Students
LAWS8100 – Professional Skills and Practice
2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance, Other
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Sonya Willis
Contact via iLearn
6 First Walk Room 520
11am-1pm Thursday
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to LLM or MIntTrdeComLaw
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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 expose students to legal professional and business models in the context of the evolving nature of the legal profession and the changing roles of legal professionals. Students will explore the use of emerging technology in the legal profession and the influence of new models of legal practice on Australian and global legal culture and professional skills. Assessments will focus on the enhancement of professional skills. Much of the unit is 'experiential' involving working with practicing professionals to better understand the Australian and global legal environment. |
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: Illustrate what is meant by professionalism and critically analyse the focus on ethics and trust in the context of legal practice.
- ULO2: Demonstrate an awareness of professional challenges in law including those that arise from emerging technologies.
- ULO3: Identify and reflect on aptitudes, goals, networking activities and professional development plans.
- ULO4: Demonstrate professional communication and collaborative problem solving skills.
- ULO5: Examine and critique global legal organisational culture and practice,
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Practice Task | 30% | No | Friday 18 September 2020, 11:59pm |
| Professional Writing | 30% | No | Wednesday, 14 October 2020, 11:59pm. |
| Professional Report | 40% | No | Tuesday, 3 November 2020, 11:59pm |
Professional Practice Task
Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Friday 18 September 2020, 11:59pm
Weighting: 30%
Students will engage in a negotiation or other professional task either online or face to face
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Illustrate what is meant by professionalism and critically analyse the focus on ethics and trust in the context of legal practice.
- Demonstrate an awareness of professional challenges in law including those that arise from emerging technologies.
- Demonstrate professional communication and collaborative problem solving skills.
Professional Writing
Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Wednesday, 14 October 2020, 11:59pm.
Weighting: 30%
Students will undertake professional writing tasks across the semester and submit these for grading
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an awareness of professional challenges in law including those that arise from emerging technologies.
- Identify and reflect on aptitudes, goals, networking activities and professional development plans.
- Examine and critique global legal organisational culture and practice,
Professional Report
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Tuesday, 3 November 2020, 11:59pm
Weighting: 40%
Students will prepare a report either based on their legal project experience in the unit or related to an identified issue in modern global legal practice.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Illustrate what is meant by professionalism and critically analyse the focus on ethics and trust in the context of legal practice.
- Identify and reflect on aptitudes, goals, networking activities and professional development plans.
- Examine and critique global legal organisational culture and practice,
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
This unit will be delivered 100% online in 2020 due to the overseas location of many enrolled students caused by COVID 19.
Blended Learning Delivery partly synchronous and partly asynchronous.
Asynchronous delivery will be through online prerecorded lectures, readings and other weekly material.
Synchronous delivery will be through 6 online workshops conducted through Zoom on the following dates:
- Workshop 1: Semester 2 Week 2 - Thursday 6 August 2020 5pm-8pm AEST (GMT+10)
- Workshop 2: Semester 2 Week 5 - Thursday 27 August 2020 5pm-8pm AEST (GMT+10)
- Workshop 3: Semester 2 Break Week - Wednesday 16 September 2020 5pm-8pm AEST (GMT+10)
- Workshop 4: Semester 2 Break Week - Thursday 17 September 2020 5pm-8pm AEST (GMT+10)
- Workshop 5: Semester 2 Week 9 - Thursday 8 October 2020 5pm-8pm AEST (GMT+11 - NB Add an extra hour for Daylight Savings in Australia)
- Workshop 6: Semester 2 Week 11 - Thursday 22 October 2020 5pm-8pm (GMT+11)
There is no set text for this unit but students looking for a basic introduction to key concepts covered by the unit are advised to read: Lawyering and Positive Professional Identities by Rachael Field, James Duffy and Anna Huggins, Lexis Nexis, 2014.
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.