Law school on the move

The Monash University Law Chambers (MULC) is moving into the heart of Melbourne’s legal precinct with the opening of new specially-designed premises.

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Ed Byrne was joined by Chief Justice Marilyn Warren AC, a Monash alumna, to officially open the new chambers last night. The new chambers are adjacent to the Owen Dixon Chambers and within walking distance of the Magistrates, County and Supreme Courts.  

Professor Arie Freiberg, Dean of the Faculty of Law, said that the demand for Monash postgraduate law programs provided the incentive for the move from the previous MULC premises in Bourke Street.

“The postgraduate programs, in particular the Juris Doctor, have proven extremely popular in recent years. Our previous accommodation was severely limiting our capacity to meet this demand,” Professor Freiberg said.

“We needed a facility that would optimise the teaching and learning experiences for both staff and students now and into the future.”

The new MULC offers students and staff high-quality facilities over three floors. The ground floor features a function centre with the capacity to accommodate up to 200 people. It has already proved to be a popular venue, with many conferences, lectures and presentations having used the facilities since renovations were completed. The space is also flexible and can be divided into three separate classrooms.

The first floor houses the academic staff offices, a boardroom, two spacious lecture rooms, a library node providing access to collection resources and a student services desk.

Six teaching rooms, a number of small breakout rooms, formal and informal learning spaces, and a spacious student learning centre, are located on the second floor along with a modern kitchen and dining facilities and an area for quiet reading and reflection.

“The new chambers complement perfectly the Faculty’s culture of encouraging independent learning and thought,” Professor Freiberg said.

“Its position allows us to maintain our close ties to the Melbourne legal community and the larger space allows us to meet the increasing demand for our postgraduate courses.”

The new MULC are located at 555 Lonsdale Street.

For more information on the new MULC, visit the Faculty of Law website.