Sports Law
Melbourne Law School's unique Graduate Diploma in Sports Law 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 a core program of eight sports-related subjects which are offered on a rotational basis of four each year. 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. In 2009, 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
- Master of Laws
- Master of Commercial Law
- Graduate Diploma in Sports Law
- Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies
- Single subjects in Sports Law on offer in 2010
A note from the Director
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the teaching of sports law in the Melbourne Law School. In July 1988, students in the new subject Sport, Commerce and the Law grappled with the legal aspects of Ben Johnson's disqualification from the Seoul Olympic Games for a positive doping test. They also analysed the then frequent court challenges to the player transfer rules of Australian professional sports leagues, the outcome of which helped shape today's sports landscape.
Twenty years on, some things have not changed. Sport, Commerce and the Law remains a popular subject providing an overview of the whole field. Current events and controversies continue to flavour whichever of our eight sports law subjects are on offer.
Looking back, the work of past and present students in the form of their published research papers and their direct involvement in managing the legal affairs of sports organisations around the world demonstrates the unique contribution to sports law scholarship and practice made by the Melbourne Law School. A big difference between now and then is the size and complexity of the field. This is demonstrated by the breadth of territory covered by our sports law subjects and the leading edge nature of many legal issues generated by sport. As Robert Cotter says in his review: expect to be challenged, but pleasantly so.
Director of Studies
Published student work
Student profiles
News archive
- Older news and events from the Sports Law Program are now available in the archive.