Class participation (10%):

Students are expected to contribute to class debate and discussion as framed by the discussion questions and tasks set out in the Reading Guide and the assigned seminar readings. To prepare well for this ongoing assessment, students should do their assigned readings, and prepare written answers to seminar questions and tasks. These efforts, including summarising assigned readings, will help facilitate quality and constructive in class student contributions.  

This continuous assessment task will meet LO1 by requiring students to demonstrate a basic understanding of the Australian legal system and fundamental concepts and debates involving the Australian legal system. Students will develop student oral and written analysis on legal issues (LO6) and on comprehending and critically analysing primary and secondary materials.

This assessment task will also meet LO2 by requiring a basic understanding of how law is made or changed by case law and legislation in the context of social changes as well as LO3 by requiring students to demonstrate a basic understanding of the respective role of the courts, parliaments and the executive and appreciating the interaction of judge-made law and statute. This continuous assessment task may L04 require students to demonstrate a basic understanding of the principles of judicial reasoning and statutory interpretation (where relevant to the assigned seminar readings and materials).

Group Presentation (10%):

• Undertaken in class in weeks 2, 3 or 4
• Students will be assessed individually for their contributions to a group case analysis presentation with cases and groups allocated in Seminar 1.

Students (in their allocated group) will lead the discussion on an assigned case/reading. This case/reading will be allocated to students in Seminar 1. Students will be expected to read and analyse the reading/case, highlight the main arguments, interesting points, conclusions and offer some insights as to how the reading/case relates to other reading materials covered in the unit. Further guidance to be released on Canvas, as appropriate.

This assessment focuses on developing student oral and written analysis on legal issues (LO6) and on comprehending and critically analysing primary and secondary materials (LO6). The assessment will meet LO3 by requiring students to demonstrate a basic understanding of the interaction of the different branches of government and the interaction between statutes and judge-made law. The group presentation will also allow students to demonstrate an understanding of the Australian legal system and fundamental debates in the Australian legal system (LO1) as well as an appreciation as to how law is changed (LO2). 

Successful grants of Special Consideration may involve alternate assessment tasks, as appropriate. 

Short release assignment (20%):

• This assignment will require students to answer a number of questions on the topics studied to date, with a primary focus on skills on legal interpretation and analysis. Further guidance will be provided on Canvas, as appropriate. The assignment will be released on Canvas on 18 February at 6pm and is due 24 February 6pm.

• Release: 18 February 2022 at 6pm 
• Due date/time: 24 February 2022 at 6pm
• Special Consideration outcome: Prior to the closing date (as specified in the Assessment Table) is an extension. After the closing date is to be determined by the discretion of the Course Convenor, as appropriate.

This assessment task assesses written legal analysis and comprehension skills (LO6), a basic understanding of the principles of judicial reasoning and statutory interpretation (LO4) and  student comprehension and critical analyses of primary and secondary case law (LO5) with a view to  applying such skills and knowledge to answer correctly problem question scenarios and/or short answer questions. In so doing, a basis understanding of the Australian legal system (LO1) and the roles of the courts, parliaments and the executive, and the interaction of judge-made law and statutes is required (LO3).  

Final Take Home Exam (60%):

• The exam will be a duration of 3 hours plus 30 minutes reading time.
• Complete a 3,000 word case analysis and commentary exam. 
• Requires students to analyse and comment on a given case in the light of topics we have studied in this unit.
• The exam will commence 18 March 2022 at 10am and conclude at 1.30pm 
• Further guidance on Canvas, as appropriate.

A successful Special Consideration application will result in a replacement exam.

By reading and analysing a case and commenting on that case against the background of course materials, this assessment task requires students to demonstrate their skills in comprehending and critically analysing primary and secondary materials in law (LO6). In so doing, students will demonstrate their written skills of legal analysis (LO5) as well as an understanding of the principles of judicial reasoning and statutory interpretation (LO4). This case analysis and commentary, more generally assesses LO3 (a basic understanding of the roles of the three branches of government and the interaction of judge-made law and statutes), LO1 (a basic understanding of the Australian legal system and fundamental concepts and debates therein) and LO2 (a basic understanding of how law is made or changed by case law and legislation).

Assessment requirement to pass a unit of study

A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out in this Unit of Study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study.