Assessment Task 1 consists of two online multiple choice quizzes in which students will demonstrate their ability to apply principles of academic honesty and rules for correct legal citation. 

Students must attain a score of 100% for both quizzes in order to pass this assessment. Students who have made a serious attempt to complete both quizzes by the due date (but have failed to achieve the required score of 100% for either quiz) may re-attempt each quiz as often as needed to attain the required score of 100%, but must achieve this result by no later than by 25 March 2018 10pm.  

Students who fail to attain a score of 100% on either quiz by 25 March 2018 10pm will receive a fail grade for the unit.

Assessment Task 2 consists of 9 online quizzes on the following topics:

1. The Constitution
2. Commonwealth Legislation
3. NSW Legislation
4. Case Law
5. HANSARD
6. Domestic Legislation (outside NSW)
7. International Law
8. Law Reform Commissions
9. Judicial Commission

Serious attempts must be made by students according as follows: 

• Quizzes 1-5 are due by Week 5 (1 April 2018 10pm) to prepare for Task 3; and
• Quizzes 6-9 are due by Week 8 (6 May 2018) to prepare for Tasks 4 and 5.  

All quizzes must be completed with a minimum score of 70% (each) by the end of Week 13 (11 June 2018 10pm) in order to pass this assessment and achieve the associated learning outcome. Students may re-attempt these quizzes an unlimited number of times.

Assessment Task 3 consists of a short written assignment (1,500-2,500 words) to demonstrate the following core skills:

• understanding of principles of statutory interpretation;
• the ability to clearly and concisely summarise a case; 
• understanding of the doctrine of precedent;
• the ability to  interpret case law and legislation for the purpose of deriving and constructing legal rules and principles;
• the ability to carry out basic legal research tasks, including finding and analysing relevant primary and secondary sources; and 
• the ability to communicate effectively in a written form.

Students must attain a grade of 'satisfactory' on each criterion set out in the marking rubric in order to pass this assessment. Students who have made a serious attempt to complete the assignment by the due date (but have not attained a 'satisfactory' grade on each criterion in the marking rubric) will be afforded one opportunity to achieve the assessment's learning outcomes. By no later than the end of Week 8 (6 May 2018 10pm), students will be required to correct and resubmit relevant parts of their work, taking into account feedback provided by their tutor, and explain how they have incorporated this feedback. 

Students who do not attain a grade of 'satisfactory' for each criterion of the marking rubric by the end of Week 8 (6 May 2018 10pm) will receive a fail grade for the unit. ​ 

Assessment Task 4 consists of a short written assignment (1,000 - 1,250 words) where students will solve a hypothetical problem in public law.  Students will be required to demonstrate:

·         the ability to analyse factual scenarios and identify relevant legal issues;

·         the ability to understand and apply basic principles of legal problem solving and reasoning;

·         the ability to carry out basic legal research tasks, including finding and analysing relevant primary and secondary sources;

·         the ability to communicate effectively in a written form to a legal audience.

Students must attain a grade of 'satisfactory' on each criterion set out in the marking rubric in order to pass this assessment. Students who have made a serious attempt to complete the assignment by the due date (but have not attained a 'satisfactory' grade on each criterion in the marking rubric) will be afforded one further opportunity to achieve the assessment's learning outcomes. By no later than the end of Week 12 (3 June 2018 10pm), students will be required to correct and resubmit relevant parts of their work, taking into account feedback provided by their tutor, and explain how they have incorporated this feedback.

Students who do not attain a grade of 'satisfactory' for each criterion of the marking rubric by the end of Week 12 (3 June 2018 10pm) will receive a fail grade for the unit.

Assessment Task 5 is divided into two parts:

Part 1:  Students will prepare a written submission (1,200 – 1,500 words) advocating legal and policy reforms drawn from a list of pre-selected current issues.  Students will be required to demonstrate:

• the ability to interpret primary and secondary sources for the purpose of deriving and constructing legal rules and principles;
• the ability to engage creatively with contemporary legal problems in their social context and to propose innovate solutions;
• the ability to communicate effectively in written form with a non-legal audience; and
• the ability to demonstrate their understanding of the broader philosophical, ethical and/or socio-political context of legal issues and problems.

Part 2:  

Drawing upon their readings from Laying Down the Law, students will write a short reflection (500-750 words) in which they consider their own Law and Policy Reform Report and apply relevant sources of legal norms in the Australian legal system (including private and public law, indigenous customary law, international law) to the issues at stake.

Through this assessment task, students will also be required to demonstrate their understanding of the Australian Legal System and Sources of Law (derived from their reading of the course text) and capacity to engage in reflective practice. 

Students are expected satisfy each criterion on the associated rubric, which will be provided on the unit web page, and address any deficiencies by resubmitting their work in accordance with the instructions and deadline prescribed by the Tutor.