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

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

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

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

2027 fee information will be available in August.

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.