Graduate Diploma in Human Rights Law

The specialisation in human rights law offers the widest range of human rights subjects in Australia. Many world-renowned experts teach in the program, offering students exciting opportunities to examine a range of human rights instruments, institutions, theories and practices in contemporary context. The program is particularly relevant to lawyers currently working, or planning to work, in the field of human rights, as well as those with a non-law background working in development agencies and other human rights-related organisations in Australia and around the world.

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Human Rights Law will:

• Have advanced understanding of a systematic and coherent body of knowledge relating to the field of international and domestic human rights law
• Be an engaged, informed and open-minded participant in debates about the contested universality of international human rights and its application in diverse domestic jurisdictions
• Be able to make a sophisticated assessment of the practical effectiveness of different mechanisms for implementing or enforcing human rights
• Have an advanced appreciation of the relationship betwen law and politics, at the international and domestic levels, in the field of human rights law
• Have advanced cognitive, technical and communication skills to analyse critically, evaluate and convey information about human rights law and its role in providing solutions to complex problems
• Be able to analyse, interpret and assess the challenges posed to the implementation of international human rights obligations in the context of globalisation
• Have the ability to demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner or advocate in the field of human rights law.

Students must complete four subjects from the prescribed list.

Students who do not have a law degree from a common law jurisdiction or any prior legal studies or experience are also expected to complete the two-day preliminary subject Australian Legal Process and Legal Institutions.

2015 Subjects

• Development, Labour and Human Rights LAWS90018
• Equality and Discrimination at Work (Formerly Anti-Discrimination Law at Work) LAWS70025
• Health Law and Human Rights LAWS70451
• Human Rights and Armed Conflict LAWS70422
• Human Rights and Climate Change LAWS70452
• Human Rights and Culture LAWS70453
• Human Rights at Work LAWS70391
• Human Rights of Groups: Indigenous Rights in International and Domestic Law (Formerly Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples) LAWS70114
• Human Rights, Women and Development (Formerly Gender, Human Rights and Development) LAWS70171
• Human Rights: From Morality to Law LAWS70454
• International Human Rights Law LAWS70264
• International Law and Children’s Rights LAWS70120
• International Migration Law LAWS70365
• International Refugee Law (Formerly International Refugee Law: Refugee Status) LAWS70366
• Poverty, Human Rights and Development (Formerly Poverty and Human Rights) LAWS70430

• A degree in Law (LLB, JD or equivalent) at honours standard or equivalent leading to admission to legal practice;
  or
• A degree in Law (LLB, JD or equivalent) leading to admission to legal practice and at least one year of documented, relevant professional experience;
  or
• An undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline and at least one year of documented, relevant professional 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 and critique 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 to 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.