Criminal Law Practice: Magistrates' Court Practice & Advocacy unit (LCA603)

Hobart

Introduction

In this unit you will build broad knowledge and skills required to competently practice criminal law as an entry-level lawyer. You will apply your acquired knowledge and skills to provide effective representation in the criminal jurisdiction of the Magistrates Court on a range of applications in a competent and effective manner. You will develop valuable advocacy and procedural skills and demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate in a range of professional and legal settings. This Unit is organised into three modules:

1. Familiarisation with the Court

2. Applications and submissions (practice and advocacy)

3. Conducting defended hearings

Throughout the unit, judicial officers and legal practitioners will deliver lectorials conduct workshops and issue exercises on all topics. You will appear in the Magistrates Court on eight occasions to make applications, make submissions, and undertake other advocacy exercises with oral feedback given directly by judicial officers and practitioners.

Summary

Unit name	Criminal Law Practice: Magistrates' Court Practice & Advocacy
Unit code	LCA603
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Arts and Society Faculty of Law
Discipline	Centre for Legal Studies
Coordinator	Ms Emma White
Delivered By	Third Party(ies): Centre for Legal Studies
Level	Postgraduate

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Hobart	Legal Practice

Note

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Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Legal Practice	29/1/2026	9/3/2026	23/4/2026	15/7/2026

* 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

• Identify the legal powers of police or prosecuting authorities and communicate a client’s legal rights prior to arrest in a criminal matter
• Advise on the legal elements and options in minor criminal matters to support a client applying for bail, appearing on pleas in mitigation or any other application to provide effective representation
• Identify and formulate the required elements and relevant evidence to conduct a plea in mitigation or any other application
• Formulate the required elements and evidence for representation of a client and conduct of a contested hearing
• Act professionally and ethically in interactions with clients, the courts, the community and the broader legal profession

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
090913	$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

Admission into L6B - Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	Lecture - 1 hour weekly on campus Workshop - 1 hour weekly on campus Practical Advocacy - 15 mins fortnightly
Assessment	Assessment Task: Contested Hearing (20%)|Assessment Task: Family Violence/Restraint Order (20%)|Assessment Task: Restricted Licence Application and Plea in Mitigation (20%)|Assessment Task: Bail Application and Plea (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	See MyLO site for resources and readings
Recommended	See MyLO site for resources and readings

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