Legal Methods and Skills (6601.6)

Please note these are the 2015 details for this unit
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Legal Methods and Skills
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Business, Government & Law
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Canberra Law School Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory 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)
This subject is designed to sequentially progress a broad range of legal and relevant non-legal skills. This subject will include the following topics: Understanding What Lawyers Do; Finding the Law; Understanding the Law; Apply the Law/Problem Solving; Arguing the Law (Advocacy); Critiquing the Law; Writing the Law: Writing Legal Material in Plain English.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Apply appropriate research methodologies to research primary and secondary domestic and international legal sources in print and electronic forms to locate current legislation, common law and commentary (research);
2. Identify legal issues in factual circumstances (analysis, research);
3. Analyse legal issues in factual situations and solve the problems they present by comprehending and applying legal authorities (analysis, problem-solving); and
4. Communicate the results of analysis and findings in clear writing for diverse purposes (written and oral communication).


Graduate attributes

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 - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Corequisites

6602 Legal Systems.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
Not available

Required texts

You must have the following:

  • Anthony Marinac, Brian Simpson, Caroline Hart, Rhianna Chisolm, Jennifer Nielsen and Michael Brogan, Learning Law (Cambridge University Press, 2018) which will be available from the Co-op Bookshop.  Some copies are available from the University of Canberra Library.
  • The Australian Guide to Legal Citation (Melbourne Law Review, 3rd ed, 2010).  The Guide is also available online at: http://law.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1586203/FinalOnlinePDF-2012Reprint.pdf

All other readings will either provided to you as a hyperlink to the online resource or as a downloadable file on Canvas.

While not required, pre-admission lawyers may also want to purchase an Australian law dictionary, such as Trischa Mann (ed), Australian Law Dictionary (Oxford University Press, 2nd ed, 2013) or Ray Finkelstein and David Hamer (eds), LexisNexis Concise Australian Legal Dictionary (LexisNexis Butterworths, 5th ed, 2014).

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

In Legal Methods and Skills 6601, you are required to submit all assessment items to pass the unit.

If you do not submit all assessment items you will receive a grade of NC (a fail result based on failure to complete one or more of the assessment requirements) for the unit.

If you are unable to submit an assessment item, you may apply for an extension. You will find the application form on Canvas, and you will be required to complete it, sign it and provide relevant supporting documentation. 

Applications for extension must be submitted at the earliest possible opportunity in the case of circumstances considered to be unanticipated, extenuating, and exceptional (see reasons 1-6 on page 3 of the form).

For anticipated events or circumstances that have a defined time period (see reasons 7-14 on page 4 of the form), notification must be lodged no later than 5 working days before the scheduled due date of the assignment. Requests for extensions in this category (which includes predicatable work commitments, whether your university or other work) will NOT be granted after this date. 

Your application will not be processed without the required information, your signature and relevant supporting documentation.

If you are registered with Inclusion & Engagement and have a Reasonable Adjustment Plan you must still submit an application for extension for each assessment for which as extention is required.

 

 

Special assessment requirements

Students are required to submit all assessment items to pass the unit.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Review of Drafts and Return of Work

The Unit Convenor will not review draft assignments by email, but is very happy to arrange a time to meet face-to-face to discuss specific questions pre-admission lawyers have regarding the assessments or to discuss drafts.

In accordance with School of Law and Justice policy, assignments will be graded and returned no later than 3 weeks after submission.

Participation requirements

While participation is not assessed in this unit, most students find participation necessary to successfully complete the assessment items and the final exam.

Required IT skills

None

Work placement, internships or practicums

None