The specialisation in Asian law is ideal for lawyers and other professionals dealing with Asian legal systems in commercial, legal or policy capacities, or for researchers and scholars interested in Asia.

International and domestic students will benefit from the diversity of subjects, exposure to teaching staff who speak Asian languages and who have lived and practiced law in Asian jurisdictions. It will also provide access to the Asian Law Centre - Australia's first and largest centre devoted to developing understandings of Asian laws and legal systems and its sister centre, the Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society, which is devoted to the study of Indonesian law and Islamic law across the Asian region.

Covering a range of Asian legal systems and societies, the program offers insights into laws, institutions and their reform and practices that will determine how governments, businesses and broader stakeholders interact within and across borders.

The Graduate Diploma in Asian Law is part of the world-renowned Melbourne Law Masters program.

Students must complete 50 credit points of study from the prescribed list of subjects.

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.

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 will be delivered either online, on campus, or as a hybrid of both. 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.

Duration

Full-time students enrol in 50 credit points per semester (or half-year period) and have an expected course duration of six months. Part-time* students enrol in 25 credit points per semester (or half-year period) and have an expected course duration of one year. 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 two years.

As a student in the Graduate Diploma of Asian Law, you’ll develop an advanced understanding of the complex body of knowledge in the field of Asian law, including:

• The legal systems of East and South East Asia in their social, political and economic context
• How Asian lawyers, business people, legislators and leaders may respond to particular legal issues
• The relevance of different Asian legal experiences in Australia.

You’ll also develop skills in critical analysis and the ability to interpret and transmit your ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences, including clients.

Applicants must have completed: A degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent) leading to admission to legal practice, with a University of Melbourne equivalent score of at least 70, or equivalent

IELTS (academic English Only): 6.5 (no band less than 6.0)
TOEFL Internet-based test: 79 + ; Writing 21; Speaking 18; Reading 13; Listening 13;
Pearson Test of English Academic: 58 + no communicative skill below 50
Cambridge English: Advanced/ Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): 176 + no skill below 169.