Melbourne Law School alumnus' donation supports new Centre on Statelessness

One of the most significant gifts in the University of Melbourne Law School‘s history will establish the world’s only academic centre devoted to the problem of statelessness.
Peter and Ruth McMullin made the public announcement of their intended donation at a gala dinner to celebrate the 160th anniversary of teaching law at Melbourne. Mr McMullin is a Melbourne Law School alumnus.

“Ruth and I congratulate the Melbourne Law School on its global leadership in establishing the Centre and it is our pleasure to support it,” he said.
“In our opinion, policy solutions need to be found to address the mounting issue of statelessness around the world, and we look forward to them being developed through the work of the Centre.
“We all need to contribute where we can to strengthen valuable institutions like the University of Melbourne in the current global environment.”
University of Melbourne Chancellor (and fellow Melbourne Law School alumnus) Allan Myers said the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness was one of the most significant and visionary philanthropic initiatives in the history of the Melbourne Law School.
Mr Myers said the Centre on Statelessness would examine the causes and extent of statelessness around the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
“It will work with governments, the not-for-profit sector and the United Nations towards the elimination of statelessness and it will work to protect the rights of stateless people,” he said.
“The Centre will engage in research, teaching and training, supporting public policy and law reform, and raising public awareness and understanding of statelessness.”
Mr Myers said the Centre would begin in 2018 under the leadership of Professor Michelle Foster, a globally respected University of Melbourne scholar in refugee and human rights law.
“A child is born into statelessness every 10 minutes and stateless people are vulnerable to a wide range of legal disabilities in many countries which may limit their right to education, employment, travel and even marriage,” he said.
“The Melbourne Law School is proud to establish a centre that will play a critical role in worldwide efforts to eliminate statelessness and to protect the rights of stateless people.”
The donation was made through Believe – the Campaign for the University of Melbourne, which helps fund life-changing research, gives bright students the chance to excel and funds projects that improve communities.

University of Melbourne Law School Juris Doctor program

The University of Melbourne’s JD is designed specifically for graduate students. The program is highly regarded both nationally and internationally. It leads to admission to the legal profession in all Australian jurisdictions and can also be used as a basis for seeking admission in many jurisdictions overseas. The curriculum for this law program allows students to build the core skills essential to a wide range of legal and professional careers, and gives them the opportunity to tailor their studies to areas of particular interest through elective subjects.
Program: Juris Doctor
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Intake: February
Duration: 3 years (standard course structure); 2 or 2.5 years (accelerated course structure)
Application Deadline: Melbourne Law School has a general application deadline of November 30 each year. It is recommended that you apply as early as possible.
Entry Requirements
Applicants must have

• completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline; and
• completed the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).

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