Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Unit

Synopsis

The subject covers the three principal areas of family law: divorce, children,and family property. It will require the development of skills, particularly legal research and analysis, awareness and use of learning strategies, practice management, oral and written communication, negotiation and mediation. It will expose the student to the importance of the recognition and resolution of ethical conflicts, awareness of personal values and understanding of professional ethics

Objectives

The primary objective is that those who have successfully completed the Diploma course, of which this subject is a part, will have the broad knowledge, skills and ethical awareness to undertake legal practice. Students who have successfully completed this subject will have acquired the following competencies:

1. practice fields: through learning and developing the skills summarised below, and gaining experience in the application of those skills in the field of this subject, students will have improved their competence to practise in any chosen specific field or fields of law and practice;
2. skills: in particular, students will have learned and developed the skills set out in the Course Description for the Diploma relating to - learning strategies, research, analysis and writing; oral communication and inter-personal relationships; negotiation and advocacy; practice management and accounts; and hanmdling ethics and values;
3. personal development: students will have enhanced their broad and critical understanding of knowledge already gained, and their intellectual and social skills, in order to encourage and enable a continuing professional approach to work, community responsibilities and personal development

Assessment

Regular feedback will be provided on written exercises and oral presentations re client interviews and presentation of application to the Family Court: 50%
Written memoranda and draft documents (totalling 10,000 words) and a minimum of one oral presentation (30 minutes): 50%. Assessed according to grades of "Merit", "Pass", or "Fail"

Contact hours

Intensive -27 hours per week for 3 weeks