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Unit of study_

LAWS6305: Workplace Investigations

2024 unit information

Lawyers and HR/IR practitioners are increasingly required to deal with complaints of sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination, and address suspected misconduct such as Code of Conduct breaches, fraud/theft, and safety and other breaches. In order to take, and if necessary defend, disciplinary and other action, a proper factual and legal foundation must be established, through a workplace investigation. We also specifically consider how concepts of procedural fairness and natural justice impact a workplace investigation. The unit explores the various stages of a workplace investigation, including: (1) establishing the scope of the investigation and particularizing the alleged complaint or misconduct; (2) conducting interviews and gathering other information; (3) managing participants, including stand down/suspension; (4) evaluating information and making findings applying the relevant standard of proof and legal test(s); and (5) implementing investigation findings. Further information about this unit is available in the Sydney Law School timetable https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/4533/pages/postgraduate-lecture-timetable, unit of study outline https://www.sydney.edu.au/units and academic staff profile https://www.sydney.edu.au/law/about/our-people/academic-staff.html

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Law

Code LAWS6305
Academic unit Law
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
? 
None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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LAWS6252 or a law degree and LAWS6071 Labour Law (MLLR students)

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the legal regulation of workplace investigations, including the application of principles of procedural fairness
  • LO2. demonstrate depth of disciplinary expertise and capability in relation to labour law, human resource management and workplace relations
  • LO3. demonstrate appropriate skills in conducting investigations, including critical thinking and problem solving in complex investigation scenarios, interview skills and written communication.

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 2a 2024
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Intensive November 2020
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1b 2022
Block mode Remote
Semester 1b 2023
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.

Important enrolment information

Departmental permission requirements

If you see the ‘Departmental Permission’ tag below a session, it means you need faculty or school approval to enrol. This may be because it’s an advanced unit, clinical placement, offshore unit, internship or there are limited places available.

You will be prompted to apply for departmental permission when you select this unit in Sydney Student.

Read our information on departmental permission.

Additional advice

Due to mandatory in-class activities, this unit has a restricted class size and students are expected to attend all scheduled sessions. To avoid disappointments, please complete your enrolment as soon as possible. Places will be allocated to eligible Sydney Law School master's and graduate diploma students on a first come first served basis by applying for departmental permission in Sydney Student. This unit is not available to non-degree or other faculty students.