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Unit outline_

LAWS3526: Global Engagement Law Program

Intensive August, 2023 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This elective is designed for final and penltimate year law students to undertake a project which partially completed offshore with one of the University of Sydney Law School's international partners. Students will work individually or in groups on an issue of significance to the international partners in questions. This experience will allow students to apply their academic skills and disciplinary knowledge to a real-world issues in an authentic and meaningul way.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Law
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Katherine Owens, kate.owens@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Jennifer Corrin, jennifer.corrin@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation Case Note Oral Presentation (10%)
10 minute presentation on chosen case plus question time (up to 10 mins)
10% Week 02
Due date: 25 Jul 2023 at 09:00

Closing date: 25 Jul 2023
20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO2
Assignment Case Note Outline (10%)
Summary of the facts of the case chosen.
10% Week 02
Due date: 25 Jul 2023 at 09:00

Closing date: 25 Jul 2023
800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Extended Research Case Note (80%)
Extended case note based on independent research.
80% Week 06
Due date: 21 Aug 2023 at 12:00

Closing date: 04 Sep 2023
5000 words / 5 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

Case Note Outline (10%): Students must select a decision from a common law court in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu or Vanuatu, which involves issues of environmental law, climate change, and/or human rights in the Pacific. Students must submit a summary of the case that they have chosen. This should include:

  • the name of the case;
  • the proper citation;
  • the name of the judge;
  • the names of counsel;
  • a concise summary of the facts of the case;
  • a statement of the issues;
  • a statement of the outcome.

THE OUTLINE SHOULD NOT INCLUDE THE CRITICAL COMMENTARY, WHICH STUDENTS  SHOULD RESERVE FOR THEIR EXTENDED CASE NOTE.

Due Date: The outline is due at 9am (Vanuatu, South Pacific time) on Tuesday 25th July 2023.  Word limit: 800 words (see further below). Submission: This document must be submitted to the Canvas assignment dropbox and should also be emailed directly to the Course Coordinator: jennifer.corrin@sydney.edu.au prior to the class on the morning of 25 July 2023 and two hard copies must be brought to the class.  Students must retain pre-submitted drafts of their assessments on file.

 

Case Note Presentation (10%) Students will be on call throughout the day on 25th July 2023 to present to the class the facts, issues and outcome of the case that they have chosen to write about for their major assignment. Students will not be required to give the citation, names of the judge, or counsel, which should be in the Case Note Outline. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT THEIR MAIN COMMENTARY ON THE CASE. 

The presentation must be no more than ten minutes long and students should be prepared to answer questions about the facts and law involved in the case they have chosen for up to ten minutes afterwards. Students may use the white board during your presentation, but not PowerPoint or other electronic aids.

Due Date: The due date for the presentation is 25th July 2023. Students are on call to present at any time during the day.  Word Limit: Not applicable. Submission: Submission will be by oral presentation as explained above.

 

Extended Research Case Note (80%): Each student must submit an extended case note based on independent research. Students are required to build on their Outline and in-class presentation. The case must be a decision from a common law court in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu or Vanuatu, which involves issues of environmental law, climate change, and/or human rights in the Pacific. In the commentary section of the case note students should demonstrate critical engagement with the course topics by discussing some of the issues focussed on in this course. The case must not have been previously published as a case note and students may not write on the same case as another student. Students should call on the skill of case noting which will be discussed during the course.

Due Date: Noon (Sydney, Australia time), 21 August 2023. Word Limit: 5000. A bibliography is not required but you must refer to and footnote relevant literature if it is relevant to your commentary.  Submission: Assignments must be submitted to the unit's Canvas assignment dropbox.  Students must retain pre-submitted drafts of their assessments on file.

 

Word limit penalty
The total word-count for written work excludes the title-page, citations in footnotes, but includes everything else, such as headings, sub-headings, quotations (including epigraphs) and anything other than citations in footnotes. Failure to comply with the word-limit is penalised at a rate of 5% of the total mark for the assignment for every 100 words in excess of the limit. A research essay of 5099 words, for example, is not penalised, but a paper of 5100 words loses four marks. Penalties for excessive length are strictly applied.

