About

The MLS Academic Research Service supports the research and publication effort of the Melbourne Law School (MLS) by providing comprehensive research support to MLS academic staff.

The Academic Research Service is available to all MLS staff, including early career and more senior colleagues.

While the Service is able to provide the first 20 hours for free, beyond that, if you are able to do so either from grant funding or your Staff Development Account, you are strongly encouraged to reimburse the Academic Research Service for services rendered (charged at $50 an hour).

The expectation is that if you ask for more than the initial 20 hours of service, you pay for those hours worked, except in exceptional circumstances.

We especially encourage early career researchers to consider this service as an excellent way to further their career.

For reference and research enquiries by non-MLS academics, please contact the Law Library at law-library@unimelb.edu.au or on 8344 8913 – the librarians will be happy to help.

If you are an MLS student and require assistance with legal writing and/or study skills, please contact the Ian Malkin Centre for Legal Academic Skills.

MLS Academic Research Service Team

MLS Academic Research Service team comprises two experienced law librarians and MLS JD and graduate research students.

Services

MLS Academic Research Service provides a wide range of services, from basic to advanced, including:

  • Research Assistance on all legal and multidisciplinary topics, including compilation of bibliographies and substantive legal analysis.
  • Research Databases –  advice on the latest research databases in your area of interest.
  • Document Delivery & Photocopying – we can supply print and electronic material from the University's Library collections, the collections of other libraries, and other sources. We will also photocopy material for MLS academics to support your research. If you are visiting another library on campus, the MLS Academic Research Service can provide you with a photocopy card for use with any UniPrint copier.
  • Alert/Current Awareness Services – we can advise on appropriate services. Please see the Keeping Up to Date in Law page on the Library website for information about the range of alert services available. If you want to set up your own alerts, the Keeping Up to Date in Law Research Guide will assist you.
  • Publication Preparation – including footnote style formatting, and conversion from one style to another for journal articles, book chapters and books.
  • Research Assistant Training – we conduct detailed and customised legal research training for MLS research assistants employed by Melbourne Law School academic staff.

Contact us

To send us a request or discuss your research needs:

Email us: law-academicresearch@unimelb.edu.au

Phone us:

  • Louise Ellis (03) 9035 3511

Visit us on Level 2.

Service Charges

In order to cover our costs, the Academic Research Service may charge for projects for which MLS academic staff have funding - this is charged at RA1 rate plus oncosts, which is approximately $50 per hour.

MLS Academic Research Service Annual Reports

Please view our Annual Reports by logging into the MLS Intranet.