Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
George Tomossy
Contact via george.tomossy@mq.edu.au
W3A510
by appointment
Tutor
Keith Williams
Contact via e-mail
n/a
by appointment
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to JD or GradCertLaw or GradDipLaw
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit will enable students to attain well-developed cognitive and practical key legal skills (legal research, reasoning, and writing; applying precedent; statutory interpretation; and legal problem solving) and to acquire an advance level of foundational legal knowledge (Australia legal institutions; legal theory; comparative legal systems; parliamentary process; role of the judiciary) necessary for further graduate study in law. This unit will challenge students to apply their skills and knowledge to examine a contemporary socio-legal issue through a collaborative group project. Students will also engage in reflective practice.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Unless otherwise noted or instructed by the Unit Convenor or your tutor, Assessment Tasks are due by 10am on the date indicated for the assessment task in this unit guide.
This unit is graded on a Satisfactory (Pass) or Fail basis. Assessment weightings are merely indicative of relative workload. In order to pass this unit, each task must be completed at a Satisfactory level.
In the case of online quizzes (Tasks 1 and 2, which are graded automatically), student have unlimited attempts to achieve the satisfactory level (100% for Task 1; 60% for each quiz in Task 2).
For Tasks 3 and 4, if deemed to be 'unsatisfactory' by their tutor in accordance with the rubric provided, students will be required to reflect on the feedback provided and re-submit their work, indicating explicitly within their resubmitted work how they have taken the feedback on board. Your tutor will specify the deadline for resubmissions. Further resubmissions may be permitted at the tutor's discretion.
For Task 5, a student may be required to resubmit their work if deemed to be 'unsatisfactory'. In most cases, the student will receive feedback and no resubmission will be required.
Students who fail to submit a genuine attempt (indicated by having attempted to answer all parts of the assessment as provided in the instructions) will be graded as Unsatisfactory for that task.
Students may also be directed to undertake supplementary work or access learning supports provided by the University. Subject to variation by written agreement with their tutor, students have two weeks from receipt of feedback to review, revise and resubmit their work.
Students who fail to obtain a 'satisfactory' grade on a resubmission of any assessment task will be referred to the unit convenor. The Convenor will, at this point, either:
Unless a student has been granted a time extension under the University's Disruption to Studies Policy, any outstanding work (including resubmissions) submitted after the resubmission deadline indicated under the relevant assessment will be deemed late, will not be graded and will result in a grade of 'Fail' being recorded for the unit.
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Academic Honesty & Referencing | 5% | 14/12/2015 |
Legal Research Quizzes | 15% | 22/01/2016 |
Core Skills | 30% | 23/12/2015 |
Hypothetical Problem | 20% | 08/01/2016 |
Law & Policy Reform Project | 30% | 18/01/2016 |
Due: 14/12/2015
Weighting: 5%
Students will be required to complete two multiple choice quizzes with a score of 100% to demonstrate:
Students may re-attempt these two quizzes an unlimited number of times.
Due: 22/01/2016
Weighting: 15%
The Quiz topics are:
Quizzes 1-5 should be attempted before attempting Task 3; and quizzes 6-9 should be attempted attempting Task 4 or 5. All quizzes must be completed with a minimum score of 60% (each) in order to pass this assessment and achieve the associated learning outcome. Students may re-attempt these quizzes an unlimited number of times, but successfully complete them all by the final day of classes in the semester.
Due: 23/12/2015
Weighting: 30%
This assignment (1,000-1500 words) will require students to demonstrate the following core skills:
Students may be required to resubmit their assessment, incorporating feedback provided by their tutor. Any resubmission must be completed by the deadline set by the tutor.
Due: 08/01/2016
Weighting: 20%
In this essay (1,000 words), students will solve a hypothetical problem in public law. Students will be required to demonstrate:
· the ability to analyse factual scenarios and identify relevant legal issues;
· the ability to understand and apply basic principles of legal problem solving and reasoning;
· the ability to carry out basic legal research tasks, including finding and analysing relevant primary and secondary sources;
· the ability to communicate effectively in a written form to a legal audience.
Students may be required to resubmit their assessment, incorporating feedback provided by their tutor. Any resubmission must be completed by the deadline set by the tutor.
Due: 18/01/2016
Weighting: 30%
This Assessment is divided into two parts:
Part 1: Students will prepare a written submission (1,000 – 1,500 words) advocating legal and policy reforms drawn from a list of pre-selected current issues. Students will be required to demonstrate:
Part 2:
Students will write a short reflection (500-750 words) in which they consider their own Law and Policy Reform Report and set out:
Through this assessment task, students will also be required to demonstrate their understanding of the Australian Legal System and Sources of Law (derived from their reading of the course text) and capacity to engage in reflective practice.
Students may be required to resubmit their assessment, incorporating feedback provided by their tutor. The absolute deadline for resubmissions of this task is Sunday 10pm, approximately two weeks following the end of Week 13.
REQUIRED TEXT:
Catriona Cook et al, Laying Down the Law (LexisNexis, 9th ed, 2015).
FURTHER READING:
Michelle Sanson, Thalia Anthony and David Worswick, Connecting with the Law (Oxford University Press, 3th ed, 2010).
Michelle Sanson, Statutory Interpretation (Oxford University Press, 2012).
Alexander Reilly, Gabrielle Appleby, Laura Grenfell and Wendy Lacey, Australian Public Law (Oxford University Press, 2nd ed., 2014).
Additional required and recommended materials will be posted at the website of the Unit.
Delivery |
This unit is delivered online and can be accessed at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/.
Computer and Internet access are required in order to successfully complete this unit. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement.
An optional one-day workshop is provided for students in Sydney on the North Ryde Campus. Room locations and dates can be obtained from: http://timetables.mq.edu.au Students are advised to re-check that web site for room changes closer to the date. Students are required to RSVP via the unit iLearn page to confirm their attendance at the workshop for planning purposes.
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.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
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.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
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.
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