Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

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

Rationale

Advanced research, writing, analytical and legal reasoning skills are essential to legal professionals for the purposes of the preparation of legal advice, opinions and arguments, proposals for law reform, reference and policy documents, teaching materials, and scholarly publications. This unit provides students with the advanced research and writing skills needed for enrolment in higher degree research programs and for the legal profession. The unit is available only to final year law students as it serves as a foundation for students to enhance their academic research experience and skills prior to post graduate study or entry into the legal profession.

Aims

The advanced research project provides students with the opportunity to develop and apply the skills of research, writing, analysis and reasoning by undertaking a specific, project of research under the supervision of an academic, in an area chosen by the student and agreed by the supervisor in a manner which replicates the higher degree research experience..

Objectives

On the completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.Analyse and critically evaluate legal issues, policy considerations and relevant contextual issues to construct arguments from across different or new areas of law;
2.Learn about complex areas of law through independent research;
3.Interact with a research supervisor including discussing complex legal concepts and arguments, and policy and contextual analysis and research planning;
4.Write a legal research paper which presents complex legal concepts and arguments, and policy and contextual analysis clearly, logically and succinctly to a publishable standard; and
5.Independently prepare, plan and manage a research project to completion.

Content

This unit consists of the planning and conduct of a research project under the supervision of an appropriate academic. The research project may, for example, analyse an emerging or changing area of law, a change in law or policy, possible law reform or make a comparison with the law of another jurisdiction.

Students with a GPA of 5.5 or higher who have completed at least 192 credit points will be invited to undertake a research paper. Students who do not have a GPA of 5.5 are required to make a case for consideration for entry into the unit based upon their demonstrated legal research skills. Application for enrolment in the unit will be invited in November for semester 1 and May for semester 2 of each year. Students will have 2 weeks to respond to the criteria on the application. Application forms will be made available to students at least 4 weeks before each semester commences.

You will not be able to enrol in this unit via QUT Virtual. You will be enrolled by the Law School on the advice of the unit coordinator.

You should be aware that topics involving the collection of data via surveys, questionnaires, or interview may require ethical clearance from the University Human Research Ethics Committee. If this is required, the unit coordinator will advise you of the appropriate procedures.

Skills
In this unit you will further develop the following skills:
1. Critical thinking and legal analysis
2. Oral and written communication;
3. Information technology literacy
4. Time management and research planning;
5. The ability to work independently;
6. Ethical orientation; and
7. Reflective practice.

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;
4. Life Long Learning;
5. Work Independently and Collaboratively;
6. Professional, Social and Ethical Responsibility; and
7. Characteristics of Self-Reliance and Leadership.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit is an independent learning unit in which the student takes responsibility for the planning and conducting of

Study Guide
The Study Guide for the unit provides an outline of relevant content and prescribed readings.

Individual Consultation
You will need to attend an initial consultation with the unit coordinator at least 2 weeks prior to commencement of semester to discuss and finalise your topic and supervisor.
Following this initial meeting you will be required to contact your supervisor to discuss your preferred topic further, settle and agreed timetable of meetings for the semester and discuss your literature review
You will be required to meet regularly with your supervisor by arrangement during the semester. Failure to comply with the agreed meeting timetable will affect your mark for the unit.

Group meeting
In week 1 there will be a group meeting with the unit coordinator to explain the requirements of the unit and to advise of the qualities and requirements of high level research and writing. Agreed supervision will also be confirmed at this meeting. By this stage the research topic should be settled and signed off by the supervisor.

Online Materials
Online materials are available to assist in the development of your research project.

Tutorials and lectures
This unit does not have tutorials or lectures.

Assessment

In this unit you will be graded on a scale of one to seven.

Overview of Assessment:
Summative assessment will be based on your, research proposal, literature review and research paper.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Law Faculty Assessment Information see the Blackboard site for this unit.Formative Assessment
You will receive feedback from your supervisor on your research proposal, literature review and research in the course of your regular individual supervisory meetings.

Self Reflection
You should reflect upon the feedback for the purpose of identifying:
·gaps in your knowledge and understanding of legal principles, policy issues and contextual issues;
·inadequacies in your research methodology;
·strategies to improve your analysis of legal issues, policy considerations and contextual issues and your ability to construct legal arguments; and
·areas for improvement in future research projects.
This links with learning outcome 2.

Assessment name: Research Proposal
Description: The research proposal sets out the title and context of your paper, the research hypothesis or question, the research methodology and a research timeline.
Word limit: maximum 1000 words
Relates to objectives: 1,3 and 5
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 2

Assessment name: Literature Review
Description: The literature review surveys scholarly articles, books and other sources relevant to the particular area of research and provides a synthesised description, summary, and critical evaluation of each work. Word limit: 2000 words
Relates to objectives: 1, 3 and 5
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 6

Assessment name: Research Paper
Description: The research paper is the result of the research you have carried out analysing your approved topic in a form suitable for publication in a law journal.

Word limit: 4000 -
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 4 and 5
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 12

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
There is no prescribed text for this unit.

Recommended References
Terry Hutchinson, Researching and Writing in Law (Law Book Co., Sydney: 3rd ed, 2010)
Nick Moore, How to do research (Library Association, London: 2nd ed, 2000)
Robert Watt and Francis Johns, Concise Legal Research (Federation Press, Sydney: 6th ed, 2009)

Blackboard site
Online resources for this 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: 11-Oct-2012