In-class test (10%): The in-class test will be a supervised, pen-and-paper test held in normal class time, commencing at 9.00AM on Tuesday 19 March, 2024 (Sydney, Australia time). The test will be open book, but no electronic devices may be used. The test will consist of several multiple-choice and short-response questions. The in-class test will be one [1] hour long, with an additional 15 minutes of reading time.

The in-class test addresses learning outcome 1 by asking students to demonstrate an understanding of the sources of, and hierarchies between, Australian law, the fundamental principles underpinning the Australian legal system, and the government institutions responsible for making and enforcing laws, and for adjudicating disputes. 

Intensive exam (50%): The in-semester exam will be a supervised, pen-and-paper exam held during the April intensive exam week commencing Monday 15 April, 2024, with the exact date to be advised by the exams office closer to the time. Exam information is available at https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/exams/timetables.html. It will be two [2] hours long, with an additional 30 minutes of reading time. Students will be required to write short answer responses to questions about a case given to them in advance, and answer one hypothetical problem question. The exam will be open book, but no electronic devices may be used. Students who do not pass this assessment must meet with the unit coordinator to discuss further support for their studies.

The exam will address learning outcomes 2, 3 and 5 by asking students to analyse a case and evaluate the statutory interpretation approaches used in the case, and to write an answer to a legal problem question, drawing on persuasive legal arguments and appropriate citation practices.

Research Essay (40%):

1. Essay plan including proposed sources (5%): Students will create a one-page essay plan and a brief list of sources related to their chosen essay question and describe how these sources will be used to support the essay. The essay plan and list of sources must be submitted via Canvas no later than 4.00PM on Monday 29 April, 2024 (Sydney, Australia time).
2. Essay (30%): Students must answer only one [1] question chosen from a list of questions that will be made available on Canvas from 4.00PM on Monday 25 March, 2024. The essay must be submitted via Canvas no later than 4.00PM on Monday 13 May, 2024 (Sydney, Australia time). The essay has a 2000-word limit, including citations and references. Essays will no longer be accepted for marking after 4.00PM on Monday 27 May, 2024. 
3. Reflection (5%): At the end of the essay task, students are asked to reflect on their experience applying the legal research and legal writing skills they have learned in class. The reflection should be approximately one [1] paragraph and describe the relationship between the essay plan and the essay. The reflection is part of the essay task and must also be submitted via Canvas no later than 4.00PM on Monday 13 May, 2024 (Sydney, Australia time). The word limit for the reflection is separate to the word limit for the essay and is 500 words.

The plan and sources, essay, and reflection task address learning outcomes 1, 3, 4 and 5 and ask students to demonstrate skills in legal research, critical analysis, and written communication by identifying, summarising, and analysing primary and secondary sources, and using these sources to support a persuasive written argument, relevant to one of the substantive topics in the unit of study. Students must also demonstrate an understanding of, and apply, the conventions of legal writing, the principles of academic integrity, and appropriate citation practices.

Word Limit Penalty: The word limit penalty will be strictly applied. A piece of assessment that exceeds the prescribed word limit (by any amount of words up to and including 100 words) will attract a 10% penalty of the total marks available for the relevant piece of assessment. Every following 100 words (or less) will attract an additional 10% penalty.

Use of editors and automated writing tools: In completing unsupervised assessments, students may use editors, proof-readers, and automated writing tools (including translation software, grammar checkers, reference generators and artificial intelligence), provided that all use is acknowledged and consistent with University policies and procedures including Academic Integrity Policy. Acknowledgment must be made in writing on the front of the work submitted for assessment, or in an appropriate footnote or other reference, and state the name of the person or software.

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

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.