Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2012

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

Rationale

With the increased internationalisation of communication, financial interests and business transactions, and the growing cooperation between nations with regard to issues of international concern, such as global warming, environmental protection, economic development and human rights, there is an equally broadening variety of ways in which the law can operate in an international context. Legal professionals need to understand how to identify, evaluate and apply the relevant law in international disputes, and how the law of other jurisdictions can impact on their own legal system.

This unit is the foundational unit in the international law elective interest group. It is a pre-requisite for study in LWB406 Fundamentals of Public International Law and LWB407 Private International Law. Your study in this unit will also build on the knowledge of the Australian legal system gained in LWB145 (Foundations A). It will enable you to compare the Australian system to the legal systems of other nations, and to understand the impact of other legal systems on the development and application of Australian law.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to give you an understanding of the various ways that the law can operate in an international context and the methods which can be used to resolve international legal disputes.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Discuss the operation of comparative law, public international law and private international law within the Australian legal system. (GC1) (GC3)
2. Examine the fundamental concepts, principles and rules of public and private international law. (GC1) (GC3)
3. Apply public and private international law to problems in real world contexts. (GC2) (GC3)
4. Research, evaluate and interpret primary and secondary sources relevant to international law and the law of other jurisdictions. (GC2)
5. Respond to changing circumstances resulting from the dynamic nature of the relationship between the Australian legal system, international law and the law of other jurisdictions. (GC1, GC2, GC7)
Graduate Capabilities

Your understanding of the unit content and development of these skills will assist you to acquire the following law graduate capabilities:
1. Discipline Knowledge;
2. Problem Solving, Reasoning and Research;
3. Effective Communication;and
4. Characteristics of Self-Reliance and Leadership.

Content

This unit will consider the law from an international perspective in relation to a number of topics. These topics will give you an understanding of the various ways that the law can operate in an international context, and will illustrate the relevance of international law to other legal topics you have studied. Topics to be covered include:
1. Introduction to international perspectives and different legal systems

2. Public international law

3. International legal disputes

4. International legal case studies

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The teaching and learning approach in this unit involves an integrated program of face-to-face lectures and tutorials. You will be required to prepare each week by working through the study guide, readings on-line and other course materials before engaging with lectures and tutorials.

Study Guide
The Study Guide for this unit provides an outline of content, prescribed readings and tutorial exercises for each week of the semester.

Lectures
The lectures in this unit explain key concepts and provide a structure for your learning. A one-hour lecture will be delivered in week 1-13, both in-person and via audio-streaming. Supplementary podcasts will also be recorded and placed on the unit Blackboard site to assist your understanding of unit concepts, when required.

Tutorials
For internal students one hour in person tutorials will be held each week for ten weeks, starting in week 2. .In addition, two tutorials for internal students will be held via online discussion, in the same manner as described below for external students..

For external students online tutorials will be held for 12 weeks commencing in week two. The online tutorials will involve you responding to written or audio-visual materials and participating in asynchronous discussion.

Your learning in tutorials will assist you to understand the unit content by allowing you to relate your previous life experience to international law, apply the international legal concepts that you have learned to real world scenarios, and discuss feedback and seek additional support if required. They will also provide an opportunity to explore the theories and principles you have learned in greater detail, through engaging in discussion with fellow students and your tutor. Tutorials will assist your reflection on your learning (as described in the feedback section below), and your development of basic academic skills, understanding of academic practices and expectations of study time.

On-line material
A variety of on-line learning and teaching resources will be made available on the Blackboard site for this unit, and will be regularly updated. These include materials which you will be required to read in preparation for each week's lectures and tutorials.

External attendance school
There is no external attendance school in this unit.

Assessment

Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Law Faculty Assessment Information see the Blackboard site for this unit.Formative feedback is designed to provide you with feedback on your understanding of unit concepts and on your ability to demonstrate the graduate capabilities and skills being taught in this unit. In this unit you will receive formative feedback in three ways:
1. In tutorials, your tutor's comments in relation to answers given by individual students, together with group discussions, provide you with feedback on your learning of the content of the unit (learning objectives 1-5) and on your communication skills and ability to work independently and as a member of the group (learning objective 7).
2. The comments you receive on your marked research assignment and criterion referenced assessment sheets provide feedback on your knowledge of the content of the unit (learning objectives 1-5), your electronic research skills (learning objective 6) and communication skills (learning objective 7).
3. Generic feedback will be placed on the unit's Blackboard site in relation to the external exercise, research assignment and exam.
4. Examples of completed assessment items from previous years will be available on the unit Blackboard site.

Self Reflection
You should reflect upon the feedback that you have received (both your individual feedback and the generic feedback provided on Blackboard) for the purpose of identifying:

• Gaps in your knowledge and understanding of the key concepts and methodologies covered in the unit;


• Inadequacies in your problem solving, critical thinking and legal analysis skills;


• Strategies to improve your problem solving, legal analysis and written communication skills for future assessment.

You should record your work, the feedback and your reflection, noting your strategies for improvement in your Student e-Portfolio. This will assist with your life-long learning

Assessment name: Discussion Forum(tutorials)
Description: Tutorial participation is an important part of your learning in your unit. Your performance in tutorials will be assessed according to the criteria set out in the criteria sheet available on the Blackboard site and in the Study Guide.
Relates to objectives: 1-5
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weeks 2-13

Assessment name: Research Assignment
Description: You will complete a 2000 word assignment from a choice of topics.
Relates to objectives: 1-5
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 10

Assessment name: Examination (written)
Description: Open book exam.
Relates to objectives: 1-3 & 5.
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central 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

Prescribed Materials
Andrew Mitchell and Jennifer Beard, International Law in Principle (Thomson Reuters, Australia: 2009).

Recommended References
Reid Mortensen, Private International Law in Australia (LexisNexis Butterworths, Australia: 2006).

Blackboard site
Online materials for the unit are available on the unit Blackboard site.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks 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: 18-May-2012