Class Actions

Subject LAWS70019 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

August, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: The total class time is between 24 and 26 hours.
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Corequisites: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Recommended Background Knowledge: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Non Allowed Subjects: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Core Participation Requirements: Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

Contact

For more information, contact the Melbourne Law Masters office.

Email law-masters@unimelb.edu.au or phone +61 3 8344 6190.

Alternatively, visit our website:

www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

Principal topics will include:

  • The origin of modern class action regimes in Australia
  • Comparisons of the federal and Victorian regimes with those in other Australian jurisdictions
  • The main stages of class action litigation
  • Specific issues, including but not limited to choosing a forum, defining the class, the role of the lead plaintiff, identifying and notifying class members, settlement and court approval
  • Comparing class actions with other procedures available for complex litigation
  • Securities class actions and the regulatory role of the class action
  • Funding and costs issues.
Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Understand the main stages of class action litigation and how class action proceedings are conducted
  • Be able to identify, evaluate and compare the various procedures available in Australia to litigate group claims
  • Understand the principles on which modern class action regimes are based, and use these principles to analyse current debates about the purpose and efficacy of class action litigation
  • Compare the main features of class action litigation in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, and use these comparisons to evaluate the efficacy of class action regimes in these jurisdictions
  • Analyse key practical and ethical issues that arise in the context of class action litigation.
Assessment:

Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Prescribed Texts: Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date

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