Unit Outline

This unit examines sources of family law, legal recognition of family relationships, legal obligations between family members, processes for responding to family law issues, the family law courts, principles applying to parenting and financial matters, the socio-economic context, and law reform.

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	Identify, research and synthesise knowledge of the family law system, sources of family law, legal principles, legislation, case law and processes.
2	Evaluate and critique the effect of family laws and processes on society in various contexts.
3	Communicate fluently in written and/or verbal form, appropriate to the audience, using correct grammar, logical structure, and attribute sources in appropriate referencing style.
4	Communicate effectively and participate collegially and constructively in classes, engaging in learning both independently and as part of a group.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	50 credit points of Intermediate Law core
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	LAW682

Alterations as a result of student feedback

The required readings and MyLO materials have been streamlined and revised to ensure realistic expectations about workload. The class participation assessment task has been revised to reduce the number of submissions required from students during the intensive teaching period. All face to face classes and all assessment is scheduled after the end of semester 1 examinations and before semester 2 classes commence.

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:	Examination	Refer to Assessment Description	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Test	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 3:	In class discussion (weekly)	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Examination

Task Description:

Take home exam plus a face to face meeting with the lecturer to answer questions related to the examination.

The question will be released at 4pm on Thursday 10 July 2025.
Face to face Q&A sessions will be scheduled with the unit coordinator after the due time on 11th July and possibly on Saturday 12th July.

Task Length:

3000 words maximum and 10 minutes.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description (11/Jul/2025)

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain the law and/or processes that apply to the unique facts.	LO1
2	Apply the law to the unique facts, analyse the problem and explain legal reasoning.	LO2
3	Communicate appropriately for the audience, using correct grammar, logical structure, and appropriate referencing style.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Test

Task Description:

Multiple Choice Test

Mini quizzes are open from the day MyLO goes live and can be completed as you work through each of the relevant topics in MyLO. They are due by 9am on the day of the relevant classes.

Task Length:

1 hour total

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Answers will be either correct or incorrect.	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 3: In class discussion (weekly)

Task Description:

In class discussion assessed by 2 x self reflections and unit coordinator's evaluation

Self assessments are due by midnight on 27th June and 4th July.

Task Length:

2 x 500 word self assessments

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate knowledge and critique of family law.	LO1, LO2
2	Communicate effectively.	LO3
3	Demonstrate participation in both individual and group learning.	LO4

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.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

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.