Law Honours (7039.5)
Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
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EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Business, Government & Law |
Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
Canberra Law School | Level 4 - Undergraduate Advanced 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) |
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Demonstrate the ability to manage and complete a substantial research project under supervision;
2. Demonstrate the ability to locate and utilise the most up-to-date primary and secondary sources relevant to the research project;
3. Demonstrate knowledge of existing research paradigms and methodologies as reflected in an explicit justification of the choice of paradigm and methodology;
4. Demonstrate the capacity to engage in critical thinking in both the evaluation of research literature and the formulation of original arguments; and
5. Demonstrate mastery of written expression through (a) employing the basic principles of effective, grammatical and argumentative writing, (b) polishing multiple drafts under supervision, and (c) complying with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation 3.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
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
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
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
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 - 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
Skills development
Students will undertake a program during which they will conduct research, write, and complete the Honours thesis. Students who successfully complete Law Honours will have further developed their legal or socio-legal analysis capabilities, their ability to think critically (and originally), and their research and writing skills. They will also have learned how to work independently and with a supervisor. Students who successfully complete Law Honours at credit level or above will be eligible to graduate from their LLB with Honours if they meet all the other requirements in the Honours Policy. The unit convenor will arrange for each Honours thesis to be marked and moderated, and will act as a point of contact if there are any supervision issues. The convenor will calculate the final Honours GPA.
Note that enrolment in the Honours program does not mean that you will necessarily graduate with Honours and that enrolment does not necessarily mean that you will get 1st Class Honours.
Learn more about Honours policy at:
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to manage and complete a substantial research project under supervision;
- Demonstrate the ability to locate and utilise the most up-to-date primary and secondary sources relevant to the research project;
- Demonstrate knowledge of existing research paradigms and methodologies as reflected in an explicit justification of the choice of paradigm and methodology;
- Demonstrate the capacity to engage in critical thinking in both the evaluation of research literature and the formulation of original arguments; and
Demonstrate mastery of written expression through (a) employing the basic principles of effective, grammatical and argumentative writing, (b) polishing multiple drafts under supervision, and (c) complying with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation 3.
This unit is just one component of your degree studies. Across the whole course leading to your degree you are expected to develop skills and attributes across five generic areas – see http://www.canberra.edu.au/learning-teaching/student-support/uc-graduate-attributes
It is not expected that all generic skills will be equally dealt with in the one unit.
This unit concentrates on particular generic skills as indicated below.
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Prerequisites
Approval of the Unit Convener. Entry to the LLB program. During their law studies, a student seeking admission to the Honours program must achieve at least a credit average in all law units undertaken at the University of Canberra, or have the potential of achieving a credit average in all law units counted towards their final Honours GPA, this being determined by averaging their scores in all eligible units in accordance with the Law Honours Policy.Corequisites
None.Assumed knowledge
None.Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
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Required texts
- None
There are books available on writing a Law thesis. It is recommended that you have a look at these.
Terry Hutchinson, Research and Writing in Law, (Lawbook, 2010)
James Lester, Writing Research Papers: a Complete Guide (Pearson, 2012)
Michael Salter and Julie Mason, Writing Law Dissertations: An Introduction and Guide to the Conduct of Legal Research (Longman Publishing Group, 2013)
Access to University subscribed online databases
Databases can be accessed through the Library website at: http://www.canberra.edu.au/library/research-gateway/databases
Submission of assessment items
Special consideration
For examinations administered by the Examinations Office see the Deferred Examinations Policy.
The Assessment Policy says:
3.14 Special consideration is consideration given to students whose performance in a unit may be affected by unavoidable and adverse circumstances. Special consideration will normally result in extensions of time for submission of assessment items (see Assessment Procedures) or deferred examinations (see the Deferred Examination Policy).
The relevant provision is 3.14 in the Assessment Procedures:
3.14 Applications for an extension to the due date for submission of an assessment item on the grounds of illness or other unavoidable and verifiable personal circumstances (that is, special consideration) should be submitted according to the procedures described in the unit outline for the relevant unit. For advice on documentary evidence to support applications for extensions, please refer to the Assessment Guide that supports these procedures.
Students should apply for extensions before the due submission date, and are advised to do so as early as possible. Applications after the due submission date may be considered only in exceptional circumstances.
