University of Tasmania, Australia

Winter school offering (semester 4)

Course Duration

15 days

Weight

12.5% FTE

Unit Co-ordinator

Kate Cashman, Faculty of Law, 6226 2721, Katherine.Cashman@utas.edu.au

Unit Information

Introduction to Law is the first of two introductory units required for entry into the full law program. Topics include ‘thinking like a lawyer’; introduction to the Australian legal system; introduction to Australian Constitutional Law; legal research; legislation; common law and precedent; judges and juries; human rights; lawyers the profession and legal education; lawyers and dispute resolution, social justice and the law, animal law and legal problem solving. The course is very practical, and we will aim to visit the court as a group on two occasions and have guest lectures from the profession to assist in the students achieving a realistic experience of the profession. More unit information

Upon successful completion of the course, students will achieve the following objectives:

• Understand the continuing historical influences in the law;
• Display improved writing and communication skills;
• Understand and discuss topics of concern in the legal system including questions about access and equality, judges and juries and the legal approach to contemporary legal issues;
• Carry out basic "trade craft" skills of lawyers including case reading and briefing, marshaling of facts and analysis of legal problems; and
• Actively participate in seminars.

Assessment

Semester 4: 1 x 750 word legal essay (due 1 July 2013) 20%,1 x 1000 word legal essay (due 19 July 2013) 30%, 1 x Presentation (11 July 2013) 10% and 1 X take home exam linked to presentation (to be conducted 12 July 2013) 40%.

Teaching Pattern

Semester 4 offering will be taught intensively in the period 24 Jun to 12 Jul 2013. 2 x 50 minute lectures plus 1 x 50 minute seminar daily, with additional court visits and writing workshops as a group outside these times.

Teaching Staff

Kate Cashman, Meg Good

Progression into Year 2 of the Bachelor of Laws degree is conditional and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The reason for this case-by-case analysis is that consideration of the application will occur prior to completion of the normal eight (8) unit requirement.  It is expected that students beginning their University studies in the winter semester will need to, at least, successfully pass six (6) units, including the units LAW121 and LAW122 and four units from another faculty, to transfer or continue to Year 2 of the Bachelor of Laws.

Bachelor of Laws - Winter School Start - sample fast-track study plan - 3.5 year duration

Students may be permitted to follow this study plan, subject to meeting the conditions outlined in the offer letter. 

	Semester 3 (Summer)	Semester 1	Semester 4 (Winter)	Semester 2
Year 1			LAW121 Introduction to Law	LAW122 Legal Systems Three non-Law units
Year 2	One non-Law unit	LAW255 Legal Reasoning LAW252 Foundations of Private Law LAW253 Foundations of Public Law LAW254 International Law		LAW251 Contract Law LAW256 Torts LAW204 Administrative Law LAW250 Constitutional Law
Year 3	One non-Law unit	LAW354 Property Law LAW351 Criminal Law A LAW353 Equity and Trusts One Law elective		LAW305 Corporations Law 1 LAW352 Criminal Law B & Criminal Procedure Two Law electives
Year 4	One non-Law unit	LAW422 Evidence LAW452 Legal Ethics LAW453 Legal Theory One Law Elective		LAW451 Civil Procedure LAW453 Remedies Two Law electives LAW455 Mooting

 

In Years 3 and 4, students may elect to swap their Semester 3 (Summer) non-Law elective unit for a Law elective, and complete their non-Law unit in another semester.