Consultation Service

The Lecturer in Legal Writing and Academic Skills provides individual consultations in the Law School. Consultations for graduate students aim to develop writing skills and provide strategies for study, time and task management. These consultations will be most beneficial for ESL and international students, and for students who do not have an undergraduate Law background; however, they are available to all students wishing to improve their academic skills.

How to arrange a consultation

Masters and Graduate Diploma students can arrange a consultation through the Melbourne Law Masters Office on Level 6 (ph 8344-6190).

Students can generally book consultations/appointments for weekday afternoons from 1.30pm and 5pm (though other times may be available in exceptional circumstances).

 

Preparing for your consultation

Please indicate the type of consultation you would like:

  • Standard consultation (½ hour): for discussion of language and academic skills such as reading and note-making; time management; seminar presentations; writing skills etc., as well as DELA results.
  • Standard consultation, pre-read (½ hour): for development of academic and writing skills with a focus on a specific piece of written work
    • Please submit work to room 333 or by email to Dr Chantal Morton (chantal.morton@unimelb.edu.au) no less than 24 hours prior to the arranged consultation. Include a name and student number on your work and a copy of assessment details where possible.
  • Drop-in consultation (no booking required): to discuss language and academic skills issues, resources and strategies, DELA results and other short inquiries. Drop in times:
    • During semester: 3 - 4.30 pm Mondays and Thursdays
    • Outside of semester: Mondays 3 - 4.30 pm

 

Where to go for your consultation

Language and Academic Skills consultations in the Law school are held on the third floor of the Law building, in the Law Library, (to the right of the Loans Desk) – in room 333.

 

Consultation Guidelines

Consultations with the Lecturer in Legal Writing and Academic Skills can help you develop the following skills:

  • Effective study & research: including time management, reading comprehension, note making and preparing for exams
  • Legal writing: including grammar, vocabulary, clarity, structure, critical analysis, argumentation and appropriate use of sources

An effective way to improve your academic writing is to bring in a written draft of an assignment to a consultation. The aim of working with a draft is to help you to identify areas for improvement, and devise strategies for future work.

 

Please note that:

  • You can book a consultation up to two weeks in advance. Availability may be limited, so it’s best to book early
  • You can arrange only one consultation per week
  • Students who are not able to attend the Parkville campus of the University can arrange for an email or telephone consultation
  • If you wish focus on a piece of writing within a consultation, please submit work to the Lecturer in Legal Writing and Academic Skills no less than 24 hours prior to the arranged consultation. Include a name and student number on your work and a copy of assessment details where possible
  • A consultation is generally 30 minutes. The Lecturer in Legal Writing and Academic Skills will spend up to an hour reading your work prior to the arranged consultation
  • Please be punctual – or give 24 hours notice, where possible, if cancelling. Your cooperation will allow another student to use that appointment time
  • This is NOT an editing or a proofreading service. When working with a specific piece of writing, the adviser will generally focus on select aspects for instructional purposes.