Group presentation (15%)

Students will be required to work together in groups of up to 6 students.  Each group will be assigned a particular topic covered in class, in relation to which they will need to:

• Prepare a presentation of up to 15 minutes on a question/prompt/instructions of the lecturer.  For the purposes of the presentation students will be required to draw on materials set for class and materials found by way of independent research.  
• Submit a document of up to 2 pages setting out 5 key resources identified by way independent research and a brief statement as to their relevance to the topic. 
• Be familiar with the readings set for the topic and prepared to actively contribute to class discussion in relation to that topic. 

In the absence of significant and compelling reasons suggesting it is inappropriate in the circumstances, all students in a group will receive the same mark for this piece of assessment.  Whether or not significant and compelling reasons exist to allocate different marks to group members will be a decision solely for the course convenor. 

This piece of assessment is designed to enhance knowledge of the professional and ethical obligations of lawyers in legal practice and the delivery of legal services, and to engage students in independent research and critical analysis. 

Interim assignment – case study and reflection (25%)

The interim assignment will be released at 9am on Friday 14 January, and is due at 9am on Thursday 27 January. 

The word limit is 1,500 words. 

This task will require students to engage in reflective writing and analysis. 

Students will be provided with a case study and asked to engage with materials set for class to reflect on, among other things, the motivation(s) and action(s) of the character(s) in the case study. 

This assignment is designed to facilitate engagement with reflective practice, in particular about the role lawyers play in enabling access to justice and on professional and ethical issues relevant to legal practice and the delivery of legal services. 

The closing date for this assignment will be 9am on 3 February.  A successful Special Consideration application after the closing date will be an alternative assessment piece in the same format or a viva voce requiring similar reflection and analysis. 

Final assignment (60%)

The final assignment will be released at 9am on Friday 4 February and will be due at 9am on Tuesday 8 February. 

The word limit for the final assignment is 3,000 words. 

The final assignment will include a multi-part problem-based question and a question requiring a narrative response. 

The assignment is designed to ensure students can talk knowledgeably about the role lawyers play in facilitating access to justice, to understand and explain the source, nature and meaning of lawyers professional and ethical obligations, and know how to identify and address professional and ethical issues in legal practice and legal services delivery.  It will also require students to be able to describe the processes for holding lawyers accountable for their actions, and to explain and evaluate the impact of change on lawyering. 

The closing date for the assignment will be Tuesday 15 February.  A successful Special Consideration application after the closing date will be an alternative assessment piece in a similar format or a viva voce addressing similar issues. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: A student must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks set out in this Unit of Study in order to obtain a Pass mark and grade (or above); otherwise an Absent Fail grade will be recorded as the student’s result for this Unit of Study.