Students
LAWS8006 – Applied Legal Ethics
2020 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Lise Barry
Contact via via iLearn
6 First Walk Rom 527
Monday 3pm -4pm by phone or in person. Other times by appointment
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to GradCertLaw or GradDipLaw or JD
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
LAWS8001 or LAWS600 or admission to JD in 2014
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
In this unit students will be encouraged to develop an ethical approach to the study and practice of law. Ethical problems may present in diverse ways, including problems of confidentiality, access to justice or conflict of duty and interest. The lawyer's role in the resolution of these problems is examined in the context of the common law, statute, professional rules of conduct and diverse theoretical approaches to legal ethics. The lawyer's relationships with their client, the court and other legal practitioners as well as with the general public are strengthened through development of skills such as listening, interviewing and negotiation. The unit also emphasizes continued improvements in academic writing skills, concentrating on structure, legal language and issues of academic honesty. |
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:
- ULO1: Explain how ethical principles inform and underpin the law of professional responsibility that regulates the practice of law in Australia.
- ULO2: Recognise the duties and obligations that are part of the legal practitioner’s relationship with his or her client, the court, other practitioners and members of the public.
- ULO3: Apply the law of professional responsibility relevant to lawyers in Australia
- ULO4: Critically analyse the different theoretical approaches to legal ethics and apply this analysis to the resolution of ethical problems.
- ULO5: Demonstrate advanced communication skills required for ethical practice, especially listening skills, interviewing skills, cross cultural communication skills and negotiation skills.
- ULO6: Apply mature and considered approaches to written communication including plain English principles and legal citation methods
Assessment Tasks
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.
Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students
General Assessment Information
Full details of all assessments are available on iLearn
Delivery and Resources
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.
Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
There are no "live" lectures for this unit. This unit is delivered in two ways:
1) via online learning content that includes recorded lecture material, readings, quizzes, discussions and links to external resources such as videos and blogs; and
2) a weekly seminar for internal students
The required text is: Lise Barry (ed) Lawyers: Roles, Skills and Responsibilities (3rd ed, 2017) Thomson Reuters.
Additional reading will be available via iLearn and e-reserve.
Students require access to a computer and a secure and reliable server. All Unit requirements and a weekly teaching schedule are outlined in iLearn.
All assessments are to be submitted electronically via Turnitin.
Unit Schedule
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status
The schedule is outlined in detail on the iLearn site for this unit
Topics to be covered include:
Professionalism
Normative and applied ethics
Duties to the client: fiduciary duties, duty of confidentiality, duty of care, conflicts of interest, duty to account, costs
Duties to the Court: ethics in criminal law, duties of candour, duties of prosecutors, dealing with witnesses, undertakings
Communication skills: esp listening, client interviewing, negotiation
Duty to the community: Access to justice, pro bono service
Duty to the profession: professional courtesy
Professional regulation and discipline
Admission to the profession
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
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
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
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.