MLP424 - Administrative Law
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)* |
| Credit point(s) | 1 |
| Previously coded as | MLL324, MLL424 |
| EFTSL value | 0.125 |
| Unit chair | Trimester 1: Santanu Sabhapandit Trimester 3: Madeleine Hale |
| Cohort rule | For Bachelor of Laws (including combined Law awards) students only |
| Prerequisite | From T3 2026: Before 2019: Students must have passed MLP110* plus 5 additional MLL/MLP coded units From 2019: Students must have passed 2 units from MLP110*, MLL113 plus 5 additional MLL/MLP/MLT coded units *Previously coded MLL110 |
| Corequisite | Nil |
| Incompatible with | MLL424 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment | 1 x 3 hour on-campus lecture (recordings provided) per week and 1x 1 hour on-campus seminar (recordings provided) per week. |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment | Trimester 1: 1 x 3 hour online lecture (recording provided) and 1 x 1 hour online seminar (recordings provided) per week. Trimester 3: 1 x pre-recorded lecture up to a maximum of 3 hours per week, and 1 x 1 hour online seminar (recordings provided) per week. |
| Typical study commitment | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Note*Community Based Delivery (CBD) is for National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute students only. | |
Content
The unit initially considers the nature of public power in the context of Australian constitutionalism, with a particular emphasis on administrative decision-making. It then examines the scope and limits of judicial review of administrative action, including the grounds and remedies available to courts of law. Judicial review is subsequently contrasted with extra judicial modes of review by administrative tribunals and by ombudsmen. Finally, the unit considers the importance of information about government decision-making, and how information can be obtained from government agencies under freedom of information and other laws.
Learning outcomes
Each unit in your course is a building block towards Deakin's Graduate Learning Outcomes - not all units develop and assess every Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO).
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Identify and explain the principles of administrative law and the accountability mechanisms that exist to ensure government accountability; and how these principles relate to individuals, their legal representatives, and arms of government acting in a fair and ethical manner. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Communicate discipline knowledge in writing to a legal audience using appropriate language, consistent with legal conventions. | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO3 | Apply appropriate research strategies for locating the relevant law on legal issues. | GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO4 | Critically analyse complex fact situations and apply discipline knowledge to reach well-reasoned conclusions and to generate accurate and relevant responses. | GLO5: Problem solving |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: (Individual) Letter of Advice | 2000 words | 50% | Week 7 |
| Examination: Specified resources | 2 hours | 50% | End-of-unit assessment period |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for MLP424 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit fee information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.