Welcome back to the Melbourne LLB!

After a long and hopefully refreshing break from study, it is easy to feel like you are out of the law school loop.

There are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your studies in Law get off to the best possible start this year.

1. Plan your Course

• Find out what your course and subjects are about.

2. Revisit the Australian Legal System

• Check out the recommended websites, books and radio programs to help you arrive with a basic understanding of Australia’s legal system.

3. Get Networked

• How to become involved, receive essential information, and join the student societies.

4. Know how the Faculty Supports You

• A range of services and programs in the Law School have been designed to help students cope with the demands of study.
• These resources are in addition to those already available from the University.

If you're a combined degree student, please check out the other Faculties' websites:

• Arts
• Economics and Commerce
• Engineering
• Science

Welcome from Maureen Tehan, Associate Dean (Undergraduate)

Along with my colleagues who teach in the LLB program and those working in the Melbourne Law School Student Centre, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all our returning LLB students.

As with 2008, this year, 2009, will be a year of change and transition for the Law School (and the University). I, and my colleagues, remain committed to ensuring that the teaching and learning environment at the Law School and the LLB program is intellectually challenging, interesting, engaging and supportive. Our aim is to provide an environment in which you can achieve your potential and your goals.

I encourage you to take advantage of many of the opportunities that the LLB program provides including the Guest Lecture Series, the Legal Internship subject, the CTLS Program and the Student Exchange program.

The Law School provides a number of services to assist you achieve your goals both as part of the formal program of study or beyond the classroom.

I urge you to take advantage of the resources in the Law School and University, including the Law School’s equal opportunity liaison officers, student counselling, learning support services and study groups. If you have any concerns, seek help to address them.

The Office for Teaching and Learning in Law is located in the Law Library. Please contact the Office if you are experiencing difficulties with your study.

As in 2008 I will again hold fortnightly meetings for students. These meetings are informal gatherings for consultation, discussion and dissemination of information about the LLB program. The first meeting is on Thursday 12 March and thereafter every fortnight in Room 108.

In 2009 there will be some significant changes to the operation of the LLB. Some of these have been as a result of changes to University policies. We have introduced others to improve the LLB program. The main changes include:

Online Submission of Assignments
From 2009 all assignments will be submitted online only via the Assignment Tool unless advised otherwise.

Special Consideration
The University has changed its policy and from 2009 recommendations for mark adjustments without additional assessment will no longer be an option available to the LLB Special Consideration Committee. Adjustments to marks will only be possible after additional assessment.
For more information see LLB Course Rule 13: Special Consideration

Supplementary Assessment
From 2009, the supplementary examination period for all Semester 2 LLB subjects will be in December following the release of results.

Stream Changes
In 2009 we are trialling a new system for stream changes where a stream is full. You will still need to arrange to swap with another student from the stream in which you wish to register but we hope the new system will assist you to locate a student wishing to change streams.

Further details about this process will be available on the LLB website.

Course Planning
It is vitally important that you seek advice from the Student Centre on any changes you plan to make to your program of study. The Course Planning Information on the LLB website should help you.

Administrative Grade Changes
The University has introduced some changes to the way it records grades on student records and transcripts. These come into effect in 2009.

The changes are descriptive and you may notice some new descriptions on your record.

Further details are available in the new University Assessment Policy available from the Academic Services Policy website.

As the Associate Dean (Undergraduate), I have a number of responsibilities associated with running the LLB program. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries about your studies and the LLB program.

My term as Associate Dean concludes on 30 June 2009. Associate Professor Ann O’Connell will take on the role of Associate Dean (Undergraduate) at that time.

Associate Professor Maureen Tehan, Associate Dean (Undergraduate)

Tel +61 3 8344 6205; Room 856; m.tehan@unimelb.edu.au