Summer Law School

Condensed study mode - immersive four day intensive 

waves and sand

Diversify your degree, amplify your legal experience and, in selected units, accrue continuing professional development (CPD) points with a fully-accredited Summer Law School unit.

Students will be treated to a variety of practical and thought-provoking theoretical topics and gain a unique insight into contemporary legal contexts and dimensions.

Delivered by internationally-recognised experts in their field, the 2026/27 units will continue the Summer Law School tradition of offering niche and non-mainstream subjects that tackle the most pressing and controversial legal concepts of our age.

The Summer Law School is ideal for students of all disciplines, lawyers, industry professionals, senior administrators and anyone wishing to expand their knowledge and expertise in the subject areas. Cross-institutional, non-award and international students are particularly welcome to apply.

Legal and other industry professionals may be eligible for continuing professional development (CPD) points.

Come join us this summer and study one or more of our socially-innovative and intellectually-stimulating subjects.

 

Head and shoulders of Tim Fuller
Tim Fuller

LAWS2077 Contemporary Issues in Law II: Sports Law

Details

 
Date: 4-7 November, 2026
Location: Gold Coast Campus and online
Study Period:  Term 5

Presented face to face at the Gold Coast Campus or online by Tim Fuller

Unit description

This unit examines the existence of sports law (lex sportiva) as a distinct field of law. Students will explore the substantive disciplines
such as contract, employment, competition and tort law, legislation and case law specific to the sports environment, and gain an
understanding of how these core areas of law operate within the sporting environment, alongside relevant legislation and case law.

They will learn about the governance structures of sport, including the role of sporting bodies, tribunals, and regulatory frameworks (both national and international); and how to locate, interpret, and analyse relevant case law, legislation, and regulatory materials specific to sport, and apply legal principles to complex, real-world sporting scenarios, including disputes involving athletes, organisations, and governing bodies. Students will gain an appreciation of ethical issues in sport, such as doping, integrity, governance, and athlete welfare, and their legal implications, and develop the capacity to critically assess whether sports law constitutes a distinct and coherent field, and to evaluate its development, scope, and future direction. 

SCU Students enrol now Cross-Institutional students enrol here
Angela Jones
Angela Jones

LAWS3010 Psychiatry, Psychology and the Law

Details

 
Date: 11-13 November, 2026
Location: Gold Coast Campus and online
Study Period:  Term 5

Presented face to face at the Gold Coast Campus or online by Angela Jones

Unit description

Addresses fundamental issues where the practice of the mental health professions intersect with the criminal and civil law of Australia. Students explore the mental health-law interface within the context of the adversary system as it functions currently within Australian courts. The role of experts in the contemporary legal system and how the courts have grappled with the evolving contribution made by forensic psychiatrists and psychologists are evaluated as well as major controversies surrounding compensability for psychiatric injuries and decisions to release mental health patients from involuntary status.

SCU Students enrol now Cross-Institutional students enrol here
AI Law

LAWS2075 AI Regulation and Society

Details

 
Date: TBC
Location: Gold Coast and online
Study Period:  Summer Term

Unit description

Delves into the multifaceted realm of AI-driven technologies and their impact on society. Students will explore the complexities, challenges, and controversies surrounding AI regulation, including technological intricacies, security concerns, biases, and societal implications. With a focus on Australian and global legal frameworks, this unit aims to foster an understanding of the mechanisms that underpin AI regulation. This includes an examination of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), Australian Consumer Laws, and anti-discrimination laws. The unit critically reflects on the implications of AI regulation on fundamental rights, particularly privacy, non-discrimination, and ethical considerations within the Australian and world-wide context. By exploring the ethical and legal solutions for effective AI governance, students will be well-equipped to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape and advocate for responsible AI development.

Children’s right to participation in practice

LAWS2076 Contemporary Issues in Law I: Children's Rights and the Law 

Details

 
Date: TBC
Location:  Online
Study Period:  Summer Term

Unit description

This unit examines the conceptual and legal frameworks that serve to recognise, protect and uphold children’s rights in Australia, including their operation in practice. By critically analysing three ‘P’s’ – the right to protection, the right to participation, and the right to privacy – in a variety of jurisdictional settings, students will gain a nuanced understanding of the issues that impact how children’s rights are realised (or not) in Australian law. Students will gain critical thinking and research skills, and applied knowledge of how legal principles translate to real-world contexts.