Doctor of Laws (LLD)

The Doctor of Laws (LLD) is the highest qualification available by examination at Melbourne Law School.

The work submitted for examination must be of such a standard that it makes "a substantial and original contribution to legal scholarship and is of such standard as to give the candidate authoritative standing in the field of the candidate's study".  Applications to enrol in the degree normally follow an invitation from Melbourne Law School to individuals of considerable seniority and with a connection to Melbourne Law School.

Policies and Procedures

Policy and procedures for the degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (by examination) are available in Courses, Subjects, Awards and Programs Policy (MPF1327) – Higher Doctorates.

Eligibility

Melbourne Law School may admit as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Laws:

• Any person who is a graduate in Law of the University.
• Any other graduate of this or another university who satisfies the faculty of having received adequate training for legal scholarship and whose degree is recognised by Melbourne Law School ('faculty') pursuant to Part 4 of the Academic Board Regulation as appropriate for the purposes of this award.

In either case of not less than four years' standing from the time of first qualifying for the degree.

Nomination for Admission

A formal application for admission to candidature for the LLD comprises a nomination by a Melbourne Law School academic. The nomination should be addressed to the Dean of Melbourne Law School.

The proposer should have sufficient familiarity with the proposed candidate and the candidate's field of research to enable the proposer to recommend that the quality of the work(s) to be submitted warrants the award of LLD.

The proposer must provide the following:

• Information that demonstrates that the proposed candidate is eligible for admission to candidature for the LLD.
• A statement expressing why the proposed candidate's work is "a substantial and original contribution to legal scholarship and is of such standard as to give the candidate authoritative standing in the field of the candidate's study".
• A statement outlining the work(s) to be examined, which may comprise (i) a sustained body of work over a lengthy period, or (ii) a seminal work that has profoundly contributed to the corpus of knowledge in a particular field.
• A curriculum vitae for the proposed candidate and a full list of the candidate's publications.
• The names and contact details of three referees (other than the proposer) who have sufficient familiarity with the proposed candidate's field of research to enable them to recommend whether or not the quality of the work(s) submitted warrants the award of LLD.

Acceptance for Admission

A nomination for admission to candidature is considered by a committee established by the Dean of Melbourne Law School, comprising at least two Melbourne Law School academics. The Dean and Associate Dean (Research) of Melbourne Law School may be members of the committee, but the proposer may not. In considering whether to accept the candidature, the committee considers:

• Whether the proposed candidate's work as identified in the nomination meets, on a prima facie basis, the subject, scope and character required for admission to the degree of LLD.
• If the proposed candidate is not a graduate in law of the University, whether or not the proposed candidate has received adequate training for legal scholarship and whether or not the proposed candidate's degree is recognised pursuant to Part 4 of the Academic Board Regulation as appropriate for the LLD.
• If work is submitted for assessment that has previously been presented for a degree in any university, whether or not this work should be approved for examination.

The decision of the committee will be taken by consensus or, if necessary, by majority.