Faculty of Law : Guide to courses
7. General information for students in the Faculty of Law

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7. General information for students in the Faculty of Law
    7.1. Credit
        7.1.1. Credit for non-law subjects
        7.1.2. Credit for law subjects
        7.1.3. Subject credits for exchange students
    7.2. Summer program
    7.3. Leave of absence
    7.4. Single subjects
    7.5. Student exchanges
    7.6. Student progress
    7.7. The Law Students' Society
    7.8. International Law Students' Society

7. General information for students in the Faculty of Law

7.1. Credit

The faculty may, in accordance with the powers granted by Statute 11 of the University, grant such credit as it thinks fit to a candidate who enrols in the course for the degree of Bachelor of Laws and who has passed such subjects in another institution which, in the opinion of the faculty, are equivalent to subjects prescribed in the course for the degree of Bachelor of Laws. No candidate may be granted credit for more than 150 law points in an LLB course. Credit transfers shall be granted in accordance with the guidelines approved by the faculty from time to time for that purpose.

7.1.1. Credit for non-law subjects

A candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Laws who has completed a standard full-time year of study or who holds a degree from a recognised tertiary institution but not in the study of law may be exempted from the requirement of obtaining 100 non-law points.

7.1.2. Credit for law subjects

Applications for credit transfers shall be made to the Manager, Undergraduate Studies, in the manner and form determined by the Manager in consultation with the Associate Dean, Undergraduate. The Manager, Undergraduate Studies, shall convey all requests for credit transfers to the Associate Dean, Undergraduate, for decision.
The Associate Dean, Undergraduate, is empowered by the faculty to consider all applications for credit transfers for all subjects of an LLB course and to grant such credit transfers as he or she deems fit, subject to the requirements of these guidelines.
Subject to the following rules, credit for law subjects in an LLB course may be granted to applicants who have been admitted to a university course in another institution and who have passed the final examinations in one or more of the subjects prescribed by that institution for a degree.
For the purposes of these guidelines the Associate Dean, Undergraduate, must be satisfied before granting a credit transfer that the other institution concerned is generally recognised as a tertiary-level institution and that the standards of teaching and examination are substantially similar to those in the University of Melbourne Faculty of Law.
For the purposes of these guidelines the Associate Dean, Undergraduate, must be satisfied before granting a credit transfer that the subject for which credit is sought is substantially similar to the content of the subject for which credit will be given, or the subject is of such academic quality as to justify the granting of credit.
No applicant will be granted credit transfers in more than 150 of the 300 law points prescribed for a University of Melbourne law degree. Subject to this limit, applicants should, as a general rule be granted the maximum possible credits. In particular, credit transfers may be given notwithstanding that the credits concerned have been counted towards a degree previously conferred by another University.

7.1.3. Subject credits for exchange students

Students enrolled in the LLB course who participate in an approved exchange program and who obtain credit in the other institution for any approved subject in that institution's LLB curriculum will be given equivalent credit towards their University of Melbourne LLB degree. Scales of equivalent credits will be determined in advance for specific exchange programs.

7.2. Summer program

A number of subjects will be offered in January and February 2007. These subjects may be taken as part of the LLB degree. A timetable for the summer program may be obtained from the Undergraduate Studies Office. Further information on the summer program may be obtained from the Manager, Undergraduate Studies.

7.3. Leave of absence

Leave of Absense may be granted up to a maximum period of 12 months if a student has a good reason to be absent from their studies and if academic performance is of a standard sufficient to warrant a place in the course being reserved. Leave is granted on the condition that students undertake to inform the Undergraduate Studies Office of their intention to resume their course one month before the end of their period of leave. Failure to do this is intepreted as termination of the course. Leave of Absense appliactions forms are available from the Undergraduate Studies Office.

7.4. Single subjects

It is possible to enrol as a Community Access Program student in single subjects offered by the Faculty of Law if you satisfy the subject prerequisites. Special rules apply. Interested students should apply for information about undergraduate and graduate subjects to the Manager, Undergraduate Studies, and the Program Manager, Graduate Studies, respectively. Overseas practitioners seeking admission to practise in Victoria are permitted to enrol through the Community Access Program in those subjects required by the Council of Legal Education.

7.5. Student exchanges

The faculty of law encourages students to take part of their law studies overseas on a student exchange program. Interested students should start palnning their exchange early in their degrees by making an appointment with the Exchange Advisor in the Undergraduate Studies Office.

7.6. Student progress

Each year the progress of students in the law course is reviewed and consideration is given as to whether action should be taken where any student has:

(a) failed in half or more than half of his or her enrolment in that year (either in number of points or subjects), excepting a student whose enrolment comprises one or two law subjects and one or more subjects in another faculty, and who passes all subjects in the other faculty but fails one law subject and this failure is the first failure in a law subject; or

(b) failed a subject on two or more occasions.

