Global Business Law

The only program of its kind in Australia, the Master of Laws in Global Business Law presents a unique opportunity for law graduates and certified practising accountants to study commercial law in areas of global interest, taught by some of the world's leading jurists. A parallel degree program, the Master of Global Business Law, is now open to non-law graduates.

Single units can also be undertaken by graduates (for professional development purposes) and by current law students (as elective units).

Leading professors, practitioners and in-house counsel from around the world teach our innovative units in American, European and Asian-Pacific business law. Our units respond to such real-life challenges as the Australian and US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), the Chinese demand for Australian energy resources and the European Union's status as Australia's leading trading partner.

The Global Business Law program:

  • will credit Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT);
  • will credit previously completed units in LLM studies;
  • is available to law and non-law graduates;
  • welcomes cross-institutional students.

Course information

GBL Unit information

Please consult the Global Business Law subject ('unit') information page for a detailed outline of current and future units.

Course requirements

All of our Global Business Law units are taught in block release mode and are generally taught within the summer vacation or the break between first and second semester. The La Trobe Master of Laws in Global Business Law requires eight units. Students may take up to four units per semester. Completion of four units will entitle a student to obtain a Post-Graduate Certificate in Global Business Law. 

Venue and classes

Venue to be advised.

Assessment

Assessment is by way of a take-home assignment: typically, 6000 - 7000 words, including footnotes. Assignments will be posted on this website on the last day of the relevant class.

Set Texts

The set text (if any) for each subject (unit) in the GBL program can be found on the subject (unit) heading or in the subject (unit) syllabus. Usually, there will be some copies of the set text on close reserve (3 hour reserve) in the library. However, students are expected to order their own copy of the text from on-line providers such as Amazon.com at least 4-6 weeks before class to ensure you have received the text when classes start. The university bookshop does not hold copies of set texts for Global Business Law subjects (units).

Access to GBL subjects (units)

Cross-institutional LLM students may enrol subject to permission from their home Law School. Fee paying students enrolling on a "miscellaneous" basis are permitted.  From November 2009, La Trobe Law LLB students seeking enrolment in GBL subjects (units) will be subjected to a cap on numbers to be advised.

Contacts

Professor Gordon Walker

School of Law
La Trobe University
Victoria 3086
Australia 
Telephone: +61 3 9479 1462
Email: Gordon.Walker@latrobe.edu.au

Claire Payne     

Administrator - Fraud Investigation/GBL Programs
Telephone: +61 3 9479 1131
Email: claire.payne@latrobe.edu.au

Entrance requirements

Master of Laws in Global Business Law
Graduate Certificate in Global Business Law

  • For entry into the Graduate Certificate, students must have a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) or its international equivalent or be a full member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia.
  • For direct entry into the Master's degree, students must have an LLB degree or its international equivalent or be a full member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia.
  • It is possible for students who have achieved an appropriate grade average in the Graduate Certificate to articulate their studies to the Master's degree level.
  • Full members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and CPA Australia are eligible to enter the Master of Laws in Global Business Law Program.
  • La Trobe Law will grant credit for two units for practitioners who have passed the QLTT and have formally enrolled in the Master of Laws in Global Business Law.

Master of Global Business Law (non-law graduates)

  • Where a student has no background in law, completion of the unit, Introduction to Australian Law is mandatory. The remaining units may be selected from those units presently offered in the Master of Laws in Global Business Law.

Master of Laws (International) (for international students with law degree)

Single professional development units / current student electives

  • GBL units may be taken for professional development purposes or on a cross-institutional basis.
  • La Trobe Graduate-Entry LLB students may be permitted to take GBL units as law electives from the end of first year onwards. Undergraduate Entry LLB students in single or double degree programs may access GBL units from third year onwards. In all cases, admission to the GBL electives is subject to application and quota and will be at the discretion of the program co-ordinator. Students will be charged per unit at their current course fee rate.
  • Application form - to attend as professional development [PDF 191KB]
  • Application form - current LLB students [PDF 189KB]

Fee information

Fees (local)

  • AUD $2188 per subject
  • AUD $17,500 per 120 cpts for Master of Laws' programs
  • AUD $8,750 per 60 cpts for Postgraduate Diploma

Fees (international)

  • AUD $2504 per subject
  • AUD $20,030 per 120 cpts for Master of Laws' programs
  • AUD $10,015 per 60 cpts for Postgraduate Diploma


Fees are payable at the beginning of each semester for the subjects undertaken during that semester. Special arrangements are made for cross-institutional final year Bachelor of Laws students.

Students wishing to enrol in the Global Business Law courses or individual Masters units may borrow tuition costs via the Postgraduate Education Loans Scheme (PELS). For information on PELS/FEE-HELP, please refer to: Going to Uni.

See also advanced standing/tuition discount for German students [14K PDF].

PELS/FEE-HELP and tax deductibility

If you take out a PELS/FEE-HELP loan for your tuition fees, you may be entitled to a tax deduction for the cost of your course fees. For further information, please visit: the Australian Tax Offices website.

Notice to all full-fee paying students

The University reserves the right to vary fees on an annual basis. Fees will not normally rise above 7% per annum. Should the University decide to increase its fees, that increase will take effect on 1 January of the following year.