Unit Outline

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

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.

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.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

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.