Unit Outline

This unit introduces you to the fundamental elements of the Australian legal system, including Indigenous legal issues, and explores how they compare with other legal systems around the world. You will learn how the law is made in Australia by courts and the legislature, within the constitutional framework, with a focus on Tasmania. You will examine how legal institutions have addressed historical and contemporary social issues and reflect on how a person’s place within society influences the way they perceive and evaluate the law. You will also engage with key ethical issues faced by different actors within the legal system and consider the professional obligations of the legal profession . This will be your first opportunity to learn skills that are fundamental to your future studies and careers in law: working in small groups; critical thinking; and managing 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 the origins and structure of Australia’s legal system, including history, institutions, principles and sources of law
2	Explain and critique the recognition of First Australians in the Australian legal system over time
3	Research, locate and cite state and Commonwealth legislation, case law and academic literature
4	Identify and respond to ethical and cultural issues at an introductory level
5	Communicate effectively and persuasively in verbal and written formats

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	LAW121

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Amendments to weekly content and assessment tasks.

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 3: Contribution to tutorial discussions	See the MyLO site for the due date	10 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5
Assessment Task 2:	Assessment Task 1: Quiz	See the MyLO site for the due date	15 %	LO1
Assessment Task 3:	Assessment Task 2: File note	See the MyLO site for the due date	35 %	LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 4:	Assessment Task 4: Exam	Exam Period	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Assessment Task 3: Contribution to tutorial discussions

Task Description:

Students are assessed on the quality of their contributions to tutorial discussions across the semester. Their mark is the average of their top seven weeks of contributions.

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, LO3
2	Ability to make constructive and informed contributions to class discussion	LO5
3	Observation of class etiquette, including online netiquette (if applicable)	LO5

Assessment Task 2: Assessment Task 1: Quiz

Task Description:

Students will complete an online quiz during the week 7 lecture. The quiz will assess unit content from weeks 1-6. The quiz will be a combination of multiple choice and short-answer questions. Students will be required to use invigilation software.

Task Length:

30 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

Assessment Task 3: Assessment Task 2: File note

Task Description:

Students are required to research and write a file note in respect of a fictitious legal scenario, identifying social and cultural issues that are relevant to the conduct of the meeting with client and future proceedings as well as relevant legal issues and applicable law. This AT includes a research journal that details the steps taken to identify and make decisions about relevant sources.

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	Quality of writing skills, structure and clarity	LO5
2	Understanding of ethical and cultural issues in law	LO4
3	Ability to describe and explain relevant legal principles and systems	LO1
4	Ability to research and cite primary and secondary legal sources to support statements of law	LO3

Assessment Task 4: Assessment Task 4: Exam

Task Description:

Students are required to demonstrate their understanding of substantive legal principles and legal systems, the recognition of First Australians in Australia’s legal system, and theoretical and ethical dimensions, by completing a 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 explain structures and operation of Australia’s legal institutions and principles, including the structure and governance of the legal profession.	LO1, LO2
2	Ability to structure written material and write with clarity	LO5

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.