Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update
The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.
This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.
Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
George Tomossy
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to LLB
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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 the key legal skills (legal research, reasoning, and writing; applying precedent; statutory interpretation; and legal problem solving) and to acquire the foundational legal knowledge (Australia legal institutions; legal theory; comparative legal systems; parliamentary process; role of the judiciary) necessary for further 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. |
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:
Further instructions for each assessment task are available on the unit's iLearn page.
Students are advised that all assessments in this unit are 'hurdle' assessments, which means that each assessment task must be completed at a Satisfactory level (to the standard prescribed for each assessment task) in order to pass this unit as follows:
The deadline for submission of supplementary work where students have failed to demonstrate learning outcomes to achieve a hurdle requirement will be one week following the above deadline for online quizzes (Tasks 1, 3 and 6) and two weeks from the return of written work (Task 2). Students who fail to achieve a satisfactory result for Tasks 4 and/or 5 will receive instructions on supplementary at the end of the teaching period.
In cases where students fail to complete one assessment task at a Satisfactory level (provided that they have made genuine attempts at both initial and supplementary work on that task), the Convenor may provide one further opportunity to reattempt the task or carry out supplementary work in order to achieve the required learning outcome(s). The Convenor will base this decision on a review of the student's work across the unit in consultation with the student's tutor(s) and/or marker(s).
The Faculty of Arts Late Submission Policy requires that: “Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – 10 marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline." No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests. Please note that this rule applies to the due date of applicable assessment tasks in this unit; the rule does not apply to a subsequent deadline prescribed for an assessment task for the purpose of completing supplementary work or re-attempts of online quizzes in order to satisfy hurdle requirements.
This unit is ungraded and will not count towards a student's LAWS WAM (Weighted Average Mark in LAWS units) . Students will be awarded 'Satisfactory' or 'Fail' at the end of the unit.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Academic Integrity and Referencing Quiz | 10% | Yes | 10:00 09/08/2021 |
Core Skills Assignment | 40% | Yes | 10:00 30/08/2021 |
Legal Research Quizzes | 15% | Yes | 10:00 20/09/2021 |
Law and Policy Reform Wiki | 10% | Yes | 10:00 05/10/2021 |
Group Presentations | 5% | Yes | during tutorial, Weeks 9-13 |
Foundations Quiz | 20% | Yes | 10:00 08/11/2021 |
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: 10:00 09/08/2021
Weighting: 10%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Two online multiple choice quizzes in which students will demonstrate their ability to apply principles of academic integrity and rules for correct legal citation.
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 10:00 30/08/2021
Weighting: 40%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Consists of a short assignment (max 1,500 words, excluding footnotes) submitted online in which students will analyse and interpret primary legal sources (case law and legislation).
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 10:00 20/09/2021
Weighting: 15%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Consists of five (5) online multiple choice quizzes where students will demonstrate their ability to carry out legal research using online databases, library and internet sources.
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 10:00 05/10/2021
Weighting: 10%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Consists of a group report (online wiki) in which students aim to develop recommendations for legal and policy reform to address a contemporary socio-legal problem.
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: during tutorial, Weeks 9-13
Weighting: 5%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Consists of a group presentation (of findings reported in the Law and Policy Reform Wiki) and contribution to Q&A sessions from other presentations.
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 10:00 08/11/2021
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
This timed online quiz requires students to demonstrate their understanding of foundational concepts necessary for further study in law attained derived from lectures and readings throughout the unit.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
All Lectures for this unit are pre-recorded and can be accessed via the unit iLearn page.
Tutorials will be conducted face-to-face and/or online (via Zoom), commence in Week 1 and conclude in Week 13. Students should consult the official Timetable for class times, dates and locations (if face-to-face) and mode of delivery at a specified time at: http://timetables.mq.edu.au Instructions for online tutorials via Zoom will be provided on the unit's iLearn page.
Online content for this unit can be accessed at http://ilearn.mq.edu.au
Required Textbooks:
Additional required and recommended reading materials will be posted at the unit’s iLearn page.
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.
Week # |
Topics Covered |
1 |
Welcome and Overview; Academic Honesty; Legal Citation |
2 |
Common Law and Equity; Statutory Interpretation |
3 |
The Australian Constitution and Separation of Powers; Briefing Cases |
4 |
Judicial Reasoning and the Doctrine of Precedent; Legal Problem Solving |
5 |
Law and Policy Reform; Analysing Scholarship |
6 |
Australian Courts |
7 |
Tribunals |
8 |
Indigenous Customary Law |
9 |
Introduction to International Law |
10 |
The Rule of Law |
11 |
Democratic Institutions |
12 |
Advocacy |
13 |
The Rest of your Law Degree |
Further details on lecture topics and tutorial activities can be found on the unit’s iLearn page.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
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
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 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.
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
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.
Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook