Enrichment

Enrichment

Orientation

Melbourne Law School is dedicated to supporting new graduate researchers in making a seamless transition as they begin their research journey.

New graduate researchers will participate in an engaging one-day program designed to provide an introduction to life at Melbourne Law School and ensure they are fully prepared to begin their research journey.

The orientation day will cover key topics, including an overview of expectations for graduate researchers, introductions to fellow cohort members, and an outline of Melbourne Law School's research milestones. Additionally, attendees will hear from staff and current students about a range of support services, including supervision, funding opportunities, and guidance on academic careers and skills development.

Milestone Presentation Day

The Milestone Presentation Day provides a valuable opportunity for graduate researchers to present their work to an audience of faculty members and fellow students.

The Milestone Presentation Day comprises three different kinds of presentations:

  1. Work in progress

    All MPhil and PhD candidates are invited to make a 20-minute presentation on some aspect of their thesis (with 10 minutes for questions afterwards). This will give you a chance to discuss a part of your thesis on which you would like to obtain feedback.

  2. PhD and MPhil confirmation

    PhD candidates are required to make a 20-minute presentation on their thesis (with 10 minutes for questions afterwards) towards the end of their first year of candidature (or towards the end of the second year for part-time candidates).

    MPhil candidates are required to make a 15-minute presentation on their thesis (with 10 minutes for questions afterwards) by the six-month mark (full-time) of their candidature.

  3. PhD and MPhil completion

    MPhil and PhD candidates are required to present an overview of their entire thesis 3-6 months before submitting. The presentation should include the 'objectives, methods, findings and significance' of the research. 40 minutes are allowed for each completion presentation plus 20 minutes for questions and discussion.

Research Support Program

The Research Support Program (RSP) assists first year graduate researchers to develop the high-level skills needed to complete an outstanding thesis.

What does the RSP aim to do?

The RSP is comprised of a series of fortnightly seminars designed to encourage new graduate researchers to think in an informed and creative way about their work and the work of others. The content of the program is split between seminars that aim to assist new researchers to acquire specific skills, such as formulating and refining research questions and communicating effectively about their research, and seminars that introduce ‘specialist’ approaches to legal research and scholarship, led by MLS academics. The overall aim of the RSP is to provide a welcoming and supportive environment in which graduate researchers can develop confidence, skills and a collegial research community.

The co-ordinator of RSP is Dr Claerwen O'Hara.

You are strongly encouraged to attend as many of these seminars as you can. If you are in your first year, you are especially strongly encouraged to attend all seminars. We also recommend that you attend as many as possible of the Faculty Research Seminars.

Facilities and Resources

The following are a list of facilities and resources available to graduate researchers in the Melbourne Law School.

MLS Graduate Researcher Community on Canvas

The MLS Graduate Researcher Community has been launched on Canvas. All MLS graduate researchers are automatically enrolled into this community.

Here you will find general resources to assist you in your studies, along with important announcements, enrichment opportunities and other information relevant to you as you progress through your candidature.

Recordings currently available from the 2021 Research Support Program and 2021 Graduate Research Practical Skills Program can be viewed from the community.

Workspaces within the Law School

Melbourne Law School seeks to provide a workspace and computer for all full-time Law graduate researchers. Where possible, it also seeks to provide spaces for its part-time graduate researchers. All workspaces (on the academic floors, Levels 7-9) are equipped with a computer, filing cabinet and desk drawers.

Student Card (24hr) Access to the Law Building

All Law graduate researchers are entitled to a student card allowing 24 hr access to the Law Building and the Law Library. If you are allocated a workspace in the Law Building, you will need to have your student card activated in order to access the building after hours. Please contact the Office for Research for the facilitation of this service.

Common Rooms

All Law graduate researchers are welcome to use the staff common room on Level 9 of the Law School Building; your swipe card should provide access to this room. In addition, graduate researchers are also able to use the Graduate Common Room on Level 6 of the building, which provides access to tea and coffee making facilities. Please note that access to these rooms is restricted to the opening hours of the Law Building.

