Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Amanda Head
Contact via iLearn
see iLearn
Mareike Riedel
Contact via iLearn
see iLearn
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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:
All written assessments submitted electronically must be submitted through the link provided in iLearn. This unit will utilise Turnitin plagiarism detection software. Students should carefully check that they submit the correct file for an assessment, as re-submissions will not be accepted after the due date and time, including instances where students upload an incorrect file in error.
The design, moderation and feedback of all assessments is in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Procedure (link provided under ‘Policies and Procedures’ below).
Late Submission Policy
A maximum penalty of five (5) percentage points of the total possible marks will be applied per day to late submissions, for up to a maximum of seven calendar days. Tasks that have not been submitted within the maximum number of additional late days will receive a mark of zero. This provision does not apply to online exams or other assessment with a time limit of less than 24 hours.
Penalties for late submission will be applied consistently and equitably to all students enrolled in the unit. Where short-term, serious and unavoidable circumstances have affected their ability to submit an assessment task, a student must submit a formal application for Special Consideration as per the Special Consideration Policy. Students should not request an informal arrangement from their tutor, lecturer or Unit Convenor.
Where an application for Special Consideration is approved, and the outcome is an extension to the due date of a task, submissions that are received after the new due date will be subject to late penalties that are calculated from the new due date. This only applies where the outcome is an extension to the due date – see the Special Consideration Policy for a schedule of all possible outcomes.
Special Consideration
Students should submit applications for Special Consideration electronically via the Service Connect portal, along with the supporting documentation. Before submitting their applications, students should refer to the Special Consideration Policy (link provided under ‘Policies and Procedures’ below).
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Professional Skills | 20% | Yes | Ongoing |
Core Skills Assignment | 40% | Yes | 09/04/2025 |
Group Project | 40% | Yes | 25/05/2025 |
Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Students will engage in classroom activities including mooting, presentations or demonstrations, structured discussion and problem solving, doctrinal analysis, simulated client consultations, and collaborative legal research. Through these activities students will develop skills in oral advocacy, legal analysis, critical reasoning, teamwork and team leadership, and/or strategic problem-solving. These activities are designed to strengthen students' ability to communicate legal concepts verbally and engage professionally within a supportive learning environment.
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 09/04/2025
Weighting: 40%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
A written assessment in which students will analyse and interpret primary legal sources.
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 25/05/2025
Weighting: 40%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Consists of a group report and group class presentation in which students aim to apply statutory interpretation skills to address a legal problem.
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
Lectures for this unit are delivered face-to-face and will be recorded on Echo360, which can be accessed via the unit iLearn page.
Tutorials will be conducted face-to-face and commence in Week 1 and conclude in Week 13. Students should consult the official Timetable for class times, dates and locations and mode of delivery at a specified time at: http://timetables.mq.edu.au Tutorials that fall on a public holiday will be rescheduled as online evening tutorials (via Zoom).
Online content for this unit can be accessed at http://ilearn.mq.edu.au
Required Textbook:
David Hamer et al., Laying Down the Law (LexisNexis, 12th ed, 2023).
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.
Topics Covered | |
Introduction to Foundations | |
Foundations of Australian Law & Sources of Law: Common Law, Equity, and Statute Law |
|
Legal Institutions | |
Solving Legal Problems | |
Case Law and Case Analysis | |
Judicial Reasoning and the Doctrine of Precendent | |
First Nations People and the Australian Legal System I | |
Statutory Interpretation I | |
Statutory Interpretation II | |
Statutory Interpretation III | |
Separation of Powers and Judicial Philosophies | |
First Nations People and the Australian Legal System II |
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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
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 2025.02 of the Handbook