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LAWS8019 – Dispute Resolution Processes and Law

2026 – Session 2, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor and Lecturer
Lise Barry
Contact via Contact via iLearn
Thursday 5pm
Tutor
Megan Frost
Contact via Contact via iLearn
Tutor
Milan Nitopi
Contact via Contact via iLearn
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(Admission to LLM) or (Admission to JD and 160cp in LAW or LAWS units at 6000 level or above)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This final year unit draws together doctrinal, theoretical and practical knowledge and experience in the study of law through a focus on the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in the Australian and international context. Students are encouraged to think critically about the ways that legal disputes are typically resolved and the extent to which developments in the ADR field have been integrated into legal practice and regulation. This unit consolidates student learning on the range of legal remedies available through a comparison of ADR processes including negotiation, mediation, arbitration and restorative justice. This unit also provides students with an opportunity to consolidate high level communication skills by providing simulated opportunities for legal negotiations and to further develop the discipline specific communication skills required in conflict resolution processes.

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: Analyse and critique models of dispute resolution in the Australian and International legal context
  • ULO2: Identify and critique the key theoretical and doctrinal differences in the application of dispute resolution frameworks
  • ULO3: Apply high level communication skills to dispute resolution processes and distinguish the skills required for different models of dispute resolution
  • ULO4: Identify and critically examine the strengths and weaknesses of different models of dispute resolution and appropriately apply the models to different types of disputes

General Assessment Information

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 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
Negotiation Role Play 40% No 16/10/2026 Individual No Observed
Exam 40% No Exam period Individual No Observed
Professional Skills 20% No Fortnightly Individual No Observed

Negotiation Role Play

Assessment Type 1: Experiential task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 16/10/2026
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Students will engage in a teams-based negotiation role play based on a legal problem. The assessment will include the preparation of a negotiation plan, a video of the negotiation and a post-negotiation report
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply high level communication skills to dispute resolution processes and distinguish the skills required for different models of dispute resolution
  • Identify and critically examine the strengths and weaknesses of different models of dispute resolution and appropriately apply the models to different types of disputes

Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 34 hours
Due: Exam period
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Students will be provided with scenarios that test their application of the law and practice of ADR. Further details of the format and timing of the exam will be available on iLearn
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse and critique models of dispute resolution in the Australian and International legal context
  • Identify and critique the key theoretical and doctrinal differences in the application of dispute resolution frameworks
  • Identify and critically examine the strengths and weaknesses of different models of dispute resolution and appropriately apply the models to different types of disputes

Professional Skills

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

Students will develop essential legal professional skills through structured classroom activities such as oral advocacy, critical reasoning, strategic problem-solving, collaborative work, team leadership, mooting, simulated client consultations, legal presentations or demonstrations, doctrinal analysis and problem solving, and/or collaborative legal research. These activities are designed to develop students’ professional capabilities including capacity to communicate legal concepts clearly and engage professionally with diverse audiences in diverse contexts.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply high level communication skills to dispute resolution processes and distinguish the skills required for different models of dispute resolution

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

Required Text: Tania Sourdin and Lola Akin Ojelabi, Alternative Dispute Resolution, (Thomson Reuters, 7th ed, 2026).

Highly Recommended: William Ury and Roger Fisher, Getting to Yes, Random House (any edition)

Unit Schedule

See iLearn for weekly lecture topics and tutorial timetable

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.

Changes from Previous Offering

There is a new textbook for the unit and all required reading and tutorial activities have been updated accordingly

Changes since First Published

Date Description
15/07/2026 There is a new textbook in the unit and all topic readings and tutorial activities have been updated accordingly. 2026 is the first year in which an invigilated exam has been held for this unit.

Unit information based on version 2026.04 of the Handbook