Monash University in Melbourne, which houses “one of the largest and most prestigious law schools in Australia”, is offering a free MOOC entitled “Law for Non-Lawyers: Introduction to Law”. It provides insights into the common law system, and introduces key legal doctrines and principles in readily accessible formats and language.

“Case studies will illuminate common applications of the law in real life scenarios, enabling you to explore the relevance of specific subjects to your own professional and personal circumstances, and legal jurisdiction.”

To find out more click here. Some readers may be interested in knowing that it is possible to “upgrade” for a fee (£59) and obtain (i) unlimited access to the course, for as long as it exists on FutureLearn (this includes access to articles, videos, peer review steps, quizzes; and (ii) a Certificate of Achievement when you complete the course.

The course is run through FutureLearn, a MOOC platform that is in fact a private company wholly owned by The Open University, with the benefit of over 40 years of their experience in distance learning and online education.

It has 127 partners from around the world, including many UK and international universities, as well as institutions with a huge archive of cultural and educational material, such as the British Council, the British Library, the British Museum, and the National Film and Television School.

They also work with a range of internationally renowned organisations – from professional bodies such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), to businesses like the BBC and Marks & Spencer, to the UK Government.