Course coordinator
Ms Carley Ruiz
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Law School
This course will give students foundational knowledge in the structure of the Australian legal system, with a focus on the historical and foundational principles underpinning the criminal justice system and examine differences between civil and criminal law. Students will gain fundamental knowledge and develop essential skills in relation to legal reasoning, case analysis, precedent, understanding statutes and relationships to common law; legal research and legal writing.
An understanding of the principles and foundations underpinning the Australian legal system is central to the study of criminal justice processes. If students are to engage effectively with the criminal justice system they need to understand how law may be used (and sometimes abused) to achieve policy objectives as well as provide legitimate state action in the lives of citizens. Additionally, it is essential students understand key legitimising principles and political structures, e.g., legality, rule of law, due process/fairness, federalism and separation of powers, and are equipped with the tools, vocabularies, and methodologies essential to understanding how law and the legal system operates in Australia. This is particularly important for students entering into criminal justice related fields of work.ﾠ
Course requirements
Restrictions
Restricted to students enrolled in the BCCJ, BCCJ (Hons), BA and BA duals except the BA/LLB.
Course contact
School enquiries
Course staff
Lecturer
Ms Carley Ruiz
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
Teaching Mission Statement
The mission of the TC Beirne School of Law is to educate students in and about the law. We seek to assist you to think critically about the law and to investigate its structures, principles, policies, and values. This is achieved by engaging with you as fellow investigators in a range of critical and intellectual conversations about the law and its place in society. Our role is thus to guide you in your own intellectual journey in the law and to equip you with the necessary skills that will enable you to continue that journey long after you have left the School.
Course Aims
The principal aim of LAWS1110 is to commence the task of educating students on the legal foundation of Australia's criminal justice system.ﾠ
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand the structure and origin of the Australian legal system
LO2.
Appreciate the importance of fundamental legal principles and political structures and how they apply to criminal justice system institutions and processes
LO3.
Analyse and critically evaluate different theoretical approaches underpinning legal principles and their application to the criminal justice system
LO4.
Apply skills required to engage in effective legal research and analysis of case law, legislation, and secondary sources
LO5.
Apply skills required to communicate effectively within a legal and policy context
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | 2 x Assessable Tutorial Activities | 40% (20% for each activity) |
Assessable Activity One Due 12/08/2024 2:00 pm Assessable Activity Two Due 16/09/2024 2:00 pm |
| Examination |
End-of-semester Examination
|
60% |
End of Semester Exam Period 2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024 |
Assessment details
2 x Assessable Tutorial Activities
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40% (20% for each activity)
- Due date
Assessable Activity One Due 12/08/2024 2:00 pm
Assessable Activity Two Due 16/09/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
You must complete 2 assessable tutorial activities during the semester. Each one is worth 20% for a total of 40% for this assessment item. Activity 1 relates to content covered in weeks 1-3 of the course and is due by 2pm on Monday Week 4 (12 August 2024). Activity 2 relates to content covered in weeks 4-7 of the course and is due by 2pm on Monday Week 9 (16 September 2024). You will be required to engage with course materials and class discussions, as well as conduct some additional research and reading on relevant topics in order to complete each activity. A detailed task sheet containing a more specific elaboration of the assessment criteria and standards will be provided for each activity in the Assessment folder on the course Blackboard site.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct Policy .
Submission guidelines
Assignments must be submitted electronically via TurnitIn through the submission link in the Assessment folder on the course Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
An extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered will generally be limited to one week in the first instance. In exceptional circumstances, approved extensions may be granted for more than one week but will not exceed four weeks in total. Where a student is incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, they should be advised to apply for removal of course.
A student may apply for an extension to assessment due date if they are unable to meet an assessment deadline due to extenuating circumstances. Please refer to the Applying for an extension page on my.UQ for further details on acceptable reasons for an extension and for instructions on how to apply. Additional information on extensions can be found within the Assessment Procedure .
Spoken or written notification of difficulties with assessment deadlines to a course coordinator or the School does not constitute an authorised extension.
Applications to be submitted before the due date: Applications for extension (whether they be medical or exceptional circumstances) shall be made by the due date and time for the assessment. Requests for extensions received after the assessment item submission due date and time, must include evidence of the reason for the late request, and will require the decision maker listed in the Student Grievance Resolution Procedure to accept the request for consideration.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Penalties for Late Submission
The following penalties apply to late submission of an assessment item, assuming that an extension has not been approved, and that late submission is academically possible (e.g., it does not delay feedback to a cohort, or interfere with course delivery).
First 7 periods of 24 hours (or part thereof) - 10% per 24 hours of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item. For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks.
More than 7 periods of 24 hours - 100%.
End-of-semester Examination
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
The final exam will be held during the end-of-semester examination period. Any written or printed material is permitted in the exam; it may also be annotated. The exam will comprise a mix of problem-based and essay-style questions - one or more of the questions may be broken down into individual parts. The examination paper will indicate the marks allocated to each question (and to individual parts within a question where applicable). All topics covered in seminars are potentially examinable, with a particular focus on content covered in weeks 9-12. Further information regarding the format of the final exam and detailed marking criteria will be provided in seminars and in the Assessment folder on the course Blackboard site.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of Generative AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct Policy .
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Open Book examination |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 47 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 48 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Additional learning resources will be made available on the course Blackboard site
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 12 |
Seminar |
Seminars Seminar topics include:
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: