Students

LAWS3400 – Evidence

2026 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Keith Williams
keith.williams@mq.edu.au
Andrew Burke
andrew.burke@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
LAWS398 or LAWS3200
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit examines and teaches the principles and rules of evidence in civil and criminal matters in New South Wales. The focus is on the uniform evidence scheme, with particular attention given to the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) and relevant judicial decisions that affect an interpretation of the Act. The unit starts with an introduction to litigation systems, and then proceeds to the fundamentals of trials, and the statutory and discretionary powers of courts to control their proceedings. The adducing of testamentary, documentary and real evidence is addressed, as are issues relating to proof and relevance. Detailed coverage is then given to the rules of admissibility relating to hearsay, admissions, opinion, tendency, coincidence, credibility, character and identification evidence.

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 the reasons for and describe the principal rules of evidence.  
  • ULO2: Explain the reasons for and describe the main exceptions to the principal rules ofevidence
  • ULO3: Critically analyse the appropriateness and fairness of the principal evidentiary rules
  • ULO4: Synthesise, evaluate and apply the principal evidentiary rules and their exceptions tofactual scenarios and problems
  • ULO5: Communicate, interact and collaborate professionally and effectively in verbal and non-verbal contexts across diverse settings.
  • ULO6: Work independently, meet deadlines, take initiative and be adaptable to diverse and changing environments.

General Assessment Information

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).

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Professional Skills 20% No Weekly ongoing Individual No Observed
Exam 50% No During the formal exam period Individual No Observed
Practice-Based Task 30% No 22/09/2026 Individual Yes Open

Professional Skills

Assessment Type 1: Professional task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Weekly ongoing
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

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.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the reasons for and describe the principal rules of evidence.  
  • Explain the reasons for and describe the main exceptions to the principal rules ofevidence
  • Critically analyse the appropriateness and fairness of the principal evidentiary rules
  • Synthesise, evaluate and apply the principal evidentiary rules and their exceptions tofactual scenarios and problems
  • Communicate, interact and collaborate professionally and effectively in verbal and non-verbal contexts across diverse settings.
  • Work independently, meet deadlines, take initiative and be adaptable to diverse and changing environments.

Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: During the formal exam period
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

An invigilated exam held in the formal examination period. The exam may cover any or all topics and materials covered in the unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the reasons for and describe the principal rules of evidence.  
  • Explain the reasons for and describe the main exceptions to the principal rules ofevidence
  • Critically analyse the appropriateness and fairness of the principal evidentiary rules
  • Synthesise, evaluate and apply the principal evidentiary rules and their exceptions tofactual scenarios and problems
  • Communicate, interact and collaborate professionally and effectively in verbal and non-verbal contexts across diverse settings.
  • Work independently, meet deadlines, take initiative and be adaptable to diverse and changing environments.

Practice-Based Task

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 22/09/2026
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI Approach: Open

An assessment on professional skills and knowledge relevant to the unit. This could be a legal or policy brief, a report, an essay, a law reform proposal, legal pleadings or other related professional task. This assessment may require students to prepare a response through research and adhere to discipline-specific scholarly conventions.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the reasons for and describe the principal rules of evidence.  
  • Explain the reasons for and describe the main exceptions to the principal rules ofevidence
  • Critically analyse the appropriateness and fairness of the principal evidentiary rules
  • Synthesise, evaluate and apply the principal evidentiary rules and their exceptions tofactual scenarios and problems
  • Communicate, interact and collaborate professionally and effectively in verbal and non-verbal contexts across diverse settings.
  • Work independently, meet deadlines, take initiative and be adaptable to diverse and changing environments.

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
  • Academic Success 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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Delivery and Resources

Delivery

Lectures: 2 hours of lectures weekly (comprising a one hour live elcture and a one hour recorded lecture) for 12 weeks (excluding the mid semester break)

Tutorials: There will be 12 weeks of tutorials each of 1 hour duration commencing on Week 2 and finishing on Week 13.

This unit is worth 10 credit points, which equates to 150 hours of work. Therefore, students should expect to commit an average of 10 hours per week to this unit, including all scheduled and unscheduled activities and preparing and executing the assessment tasks.

Resources

Prescribed Text:

Bellew, Arthur, Boas, Chifflet, Freckelton & Vickovich: Australian Uniform Evidence Law: Principles and Context,

3rd ed, LexisNexis 2026.

 

Recommended Texts:

S Odgers, Uniform Evidence Law, 21st ed, Thomson Reuters, 2026

Hon D Heydon, Cross on Evidence, 14th ed. LexisNexis, 2023

John Anderson, Uniform Evidence Law: Text and Essential Cases, 4th ed, The Federation

Press, 2021

 

Students can purchase these textbooks online from online resellers such as Booktopia, Amazon and Zookal. 

Additional readings will be accessible through iLearn.

Students require access to a computer, internet with decent speed and a secure/reliable server. The iLearn page contains all Unit requirements and a weekly schedule for teaching, readings and tutorials. Information about all assessment tasks is also available on iLearn.

 

Unit Schedule

 

Laws3400 Evidence 2026

LECTURE and TUTORIAL Schedule

 

 

Wk

Week

Commencing

Lecture Topic

Tutorial Number

Tutorial Topic

Week 1

27 Jul

Introduction to Evidence

 

 

NO TUTORIAL

NO TUTORIAL

Week 2

3 August

Trials; Judicial Powers and Discretions

 

Tutorial 1

1 Introduction to Evidence

 

Week 3

10  Aug

Adducing Evidence 1

 

 

Tutorial 2

2 Trials; Judicial Powers and Discretions

 

Week 4

17 Aug

Adducing Evidence 2

Tutorial 3

3 Adducing Evidence 1

 

 

Week 5

24 Aug

Proof and Relevance

Tutorial 4

4 Adducing Evidence 2

 

 

Week 6

31 Aug

Hearsay Evidence 1

Tutorial 5

5 Proof and Relevance

 

 

Week 7

7 September

Hearsay Evidence 2

Tutorial 6

 

6 Hearsay Evidence 1

 

 

Week 8

14 September

Hearsay Evidence 3

Admissions

Tutorial 7

7 Hearsay Evidence 2

 

 

 

 

Mid-Session Break

21 September 2 October

 

 

 

Week 9

5 Oct

Opinion Evidence

 

 

Tutorial 8

8 Hearsay Evidence 3 Admissions

Week 10

12 Oct

Tendency and Coincidence Evidence

 

Tutorial 9

9 Opinion Evidence

 

 

Week 11

19 Oct

Credibility and Character Evidence

 

Tutorial 10

10 Tendency and Coincidence Evidence

 

Week 12

26 Oct

Identification Evidence; Exam Preparation

Tutorial 11

11 Credibility and Character Evidence

 

 

Week 13

2 Nov

NO LECTURE

Tutorial 12

12 Identification Evidence

 

 

 

Policies and Procedures

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.

Student Code of Conduct

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

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

Academic Integrity

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.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk. 

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 2026.06 of the Handbook