Comprehensive changes to UQ’s Master of Laws (LLM) degree will come into effect from 2011 following a major review of the program by the University’s TC Beirne School of Law.
Dean of Law Professor Ross Grantham said the new LLM had been extensively remodeled to meet the specific and varied needs of Australian law graduates in the workforce.
“Our market research found that legal professionals have two major requirements for continuing legal education," he said.
“The first is more specialist courses in their area of interest and the second is more intensive modes of study to minimise time away from the office.”
Professor Grantham said the LLM program on offer from 2011 had been designed to meet both these needs.
“We will be offering over 40 LLM courses each year and have introduced nine specialist areas.
"These specialisations include major legal areas such as corporate and commercial, international business, litigation and public sector as well as growing areas such as science and technology, environment, energy and resources, and alternative dispute resolution.
“Almost 70 per cent of our LLM courses will be offered intensively over four consecutive days, from Thursday to Sunday.
"This will not only make it easier for Queensland practitioners to coordinate their work and study commitments but also for interstate practitioners to fly to Brisbane for a long weekend to complete a course.
“The UQ LLM program is also extremely flexible in terms of completion requirements. Students can undertake as little as one or two courses a year, providing they complete the required eight courses within seven years.”
Professor Grantham said the new program was the result of two years of market research among legal professionals.
“We sent surveys to our graduates, conducted in-house focus groups at several leading Brisbane laws firms and held in-depth discussions with senior members of the judiciary.
“The law is constantly changing and legal education also has to change to keep pace with consumer and professional demands.”
“The result is an LLM program which meets the concerns raised by the legal profession, keeps abreast of developments in the law and legal practice and carries the quality guarantee expected from one of the leading law schools Australia.”
The new TC Beirne School of Law Master of Laws program will be officially launched in Brisbane by the Chief Justice of Queensland, the Hon. Paul de Jersey AC, on Thursday, October 21.
Media:
Professor Ross Grantham, 07 3346 9776, r.grantham@law.uq.edu.au
Ms Lynda Flower, School of Law Marketing Manager, 07 3365 2523, l.flower@law.uq.edu.au
