• Submission - All assessments must be submitted electronically. 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.

• Turnitin plagiarism detection software is used to check all written assessments.

• Word limits - Word limits are strictly applied. Work above the word limit will not be marked. Footnotes are to be used only for referencing.

• Referencing - Referencing must conform to the requirements set out in the Australian Guide to Legal Citation 4th edition.

• Late submission penalty policy - Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late submission penalty policy will apply to non-timed sensitive assessments (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc).

• Late submission of time-sensitive tasks - Late submission of time-sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

• Special Consideration - Students should submit applications for Special Consideration electronically via ask.mq.edu.au, along with the supporting documentation. Before submitting their applications, students should refer to the Special Consideration Policy (link provided under 'Policies and Procedures' below). Please do not email to request an extension or email to seek the outcome of a lodged application via email. No information can be provide via email, all information will be provided via the Ask system.

Professional Skills

Duration: Tutorials 1-12 

Weighting: 20%

This assessment evaluates students’ professional legal skills and legal judgment as evidenced through engagement in classroom activities. Students are required to self-enrol as a ‘barrister’ in one tutorial across the semester. The final grade will reflect the students’ quality of these skills in the role of barrister and as a general class member across the semester.

Assessment Overview - As part of this in-class professional skills assessment, students will be evaluated on their contributions as general class members and in the role of barrister. The role of barrister is included in this assessment design to give all students time and space to contribute meaningfully to class discussions. Marks are not separately awarded for the barrister role contributions.

Barrister - Students will be able to enrol in a chosen tutorial through the self-enrolment tool on iLearn. When in the barrister role, students will be given the first opportunity to engage in classroom discussion to demonstrate their ability to communicate, interact and collaborate professionally and effectively, as well as lead class and group discussions (see Rubric on iLearn). A maximum of 8 students will be in the barrister role in each tutorial. If you are unwell or otherwise unable to make the tutorial in which you have enrolled to be in the barrister role, unenroll from that tutorial and enrol in another tutorial (subject to availability). 

General Class Member - When not in the barrister role, students will have the opportunity to contribute to class and group discussions, engage in class activities, ask questions, and otherwise develop and demonstrate their professional skills as detailed in the Rubric on ilearn. 

Research Assignment

Due date: Thursday 2 April 2026, 11.55pm 

Weighting: 40%

For Question and Submission Portal - See iLearn site under 'Assessment'

Independent legal research: Please note that responding to this assignment question will require independent legal research that goes beyond the prescribed materials provided in lectures, tutorials and readings.

Word limit = 2,000 words, not including footnotes and bibliography. Footnotes need to be confined to citations. 

Rubric for Research Assignment: Please see LAWS8068 ilearn page.

Legal Professional Writing Task

Due: Monday 12 June 2026, 11.55pm 

Weighting: 40%

For Question and Submission Portal - See iLearn site under 'Assessment'

Independent legal research: Please note that responding to this assignment question will require independent legal research that goes beyond the prescribed materials provided in lectures, tutorials and readings.

Word length: 2,400 words, not including footnotes. Note that footnotes must be confined to citations. 

Rubric for Research Assignment: Please see LAWS8068 ilearn page.

Prescribed textbook

Legal Issues in Information Technology, M Perry, A Roy, M De Zwart, Adams, N Selvadurai, H Forrest, Cormier & S McKenzie, 2022, First Edition

ISBN: 9780455245140 $99.00

Where to purchase

• Directly via the Thomson Reuters website: https://legal.thomsonreuters.com.au/student/
• Online Resellers:

Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/

Zookal: https://www.zookal.com/

Further optional reading (more detailed but old) 

• B Fitzgerald, A Fitzgerald, et al, Internet and E-Commerce Law: Technology, Law and Policy, Thomson Lawbook Co, 2nd edition, 2011. (Whilst old, this is the only comprehensive textbook on Australian IT law. Being a niche market, there is a lack of in-depth textbooks in this area)

Tutorial readings

• In addition to the prescribed text book, it is necessary to read the materials cited in the Tutorial Questions. The Tutorial Questions are found on the iLearn site. The Tutorial Readings are also found on Leganto on the iLearn site. Additional optional readings are also provided at this location.

Useful Journals

• International Journal of Law and Information Technology, Oxford University, UK.
• Harvard Journal of Law and Technology, Harvard University Press, USA.
• Journal of Law and Technology, UCLA Press, USA
• Information Journal of Technology Policy and Law, Inderscience Publications, Switzerland.
• Media and Art Law Review, University of Melbourne Press, Australia.
• Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property, Northwester University Press, Chicago, USA.
• Telecommunications Journal of Australia, Monash University Press, Australia.
• Pittsburgh Journal of Technology Law and Policy, Pittsburgh University Press, USA.
• Information and Communications Technology Law 299-314, University of Surrey, UK.
• Computer and Telecommunications Law Review, Sweet & Maxwell, UK.
• Computer Law and Security Review, Elsevier, UK.

Legislation:

All Commonwealth and State statutes and regulations can be found at http://www.austlii.edu.au.

Ensure reference is made, wherever possible, to consolidated legislation.

Case Law:

For reported case law, use the Macquarie University library to access the:

Lawbookonline database (e.g. CLR, FCR, FLR, NSWLR);

Lexisnexis (Aus) database (e.g. ALR, IPR).

For unreported case law, use: http://www.austlii.edu.au.

Websites

See links to useful websites provided on LAW iLearn page.