What are we doing?
Melbourne Law School is home to a distinctive and growing community of health law scholars informing law reform, shaping regulation, and advancing health justice.
From research networks exploring the most pressing questions in ethical approaches to modern digital technology in medical practice, to partnerships of advocacy and research safeguarding reproductive justice in Australia – our research is pioneering new knowledge at the intersection of law, ethics, technology and health.
Together with our partners, we are fostering the innovation needed to meet the opportunities and challenges that new technologies, evolving demographics, and shifting societal expectations place on our fundamental health-based institutions.
Our scholars are addressing some of the most contested questions in this space: How can medical practitioners make of use of AI while protecting privacy? How can the law safeguard reproductive-health access in Australia and globally? How should governments handle sensitive health data? Should genomic data be included in electronic medical records? How can we use innovative technologies to manage childhood diabetes? Where are the global gaps in healthcare rights? Are medicolegal processes affecting the health of our medical professionals? What are the ethical concerns in using genomic technology to trace HIV? How can better legal frameworks reduce a shortage of health practitioners?
Our students are engaging with these real health-law problems through clinical subjects and research-led courses, graduating with a knowledge that governments, legal practice, and health institutions increasingly need.
In close partnership with practitioners, regulators, and industry, we are shaping global health outcomes.
Our School includes world-renowned experts across:
Advance your career
Capitalise on this fluid and dynamic legal space and elevate your expertise. From short courses to full degrees, we have a program to match your career goals.
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Single subject enrolment is a great way to advance your professional knowledge in a specific area of law.
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.
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We also work with new partners to design bespoke programs that can fit you or your team’s needs. Have something in mind?
Latest news
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Our partnerships with industry
To support the growing crossover between the law and health within our complex, digital-technology driven and increasingly diverse societies, we seek to engage with civil society and government in pursuit of better health outcomes for people.
We work closely with industry across our research and teaching programs and this two-way exchange connects industry with academic expertise and emerging talent. Professionals contribute as mentors, guest lecturers and project partners with our research centres and Clinic program, helping address real-world legal challenges in an evolving global, health landscape.
Partner with Australia's Number 1 Law School
As Australia's number one law school and consistently ranked among the world's best, we are at the forefront of legal education and research.
Access Expertise and Drive Innovation
Partner with our practising and research leaders embedded in international jurisdictions and organisations and collaborate on joint projects tackling real-world challenges.
Upskill and Customise Training
Support your staff through specialised digital-age courses or design bespoke programs that meet your needs
Hire and Nurture Talent
Early engagement with top students and graduates, and partnership in work-integrated learning, mentorship and donor initiatives
Expand, Lead and Deepen Knowledge Sharing
Engage with leading voices and be part of a dynamic community shaping the profession’s future
Explore our partnerships
Regulation of consultation audio recording in healthcare
Collaboration between researchers Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Melbourne Law School researchers on the slow implementation into Australian healthcare services – either through apps or via policy – of patient-led recording using smartphones despite the benefits of consultation recordings.
Find out more
Recording our genes
Researchers from Australian Genomics Health Alliance Australia, Victorian Department of Health, University of Tasmania, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute analyse how to regulate and support patient trust during this rapid growth in both genomic testing and networked electronic medical records (EMRs).
Find out more
Reproductive Justice HRI
Melbourne Law School is a founding partner of the Reproductive Justice Hallmark Research Initiative that seeks to build a unified national research and advocacy agenda to progress reproductive justice in Australia.
Read moreELLIS
The ELLIS Program (Experiential Learning for Law International Students) exemplifies our student and industry collaboration. Top-tier international Master and JD students are aligned with real-world bespoke projects scoped by industry. Our partners tap into this program to develop new ideas, research emerging trends, and provide advice.
Get involved
Learn more about opportunities to partner with us.
Mentoring
Connect with a Juris Doctor or international Melbourne Law Masters student for a semester and share insights, help navigate the realities of the profession and be a sounding board.
Become a MentorHost an Intern
Get an early peek at our student talent in a professional setting and host an intern through our MLS Clinics’ Legal Internship program.
Become a hostGiving
Make a real impact on talented MLS students facing obstacles to legal study, on the capacity of our world-class research centres and teachers, and on the fulfilment of our school’s highest priorities.
Make a donationMelbourne Law School Clinic Partnerships
Through experiential learning opportunities such as internships and clinics, students build their legal skills and knowledge while contributing to the work of our law partners. Learning by working with real clients to solve real legal problems.
MLS is always seeking new potential new partners across the clinical program. To find out more, contact MLS Clinic Director Kate Fischer-Doherty.
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NDIS and Disability Benefits Clinic
Students will engage one-to-one with clients and conduct legal research for partner organisations that are doing systemic advocacy work, while advising and representing people with disabilities, their families and carers.
Meet some of our experts
Law and Health
Prof Mark Taylor
Prof Paula O'Brien
Prof Michelle Taylor-Sands
Prof Jonathan Liberman
Research centres
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Health Law and Ethics Network (HLEN)
The Health Law and Ethics Network (HLEN) brings together researchers and clinicians across the University of Melbourne to address complex legal and ethical issues in health and healthcare. Its interdisciplinary research spans areas including public and global health, reproductive and children’s health, mental health, emerging technologies, health practitioner regulation and human rights, with a focus on informing law, policy, judicial decision-making and clinical practice.
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Disability Inclusive Law and Policy Hub
An academic research platform for collaboration on law and policy reform that improves outcomes for people with disability. A part of the broader Melbourne Disability Institute network at the University of Melbourne.
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Collaborative for Better Health and Regulation
Focuses on improving public health and healthcare through better regulation. Partners with Melbourne Medical School, and Melbourne School of Population and Global Health to enable increased patient benefit and safeguards necessary for patient trust.
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HeLEX@Melbourne - Health, Law and Emerging Technologies
Research that centres on the legal and regulatory frameworks that accompany new health technologies including genomics, stem cell research, gene editing and digital health. Works closely with Oxford-based Centre for Health, Law and Emerging Technologies (HeLEX@Oxford).
Our graduates in action
Our graduates are at the forefront of health governance applying their expertise as advisors across health-related government departments, constructing legal frameworks for the collection of health data, and as researchers analysing the ethical consideration surrounding advanced technologies in medicine.
From MLS to cyber and privacy lawyer for a software giant Claire MarshallRead Claire's story
Chief Executive Officer, Emerge