Multiple choice

Issue 20 | Spring/Summer 2007

Photography: Greg Ford

By studying law from their first day, often incorporating a second degree, Monash University students are taking the best step towards career success, writes Dean of Law, Professor Arie Freiberg (LLM 1984).

In today's dynamic global environment, a law degree is a valuable asset, providing a solid foundation for many career options. Monash University offers a greater choice over competing universities due to the range of opportunities provided during study.

One of these opportunities is the option to study law from the first year. Next year others will take a different approach, offering a general degree first, then law as a postgraduate degree. We will not be following this path for a number of reasons.

First, I believe that doing a combined degree, which a majority of students at Monash do, provides them with a broad education, one which is challenging and intellectually stimulating. Each degree should enrich the other.

High school graduates are seeing these benefits of double degrees and Monash Law School is responding with an increase in offers to prospective students. Six out of eight double degrees currently on offer reported an increase in student offers this year, with a 75 per cent increase in Science/Law offers compared to 2006 and continued increases in student numbers in the popular Arts/Law and Commerce/Law double degrees.

Second, I believe that giving students the opportunity to study law from first year harnesses the enthusiasm and energy of incoming school leavers who have dreamed of doing law and want to do something related to their career as soon as they can.

Third, for those who wish to study law after completing another degree, we already provide them with the opportunity to do this through the LLB, JD or the LLM (LP). Our offerings are comprehensive and accessible, particularly as we offer the Commonwealth supported places for our undergraduate degrees.

Fourth, I think that it is important not to price legal study out of the market. Law should not be exclusively the province of the rich, though under present funding arrangements to universities, I fear it is becoming so.

Finally, the legal experience we offer our undergraduates at our community legal centres at Oakleigh and Springvale allows them to work with clients on real cases. This, for many students, has provided a life-changing experience and an early insight into the complex social worlds in which the law operates.

Monash Law knows the importance of graduating students understanding the globalised world. In this respect Monash offers a range of internships which go beyond the theory taught in lectures. Students participate in internships in law firms and government bodies around the world giving them an international edge.

Monash also provides financial assistance to allow students to study at the Monash Prato Centre in Italy, where they learn alongside students from Canadian and Israeli universities. This opportunity enriches students' study experience, as well as contributes to their personal development and professional understanding of international, political and economic issues.

Our law school prides itself on its high stand of legal education and training and the innovative way graduates are introduced into the working world. The challenging and intellectually stimulating education produces graduates who enjoy a higher rate of employment than graduates from most other disciplines and this is reflected in the prominent positions our graduates hold around the world.

Professor Arie Freiberg was appointed as Dean of Law at Monash University in January 2004. He lectured in law at Monash between 1976 and 1990. He is a member of the Council of the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration and chair of the Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council.

For further information about Law at Monash, visit the Law faculty website.