Master of Laws (Global Competition and Consumer Law)

The Master of Laws (Global Competition and Consumer Law) is a highly innovative and advanced international course that responds to the proliferation of competition and consumer policies and laws, and their increasingly active enforcement, around the world. Competition policy and law are a crucial means of driving economic growth, higher living standards and productivity at national and global levels.

This course provides interdisciplinary knowledge and skills through subjects that grapple with the legal, regulatory, economic, political, institutional and ethical facets of competition policy, law and enforcement. The course focuses substantively on the policies, laws and enforcement experiences of the major jurisdictions in this field, the United States and European Union, but also draws on other jurisdictions - from the Asia Pacific region particularly. Subjects are taught by leading experts, each bringing outstanding pedagogical skills, substantive knowledge and practical skill and experience to instruction in the course.

Using sophisticated interactive technology, facilitating close rich engagement with world-renown experts and a diverse network of peers, the course provides students with advanced specialised expertise and skills to tackle the complex challenges raised by the design and application of competition systems. It is designed for professionals in the private and public sectors who are aspiring to build or advance a career in this field.

The LLM (Global Competition and Consumer Law) requires completion of eight subjects (100 credit points in total). Students have the option of enrolling in the Masters degree or in a Graduate Diploma in Global Competition and Consumer Law which involves completion of four subjects (50 points), from which they can elect to transfer to the Masters.

As most students in this course will be full-time professionals, enrolment is being offered on a part-time basis only initially, requiring students to complete one subject per eight week term, over an academic year of four terms. The course will typically be completed therefore in two years.

All subjects are undertaken online providing students with flexibility in where and when they study, while at the same time offering regular opportunities for interaction with their peers and teachers, including in real-time virtual classroom settings and culminating in optional attendance at a research workshop towards the end of the course, held in a major city such as Washington, Brussels, Hong Kong or Melbourne.

Students enrolled in the on-campus Master of Competition and Consumer Law or Graduate Diploma in Competition and Consumer Law in the Melbourne Law Masters program are able to enrol in up to four subjects (for Masters students) and up to two subjects (for Graduate Diploma students) in the online program for credit towards their degree or diploma. The same option is open to other Melbourne Law Masters on-campus students enrolled in degrees (eg the Master of Laws; Master of Commercial Law) to which subjects in the online LLM (Global Competition and Consumer Law) are available for credit.

Graduates of the LLM (Global Competition and Consumer Law) will:

• Have an advanced and integrated understanding of the complex body of knowledge relevant to the field of global competition and consumer law, including:
  • The economic theories, policies and principles that underpin and influence policy and law in this field;
  • The legal rules that govern market structures and conduct in major jurisdictions around the world;
  • The design, operation and assessment of institutions that administer competition and consumer policy and law;
  • Challenges that arise in the enforcement of competition and consumer law from the perspectives of businesses, practitioners, governments and enforcement agencies; and
  • Contemporary international debates on the reform of competition and consumer policy and law;
• Have advanced knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to this field of learning and professional practice;
• have expert, specialised cognitive and technical skills that equip them to independently:
  • Analyse, critically reflect on and synthesise complex information, concepts and theories in the field of global competition and consumer law;
  • Generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts relevant to this field of learning and professional practice;
  • Research and apply such information, concepts and theories in the relevant field; and
  • Interpret and communicate their knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences in the field;
• Be able to apply their knowledge and skills in such a way as demonstrates a high level of personal autonomy, expert judgment, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner and learner in the field of global competition and consumer law; and
• Plan and execute a substantial research-based project that demonstrates mastery of their learning and of research principles and methods in this discipline.

Students must complete seven core subjects, two of which will represent a capstone experience in the course, and an eighth elective subject.

LAWS90065 Foundations: Competition Law & Economics is a prerequisite to all other subjects.

Students should then complete: LAWS90064 Cartels; LAWS90072 Mergers; and LAWS90066 Unilateral Conduct but may complete them in any order.

Students complete the remaining subjects (LAWS90069 Competition Law in a Globalised World; LAWS90071 Institutions and one of the two electives – LAWS90067 Asian Competition Policy and Law or LAWS90070 Consumer Protection) in any order but the LAWS90068 Research Project is to be taken last (all of the seven other subjects must have been completed before students take the Research Project subject).

Core subjects

Core subjects (Capstone)

Elective subjects

In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

• A degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent) leading to admission to practice, or equivalent; and one year of documented relevant professional experience;
  or
• A degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent) leading to admission to practice, at honours standard, or equivalent;
  or
• A degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent) leading to admission to practice, or equivalent; and four subjects towards the Graduate Diploma (Global Competition and Consumer Law), with a minimum of 65% in each.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

In ranking applications, the Selection Committee wil consider:

• prior academic performance, and

• the professional experience

The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

Applicants are required to satisfy the university's English language requirements for graduate courses.

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 use a computer, including read material on screen, to a competent standard;
• 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 Student Equity and Disability Support.

Completion of this course enables a student to proceed to further graduate coursework or higher degree research programs.

Students who complete this course will embody graduate attributes of the University of Melbourne.

In particular, graduates of the Master of Laws (Global Competition and Consumer Law) will have in-depth knowledge of the global field of competition and consumer policy, law and enforcement from multiple disciplinary perspectives – law and economics particularly, but also politics, regulation and sociology. They will be critical thinkers with strong reasoning and analytical skills and an advanced capacity to apply their knowledge in a way that addresses major economic and social problems. They will have a strong sense of intellectual integrity, a high standard of professionalism and sophisticated advocacy and communication skills.

Graduates of this course will be engaged with contemporary issues facing their local, national, regional communities - specifically issues associated with designing, implementing and applying economic policies and laws with a market focus and in such a way that is sensitively attuned to the impacts on and perspectives of a wide range of stakeholders from government, industry and the public at large. They will have the potential to be leaders in their field and will actively seek out opportunities to use their expertise in making positive contributions to their profession and their communities.

These graduates will be motivated, self-directed and organised. The opportunities and challenges presented through online learning will ensure that they are able to set goals, manage time and priorities and work effectively, both independently and as a member of a group.

Students who complete this course will develop generic skills as follows:

• Advanced competencies in legal and economic research and analysis;
• Highly developed problem solving abilities, including through the collection and evaluation of information applying interdisciplinary sources and perspectives;
• Substantial capacity to communicate, orally and in writing;
• Sophisticated ability to evaluate and synthesise existing knowledge in the area;
• Substantial capacity for critical and independent thought and reflection;
• Highly developed capacity for self-directed learning, organisation and time management.