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Unit outline_

LAWS3519: The Criminal Trial

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This experiential unit examines history, theories and rationales relating the criminal trial as a feature of law and society. This academic inquiry is complemented by a study of the practicalities of a criminal trial, leading to students' preparing and running a simulated criminal trial in partnership with NSW Police, criminal lawyers, and psychology students. The unit addresses all of the Law School's LLB and JD Course Learning Outcomes, and the University's Graduate Qualities, in particular: depth of disciplinary expertise, critical thinking and problem solving, and oral and written communication. Participation in this unit is limited to 16 students and is subject to an application process.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Law
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
LAWS1014 and LAWS1016
Corequisites
? 
LAWS2016
Prohibitions
? 
LAWS5219
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Simon Rice, simon.rice@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Simon Rice, simon.rice@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Unit participation (10%)
Class participation throughout + weekly posts on readings in weeks 1-4
10% Ongoing all semester in class + wks 1-4 online
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO7 LO6 LO5
Assignment Trial observation (25%)
Reflection and analysis of observed proceedings in light of readings
25% Week 07
Due date: 11 Sep 2023 at 12:00

Closing date: 25 Sep 2023
1500 words / up to 6 weeks elapsed time
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
Creative assessment / demonstration Trial performance (20%)
Role play as a lawyer in a simulated criminal trial
20% Week 12
Due date: 27 Oct 2023 at 23:59

Closing date: 31 Oct 2023
Up to five hours in an extended class
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5
Assignment Trial analysis (45%)
Research essay
45% Week 13
Due date: 05 Nov 2023 at 12:00

Closing date: 17 Nov 2023
3000 words / 13 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

  1. Unit participation (10%): students participate in class discussions throughout the semester.  As well, in weeks 1-4, students make mandatory weekly posts to the online discussion board, before each class, to initiate and respond to comments on the readings.
  2. Trial observation (25%): students find, attend and observe a criminal court proceeding for at least a half day, and write a reflection on and analysis of that proceeding in light of unit readings and discussion in 1500 words (excluding references). Submission is due at midday on 11 September (week 7), Sydney Australia time.
  3. Trial performance (20%): students collaborate in teams to conduct a simulated criminal trial in light of class study.  Trials will run in week 12 (and week 13 if numbers require) in extended class time of five hours, before a visiting judge, working with lay witnesses, and Psychology students as expert witnesses. The marks is an individual mark not a group mark.
  4. Trial analysis (45%): students write an extensive reflection on and analysis of the trial process in light of their experience on conducting the trial, the unit readings, class discussion and additional research in 3000 words (excluding references). Submission is due at midday on 5 November (Sunday at the end of week 13), Sydney Australia time.

Detailed instructions for each assessment task, including marking rubrics, will be published on the unit Canvas page.

Special consideration: Successful grants of Special Consideration may involve alternative tasks, as appropriate.

Use of editors or proof-readers: The use of assistance in preparing and editing assessment tasks in this unit of study is strictly prohibited. Assistance includes human and automated writing tools (not including spell checking).

Word limit penalty: A piece of assessment which exceeds the prescribed word limit will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment for every 100 words, or part thereof. The total word count for essay and other written assessments will exclude all footnotes and any bibliography (if required). 

Assessment requirement to pass a unit of study: 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.

Assessment criteria

Note that a detailed grading matrix for each assessment task will be published on the unit Canvas page. 

The following grade descriptors are from the University’s Coursework Policy 2014.

Result name Mark Range Description
High Distinction 85 to 100 inclusive demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard
Distinction from 75 to less than 85 demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard
Credit from 65 to less than 75 demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard
Pass from 50 to less than 65 demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard
Fail from 0 to less than 50 fail to demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard

 

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The late submission of a piece of assessment, which has not been granted an extension prior to the due date, will attract a penalty of: 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment if it is up to 24 hours late; 20% if it is 24-48 hours late; and 30% if it is 48-72 hours late. A piece of assessment submitted more than 72 hours late without an extension will not be marked and will be awarded a fail grade.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 (1) Introduction to the unit (2) Legal traditions Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 02 (1) Common law criminal trials (2) Experts Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 03 (1) Victims (2) 'Vulnerable' defendants Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 04 (1) Juries (2) Fair Trial; Wrongful convictions Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6
Week 05 (1) Trial advocacy (2) Case theory Seminar (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 07 (1) Evidence refresher (2) Examination-in-chief Seminar (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 08 (1) Cross-examination (2) Expert witnesses Seminar (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 (1) Opening closing (2) Ethical duties Seminar (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 The Trials Practical (4 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 (1) Trial (2) Reflection Seminar (2 hr) LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Because of the experiential, performative, and group work aspects of the unit, the unit is taught only in person and not online.

The Law School has a minimum 70% attendance requirement – 14 of 20 classes – which is appropriate for a unit that has experiential, performative, and group work dimensions, and that relies susbtantially on discussion and analysis rather than the passive conveying of content.

All students are required to attend 70% of classes (or as otherwise specified by the Unit Coordinator) to satisfy the pass requirements for each unit of study. Attendance requirements may be satisfied by in person attendance as specified by the Unit Coordinator. Failure to meet this requirement may result in a student being precluded from sitting the final assessment.  

Referencing: The Sydney Law School expects you to use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) when formal citations are required - see https://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/c.php?g=508212&p=3476376. Whether formal citations are required will be advised in the assessment instructions. 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All prescribed readings for this unit are available electronically through the Library Reading List, available on the unit’s Canvas page.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate an appreciation of history, theories and rationales relating to the criminal trial as a feature of law and society
  • LO2. demonstrate an ability to analyse criminal law, criminal and court practice and procedure, and evidence, from a range of critical perspectives
  • LO3. demonstrate an enhanced ability to identify and respond to legal ethical issues
  • LO4. demonstrate a basic understanding of case preparation and court advocacy skills
  • LO5. exhibit better developed skills in communication and collaboration
  • LO6. demonstrate an improved capacity for reflective practice, and
  • LO7. articulate new personal insights into personal and professional direction and development.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

In light of previous unit experience and evaluations, the topics have been changed slightly, the time for the trial lengthened, and a wider variety of guests invited.

Additional costs

Any expenses incurred for the Trial Observation are the student's responsibility; only ordinary public transport costs are anticipated.

Site visit guidelines

At a time of their choosing, before the due date of 11 Sept (week 7), students will attend and observe a criminal court proceeding for at least a half day. Students will be helped to identify available court proceedings in the Local, District and Supreme Courts. Subject to any disability accommodation requirements, no special arrangements are needed to enable the court attendance and observation. The usual University student insurance covers students when are off campus on authorised activity related to a unit of study; see https://sydney.edu.au/students/student-insurance.html

Work, health and safety

In a unit of study that studies criminal trials, students must be aware that they may encounter, and required to discuss and reflect on distressing accounts of criminal behaviour and its effects. 

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.