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).

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

Assessment requirement to pass a unit of study 
A student must make a genuine attempt at all compulsory 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

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

  • Completely answers the question.
  • Contains striking originality of approach or analysis.
  • Demonstrates exhaustive or innovative research (where independent research required).
  • Exceptionally well written, structured and expressed.
  • Is otherwise exceptional in some way.

Distinction

75 - 84

  • Completely answers the question.
  • Achieves a critical and evaluative approach to the issues.
  • Content and structure is well organised in support of the argument.
  • Demonstrates extensive research and analysis to support a well-documented argument.
  • Generally well expressed and free from errors.
  • Has a clear structure and is well articulated.

Credit

65 - 74

  • Covers main issues fairly well in answering the question.
  • Contains no significant errors
  • Demonstrates an attempted critical approach to the issues.
  • Demonstrates reasonably sound research and analysis in addressing the key issues.
  • Has a clear structure and reasonably clear expression.

Pass

50 - 64

  • Identifies the key issues, but does not follow through with a reasoned argument.
  • Contains some significant errors.
  • Displays satisfactory engagement with the key issues.
  • Offers descriptive summary of material relevant to the question.
  • Superficial use of material, and may display a tendency to paraphrase.
  • Demonstrates little evidence of in-depth research or analysis.
  • Adequate expression.
  • Overall, demonstrates the minimum level of competence in the assessment and satisfies the requirements to proceed to higher-level studies in the degree or subject area.

Fail

0 - 49

  • Does not answer the question.
  • Contains significant or numerous errors.
  • Few or no identifiable arguments.
  • Content that is inappropriate or irrelevant.
  • Lack of research or analysis.
  • Difficult or impossible to understand through poor grammar, expression or structure.
  • Overall, does not demonstrate the minimum level of competence in the assessment.

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, without an approved extension, will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the piece of assessment per 24 hours or part thereof, after the due time on the due date. SpeedGrader applies penalty precisely 24 hours after due date and time.

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 Day 1: Introduction; Pacific language; Pacific culture; concepts and theories Seminar (6.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Day 2: Introduction to Pacific climate change; introduction to South Pacific law; customary law; Legal system of Vanuatu; Introduction to human rights Seminar (6.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Day 3: Pacific pollution; Legal pluralism; environmental issues Seminar (6.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Day 4: Law and culture. Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Day 5: Wrecks; case noting. Seminar (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Day 6: Optional turtle monitoring. Seminar (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 02 Day 9: International climate change; Pacific land tenure and climate change; renewable energy Seminar (6.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Day 11: Case note presentations; legal practice in Vanuatu. Seminar (6.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Day 12: Law reform and climate change; land and resources; future of Pacific law Seminar (6.5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: All students are required to attend 70% of classes to satisfy the pass requirements for each unit of study. Failure to meet this requirement may result in a student being precluded from sitting the final assessment, and being discontinued from the unit of study, resulting in an Absent Fail or Discontinue - Fail grade. 

Referencing: The Sydney Law School expects you to use the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th edition, 2018) for your footnoting style, although you should confirm this with your lecturer, and a link to the library website where this is set out comprehensively is available at https://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/c.php?g=508212&p=3476376

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

Required readings will be available on Canvas.

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. Identify and describe to an advanced level the distinguishing features of legal systems, climate, and environmental law in the region.
  • LO2. Critically evaluate current climate and environmental law issues facing Pacific Island countries.
  • LO3. Critically analyse legal dilemmas and subsequent decision-making processes related to climate and environmental law and related human rights.
  • LO4. Develop advanced written and oral legal arguments through analysIs of Pacific case law and interpret relevant legislation relating to climate and the environment and related human rights.
  • LO5. Apply advanced legal research skills to the synthesis of information on current climate and environmental law issues and related human rights.

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.

Learning outcomes have been amended to reflect the Pacific. Assessments and weightings changed.

Additional costs

Information available on Canvas site.

Work, health and safety

Information available on Canvas site.

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.