‘Embarrassing, shameful, spineless’: The changes to Monash Uni law that have infuriated students
Monash Uni has cut tutorials for law students. Now, they’re trying to cap how many hours of paid work they can do per week — and students are not happy.
Monash University’s new dean of law has enraged students by stopping tutorials and suggesting students should do no more than ten hours of paid work a week alongside their studies.
Law students, who are paying around $2000 a subject or $16,000 a year for their degree, will get up to six hours less teaching per semester due to the change, which is set to take effect from next year.
The law faculty’s new dean Steven Vaughan wrote to law students on Thursday advising them of a number of “enhancements” that will be made to their course from 2026.
This includes adding new first-year tutorials but removing tutorials from latter-year core units “in order to bring that active and problem-based learning into our main classes and to consolidate this approach”, the letter said.
“The goal is to ensure that seminars are genuinely active learning classes, incorporating active learning activities such as students working in small groups,” it said.
Professor Vaughan said that “to ensure these enhancements work and to enable you to best achieve your potential it is essential that you lean in and participate actively in your classes”.
He then said the university advises that “full-time students should consider working no more than 8-10 hours per week” and “if you need to work more hours, consider reducing your study load”.
“I believe these enhancements will help provide you the best possible legal education and ensure Monash law graduates are the most sought after by employers,” his letter said.
Students responded angrily online, with one saying: “8-10 hours Steven my guy… you want me to live off $300 a week?”
Another said it was “degrading and tone deaf”. “Not only is this unrealistic for many who live out of home and/or have other expenses to maintain, it is also well known that outside commitments (foremost being work experience) are highly regarded by the legal profession.”
Another said that “8-10 hours barely covers rent, let alone all the other expenses these days”.
One said the Law Students’ Society “should demand the Dean resigns”.
“The email sent today was embarrassing, shameful and spineless. He can pay my rent. If he wants to advocate for the legal profession of the rich and privileged he should not pursue his cause at Monash.”
Another said: “We all pay significant fees that were recently raised by around 45% for new enrolments only to receive a lower standard of education.”
And: “This is the most out of touch email I’ve seen from the Faculty in a long time.”
A petition has been started on change.org which states: “The decision to remove tutorials appears to have been made without adequate consultation with those most affected — the students. Seminars, with their large group settings, cannot replicate the highly valued aspects of tutorials: personalized feedback, tailored guidance, and an environment conducive to deep question-and-answer sessions.
“We urge the Monash Law Faculty to reconsider this decision. By keeping tutorials, Monash will continue to foster a conducive learning environment where students can thrive, engage truly with the content, and develop the skills necessary for their future legal careers,” it said. At the time of writing it had attracted 122 signatures.
Professor Vaughan told the Herald Sun that: “Monash Law students have told us they want more consistency across their classes and teachers, and more interaction with academic teaching staff. We have listened, and we are making appropriate enhancements to the learning experience.
“These updates are about adding teaching staff and adding more opportunities for students to engage directly with our academic teaching staff in every class,” he said.
“We are doubling the academics in the largest classes, all designed to really centre active learning.
“This approach is about investing more in our students and active learning, ensuring students get the most from every class.
“We’ll seek feedback from students after the first semester next year to review how the new model is working and make any adjustments needed.”
Professor Vaughan joined the university in 2025 after previously working at University College London.
