Legal Reasoning and Technological Change unit (LAW108)

Cradle Coast, Hobart, Launceston, Online

Introduction

Strong legal reasoning skills are critical to student learning and performance while at law school and eventually to the quality of your legal practice. More broadly, many employers beyond the legal profession consider the ability to solve problems by identifying issues, developing arguments and expressing reasoning processes and decisions in a clear and cogent manner to be a highly desirable attribute. The unit is designed with one ultimate aim in mind: to equip students with the analytical legal reasoning skills and knowledge needed to perform well across the remainder of their legal studies. Having successfully completed this unit, you should feel confident in your ability to find, read, analyse and make strategic arguments with case law and legislation. You should also understand how technology is providing lawyers (including judges) with new ways to carry out legal analysis and make decisions pursuant to law and how these changes challenge traditional conceptions and approaches to law and legal rasoning. These changes raise new and fascinating legal and ethical challenges which are explained throughout this unit, with references to recent case studies. The Legal Reasoning unit reflects the diversity of the institutions and laws within Australia's legal system, adopting design principles and learning from Australia, England and America and the case studies used are drawn from a range of common law countries.

Summary

Unit name	Legal Reasoning and Technological Change
Unit code	LAW108
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Arts and Society Faculty of Law
Discipline	Law
Coordinator	Doctor Tristan Taylor
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Introductory

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Cradle Coast	Semester 1
Hobart	Semester 1
Launceston	Semester 1
Online	Semester 1

Note

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Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 1	22/2/2026	16/3/2026	19/4/2026	13/6/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse and make cogent arguments in writing with statute and common law
• Provide written advice in response to legal problems
• Comprehend and critically consider a range of legal reasoning techniques and the role of new technologies in legal decision making

Fee Information

Field of Education	Commencing Student Contribution 1,3	Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3	Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3	Domestic Full Fee 4
090999	$2,174.00	$1,703.00	not applicable	$2,249.00

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

¹ Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
² Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
³ Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
⁴ Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

LAW255

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Lecture: 2 hours weekly on Sandy Bay campus (with online access for Northern and online students) Tutorial: 1 hour weekly (Sandy Bay, Launceston and online)
Assessment	Assessment Task 1: Tutorial Participation (10%)|Assessment Task 3: Exam - invigilated (40%)|Assessment Task 2: Assignment (50%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	See the Reading List in the LAW108 MyLO.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.