Advocacy and Communication (11258.1)

Please note these are the 2027 details for this unit
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Advocacy and Communication
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
Online real-time
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Business, Government & Law
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Canberra Law School Level 2 - Undergraduate Intermediate Unit Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
Band 5 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
The unit introduces students to the advocacy and professional communication skills required by legal and justice practitioners, with particular emphasis on the skills required for effective management of dispute resolution. During this unit, module(s) will be selected from the following: professional communication skills; client interview skills; communication skills during different types of dispute resolution processes (e.g. self-representation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, tribunal appearances; witness preparation; basic courtroom advocacy and related written documents (e.g. letters, submissions, appeals).

This unit may be co-taught with a G version of the unit.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate effective oral and written professional communication skills relevant to the law and justice sector;
2. Interpret documents related to formal dispute resolution processes;
3. Develop and practice advocacy skills, including research, analysis, the application of legal principles and the development of oral and written legal arguments, to complex cases in the law and justice sector;
4. Demonstrate appropriate workplace and courtroom etiquette, interpersonal attitudes and ethical behaviour; and
5. Perform professional work in a team, while under pressure.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - communicate and engage with Indigenous Australians in ethical and culturally respectful ways
4. UC graduates are able to demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing - use Indigenous histories and traditional ecological knowledge to develop and augment understanding of their discipline


Prerequisites

11251 Foundations of Law and Justice

Corequisites

This unit is only available to students in a Bachelor of Laws or Bachelor of Justice Studies course.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

7570 Client Advocacy and Communication Skills

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2027 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 On-campus Ms Jennifer Kirkaldy
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 16 February 2026 Online real-time Ms Jennifer Kirkaldy
2027 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 15 February 2027 On-campus Ms Jennifer Kirkaldy
2027 Bruce, Canberra Semester 1 15 February 2027 Online real-time Ms Jennifer Kirkaldy
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

There is no required text for this course.  Resources will be available or linked on the Canvas site.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Artificial intelligence

Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

  1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
  2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
  3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for StudentsLinks to an external site. Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

Special assessment requirements

Artificial intelligence

Students are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in assessments for this unit.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

  1. the Unit Convener has authorised GenAI use for that assessment
  2. the student uses GenAI in the way that the assessment instructions allow
  3. the student fully acknowledges their use of GenAI, with proper citations, references and a GenAI Acknowledgement Statement in line with the assessment instructions.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not permitted for that assessment. Students must still provide the required GenAI Acknowledgement Statement to indicate whether GenAI has or has not been used in the preparation of the assessment. If unsure, students should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

The GenAI for StudentsLinks to an external site. Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

Assessment criteria for items 1-3

1. Demonstrate effective oral and written professional communication skills relevant to the social justice and social services sector;

2. Interpret documents related to social policy and engagement;

3. Develop and practice advocacy skills, including research, analysis, the application of trauma informed principles and the development of oral and written arguments, to complex social issues;

4. Demonstrate appropriate workplace and stakeholder etiquette, interpersonal attitudes and ethical behaviour; and

5. Perform professional work in a team, while under pressure.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

This is a hands-on practical unit that concentrates on the practise of advocacy skills. In order to perform well in the unit, it is important to attend and participate in tutorials.

Required IT skills

None.

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit involves WIL simulation.

Next step

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