Group presentation (15%)

Students will be required to work together in groups to complete this assessment task. Each student will be allocated to a group and specific topic/seminar by the unit of study convenor at the commencement of the semester. Presentations should be no more than 20 minutes in duration and should include, as is appropriate to the specific topic allocated, presentation slides or other audio/visual materials designed to facilitate the class presentation. Groups are expected to meet and prepare their presentation outside of class. Each group must provide a draft of the presentation materials to their seminar teacher at least 96 hours prior to the time of the scheduled presentation. Students will not be reallocated to another group or seminar/topic except in the most exceptional circumstances and only with the approval of the unit of study convenor. The unit of study convenor will determine whether exceptional circumstances exist warranting reallocation. A student who believes they have such exceptional circumstances must make application via email (to the course convenor) for reallocation to another group/topic prior to the end of Week 1 of the semester (i.e. by COB 25 February 2022) or as soon as possible following such exceptional circumstances eventuating. Students must clearly outline in their email to the course convenor the exceptional circumstances that require a reallocation.

The unit of study convenor and seminar teachers will not engage in any discussion with group members regarding unequal contribution of other group members to the group presentation and its preparation. Students are expected to resolve any such issues within the group themselves. All group members will be required to actively participate in the group presentation during class and demonstrate they have contributed to preparation of the group’s presentation.

In the absence of significant and compelling reasons suggesting it is inappropriate in the circumstances, all students in a group will receive the same mark for this piece of assessment. Whether or not significant and compelling reasons exist to allocate different marks to group members will be a decision solely for the course convenor. 

A successful Special Consideration application will be an alternative assessment to be determined by the Course Convenor, and may include a viva voce and/or other specified assessment task.  

This piece of assessment is designed to enhance knowledge of the roles that lawyers play in enabling access to justice, and of the professional and ethical obligations of lawyers in legal practice and the delivery of legal services, and to engage students in independent research, critical analysis and reflective practice.

Post-seminar reflection (15%)

At the commencement of the semester each student will be allocated to a seminar by the unit of study convenor, for which they will be required to submit a post-seminar reflection responding to at least one of the seminar reflection questions and relevant class discussion. To complete this assessment task students will be required to submit an audio/visual recording of no more than 5 minutes duration. This recording must be submitted within a week of the allocated seminar. Students will not be permitted to submit a post-seminar reflection in the same seminar in which they were involved in a group presentation. The closing date for the reflection piece will be two weeks after the date of the allocated seminar for the reflection. Beyond the closing date an alternative seminar for reflection may be allocated by the course convenor (if practicable) or alternatively an alternative assessment will be granted (and may include a viva voce and/or other specified task).  

This piece of assessment is designed to encourage students to reflect on the role of lawyers, the nature of their work, the professional and ethical obligations of lawyers in legal practice and the delivery of legal services, and engage students in critical thinking and reflective practice.

Final assignment (70%)

The final assignment will be released at 10am on Friday 20 May 2022 and will be due at 10 am on Friday 27 May 2022 via the assignment dropbox on Canvas.

The word limit for the final assignment is 3,800 words. 

The final assignment will include a problem-based question and an essay question.

The assignment is designed to ensure students can talk knowledgeably and critically about the role lawyers play in facilitating access to justice, to understand and explain the source, nature and meaning of lawyers professional and ethical obligations, and know how to identify and address professional and ethical issues in legal practice and legal services delivery.  It will also require students to be able to describe the processes for holding lawyers accountable for their actions, and to explain and critically evaluate the impact of change on lawyering. 

A successful Special Consideration application after the closing date (as specified in the assessment table), will be an alternative assessment piece in a similar format or a viva voce addressing similar issues. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out in this Unit of Study outline 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.