Applying for Special consideration
If for any reason you are unable to do an assignment by the due date you must submit, to the unit convener, a request for an extension in writing before the due date (unless impossible) setting out in detail the genuine and exceptional reason for requesting the extension. If there is a medical or counselling reason for the extension request it must be accompanied by a medical or counselling certificate which clearly states:
· that you were unfit to complete the assignment;
· the date of the medical or counselling consultation; and
· the period for which you were / are / will be unfit to complete the assignment.
Evidence from UC AccessAbility, the Academic Skills Centre, the student counselling service or a Doctor may be helpful in seeking special consideration. However, it is only the unit convener who can grant an extension.
Refer to the Faculty Asssignment Extension Policy
Due dates for assessment
All assignments are required to be submitted by the due date.
There is no requirement for unit conveners to mark assignments that are submitted late. In particular, small assignments that are tied to specific parts of the unit delivery such as reflective journals or weekly contributions are part of formative assessment and due dates cannot be extended without harming the value of this form of assessment to others in the unit.
Late submission of the assessment item listed above which is submitted within 7 days of the specified submission date and time will be accepted for marking. However, 5% of the total marks allocated for that item of assessment will be deducted for each day the assessment is overdue. Late assessment submitted more than 7 days after the prescribed date and time will not be accepted for marking. In this case a student will not receive any marks for the relevant piece of assessment.
The responsibility to ensure that files are readable in Word lies with the student. Please ensure that submitted files can be downloaded from Moodle and viewed correctly.
Referencing
Full referencing is therefore required for all written tasks submitted by you.
The style of referencing for this unit is the AGLC3 http://mulr.law.unimelb.edu.au/go/aglc
Text-matching software
You are advised that text-matching software may be used to detect instances of plagiarism.
Plagiarism is a serious breach of University requirements and will be dealt with if it is detected.
Assignment cover sheet
Each assignment submission must have a cover sheet with the student’s name, student number, and a declaration as shown on the attached sample coversheet. Students must keep a copy of all assignments that are submitted at least until unit grades have been published at the end of semester.
The onus is on students to clarify issues in a timely manner
If there is any doubt about the requirements of any assignment or assessment procedure, the onus for clarifying the issue rests with the student who should contact the unit convener about the matter.
Assessment appeals
Under the Student Grievance Resolution Policy there is no right of appeal against assessment results on the basis of academic judgment (i.e. that the student believes their answer merited a higher mark).
This policy ‘applies to appeals on procedural grounds against unit results with respect to any final grades. In general, the University does not recognise grievances relating to academic judgment.’
Marking, marks and moderation
Your assessment item may be marked by a member of staff other than the unit convener. Assessment items will also be moderated in accordance with University policy and this involves more than one marker. If marks are visible in the Moodle gradebook they must be treated as indicative only until the moderation process is complete. As a result of moderation a first mark given to an assessment item may be adjusted up or down.
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
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Required IT skills
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Work placement, internships or practicums
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Additional information
Self and peer assessment
The University of Canberra Assessment policy states that:
4.7 Assessment by academic staff should be accompanied by opportunities for students to assess both their own performance (self-assessment) and the performance of others (peer assessment).
Opportunities for self and peer assessment may be incorporated into Moodle.
Additional information
- Where required, further details of items mentioned in this unit outline will be supplied via the Moodle site for this unit.
- Unit-wide notices given via Moodle are deemed to be given to every student in the unit.
- The unit convenor will attempt to ensure that all lectures are recorded.
- Your learning in this unit is supported by Moodle. How and when you use Moodle can be tracked by the unit convener.
- Breaches of University policy including in relation to posting or sending offensive material will be reported. However, Moodle is not moderated in real-time.
See: Network Access and Use - Responsibilities and Obligations:
27 Harassment and defamation
The University's network must not be used to harass, abuse or otherwise seek to offend other users. To do so may be an offence under the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth).
28 Illicit material
The University's network must not be used to access, store or transfer illegal material, such as child pornography. To do so may be an offence under the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth).
29 Copyright
Users of the University network must respect the rights of copyright owners protected under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Users must not copy material on the network or make material available through the network in breach of the Act. As a general guide no more than ten per cent of a copyright item should be copied or stored. (Refer to the University's Copyright site on UC Online http://www.canberra.edu.au/copyright/welcome for further information)
- Some of the issues covered in this course may be distressing for some people. All students are expected to deal with sensitive issues in a considerate and respectful manner. Please raise any general concerns you may have with the unit convener. Any student experiencing distress should consider seeking counselling or other support. For assistance see http://www.canberra.edu.au/health-counselling