Available in 2024
Course code

LAWS4003

Units

10 units

Level

4000 level

Course handbook

Description

This core course examines the principles, processes, rules and participatory methods that shape how civil disputes are managed and resolved in New South Wales. This course develops core legal knowledge of litigation and alternative forms of dispute resolution (including mediation and negotiation) based on the relevant Prescribed Academic Areas of Knowledge required for admission to legal practice (see the Content section below).

The course is also designed to develop legal skills in accordance with the School of Law and Justice's Graduate Skills Portfolio, focusing on proficiency in three areas: negotiation skills, skills in policy analysis and reform, and writing for a lay (non-legal) audience.


Availability2024 Course Timetables

Newcastle City Precinct

  • Semester 1 - 2024

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Apply a specialised and advanced knowledge and understanding of the roles of the civil justice system(s), dispute resolution processes (from the commencement of proceedings through to enforcement), and the operation of civil procedure rules to solve complex practical problems.

2. Practise and reflect upon the skills involved in ethically negotiating to resolve disputes.

3. Analyse and evaluate the policies and principles that underline the Australian civil justice system and propose meaningful law reform to litigation and other dispute resolution processes.

4. Select and apply appropriate approaches to communicate clearly and persuasively with legal and non-legal audiences, without compromising the accuracy of the legal information.


Content

The course is designed to include all of the Prescribed Academic Area of Knowledge in civil dispute resolution set out be the Law Admission Consultative Committee, required for admission into legal practice in Australia.  This includes:

  • The civil justice systems(s) in Australia and the importance of access to justice;
  • The adversarial litigation process and non-adversarial alternatives;
  • The initiation of proceedings in time and the service and execution of processes;
  • Procedural mechanisms to obtain and protect evidence and vary proceedings as required; and 
  • Bringing proceedings to an end and addressing the issue of costs.

The course is also designed to facilitate opportunities to practise and reflect upon the skills embedded in the Graduate Skills Portfolio for this course, namely:

  • Negotiation
  • Writing to a lay audience; and
  • Policy and law reform.

Requisite

This course is only available to students enrolled in the programs:

[12340] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[12341] Bachelor of Social Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[12342] Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[12343] Bachelor of Aboriginal Professional Practice/Bachelor of Laws(Honours)

[12346] Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[12347] Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Diploma of Legal Practice

[12348] Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40036] Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40037] Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40129] Bachelor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40130] Bachelor of Development Studies/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40150] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40188] Bachelor of Global Indigenous Studies/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40189] Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40272] Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40279] Bachelor of Coastal and Marine Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40280] Bachelor of Biomedicine/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[40290] Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

[50005] Bachelor of Media and Communication/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)


Assumed knowledge

LAWS1010, LAWS1011, LAWS1020, LAWS1021, LAWS2030, LAWS3040, and LAWS3041.


Assessment items

Participation: Compulsory attendance* and in class-activities
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.

Written Assignment: Written Mid-Semester Assignment

Written Assignment: End of Semester Exam


Contact hours

Semester 1 - 2024 - Newcastle City Precinct

Online Activity-1
  • Online 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 13 week(s) starting in week 1
Seminar-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 13 week(s) starting in week 1

Course outline