Student Computing in the Law School

Melbourne Law School provides all Law graduate researchers who have been allocated a workspace within the Law School building with access to a desktop computer. Graduate researchers also have access to the computers within the Computer Labs located in the Law Library. There are over 2,800 outlets for laptop connection within the Law School building.

Students with Disabilities

The University of Melbourne has a proud history of supporting the participation of students with outstanding academic potential irrespective of disability or educational disadvantage.

Please refer to the Student Equity and Disability Support web site for further information on students with disabilities.

Melbourne Law School also has information on Student Equity and Disability support for Melbourne Law School students.

Writing and Language Support

Workshops, tutorials and individual consultations available to our graduate researchers to improve their legal research, writing and academic skills.

Dr Chantal Morton is the Lecturer in Legal Writing and Academic Skills at Melbourne Law School.  Chantal conducts workshops, tutorials and individual consultations designed to help graduate researchers improve their writing.

Thesis Writing and Language Support Consultations

Consultations focus on thesis writing and written expression. They are available to all Law graduate research students and will be most beneficial for ESL and international students, and for those who have been away from academic study for some time.

An effective way to improve your thesis writing skills and written expression is to email or bring in a written draft of work in progress (see the guidelines below).

How to arrange a consultation

Graduate research students can arrange a consultation by emailing Chantal Morton.

Where to go

Language & Academic Skills consultations in the Law school are held in room 333, on the third floor of the Law building, in the Law Library (Legal Academic Skills Centre, near the Loans Desk).

Guidelines

  • You can book a consultation up to two weeks in advance. Availability may be limited, so please book ahead.
  • Graduate research candidates who are not able to attend the Parkville campus of the University can arrange for an email or telephone consultation.
  • If you wish to focus on a piece of writing within a consultation, please submit your draft by email or hard copy (rm 333) no less than 24 hours prior to the arranged consultation. Please indicate your main concerns. Thesis chapters will not necessarily be read in close detail, but the focus will be on key sections or aspects of expression for the purposes of discussion and advice.
  • The consultation does not involve general editing or a proofreading of written work. When working with a specific piece of writing, the consultation will generally involve focusing on key issues or sections for instructional purposes.
  • Please be punctual, or give 24 hours notice where possible if cancelling. Your cooperation will allow another student to use that appointment time if you are unable to attend.

Student Life and Societies

A graduate researchers life at the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Law School is both dynamic and rewarding.

MLS Student Life events

The University has a unique and wide range of activities, societies and services that give our graduate researchers a broader life education - critical to the modern workplace, and ensuring a student experience that is intellectually stimulating, and socially rewarding.

For the full range of central University student support services visit the Student Services website.

Graduate Student Societies

The Law School and the University of Melbourne have student groups who represent the interests of graduate researchers. They run social activities, career network, tutorials, thesis boot camp competitions and many other activities and programs to assist in your overall student experience. They are:

Research Fora

Clubs and Societies

Diversity and participation is a key to the learning experience. The University has over 300 clubs and societies, where students can experience and participate in areas from sport, politics, the arts and even food.

The Melbourne University Student Union (MUSU) is an excellent reference for clubs and societies.

In addition to the clubs and societies, the student union provides comprehensive advice and support for students. These services range from academic counselling to providing meeting spaces, library and IT resources.

Academic and Career Mentor


An Academic and Career Mentor is available to help our graduate researchers to ensure the time they spend on their thesis can assist in preparing for a career after the degree or to enhance their current employment.

Currently the Academic and Career Mentor is Professor Jenny Morgan. Professor Morgan is able to provide tips to graduate research students on how to maximise their chances of academic appointments by using their time as a graduate research student constructively. For further information on this, please see Professor Morgan's staff profile and contact details.

In addition, Melbourne Law School has a Careers Service, which is able to support all MLS students in achieving their career aspirations.