Unit Outline
LAW107
Foundations of Law
Semester 1, 2024
Jan McDonald
Faculty of Law
College of Arts, Law and Education
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Jan McDonald
Email: Jan.McDonald@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
This unit introduces you to the key elements of domestic Australian and indigenous legal systems, and considers how they compare with other legal systems around the world. You will gain an introduction into how law is made in Australia by courts and the legislature, within Australia’s constitutional framework, and consider how Tasmania’s legislature and the courts have addressed contemporary and historical social issues. You will consider how a person’s place within society influences the way they perceive and evaluate law and will be introduced to several ethical issues and rules that arise for different actors within the legal system. This will be your first opportunity to learn skills that are fundamental to your future studies and careers in law: working effectively in small groups; critical thinking; how to read and take good notes from class and texts; and how to manage study time to achieve success in law.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Describe and explain legal principles and legal systems, recognising local and transnational contexts and theoretical and ethical dimensions
2.
Identify and respond to ethical issues at an introductory level
3.
Communicate effectively and persuasively in verbal and written formats and support arguments with relevant literature
4.
Work collaboratively and independently
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)
LAW121
Alterations as a result of student feedback
This unit has been significant revised since its offerings in 2023.
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 

How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Assessment Task 2: Contribution to workshop discussions
See the MyLO site for the due date
10 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:
Assessment Task 1: MyLO Quizzes
See the MyLO site for the due date
15 %
LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 3:
Assessment Task 3: Case activated learning
See the MyLO site for the due date
35 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:
Assessment Task 4: Exam
Exam Period
40 %
LO1, LO3
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Assessment Task 2: Contribution to workshop discussions
Task Description:
Oral contributions to weekly workshops

Task Length:
verbal
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
10 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Engagement with and understanding of legal issues arising from workshop materials and case studies
LO1, LO2
2
Ability to make constructive and informed contributions to class discussion
LO3
3
Observation of class [n]etiquette
LO4
 
Assessment Task 2: Assessment Task 1: MyLO Quizzes
Task Description:
Students are required to complete three MyLO quizzes through the semester covering weekly readings. Each quiz is worth 5% of the final grade for the Unit and includes 5 multiple choice or short answer questions (1% per question).
The Quizzes are in weeks 3, 5, and 7.

The Quizzes are in weeks 3, 5, and 7.
Task Length:
20 minutes
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
15 %
 

 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify legal principles and legal systems
LO1
2
Identify ethical issues at an introductory level
LO2
 
Assessment Task 3: Assessment Task 3: Case activated learning
Task Description:
Essay - Students are required to prepare a briefing note in respect of a factual legal problem, identifying key social, cultural, and other considerations relevant to the conduct of the meeting with client and the conduct of the proceedings, identifying relevant legal issues and the applicable law, and any further information that will be required in order to adequately represent the client.

Task Length:
1,400 words
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
35 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Persuasive writing skills, structure and clarity
LO3
2
Understanding of ethical issues in law
LO2
3
Ability to describe and explain relevant legal principles and systems
LO1, LO3
4
Capacity to learn from group dynamic
LO4
 
Assessment Task 4: Assessment Task 4: Exam
Task Description:
Students are required to demonstrate their understanding of substantive legal principles and legal systems, local and transnational contexts and theoretical and ethical dimensions by completing aa mix of short answer and essay questions, under invigilated exam conditions

Task Length:
2 hours
Due Date:
Exam Period
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Ability to suggest constructive legal reform to social problem
LO1
2
Persuasive writing, ability to structure written material and write with clarity
LO3
 
 
 

How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 

Required Resources
Required reading materials
Essential text:
Michelle Sanson and Thalia Anthony, Connecting with Law, 5th Edition, Oxford University Press.
Note - we will be using this text every week. This text will also in Law108, so definitely worth purchasing.
 
 
Recommended reading materials
All additional readings will be available via mylo.
 
Other required resources