Courses & Units

Legal Research & Advocacy LAW706

Please note; this unit is only available to students approved for study in the Prosecution Practice specialisation of R4C Bachelor of Arts with Professional Honours. For further information; please contact dpfem.enquiries@utas.edu.au.

Introduction

This unit is designed to prepare students appear as an advocate in the magistrate's court on behalf of the Department of Police and Emergency Management. The unit includes instruction on legal literacy and research skills, court etiquette, written and oral advocacy and on being an ethical advocate. Students are first introduced to essential skills in conducting legal research and solving legal problems. They will study the formal structure of legislation and cover basic principles of statutory interpretation. Students will also become familiar with the structure of court decisions and consider formal rules relating to citing statute and cases in court. Following this, students will embark on their study of advocacy. They will consider the basic rules and principles of being an advocate, including the etiquette and ethics of appearing in court. They will study the skills of conducting summary trials and associated applications in the magistrate's court, including: trial preparation; opening and closing addresses; the stages of evidence and making oral and written submissions. Each aspect of this unit is building towards the students' attendance at a one week advocacy intensive that is conducted in the final week of the unit. It is here that the skills leant will be practised and assessed. Students will participate in a range of 'moot' activities in a simulated courtroom, including conducting bail oppositions, leading evidence and cross-examination, making oral submissions and preparing written submissions. During this week, students will receive practical instruction, guidance and feedback from course lecturers, as well as a range of experienced legal practitioners and judicial officers.

Summary

Unit name Legal Research & Advocacy
Unit code LAW706
Credit points 12.5
College/School College of Arts, Law and Education
Faculty of Law
Discipline Law
Coordinator Doctor Caroline Spiranovic
Delivered By University of Tasmania

Availability

This unit is currently unavailable.

Note

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* 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 2024 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2024 will be available from the 1st October 2023. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

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Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate competency in the use of legal resources, including online legal databases http://www.austlii.edu.au and http://www.thelaw.tas.gov.au
  • Identify legal issues arising in facts of summary criminal prosecutions
  • Find, interpret and apply the law in order to construct legal arguments and problem solve.
  • Demonstrate practical skills and applied knowledge of summary court procedure and etiquette and the principles of ethical advocacy.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of, and the ability to perform the role of a police prosecutor in court proceedings.

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
not applicable

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 UConnect 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

LAW704 AND LAW705

Teaching

AssessmentTest or quiz (15%)|Presentation (20%)|Report (20%)|Presentation (45%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.

LinksBooktopia textbook finder

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