Doctor
3. not fail any subject after the first semester of study
4. a student's honours mark shall include the mark obtained by the student in 78102 LLM Project by Research.

2.2 In exceptional circumstances the director (students) may modify or dispense with the requirements of regulation 2.1, subject to appeal to the Faculty Board in Law.

International exchange program: Juris Doctor

Juris Doctor students participate in the international exchange program administered by UTS: International. Through the program, it is possible to undertake three law subjects from CBK90592 Options at overseas exchange partner universities.

To be eligible for the program, students should have a credit average or better and have completed 68 credit points of core subjects, including 70517 Equity and Trusts before going overseas. The number of places is strictly limited.

Results achieved in overseas study are recorded as a pass or fail grade without a mark. It should be noted that the pass/fail results for exchange subjects are excluded from the calculation of a GPA and in the calculation for honours.

Information and application packs are available from UTS: International. Further information is available at:

www.uts.edu.au/international/exchange

Mandatory continuing legal education

Participation in postgraduate study may entitle lawyers to mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) points. If this particular educational activity is relevant to students' immediate or long-term professional development needs, particularly those related to the practice of the law, they may claim one 'unit' per hour of attendance (excluding refreshment breaks).

Further information regarding MCLE points is available from the Law Society of NSW:

www.lawsociety.com.au

Postgraduate coursework

UTS: Law offers a range of postgraduate coursework degrees to suit both law graduates and graduates of other disciplines. UTS: Law prides itself on its unique specialisations, flexibility and vocational relevance. Graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master's programs in law and legal studies, and specialised programs in communications law, intellectual property law, international law, practical legal training and dispute resolution are available.

Courses

Coursework programs are normally structured as follows:

• master's degrees: 48 credit points
• graduate diplomas: 36 credit points
• graduate certificates: 24 credit points.

Exceptions to this include the Juris Doctor (C04236) (144 credit points), Juris Doctor Master of Business Administration (C04250) (192 credit points), Graduate Diploma in Australian Law (C07073) (48 credit points), Graduate Certificate in Australian Law (C11211) (30 credit points), and the Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice (C11128) (12 credit points).

Subjects

UTS: Law timetables subjects over three teaching periods: Autumn semester, Spring semester and Summer session. The full range of core and optional subjects available can be found under each of the course entries.

Core law subjects

All core subjects are taught in Autumn and Spring semester and are timetabled during the day and are repeated in the evening.

Optional law subjects

A range of optional law subjects is taught in each semester. However, not all optional subjects are timetabled every semester and some optional subjects are offered on a two-yearly basis only. Timetabled optional subjects are offered subject to sufficient student interest.

Postgraduate progression

In accordance with rules 10.2.3 and 10.4.1, a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or master's candidate shall be excluded if they fail to maintain a minimum rate of progress. To maintain a minimum rate of progress, a student must not fail:

• two subjects in a graduate certificate
• three subjects in a graduate diploma
• four subjects in a master's degree, or
• five subjects in the JD, JD MBA, or MLLP.

Students may appeal against such exclusion under rule 10.8.

Postgraduate students are advised that they may be excluded from a course if they exceed the maximum time allowed for completion of that course (see rule 10.5).

Contacts and inquiries

Haymarket Student Centres
CM05B.5 – Building 5, block B, level 5
CM05C.1 – Building 5, block C, level 1
City campus, Haymarket
cnr Quay St and Ultimo Rd, Haymarket
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
Ask UTS www.ask.uts.edu.au

Majors

UTS: Law offers seven major areas of study within the Master of Laws (C04143). Students in this course elect to complete study within a major, sub-major or alternatively subjects from across the major areas. Students must nominate a major or sub-major for it to appear on their academic transcript. Students who do not nominate a major and subsequently meet the requirements for a major must submit an e-request before graduation. Majors are available in:

• corporate and commercial law
• dispute resolution
• global business law
• intellectual property
• international law.

Postgraduate research

Higher research degrees provide an opportunity for law and non-law graduates to make a major contribution to knowledge by undertaking advanced-level research through the exploration of ideas and issues in a thesis. UTS: Law offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Law (C02028), the 'professional doctorate', the Doctor of Juridical Science (C02027) and a Master of Laws (Research) (C03024). These degrees are particularly valuable for students wishing to pursue a career in research or academia. Entry is on the basis of proven research achievement.

Information about potential supervisors and areas of supervision is available at:

www.law.uts.edu.au/research/postgraduate/supervisors.html

Student research is coordinated through the associate dean (research) and the faculty research officer and governed by the Research Management Committee (RMC) and the Higher Degree Committee. The faculty research officer can be contacted for further information about the faculty's research and higher degree research program.

Credit recognition

The granting of exemption for higher degree by research courses is at the discretion of the associate dean (research).

Support for research students

In addition to the support provided by the UTS Library and the UTS Graduate Research School, UTS: Law provides a range of facilities for higher-degree research candidates such as research support funding, study spaces, printing access, email and internet access.

Contacts and inquiries

Faculty research officer
telephone +61 2 9514 3753
fax +61 2 9514 3400
email law.research@uts.edu.au
www.law.uts.edu.au

Research interests of staff members

There is a diverse range of staff research interests within the faculty. The faculty has established research networks and interest groups which represent the key areas of research strength.

Information on supervision and research interests of staff is available at:

www.law.uts.edu.au/research/postgraduate/supervisors.html

Staff contact details are available at:

http://datasearch2.uts.edu.au/law/staff/index.cfm