What are we doing?
At Melbourne Law School, our researchers and students engage with these questions every day. From technology-focused clinical subjects, multidisciplinary centres examining AI and automated decision-making, and research that integrates technological inquiry across employment, media, health and commercial law. Together, we are fostering the collaboration and innovation needed to meet these opportunities and challenges.
Scholars at Melbourne Law School are shaping the debate of issues that lie at the intersections of technology and law. Embedded in both policy and industry, they are driving global conversations on modern technology, informing policy, advising governments and partnering with industry to address the most urgent legal challenges of the digital era.
What risks and opportunities does AI pose for our courts? How do digital technologies affect hiring and employment law? How can technology improve access to justice? And how can government policy harness the benefits of powerful digital tools while managing their risks?
From consumer law to corporate governance, our scholars are at the forefront of research and education in the tech-law space, tackling questions like these every day.
Our School includes world-renowned experts across:
Advance your career
Capitalise on the emerging technological landscape and elevate your expertise across the legal tech space. 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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Our Digital Law and Technological Innovation specialisation gives you the legal knowledge and technical skills to tackle the ethical, regulatory, and social challenges of today’s biggest technologies. You can choose from subjects covering artificial intelligence, big data, smart contracts, and more. Learn how they’re reshaping markets, governance, and professional practice.
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The Specialist Certificate in Law (Digital Law and Technological Innovation) is designed to equip you with the legal knowledge and technical skills needed to navigate the complex ethical, legal and social implications of new technologies.
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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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Watch: AI, Ethics and Animals with Prof Peter Singer
Revisit the panel discussion on ethics of AI and its impact on nonhuman animals, held at Melbourne Connect on Thursday, 26 March 2026.
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A/ Prof Sarah Monazam Erfani wins Award for AI Safety Research
Congratulations to Associate Professor Sarah Erfani, for being awarded a Young Tall Poppy Award. Sarah was awarded in recognition for her research on AI safety assurance.
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Australia’s national AI plan has just been released. Who exactly will benefit?
With the release of the long-awaited Australian National AI Plan on 2 December, ADM+S researchers look at who will really benefit from AI. Published in The Conversation on 2 December 2025.
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AI in journalism and democracy: Can we rely on it?
The article argues that generative AI is profoundly reshaping journalism and the wider information environment, with ADM+S researchers Dr Jake Goldenfein (Associate Investigator), Dr Fan Yang (Research Fellow) and Prof Daniel Angus (Chief Investigator) warning that the opaque data practices, hidden labour, and pattern-matching nature of these systems create risks of bias, inaccuracy and “hallucination,” making verification harder and threatening democratic trust.
Our partnerships with industry
To ensure Melbourne Law School can meet the opportunities and challenges of societal change and evolving governance realities, we work closely with industry across our research and teaching programs. 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 the legal complexity inherent in these issues.
Why partner with us
There are always unique opportunities to work together shape the future of the legal profession.
Expertise
Work with our research and industry experts and collaborate on joint projects.
Upskill
Support your staff through specialised courses or work with us to design you a bespoke program.
Discover Talent
Engage with top students and graduates in work integrated learning, mentor, and donor initiatives.
Explore our partnerships
Legal AI: 10 years of a clinic breaking new ground
The Law Apps program connects MLS Juris Doctor students with not-for-profit organisations to build technology applications that solve real-world challenges and improve access to justice.
Find out more
Building Resilient Legal Advice for Cyber and Critical Technologies
Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Cyber and Critical Technology Cooperation Program (CCTCP), our experts are strengthening the capacity of Vietnamese lawyers to provide ethical, rights-based legal advice on emerging technologies.
Find out more
Voicing Consent: Regulating Healthcare Consultation Recordings
Following research from MLS on patient’s audio-recording their healthcare consultations, these fact sheets developed in consultation with experts at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, set out how the law in Victoria, Australia, applies to healthcare consultation audio recording.
Read more
Demystifying AI, Law and Regulation
‘LawTech Snapshot Reports’ – an annual database of current statements of use and policy, mapping how the legal sector is using and regulating generative AI, spanning domestic and overseas jurisdictions.
View snapshotsELLIS
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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Law Apps
Law Apps offers students a unique opportunity to explore and apply the potential of artificial intelligence to provide practical solutions to common legal problems. It enables students to build on and develop their skills in legal analysis, creativity, problem solving and innovation.
Meet some of our experts
Prof Jeannie Paterson
A/Prof Tatiana Dancy
Dr Jake Goldenfein
Dr Natalie Sheard
Research centres
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Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Ethics
Research and policy hub for the integration of AI in our legal institutions, the regulation of our digital society, the future of education, AI and mental health, and digital governance. Founded in 2020, the Centre is the leading research institute in this space and pulls experts from across the University in a multidisciplinary approach.
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ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society
National centre examining platform regulation, data governance, digital surveillance and governance of automated decision-making technologies. The Melbourne Law School node includes two of the Centre’s Chief Investigators of the Centre’s focus on automated-decision making impact on our social, health and service institutions.
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Melbourne Centre for Commercial Law
The Centre draws together leading experts across corporate law, financial regulation, construction law, commercial arbitration, consumer law and regulation, and tax law and policy. Its’ leading Masters programs equip the professionals with expert knowledge across commercial law fields that are increasingly dominated by technological advancements that require updated policy and regulation reform.
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Health, Law and Emerging Technologies
A focus on the legal and regulatory frameworks governing new health technologies including genomics, stem cell research, gene editing and health data. Health, Law and Emerging Technologies (HeLEX@Melbourne) work closely with its Oxford-based sister network, HeLEX@Oxford, and has close ties into the Health Law and Ethics Network, also based at Melbourne Law School.
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Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia
Explores the understanding, creation, exploitation and reform of intellectual property of new and existing technologies by Australian organisations and individuals, within a global context. Its podcast IP Provocations explored the deep ties between technology and patents, while its research projects span the restrictions that are preventing eBook lending from benefiting vulnerable parts of society, to the inefficiencies of the global patent system to properly support R&D.
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Melbourne Social Equity Institute
Interdisciplinary research with focuses on the impact of digital technologies on societal equity, the use of data and modelling to understand injustices, and using technologies to improve community outcomes. From climate change to labour-market restructuring, the institute works closely with community organisations to advance a fairer society despite these obstacles.
Our graduates in action
Our graduates are at the forefront of legal innovation, pioneering AI-driven legal solutions, advising on blockchain regulations, shaping data privacy policies, and leading tech startups, demonstrating the transformative impact of their law and technology expertise in today's digital world.
From MLS to cyber and privacy lawyer for a software giant Imogen Smith-Waters | Juris Doctor
Senior Counsel, Incident Response & Trust