LAWS6219: International Criminal Law

Early Feedback Task (0%): This unit includes an Early Feedback Task that is designed to provide students with timely insights into their understanding and engagement with the unit content. The Early Feedback Task in this unit is a multiple choice questions. The task will be available on Canvas from 9.00am on Monday 17 August 2026 and due at 11:59pm on 20 August 2026, (Sydney, Australia time). Students will be provided with immediate automated feedback upon completion of the task. 

In-semester test (20%) Students will complete a secure in-semester test comprising multiple-choice and short-answer questions on topics from Weeks 1 to 6. Students may bring up to 10 pages of typed notes, but no devices are permitted. There is no word count; the test duration is 1 hour writing time plus 15 minutes reading time. Instructions and timing details will be released on Canvas. This assessment evaluates students’ ability to identify and explain relevant legal rules, interpret primary legal materials, and apply legal reasoning to factual problems in international criminal law. This task addresses the learning outcomes concerned with legal knowledge, source analysis, written communication, legal problem-solving, and critical evaluation The test will be held on 15 September 2026 at 12.00pm (Sydney, Australia time) in Week 7. 

‘On-call’ contributions (20%) Students will act as the designated “on-call” person for two assigned readings and answer 2 to 3 comprehension questions in class on each reading. There are 10 marks available for each reading, for a total of 20 marks, with the final grade calculated as X/10 + Y/10. There is no word count; each contribution will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes during class time. Reading allocations and instructions will be released on Canvas. This assessment evaluates students’ preparation, oral communication, and ability to identify, explain, and engage with key legal principles and arguments arising from the unit readings. Contributions are due at each student’s allocated seminar times across the semester, with specific dates and times to be advised on Canvas. This task addresses the learning outcomes concerned with foundational legal knowledge, analysis of legal materials, and accurate oral communication.

Final exam (60%) Students will complete a secure, supervised, in-person exam consisting of one problem question, which may draw on any topic covered in the unit. Students will be assessed on their ability to explain relevant legal rules by reference to authority and apply those rules to the facts in a clear and reasoned way. This task addresses the learning outcomes concerned with legal knowledge, source analysis, written communication, legal problem-solving, and critical evaluation. Printed materials are permitted, but no devices are allowed. There is no word count; the exam duration is 2 hours writing time plus 30 minutes reading time. The exam will be held during the formal Semester 2 examination period in November 2026, with the specific date and time to be advised by the Exams Office (Sydney, Australia time). https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/exams/timetables.html.

(Alternative) Capstone Essay (60%) As an alternative to the final exam, students may elect to complete an open Capstone Essay. Students will produce a sustained, research-informed written analysis in international criminal law. The word count is 7,000 words, including footnotes and headings. The essay question will be released in Week 7 on Tuesday 15 September 2026, (Sydney, Australia time). Students who choose this option must email the unit coordinator before class in Week 11, Tuesday 20 October 2026, to indicate how they intend to personalise the question. This assessment evaluates students’ ability to synthesise legal sources, conduct advanced legal analysis, construct a persuasive argument, and communicate complex ideas in writing. The essay is due on Monday 9 November 2026 at 11:59pm (Sydney, Australia time). This task addresses the learning outcomes concerned with legal knowledge, source analysis, advanced written communication, legal reasoning, and critical evaluation.

(Alternative) Capstone Presentation (0%) Students who elect the Capstone Essay pathway must also complete a 15 to 20 minute in-person pre-viva oral task. Students will respond to questions from the lecturer and defend their argument in a rigorous academic discussion. No notes or devices are permitted, and the discussion will be audio-recorded for verification purposes. Scheduling information and instructions will be released on Canvas. This assessment evaluates students’ critical thinking, oral articulation of legal arguments, ability to justify research findings, and capacity to explain their research process, including any permitted use of AI. The task will be held in the week commencing Monday 16 November 2026,  This task supports the learning outcomes concerned with oral communication, legal reasoning, and critical evaluation, and it also serves an academic integrity function within the alternative assessment pathway.

Word limit penalty: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment for every 100 words, or part thereof. The total word count for essay and other written assessments will include all footnotes and any bibliography (if required), and exclude acknowledgements of assistance from editors, automated writing tools or generative AI (where use is permitted). 

Referencing: The Sydney Law School expects you to use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for your footnoting style, although you should confirm this with your lecturer. A link to the library website where this is set out comprehensively is available at Referencing and Citation Styles: AGLC4. 

Special consideration: Successful grants of Special Consideration may involve alternative tasks, as appropriate.  

Assessment requirements 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. As the EFT is an early diagnostic tool, this task is not included in the final grade for the unit.