Sports Law

Melbourne Law School’s internationally renowned sports law program is at the cutting edge of sporting and legal knowledge. It was developed specifically for legal practitioners and professionals in the growing field of sports administration and management, for whom an understanding of sports law will provide a real professional advantage. With specially formulated international and national advisory boards influencing the program’s focus and direction, the graduate program in sports law provides a fascinating insight into this legal area.

Our sports law program has ten sports-related subjects rotated over an approximately two year period. The Graduate Diploma in Sports Law requires the completion of any four subjects and all our programs can be completed either part-time or full-time. All sports law subjects are offered on an intensive basis over one week, providing maximum convenience to busy professionals.

Students can also undertake a masters program of eight subjects combining a selection of sports law subjects with subjects from a range of legal areas such as corporate governance, intellectual property and labour law. The Melbourne Law Masters offers the largest number of specialist areas providing a huge choice for our students.

This solid base in sports law combined with specialised knowledge in other legal areas is superb preparation for the position of in-house counsel in major sports organisations and other roles combining the law and sport. It also offers a versatile foundation for other career paths.

Programs available

Subjects available

A note from the Director

The Melbourne sports law program has been at the leading edge of teaching sports law for over 20 years. To maintain that position, ongoing review and development are required.

The years 2010 and 2011 see new subjects added to the program. Taxation of Sport was taught in October 2010 by two leading experts in the field - Melbourne Law School's Associate Professor Ann O'Connell and Dr Braedon Clark from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

In April 2011 the Melbourne Law School will welcome Professor Richard McLaren from the University of Western Ontario, Canada and Mr Paul Hayes from the Victorian Bar to teach Sports Dispute Resolution. Professor McLaren is an acclaimed authority on international sports arbitration and a leading arbitrator on the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Mr Hayes appears frequently before courts and sports tribunals as an advocate for athletes and sports organisations.

My advice is often sought on what an aspirant might do to launch a career in sports law. Of course, there are many career paths such as:

  • Working for a law firm which represents sports clients;
  • Acting as in-house counsel for international, national or regional sports organisations;
  • Watching over the interests of leading athletes as a player agent or manager;
  • Providing legal and policy advice to a range of government agencies involved with the regulation of sport such as the Australian Sports Commission or the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Students who have completed the Melbourne sports law program follow career paths in these areas across the world. The increasing breadth and complexity of sports law means that those who work in the field find it advantageous to specialise whether it be on the marketing, governance or employment aspects of sport.

With a choice of 10 sports law subjects rotated over an approximately two year period for the Graduate Diploma in Sports Law and about 150 subjects offered annually as part of the Melbourne Law Masters program, for students studying for the Graduate Diploma in Sports Law or one of our masters degrees the prospects of obtaining a unique combination of subjects to provide the foundation for a specialist sports law career are outstanding.

Director of Studies

Hayden Opie 80 x 80

Mr Hayden Opie

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