Course structure

Students must complete 100 credit points 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 87.5 credit points of study from the prescribed list of subjects.

Students with a law degree from a common law jurisdiction must complete 87.5 credit points of study from the prescribed list and may choose 12.5 credit points from the subjects available in the Master of Laws (excluding Fundamentals of the Common Law and the Minor Thesis).

Subject timing and format

The Melbourne Law Masters program has been designed around the busy schedules of working professionals. Subjects are offered from February to December each year. Most subjects are taught intensively over five days, with some subjects taught for two hours each week during the semester.

Subjects delivered online will have a combination of pre-recorded lecture content, live sessions and discussion boards among other resources. On-campus subjects involve interactive, seminar-style classes in the Law Building in Melbourne.

Class sizes are typically limited to 30 students regardless of delivery mode.

Duration

Full-time students enrol in 50 credit points per semester (or half-year period) and have an expected course duration of one year. Part-time* students enrol in 25 credit points per semester (or half-year period) and have an expected course duration of two years. Semesters without enrolments require a student to apply for a leave of absence.

*Part-time enrolment is for domestic students only. Part-time students may reduce their study load to 12.5 credit points per half-year period and thus have a maximum course duration of four years.

Overview of Intellectual Property

Overview of Intellectual Property is a two-day seminar that provides a general survey of the various regimes comprising intellectual property (IP). It is accredited by the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board (TTIPAB) as satisfying part of its accreditation requirements for Topic Group A.

Professional accreditation

Completing the appropriate subjects in the Master of Intellectual Property Law may qualify you to register as a trade marks attorney and a patent attorney under the Trans-Tasman regime. In order to qualify you should first seek advice from the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board and consult with Melbourne Law School on subject selection.

TTIPAB Accreditation

• TTIPAB Accreditations for Groups A, B, C, D, E, F, H and I are valid through to 7 April 2025.
• TTIPAB Accreditation for Group G is valid through to 16 Nov 2023.

Subject timing and format

The Melbourne Law Masters program has been designed around the busy schedules of working professionals. Subjects are offered from February to December each year. Most subjects are taught intensively over five days with some subjects taught for two hours each week during the semester.

Subjects delivered online will have a combination of pre-recorded lecture content, live sessions and discussion boards among other resources. On campus subjects involve interactive seminar style classes in the Law Building in Melbourne.

Class sizes are typically limited to 30 students regardless of delivery mode.

Duration

Full time students enrol in 50 credit points per semester (or half year period) and have an expected course duration of one year. Part time* students enrol in 25 credit points per semester (or half year period) and have an expected course duration of two years. Semesters without enrolments require a student to apply for a leave of absence.

*Part time enrolment is for domestic students only. Part time students may reduce their study load to 12.5 credit points per half year period and thus have a maximum course duration of four years.

For detailed course and subject information, see the Handbook: Master of Intellectual Property Law.