Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
George Tomossy
Contact via george.tomossy@mq.edu.au
W3A510
Wed 2-3
Co-Convenor
Carlos Bernal-Pulico
Contact via carlos.bernal-pulido@mq.edu.au
W3A625
by appointment
Tutor
Keith Williams
TBC
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 10pm on the Sunday at the end of the Week indicated for each assessment task. The Week number corresponded to the 'teaching week', and does not include the two-week mid-semester recess (i.e., 'Week 9' is the 11th week of semester, but 9th teaching week).
Detailed marking rubrics will be made available on iLearn.
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. As such, each assessment Task constitutes a 'hurdle assessment' in accordance with the Assessment Policy whereby students demonstrate the required learning outcomes for each in order to pass the unit.
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, 4 and 5, if deemed to be 'satisfactory' by their tutor in accordance with the rubric provided, students who submit a 'serious attempt' at the assignment (as defined in the Assessment Policy) will be permitted one further attempt to resubmit their work in order to pass the assessment. Students resubmitting their work are expected to reflect on the feedback provided and indicating explicitly within their resubmitted work how they have taken the feedback on board. Deadlines for resubmissions are indicated under the relevant assessment task unless otherwise indicated by the student's tutor.
Students who fail to submit a serious attempt will be graded as Unsatisfactory for that task and fail the unit.
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 may direct the tutor to provide a further and final opportunity to the student to resubmit their work based on the Convenor's assessment of the likelihood that a further resubmission will result in a successful outcome (after considering the tutor's evaluation of the student's level of engagement in the unit and feedback provided by the tutor on the assessment in question).
Unless a student has been granted a time extension under the University's Disruption to Studies Policy, any work (including resubmissions) submitted after the prescribed deadline will not be graded and result in a 'Fail' grade being recorded for the unit.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Academic Honesty & Referencing | 5% | Yes | Week 2 |
Legal Research Quizzes | 15% | Yes | Week 13 |
Core Skills | 30% | Yes | Week 5 |
Hypothetical Problem | 20% | Yes | Week 8 |
Law & Policy Reform Project | 30% | Yes | Week 12 |
Due: Week 2
Weighting: 5%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Assessment Task 1 requires students 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, but must complete both successfully by no later than the end of Week 5.
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 15%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Assessment Task 2 consists of 9 online quizzes on the following topics:
Quizzes 1-5 must be attempted before by Week 5 to prepare for Task 3 and quizzes 6-9 must be attempted before Week 8 to prepare for Tasks 4 and 5. All quizzes must be completed with a minimum score of 60% (each) by the end of Week 13 in order to pass this assessment and achieve the associated learning outcome. Students may re-attempt these quizzes an unlimited number of times.
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 30%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Assessment Task 3 consists of a short written assignment (1,500-2,000 words) to demonstrate the following core skills:
Students are expected to satisfy each criterion on the associated rubric, which will be provided on the unit web page, and address any deficiencies by resubmitting their work in accordance with the instructions and deadline prescribed by the Tutor.
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Assessment Task 4 consists of a short written assignment (1,000 - 1,250 words) where 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 are expected to satisfy each criterion on the associated rubric, which will be provided on the unit web page, and address any deficiencies by resubmitting their work in accordance with the instructions and deadline prescribed by the Tutor.
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 30%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Assessment Task 5 is divided into two parts:
Part 1: Students will prepare a written submission (1,200 – 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:
Drawing upon their readings from Laying Down the Law, students will write a short reflection (500-750 words) in which they consider their own Law and Policy Reform Report and apply relevant sources of legal norms in the Australian legal system (including private and public law, indigenous customary law, international law) to the issues at stake.
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 are expected satisfy each criterion on the associated rubric, which will be provided on the unit web page, and address any deficiencies by resubmitting their work in accordance with the instructions and deadline prescribed by the Tutor.
This unit has a blended form of delivery and includes online content in lieu of formal lectures.
Tutorials for internal students occur on an irregular pattern. There will be six two-hour tutorials over the course of the semester.
On Campus Intensive sessions for distance students occur on two separate (non-consecutive) dates.
Both Internal and Distance students should consult the official Timetable for class dates, times and locations.
Required and recommended texts and/or materials |
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.
Students are required to monitor their official @students.mq.edu.au e-mail address for direct communications by the unit convenor or tutor, and are also required to monitor the Announcements forum on the units online web page.
An optional two-day workshop, split across two days during the session, 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 requested to RSVP via the unit iLearn page to confirm their attendance at the two workshop days for planning purposes.
The Seminars in this Unit will cover the following topics:
Further details will be made available on unit's iLearn web page.
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_2016.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html
Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
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://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
This revision of the LAWS600 unit guide for s2 2016 includes the following changes to comply with the New Assessment Policy: