School: Business and Law

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Your unit may be subject to government or third party COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Please consider this before enrolling in this unit, and speak with the unit coordinator if this raises any concerns.

  • Unit Title

    Legal Writing and Research
  • Unit Code

    LAW1600
  • Year

    2022
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    5
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Philip Bruce GLOVER

Description

This unit is a basic introduction to legal research and writing skills that law students will need in order to successfully complete a law degree and become work ready practitioners. This unit will introduce students to: legal research skills; types of legal communication, both verbal and written; plain English drafting techniques and correct legal citation; the importance of professional presentation and style; and oral presentation skills. It is expected that students will exercise and sharpen these skills in other law units as they progress through their law degree. This unit also includes an introduction to the Australian legal system and to the various sources of law in Australia.

Co-Requisite Rule

Only students studying K30,K50,K58,V72,W28,W83, Y04,Y11,Y66,Y67 X01,X03,X05 or 999 can enrol into this unit. Students studying the major: MABUUT (Law in Business) in the following courses can also enrol into this unit: G95, W23, W24, W27, Y14, Y65, Y70 or Y88.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain the structure of the Australian legal system and the various sources of law in Australia.
  2. Conduct legal research using primary and secondary materials, utilising both hard copy and electronic resources and sustainable practices.
  3. Identify and extract legal principle from cases and articles.
  4. Communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing, using plain English and correct legal citations.
  5. Demonstrate correct, formal communication techniques in all forms of legal communications (both written and verbal).

Unit Content

  1. Legal writing skills for varied audiences, including Plain English drafting techniques.
  2. Oral presentation skills.
  3. Appropriate citation of legislation, cases and other materials.
  4. Legal research skills.
  5. Introduction to the Australian legal system and sources of law.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 1 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

On-campus students will attend a weekly information session and a tutorial. All students, both on and off-campus, will be required to engage in interactive online teaching and learning processes via LMS. Regular online access is required for both on-campus and off-campus students. Students will be guided through several important exercises in library use and research, communication and analysing legal doctrine. Off-campus students who cant access physical libraries will nonetheless be introduced to how law libraries work. Tutorials will consist of research exercises, and exercises in the various forms of legal writing.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ParticipationParticipation including presentation skills10%
AssignmentLegal Research Skills Assignment20%
AssignmentEssay Plan Assignment20%
EssayFinal Essay50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ParticipationParticipation including presentation skills10%
AssignmentLegal Research Skills Assignment20%
AssignmentEssay Plan Assignment20%
EssayFinal Essay50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

LAW1600|5|1

School: Business and Law

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Your unit may be subject to government or third party COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Please consider this before enrolling in this unit, and speak with the unit coordinator if this raises any concerns.

  • Unit Title

    Legal Writing and Research
  • Unit Code

    LAW1600
  • Year

    2022
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    5
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Philip Bruce GLOVER

Description

This unit is a basic introduction to legal research and writing skills that law students will need in order to successfully complete a law degree and become work ready practitioners. This unit will introduce students to: legal research skills; types of legal communication, both verbal and written; plain English drafting techniques and correct legal citation; the importance of professional presentation and style; and oral presentation skills. It is expected that students will exercise and sharpen these skills in other law units as they progress through their law degree. This unit also includes an introduction to the Australian legal system and to the various sources of law in Australia.

Co-Requisite Rule

Only students studying K30,K50,K58,V72,W28,W83, Y04,Y11,Y66,Y67 X01,X03,X05 or 999 can enrol into this unit. Students studying the major: MABUUT (Law in Business) in the following courses can also enrol into this unit: G95, W23, W24, W27, Y14, Y65, Y70 or Y88.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain the structure of the Australian legal system and the various sources of law in Australia.
  2. Conduct legal research using primary and secondary materials, utilising both hard copy and electronic resources and sustainable practices.
  3. Identify and extract legal principle from cases and articles.
  4. Communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing, using plain English and correct legal citations.
  5. Demonstrate correct, formal communication techniques in all forms of legal communications (both written and verbal).

Unit Content

  1. Legal writing skills for varied audiences, including Plain English drafting techniques.
  2. Oral presentation skills.
  3. Appropriate citation of legislation, cases and other materials.
  4. Legal research skills.
  5. Introduction to the Australian legal system and sources of law.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 1 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences via ECU’s LMS as well as additional ECU learning technologies

Additional Learning Experience Information

On-campus students will attend a weekly information session and a tutorial. All students, both on and off-campus, will be required to engage in interactive online teaching and learning processes via LMS. Regular online access is required for both on-campus and off-campus students. Students will be guided through several important exercises in library use and research, communication and analysing legal doctrine. Off-campus students who cant access physical libraries will nonetheless be introduced to how law libraries work. Tutorials will consist of research exercises, and exercises in the various forms of legal writing.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
ParticipationParticipation including presentation skills10%
AssignmentLegal Research Skills Assignment20%
AssignmentEssay Plan Assignment20%
EssayFinal Essay50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
ParticipationParticipation including presentation skills10%
AssignmentLegal Research Skills Assignment20%
AssignmentEssay Plan Assignment20%
EssayFinal Essay50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

LAW1600|5|2