Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Introduction to Legal Method

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
LAW2538	City Campus	Undergraduate	525T Business & Enterprise	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2022, Sem 2 2022, Sem 1 2023, Sem 2 2023, Sem 1 2024, Sem 2 2024, Sem 1 2025
LAW2538	City Campus	Undergraduate	650T Vocational Business Education	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2017, Sem 2 2017, Sem 1 2018, Sem 1 2019, Sem 2 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 2 2020, Sem 1 2021, Sem 2 2021

Course Coordinator: Theresa Lyford

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 444

Course Coordinator Email: theresa.lyford@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 80.05

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

This course provides you with detailed knowledge of the concepts of law and the Australian Legal system along with the necessary skills to research legal information. You will examine the sources of law; evaluate the concepts underlying the application of the law and the various methods to conduct effective legal research.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

-

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

 

CLO1: Identify the sources of law in Australia and classify the various areas of law.

CLO2: Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and function of state and federal parliaments and how the Constitution divides and restricts law making powers.

CLO3: Identify the essential features of the Australian legal system and compare and contrast the laws they make.

CLO4: Demonstrate an understanding of the rules of statutory interpretation and the doctrine of precedent.

CLO5: Use legal research methodologies to locate, evaluate and apply secondary sources, case law and legislation using both online and paper based resources.

CLO6: Demonstrate professional legal writing skills, including an understanding of the use and preparation of legal research material.

 

Map each CLO against one or more PLOs

	CLO1	CLO2	CLO3	CLO4	CLO5	CLO6	CLO7	CLO8
PLO1	x	x	x	x	x
PLO2	x	x	x	x	x
PLO3			x	x	x
PLO4				x	x
PLO5					x	x
PLO6					x	x
PLO7
PLO8

 

Please note: Undergraduate Collective PLOs in the table below. Not all PLOs are achieved in a single course.

PLO1	Apply a broad theoretical and technical knowledge of legal principles and concepts in diverse legal service contexts.
PLO2	Independently apply legal theoretical and technical knowledge to provide specialist and professional advice as a paralegal to a range of audiences.
PLO3	Critically analyse and evaluate information to provide effective solutions and assistance to existing and potential legal service clients..
PLO4	Apply reasoned judgements to solve problems in a variety of legal practice contexts with reference to ethical, regulatory and global perspectives.
PLO5	Reflect on performance feedback to identify and action strategies for improvement.
PLO6	Communicate business legal information and concepts to professionals and non-professionals in diverse contexts.
PLO7	Apply an adaptive and collaborative approach to working with others in a variety of business and professional contexts
PLO8	Apply, and integrate professional theory with practice in authentic Work Integrated Learning (WIL) contexts. **

Overview of Learning Activities

Your learning will be supported through various in-class and online activities. It is structured as a Lecture/Workshop methodology that provides an overview of the core knowledge required, and a guide to further reading and application of that knowledge, including the use of relevant quantitative techniques and associated computer software to inform responsive, evidence-based decision-making. Workshop sessions provide an opportunity for the investigation of relevant business problems and practical applications, including lecturer-designed exercises and discussion questions. Visits to various courts and proceedings will require you to reflect on your experiences.

Overview of Learning Resources

Learning resources are available online through MyRMIT Studies\Canvas. The lecture notes and workshop notes are posted on Canvas

Resources are also available online through RMIT Library databases and other facilities. If you require assistance with the RMIT Library facilities contact the Business Liaison Librarian for your school. Contact details for Business Liaison Librarians are located online on the RMIT library website.

Additional resources and/or sources to assist your learning will be identified by your course coordinator and will be made available to you as required during the teaching period.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment Task 1: Reflections 20%

Assessment Task 2: Legal Research assignment 30%

Assessment Task 3: End of semester exam 50%

 

 

The assessment alignment table below shows the assessment tasks against the learning outcomes they develop.

 

Assessment	Course Learning Outcomes
CLO1	CLO2	CLO3	CLO4	CLO5	CL06	CLO7	CLO8
Task 1	x	x	x	x
Task 2	x				x	x
Task 3	x	x	x	x	x	x
Other			x			x