Master of Health and Medical Law

Melbourne Law School’s health and medical law program is open to lawyers in the medico-legal area and to doctors and other health professionals and administrators. Two new subjects will be offered in 2012. Registration of Health Professionals will provide an understanding of how the new National Registration and Accreditation Scheme has centralised the disciplinary process, now that the registration bodies are acting under delegated authority from the federal board. The other new subject, Proprietary Interests in Human Tissue, will cover the ethical and legal issues surrounding the use of body parts.

The graduate programs in health and medical law focus on:

• Relevant aspects of health and medical law
• The theoretical framework surrounding health and medical law, and contemporary ethical and theoretical issues
• The law concerning the relationship between doctor and patient as well as that relating to particular procedures
• The provision of concise legal advice to plaintiffs and defendants in medical litigation
• An ethical evaluation of health and medical law and the development and interpretation of theoretical legal arguments
• Advanced communication in health and medical law, orally and in writing
• Conducting effective legal research in the area of health and medical law.

Students must complete eight subjects in total.

Students who do not have a law degree from a common law jurisdiction must complete Fundamentals of the Common Law, as well as seven subjects from the prescribed list.

Students with a law degree from a common law jurisdiction must complete at least seven subjects from the prescribed list and may choose an eighth subject from those available in the Melbourne Law Masters (excluding Fundamentals of the Common Law).

None.

# Offered in 2012

• Advanced Civil Litigation (Formerly Advanced Litigation) #
• Behavioural Law and Economics #
• Expert Evidence #
• Food and Drug Law
• Foundations of Medical Law #
• Fundamentals of the Common Law #
• Health, Development and Human Rights
• International Health Law (formerly Global Health Law)
• International Trade, Intellectual Property and Public Health (Formerly Trade, Intellectual Property Rights and Public Health) #
• Law and Human Genetics
• Law of Negligence (formerly Current Developments in Negligence Law)
• Law on the Beginning and End of Life #
• Medical Ethics (Formerly Bioethics from an International Perspective) #
• Medical Litigation #
• Patient Safety and the Law
• Privacy Law (Formerly Privacy and Data Protection) #
• Proprietary Interests in Human Tissue #
• Public Health Law (formerly Public Health Law in Australia and the Pacific)
• Registration of Health Professionals #
• Sports Health and Medical Law (Formerly Sports Medicine Law) #
• Workplace Health and Safety #

None.

Available Breadth Tracks

• A degree in a relevant discipline and the equivalent of at least two years of full-time, documented, relevant professional experience; or
• A degree in law leading to admission to legal practice (LLB, JD or equivalent), at honours standard or equivalent; or
• A degree in law leading to admission to legal practice (LLB, JD or equivalent) and the equivalent of at least two years of full-time, documented, relevant professional experience; or
• A degree in a relevant discipline, successful completion of four subjects in a cognate graduate diploma and the equivalent of at least one year of full-time, documented, relevant work experience.

The Melbourne Law Masters welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The inherent academic requirements for study in the Melbourne Law Masters are:

• The ability to attend a minimum of 75% of classes and actively engage in the analysis of complex materials and debate;
• The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
• The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
• The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.

Students who feel their disability will inhibit them from meeting these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit: www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

1. Advanced understanding of the changing knowledge base in the relevant area of law
   The specialist focus of the Melbourne Law Masters, the constant review and renewal of subjects and courses, the range and expertise of instructors from Australia and around the world, and regular advice from our advisory boards combine to ensure that courses and subjects reflect emerging knowledge and ideas
2. Ability to evaluate and synthesise existing knowledge in the area
   Small classes, a discussion-based environment and the emphasis on quality teaching and learning create an environment in which knowledge is exchanged, critically examined and adapted to current circumstances
3. Well-developed problem solving abilities, characterised by flexibility of approach
   Most subjects approach knowledge by reference to various issues or problems. Students are encouraged to critically analyse problems and identify and develop a range of appropriate solutions through class discussion, individual study and assessment tasks.
4. Advanced competencies in legal research and analysis
   Class preparation and class discussions are designed to enhance these skills, which are tested in all forms of assessment.
5. Capacity to communicate, orally and in writing
   Classroom discussion and formal presentations provide an opportunity to hone oral communication skills, and written assessment tasks are graded in part on written communication skills.
6. Appreciation of the design, conduct and reporting of original research
   Research papers and other research tasks are expected to attain a degree of originality and discovery that befits a quality postgraduate program, and students are encouraged and assisted to publish work of a high standard in refereed journals.
7. Capacity to manage competing demands on time
   The demanding nature of graduate study requires effective time-management skills from all students. The rigour of our programs, whether undertaken part-time or full-time, ensures that all successful graduates have enhanced time-management skills.
8. Profound respect for truth and intellectual integrity, including the ethics of scholarship
   Some subjects have a substantive ethical component. All instructors have a respect for intellectual integrity and are skilled scholars or practitioners in their own right.
9. Appreciation of the way in which knowledge provides a foundation for leadership
   Instructors in the Melbourne Law Masters are leaders in their fields, and many subjects involve visiting academics, exposing students to a wider array of leaders in a range of legal fields. The Law School is committed to the significance of knowledge, which informs all regular programs and a wide range of additional activities.
10. Capacity to value and participate in teamwork
    Small class sizes and an intensive teaching format are valuable in encouraging group dynamics and teamwork.
11. Understanding of the significance and value of knowledge to the wider community
    Law and legal knowledge are a community resource. In some subjects, this perspective is covered explicitly by the syllabus and the manner in which issues are treated in class. In addition, our diverse student body ensures that a range of perspectives on the way law impacts on the community are identified and analysed.
12. Capacity to engage with issues in contemporary society
    Our programs focus on the most up-to-date legal knowledge, analysing current issues and problems through the curriculum design, classroom discussion and assessment tasks. International students are also invited to participate in extracurricular activities to aid understanding of Australian law and legal institutions.
13. Advanced working skills in the use of new technology
    The most advanced IT infrastructure is available to Melbourne Law Masters students in the Law Library, the Moot Court Room, classroom settings and for private study.