2008 transition information for students currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws Australian Indigenous Law
The UTS:LAW Curriculum Review 2006/07 recommended a number of changes to the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degrees from 2008. One of the outcomes of the Review has resulted in the phasing out of the C10130 Bachelor of Laws Australian Indigenous Law (LLB Aust Indigenous Studies) from 2008.
Regardless of the phasing out of the LLB Aust Indigenous Studies the Faculty remains committed to assisting you to complete your degree or assist you to transfer into another UTS:LAW degree if you wish.
The decision to phase out the course was made because the Faculty believes that from 2008 we should commit to providing indigenous perspectives within the LLB degree rather than quarantining the indigenous perspective within a single degree, accessed by very few. There was also the risk that the structure reinforced a perception of indigenous perspectives on Law as being separate from the mainstream of legal education.
The Curriculum Review recommended that core law subjects should include embedded indigenous perspectives and that the legal, political social and policy issues relevant to the fact of indigenous experience in Australia should be specifically addressed. In this way all UTS LLB and combined degree students will address indigenous perspectives as an integral part of law studies in a way not previously attempted at UTS. This approach is believed to be a significant broadening of the Faculty efforts to address indigenous perspectives.
What are my options?
You have 2 options.
- You can apply to transfer into C10124 Bachelor of Laws or another UTS:LAW degree from 2008
or - You can continue in the LLB Aust Indigenous Studies.
If you choose to stay in your course there will be a number of changes to the LLB degree from 2008 that are outlined below.
Students who apply to transfer will be subject to the University's Recognition of Prior Learning rules.
What do I have to do & when?
If you wish to transfer into the another UTS:LAW course from 2008 you will need to lodge an on-line Internal Course Transfer (ICT) application. ICT applications for 2008 close in December 2007.
If you choose to stay in the LLB Aust Indigenous Studies you will not need to do anything. If your study plan needs to be changed to reflect the new 2008 course structure it will be amended by University staff.
Any changes needed to your study plan will be made over September/October 2007. We expect that any changes to study plans will be completed by late October 2007. If your study plan is affected you will be able to view your new study plan in My Student Administration once the change is effected. We anticipate that study plan changes will be completed in time for you to self-manage your 2008 enrolment in early November (you will be advised about 2008 Enrolment details later in 2007).
What are the changes to the LLB?
There are two major changes to the LLB from 2008.
LLB students who choose to undertake the practical legal training (PLT) option will be able to complete the entire PLT program within the LLB. Whether or not you will need to complete the Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice will depend upon which subjects you have completed by the close of 2007.
The other change results in changes to the core law and PLT subjects from 2008 (subject to LPAB accreditation due in September 2007).
The Curriculum Review updates UTS:LAW courses to reflect modern day practice. Our core subjects will incorporate changes to the content and to the teaching and learning within subjects. A number of subjects are being extensively revamped. In all subjects we will be concentrating, in an explicit manner, on law graduate attributes. We intend to embed discussion on ethics and on indigenous perspectives into all our core subjects and we will progressively seek to use leading edge technology to enhance teaching and learning.
How do the changes impact me?
The incorporation of the entire PLT program within the LLB will mean a lower fee burden from 2008 for students who undertake PLT within their LLB. Some continuing students who choose the PLT Option will still need to complete the Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice (depending on which subjects you have completed by the end of Spring Semester 2007).
You may also notice the substitution of some of the core and PLT subjects you are yet to enrol in post 2007. The LLB Subject Substitution Map identifies affected subjects. Affected subjects that are identified on your study plan as 'planned' at the start of September 2007 will be substituted with the new subject identified on the Subject Substitution Map.
- View LLB Subject Substitution Map with PLT Option
- View LLB Subject Substitution Map without PLT Option
The change to your study plan will be dependent on which subjects you have completed prior to the start of Autumn Semester 2008. Subjects you have completed prior to Autumn 2008 (including subjects you expect to complete in Spring Semester 2007) will not be affected.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
If you need further information please contact a UTS Haymarket Student Centre.