The Master of Laws program has been designed to provide students with advanced legal knowledge and research skills with a strong emphasis on international, transnational and/or commercial law.

This will be achieved through providing students with advanced training in legal research techniques and opportunity to choose from a range of specialised courses with an international, transnational and/or commercial flavour.

The Master of Laws program has been designed for law graduates and legal practitioners looking to fast track their legal career or develop a specialisation in a more focused area of the law.

The Newcastle Law School is a supportive and research-focused faculty, deeply committed to teaching. The Newcastle Law School has fostered an intellectual community devoted to the development of the next generation of lawyers.

Through an innovative and integrated approach to legal education, the Newcastle Law School provides graduates with the knowledge, skills and expertise required by the 21st century legal professional.

In the Master of Laws, students are equipped with advanced knowledge of Australian domestic law with international and transnational insight into law and the legal system. The skills and capacities developed in the Master of Laws program will be essential for the 21st century legal professional in both the Australian context and in the globalised legal environment.

Whether you are in legal practice or a related field, the Master of Laws offers you the opportunity to extend your skills in legal analysis and research, whilst broadening your existing knowledge of the Australian legal system and transnational and international legal frameworks. Find out more

The Master of Laws (LLM) is a prestigious legal qualification which is recognised internationally and designed to develop the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to prosper as a 21st century legal professional. Find out more

Whether you are in legal practice or a related field, the Master of Laws offers you the opportunity to extend your skills in legal analysis and research, whilst broadening your existing knowledge of the Australian legal system and transnational and international legal frameworks.

The two core courses in legal research will provide advanced training in contemporary approaches to legal research, focusing on both the design and implementation of a legal research project.

The range of elective courses available in the program will allow you to develop specialised knowledge in important areas of Australian and international law that are relevant to your career and/or personal interests.

The Master of Laws program is designed to:

• Build upon your existing legal experience through an integrated and rigorous exploration of advanced legal knowledge, concepts, skills and research abilities necessary for the 21st century legal professional.
• Provide the opportunity to pursue advanced legal study with a strong focus on specific areas of career and/or personal interest.
• Through an international focus, assist in opening up global opportunities in the practice and application of the law.
• Provide an opportunity to pursue the study of international climate change and environmental law in a centre of energy industry activity and innovative research.
• Offer a limited number of partial scholarships (fee waiver) may be available on the basis of merit and need.

The program consists of two semester length core courses in Advanced Legal Research (see below) and six directed courses from which students can choose to study in the following areas:

• Legal System of Australia (this course must be chosen by students who have obtained their undergraduate law degree outside Australia)
• Corporations, Globalisation and Human Rights
• Advanced Corporate Governance
• Competition Law and Policy
• Advanced International Human Rights Law
• International Human Rights Law: Collective Rights
• Advanced Public International Law
• International Environmental Law and Policy
• International Climate Change Law and Policy
• Global Administrative Law
• International Private Law
• International Air and Space Law
• Crime and Society
• Sentencing: Global Theory, Law and Practice
• International Child and Family Law
• Advanced Legal Research Project

International law courses provide advanced knowledge in cutting edge areas of public international law (including climate change, human rights, environmental law and policy and air and space law). These courses will be of interest to legal practitioners and those seeking a professional career in government or the public sector.

Transnational law courses provide you with expertise in the intersection between the Australian legal system and other domestic legal systems in a broad range of areas extending from family law and competition law to corporate governance and administrative law. These courses will be of broad interest to legal practitioners and those seeking a professional career in both private practice and the public sector.

Commercial law courses offer you the opportunity to further develop knowledge and expertise in corporate law and governance in a globalised legal setting. The courses offered in the Master of Laws explore the role of law and legal regulation as it intersects with business practice. These courses will be of particular interest to legal practitioners and corporate officers with a legal role who wish to broaden and develop their legal knowledge and professional skills.

The Advanced Legal Research course in your first semester allows you to develop the specialised knowledge and skills required to design an advanced legal research project in an area of your choice. The Advanced Legal Research course in your second semester allows you to finalise the design of, and carry out, your chosen research project.

This component of the Master of Laws program will not only build upon your technical knowledge and skills, but provide the opportunity to develop the rigour, creativity and adaptability required by 21st century legal professional in the globalised world.

Some of the LLM courses may be delivered in intensive mode, this will involve attendance at classes held over four days during the semester, possibly on weekends. If there is sufficient student demand, some of the courses in the LLM may be delivered in Sydney in intensive mode (i.e. in blocks of hours on weekends).

The location and mode of delivery of the LLM courses (i.e. whether in Newcastle or Sydney) will at all times remain at the discretion of Newcastle Law School.

Please note: The delivery of particular LLM courses in a given semester will be contingent upon sufficient enrolments and the availability of teaching staff. The scheduling of particular LLM courses will therefore at all times remain at the discretion of Newcastle Law School. Some of the listed courses may not be offered and modifications are at the discretion of the Law School. Students will be provided with a list of courses available prior to the commencement of each semester.

The Master of Laws (LLM) is a prestigious legal qualification which is recognised internationally and designed to develop the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to prosper as a 21st century legal professional.

You can use this qualification to pursue a range of exciting and stimulating legal or non-legal career opportunities that are suited to your professional and personal aspirations and interests.

The Master of Laws (LLM) program will help you develop the expert judgment, creativity and adaptability valued by employers in a dynamic and globalised legal market.

You can choose to transfer the advanced knowledge and skills you develop in the Master of Laws (LLM) program to a wide range of contexts, including:

• Private Legal Practice: you may use the Master of Laws (LLM) program to develop advanced legal research skills and specialised knowledge in areas of interest that are highly valued by many law firms and legal practitioners.
• The Corporate Sector: the Master of Laws (LLM) program offers you the opportunity to develop advanced legal expertise and professional skills to pursue a career as in-house counsel or a corporate officer with a legal role.
• Government and Public Administration: your advanced skills in legal research developed in the Master of Laws (LLM) program will assist in pursuing careers in law reform and legal policy development.
• Non-governmental organisations: you may use the specialised knowledge and advanced research skills developed in the Master of Laws (LLM) program to pursue a legal, policy or research role within a range of transnational and international non-governmental organisations.