University of Wollongong

Master of Laws (Criminal Practice)

The UOW Master of Laws (Criminal Practice) is the only Masters-level qualification of its kind in Australia.

This program is designed for lawyers working in (or aspiring to work in) criminal practice as a prosecutor or defence lawyer. It attracts practitioners from across Australia, New Zealand and PNG. You will gain practical experience in a supported environment, applying your legal knowledge to case scenarios. You will also develop your written and oral critical analysis skills.  

The program consists of six subjects, four of which satisfy the related Graduate Certificate in Criminal Practice program. These subjects cover: the fundamentals of criminal practice, with a focus on bail and sentencing; examination of applied criminal law areas, such as character, incompetency of counsel, separate and judge alone trials, and mental health issues in criminal practice; complex evidentiary issues, such as identification, tendency and compellability; and the use of experts.

There are two further subjects required for the Master of Laws (Criminal Practice): Criminal Trial and Appellate Advocacy, which includes chief, cross, a trial opening and a contested application; and Jury Advocacy, which looks at the process and mechanics of jury selection, and then prepares students to run a jury trial, with the jurors being law students.

Each subject combines self-directed and collaborative learning through semester-long distance study supported by our e-learning platform, written assessments and a three-day intensive class*, where you will interact with judges, advocates and experts, and share the working experiences of your fellow students.