Faculty of Law

Despite the global financial crisis, Australia’s - and particularly Western Australia’s - resources sector continues to go from strength to strength, with a new postgraduate diploma to commence at UWA in 2010.

The Law Faculty has joined the Business School together with Engineering, Computing and Mathematics in giving graduates the expertise to pursue careers in the important and expanding energy industry. The Graduate Diploma in Energy Law, which marries with the Faculty’s Master of Commercial and Resources Law, will give graduates a good grasp of energy law, both in Australia and internationally. Its coverage of the general principles of oil and gas law, together with the legislation and agreements relevant to its commercialisation and infrastructure, are supplemented by case studies based on real life situations.

This 24-point postgraduate qualification has come out of the Law Faculty’s Centre for Mining, Energy and Natural Resources Law.  The Centre’s Associate Director, Perth lawyer John Chandler, stated "if Western Australia was to become a global centre of excellence in mining and energy, it must have leading professionals in the key disciplines, including law".

The diploma emerged from a review of the existing courses offered through the Centre which showed that there is a keen desire from students and employers for a qualification with a unique energy flavour. The core units of Australian Oil and Gas Law, Oil and Gas Agreements and International Oil and Gas Law can be supplemented by optional units on Environmental Protection, Climate Change, Mining Law and Regulation. These draw on the expertise of members of the Centre including Professor Richard Bartlett, Professor Terry Daintith, Associate Professor Alex Gardner, Sharon Mascher and David Hodgkinson and guest presenters drawn from the energy industry and leading professional firms.  A  student with a standard load can complete the diploma in two years.

Mr Chandler has more than 20 years’ experience in advising Asian investors about mining projects in Australia and, conversely, Australian investors about mining projects throughout Asia.

“The Australian energy industry now has the same opportunity to build its international reach as Britain and Norway have had in the past. Energy lawyers are ideally placed to play a significant role in this. Through this graduate diploma, the students will also learn about engaging with the region and the people in it,” he said. “Many negotiations fall down because of difficulties understanding each others’ language, commercial approaches and cultural differences. It is very important for lawyers to have the skills in this area so they can add value to any negotiation”.

The Faculty expects 10 local enrolments for the new course in 2010. But as Mr Chandler says, “the units are taught through intensive workshops which are available to those not seeking a post-graduate qualification. We get a very wide range of people attending from all over Australia and the region. They include people from government, geologists, engineers, commercial managers and, of course, lawyers. This makes for a very stimulating learning environment, as they have a lot of experience to share. The students benefit enormously from this.”