Students

LAW 465 – Dispute Management and Resolution

2015 – S2 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convener
Lise Barry
Contact via lise.barry@mq.edu.au
W3A507
TBA - see iLearn page
Unit Convenor
Therese MacDermott
Contact via therese.macdermott@mq.edu.au
W3A520
TBA
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
6cp in LAW units at 300 level (P)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
Dispute resolution schemes now dominate the practice of law at many levels. This unit explores various types of dispute resolution processes with an emphasis on negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and restorative justice. The unit provides an overview of the theory, philosophy, process, ethical and legal issues involved in each of these methods of dispute resolution. Through experiential role plays, discussions and exercises, students will be introduced to the skills required to advise on and participate in conflict resolution and management.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Describe and critique the various types of dispute resolution processes in operation in Australia and other jurisdictions
  • Demonstrate and apply the necessary skills required in alternative methods of resolving disputes especially communication skills
  • Identify and analyze the legal issues surrounding the practice of dispute resolution in Australia.
  • Evaluate the relevant ethical considerations in dispute resolution and management processes
  • Identify and apply the applicable dispute resolution process to the nature of the dispute and the participants in that dispute

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Class participation 0% Ongoing
On line negotiation 40% 2-9 October 2015
Dispute resolution report 30% 5pm 23 October 2015
Exam 30% 12 November 2015

Class participation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 0%

Attendance at tutorials and the on campus session is compulsory. If you have a legitimate reason for not being able to attend a tutorial  please send a message to your tutor on ilearn explaining the reason for your absence. Repeated absences will require a Disruption to Studies application. These are made online atAsk.mq.edu.au

You are required to participate in the tutorial role plays, discussions, debates and any other activities. You will be assessed on this component on a “Pass/Fail” basis.

Tutorials in this unit only work if all students attend and give the entire group the benefit of their views based upon the readings and their experience.

External students will be assessed on their participation at the compulsory on-campus session.

Tutors will engage in ongoing assessment of student participation using the following criteria:

a)     Preparation and understanding of material: the student has listened to the lecture, read the required reading and has attempted to link the materials to the lectures, to other course materials and to their life experience

b)     Ability to think critically about the material: the student is able to think critically about the materials from different angles and is able to question the materials

c)     Clear expression of ideas: the student is able to clearly express their ideas about the materials

d)     Engaging with other students:  the student engages with others in the class taking an active role in discussions, role plays, debates and other activities assigned by the tutor.  The student responds to others in the class by listening to them, providing constructive feedback and asking questions.

e)     Demonstration of skills: The student is able to demonstrate communication skills including listening skills, interviewing skills and negotiation skills.

Students must pass the participation component of the course. Participation is assessed on a Pass/Fail basis.  It is possible to fail this course on the basis of poor participation alone.  Tutors will assess student participation on an ongoing basis and will raise any concerns about poor participation with the student involved.  Students will be given an opportunity to submit remedial work where there are concerns about participation and when they have failed to attend a tutorial


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe and critique the various types of dispute resolution processes in operation in Australia and other jurisdictions
  • Demonstrate and apply the necessary skills required in alternative methods of resolving disputes especially communication skills
  • Identify and analyze the legal issues surrounding the practice of dispute resolution in Australia.
  • Evaluate the relevant ethical considerations in dispute resolution and management processes
  • Identify and apply the applicable dispute resolution process to the nature of the dispute and the participants in that dispute

On line negotiation

Due: 2-9 October 2015
Weighting: 40%

 

This assessment is in two parts:

Participate in an extended online negotiation. Daily emails sent over a specified period.

Students will be paired with another student in the Unit for an extended online negotiation to take place over a specified period.  All students in Law 465 will need daily access to a reliable email service during this time.

At the conclusion of the negotiation students will submit a complete log of all the negotiation emails.

Full details about the assessment will be available in iLearn. The negotiation scenario will be released the day before the negotiation commences.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe and critique the various types of dispute resolution processes in operation in Australia and other jurisdictions
  • Demonstrate and apply the necessary skills required in alternative methods of resolving disputes especially communication skills

Dispute resolution report

Due: 5pm 23 October 2015
Weighting: 30%

The report includes reflections on the on-line negotiation and an exploration of other dispute resolutions processes suitable to resolving the dispute outlines in the negotiation scenario. 

