Australian Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies - Delivery of Legal Module
19-21 February 2007

The APCML was invited by the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS) at the Australian Defence College in Canberra to deliver the legal module on the 2007 Defence and Strategic Studies Course (DSSC). The DSSC is intended for senior Service and civilian officers of primarily Colonel or equivalent rank. The aim of the DSSC is to provide officers of the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Public Service and overseas participants with the knowledge and skills required by senior leaders and managers operating in the national security environment. The legal module was conducted in the period 19-21 February 2007.

	Instructors for the DSSC legal module were Commander Dale Stephens CSM, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Muggleton, Lieutenant Commander Rachel Jones from the APCML, together with Doctor Matthew Groves from Monash University and, Brigadier-General Ken Watkin, OMM CD QC, the Judge Advocate General of the Canadian Armed Forces. The legal module focused on contemporary Operational Law issues.
LTCOL Paul Muggleton & LCDR Rachel Jones at CDSS

The module consisted of the following presentations:

• ‘Clash of Arms / Clash of Laws’ and ‘The Law of Targeting: A Canadian Perspective’ by Brigadier-General Watkin.
• ‘Australian Military Law: Its Place and Character’ by Dr Groves.
• ‘LOAC: The Role of the Law in Military Decision Making’ and ‘Rules of Engagement and the Australian Criminal Code’ by Commander Dale Stephens.
• ‘Detention Policy & the Law’ by Lieutenant Commander Jones.
• Command Responsibility: Certain Legal and Ethical Issues by Lieutenant Colonel Muggleton.

BRIGGEN Ken Watkin & CAPT Dale Stephens

Given the significance of the DSSC in the Australian Defence Force’s training structure, the APCML appreciated the opportunity to contribute to the course through the delivery of a substantial legal module.