Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The legal system is fundamental to the structure of Australian society and the operation of business in Australia. A practicing property professional needs to have a good understanding of the common law and consumer protection and property related legislation to operate effectively within a legally complex environment. This unit builds on the knowledge gained in foundation units such as UDB102 Applied Law and UDB242 Property Law 1 for application in the more technically focussed areas of the course.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to further develop the fundamental concepts associated with business law and the law of the built environment introduced in UDB102 and to introduce legislation which is specific to the operation of a property professional in Queensland. This unit will provide you with the legal foundation to operate effectively as a property professional in the future.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Apply the principles of the law of torts and contract law to problems relevant to the property sector.

2. Understand and apply the principles of consumer protection law.

3. Understand the legal issues related to entities capable of holding property interests or participating in the property industry.

4. Interpret and apply the legislation relating to the property industry.

Content

This unit covers:

• the law of contracts,


• the law of torts,


• the law of agency as it specifically relates to the conduct of real estate agents,


• consumer protection as it relates to property practice and property transactions,


• alternative dispute resolution,


• privacy,


• moral rights, and


• property transactions in Queensland.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode: 3 hours per week

Lecture: 2 hours
A two hour lecture has been scheduled each week commencing in week 1. The lectures will provide you with information on the content of the unit and will assist you to focus your learning.

Tutorial: 1 hour
A one hour tutorial has been scheduled each week commencing in week 2. the tutorials will focus on the development of your critical evaluation and thinking skills and your skills in applying the law to a problem question. You will be required to actively participate in the tutorials.

Learning approaches will cover the following:

You will be required to work both individually and in a group to undertake critical analysis of legal principles which will be applied to practical problem based scenarios indicative of those experienced by contemporary property professionals.

You will be required to present the outcomes of practical case studies both verbally in tutorials and in writing.

Assessment

QUT's Assessment Policy is located at MOPP C/5.1.You will receive feedback of your work and progrees from your tutor during the semester.

Assessment name: Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description: This assessment task will involve your group leading an interactive discussion to apply the law to a given problem in order to resolve a problem or ascertain the legal position of an identified party. It is anticipated that the discussion will take approximately 30 minutes. You will be allocated a week to present during the semester.
Relates to objectives: 1 & 2
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Progressively

Assessment name: Research Paper
Description: You will be required to prepare a research paper which is based on an element of theory covered in the curriculum.
Relates to objectives: 1 & 2
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Week 6

Assessment name: Examination (written)
Description: An formal examination held during the scheduled examination period whereby you will be examined on your understanding of the theory and the application of the theory to problem based questions.
Relates to objectives: 1 to 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam Period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Type: Book
Author: Sweeny B & O'Reilly
Title: Law in Commerce
Year: 2007 Publisher: LexisNexis Butterworths
Edition: 3rd

Type: Book
Author: Gibson, A., Fraser, D.
Title: Business Law
Year: 2009 Publisher: Pearson Education Australia
Edition: 4th

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.

Additional Costs:
There are no additional costs associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 06-Feb-2013