Full details about the assessment will be available in iLearn. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe and critique the various types of dispute resolution processes in operation in Australia and other jurisdictions
  • Demonstrate and apply the necessary skills required in alternative methods of resolving disputes especially communication skills
  • Identify and analyze the legal issues surrounding the practice of dispute resolution in Australia.
  • Evaluate the relevant ethical considerations in dispute resolution and management processes
  • Identify and apply the applicable dispute resolution process to the nature of the dispute and the participants in that dispute

Exam

Due: 12 November 2015
Weighting: 30%

The exam will consist of multiple choice questions relevant to the material from weeks 1-13 of the unit.  

All answers will be submitted on-line 

Full details about this  assessment will be available in iLearn. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate and apply the necessary skills required in alternative methods of resolving disputes especially communication skills
  • Identify and analyze the legal issues surrounding the practice of dispute resolution in Australia.
  • Evaluate the relevant ethical considerations in dispute resolution and management processes
  • Identify and apply the applicable dispute resolution process to the nature of the dispute and the participants in that dispute

Delivery and Resources

 David Spencer and Samantha Hardy, Dispute Resolution in Australia Thomson Reuters 3rd ed, 2014

Unit Schedule

Weekly two hour lectures are held on Thursdays 4-6 pm.

Students must attend a weekly one hour tutorial.  Please check the timetable for tutorial times.

External students must attend the 2 day on campus session -16-17 September 2015.

A detailed weekly lecture and tutorial program is available via iLearn.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

In line with Macquarie Law School policy, no late submissions of assignments or the exam will be accepted.  Any requests for an extension should be made using the Disruption to Studies form at ask.mq.edu.au.

Published word limits for an assignment are the maximum allowed.  Any words over the limit will not be marked.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe and critique the various types of dispute resolution processes in operation in Australia and other jurisdictions
  • Demonstrate and apply the necessary skills required in alternative methods of resolving disputes especially communication skills
  • Identify and analyze the legal issues surrounding the practice of dispute resolution in Australia.
  • Evaluate the relevant ethical considerations in dispute resolution and management processes
  • Identify and apply the applicable dispute resolution process to the nature of the dispute and the participants in that dispute

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • On line negotiation

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • On line negotiation
  • Dispute resolution report
  • Exam

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment task

  • Dispute resolution report

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe and critique the various types of dispute resolution processes in operation in Australia and other jurisdictions
  • Demonstrate and apply the necessary skills required in alternative methods of resolving disputes especially communication skills
  • Identify and analyze the legal issues surrounding the practice of dispute resolution in Australia.
  • Evaluate the relevant ethical considerations in dispute resolution and management processes
  • Identify and apply the applicable dispute resolution process to the nature of the dispute and the participants in that dispute

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • On line negotiation
  • Dispute resolution report
  • Exam

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate and apply the necessary skills required in alternative methods of resolving disputes especially communication skills
  • Identify and apply the applicable dispute resolution process to the nature of the dispute and the participants in that dispute

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • On line negotiation
  • Dispute resolution report
  • Exam

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate and apply the necessary skills required in alternative methods of resolving disputes especially communication skills
  • Identify and analyze the legal issues surrounding the practice of dispute resolution in Australia.
  • Identify and apply the applicable dispute resolution process to the nature of the dispute and the participants in that dispute

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • On line negotiation
  • Exam

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe and critique the various types of dispute resolution processes in operation in Australia and other jurisdictions
  • Demonstrate and apply the necessary skills required in alternative methods of resolving disputes especially communication skills
  • Identify and analyze the legal issues surrounding the practice of dispute resolution in Australia.

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • On line negotiation
  • Exam

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe and critique the various types of dispute resolution processes in operation in Australia and other jurisdictions
  • Demonstrate and apply the necessary skills required in alternative methods of resolving disputes especially communication skills
  • Identify and analyze the legal issues surrounding the practice of dispute resolution in Australia.
  • Evaluate the relevant ethical considerations in dispute resolution and management processes
  • Identify and apply the applicable dispute resolution process to the nature of the dispute and the participants in that dispute

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • On line negotiation

Changes from Previous Offering

Different textbook being used and changes to assessment tasks