Apart from the exception set out in (a), the relevant subjects are those which can be counted as subjects of a law course. Students whose progress is of concern to the faculty are notified and invited to make a written submission to the Progress Committee. Arrangements are also made for each student to be interviewed by the Progress Committee.

At the interview the student is given the opportunity to be heard and any information before the committee is made known to the student. After considering the student's case the committee may:

(a) report to the Academic Board that, in its opinion, the student should be terminated from the course; or (b) decide that the subjects for which the student may enrol in the forthcoming year should be specified; or (c) take no action.

Students reported to the Academic Board are advised of their right to appear before the board and copies of relevant regulations are provided.

Any student, in respect of whom a report has been made to the Academic Board that the student be terminated from the course, is given the opportunity to make an explanation to the Academic Board which may either terminate the student's enrolment, limit his or her future enrolment, or permit the student to continue in the course without restriction.

For the precise rules relating to unsatisfactory progress students should consult Statute 11.5 in the University Calendar.

7.7. The Law Students' Society

All law students are automatically members of the Law Students' Society (LSS), an incorporated student association which provides important services, publications and events for students. The officers and committee members of the society are elected annually from amongst the student body, and include representatives from all year levels. The LSS is generously sponsored by law firms and other employers of law students, and also receives some funding from the Law Faculty.

The LSS has four sub-committees: education, careers, activities and equality. These committees meet regularly to discuss issues of concern to students, and to organise the provision of services and events. These initiatives include educational services such as the Student Tutorial Service, recording lectures, study groups, guest speakers and debates, Careers Fair, Work Experience Program and student bursaries. The LSS also produces a vast range of publications which are free to students, including the annual Counter Handbook, Women's Handbook, Careers Guide and Careers Info Pack, as well as a society periodical, Purely Dicta. The hectic social calendar includes an Orientation Week Program, Law Camp, Law Ball, Law Revue, Valedictory Dinner and lunchtime BBQs.

The society runs a number of competitions such as mooting, witness examination, client interviewing, negotiating, paper and oral presentations and letter writing which are a valuable practical complement to the LLB curriculum. Through these competitions students are able to acquire and enhance their oral and written presentation skills. Teams of competitors are sent to the Annual ALSA Conference each July, to compete with law students from throughout Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

LSS representatives also play an important role in liaising with the Law Faculty. The executive meets regularly with the Dean and faculty staff on matters of immediate concern to students. Elected students also sit on the faculty and each of its sub-committees. The society thus represents student interests on matters such as curriculum, study conditions, assessment, course design and library facilities. The society also maintains links with the legal profession and the wider community. It provides career information to students, and represents student interests to the profession on matters such as articles guidelines and professional admission requirements.

The LSS aims to help students attain their goals, be they academic, career, social or equality based. To that end, it seeks to function as a first point of contact for students who are unsatisfied with any aspect of their experience of Law School. When a complaint is received, the LSS attempts to either take action itself to remedy the situation, or if this is not possible, to direct the complaint to other faculty or University departments that may be able to offer assistance.

As members of the LSS at the University of Melbourne, all students gain membership to the Australian Law Students' Association (ALSA), the peak body of law students in Australia, currently comprising over 25,000 law students from 33 law schools from around the country. ALSA is best known for its Annual Conference, featuring Australasian championships in mooting, witness examination, negotiation, client interview and paper presentation, and its publications, the ALSA Reporter and the ALSA Careers Journal. All students are encouraged to involve themselves in ALSA activities. In 1993, the Australasian president for ALSA was located at the University of Melbourne, and each year, the LSS sends two members to ALSA as council representatives.

For further information about the Law Students' Society, or for assistance on any matter from the LSS representatives, contact the LSS office, room 217 (Melbourne Law School), telephone +61 3 8344 6179 or email lss-info@unimelb.edu.au.

Information is also available on the Law Students' Society web site at http://www.lss.unimelb.edu.au.

7.8. International Law Students' Society

The International Law Students Society (ILSS) is one of the two law students' societies at the University of Melbourne Faculty of Law. It was established to promote interaction between local and international law students, and to inform law students of the changes and developments in legislation and work opportunities in the Asia - Pacific region. The ILSS, through its events, helps to foster social networking between local law students and their counterparts from across the globe.

The ILSS has an active program of social and educational activities for its members to fully experience the many facets of university life. Events that the ILSS organise include Free Gelati at Lygon, Scavenger Hunts in O-week, Yum cha Luncheons, International Games Day, Games Nights, Free lunches and Corporate Dinners with representatives from law firms.

The ILSS's Buddy-Mentor Scheme is very successful in providing support for law students adjusting to their new environment at the Melbourne University Faculty of Law. This scheme provides a later year student to a group of three first-year students to help guide them through the difficulties faced as new students at University.

Membership in the ILSS is free to anyone interested in international law student issues or work opportunities.