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Legal Ethics unit (LAW452)

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Unit year 2026

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Location: Hobart

Introduction

LAW452 focuses upon the main areas of professional responsibility of lawyers: (1) to clients; (2) to the court / administration of justice; and (3) to the profession and community. It commences with a discussion of ethics and professionalism, before moving onto the character (and other) requirements for admission to practice. The unit combines both theory and practical elements, and seeks to challenge students in assessing not only what ethical conduct for lawyers may involve, but to ponder the boundaries of ethical (and unethical) conduct in this context. To this end, beyond the three core sections noted above, the unit concludes by investigating standards of professional conduct from the perspective of professional discipline.

Summary

Unit name Legal Ethics
Unit code LAW452
Credit points 12.5
College/School Arts and Society
Faculty of Law
Discipline Law
Coordinator Doctor Olivia Rundle
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Honours

Sustainable Development Goals

The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the alignment of the unit with these goals.

Availability

Location Study period Attendance options Available to
Hobart Semester 1 This unit is available through on-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
  • Key:
  • This unit is available through on-campus delivery On-campus
  • This unit is available through off-campus delivery Off-Campus
  • Available to International Students International students
  • Available to Domestic Students Domestic students
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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, appraise and explain legal ethics and its relationship to the main areas of professional responsibility for lawyers.
  • Apply and defend decisions chosen to resolve hypothetical factual scenarios demonstrating ethical conduct.
  • Research and analyse a legal topic or problem pertaining to legal ethics.
  • Work collaboratively in a group environment to prepare and submit an ethical approach to resolve a deliberately polemic topic.

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

Prerequisites

50 credit points of Advanced Law core

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

Lecture: 2 hour weekly uploaded onto MyLO.


Tutorial/Workshop: 1 hour weekly F2F on campus (commencing in Week 2 of semester), with a break in Week 8 (over Easter; no workshop on 24 April.

AssessmentAssessment Task 1: Short essay assignment in teams (30%)|Assessment Task 2: Problem assignment (30%)|Assessment Task 3: Exam (40%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

G E Dal Pont, Lawyers’ Professional Responsibility, 8th ed, Lawbook Co, 2025 (or an alternative legal ethics book; eg Holmes and Bartlett, Parker and Evans's Inside Lawyers' Ethics : 4th ed, CUP, 2023).

 

You will also be required to access the following materials (available on-line):

  • Legal Profession Act 2007 (Tas)
  • Rules of Practice 1994 (Tas)
  • Legal Profession (Solicitors’ Conduct) Rules 2020 (Tas) (referred to as “LPR” in the Unit Synopsis)
  • Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules 2015, which have been notified as applicable to Tasmanian barristers pursuant to the Legal Profession (Barristers) Rules 2016 (Tas) (referred to as Barristers’ Rules in the Unit Synopsis), available at:

https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sr-2016-077

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