LAW1003 - Skills, ethics and research A 103

Leader: Mr Damien Knowles

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

Module 1 'Advising & Plea Making' is taken in first semester in conjunction with Criminal law & Procedure A. Students learn how to take instructions from and advise a client charged with criminal offences and to draft a plea in mitigation of penalty. Module 2 'Ethics and Teamwork in Legal Practice' is taken in second semester in conjunction with Law in Society. Students in teams (simulating partners in a legal firm) resolve ethical dilemmas facing the firm.

Objectives

Upon completion of Module 1 of this unit, students will:

1. have written a letter of advice to a client charged with criminal offences; and
2. have prepared a plea of guilty for presentation in court. Upon completion of Module 2 students will:
3. have been introduced to the key principles of legal ethics;
4. have applied legal ethics to a factual situation involving a legal firm; and
5. have experienced the process of working in a team to achieve a common goal.

Assessment

Module 1: Letter of advice (1200 words, also assessed as part of host unit): 20%
Written plea (1200 words) sumbitted in first semester: 30%. Module 2: Teamwork (based on a team report assessed as part of the host unit): 20%
Reflective report (1200 words) sumbitted in second semester: 30%

Co-requisites

LAW1101