Course coordinator
Dr Renato Costa
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2026 (23/02/2026 - 20/06/2026)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Law School
This course examines the structure of the Australian legal system and evaluates the core concepts underpinning the contextual realities of the system such as liberalism, the nature of rights, the plurality of law and the rule of law. The course also introduces students to legal thinking, case analysis, statutory interpretation and essential legal research skills. The course will therefore provide the platform for the future study of law.
This course is accompanied by a first-year skills program that helps students develop their legal research skills. The course will therefore provide the platform for the future study of law.
Note:
- There will be face-to-face lectures in LAWS1700. Each week, the lecture will be recorded via ECHO360 and uploaded to the Learning Resources page of Learn.UQ (Blackboard).
- Lectures will commence in Week 2, and Tutorials in Week 3.
- There will be two in-semester examinations (an online quiz and an assignment) and a final exam.
- The Final Examination will be conducted as an on-campus invigilated exam during the University's end-of-semester exam period. The Final Examination will be a closed-book exam.
Course requirements
Assumed background
There is no assumed background for LAWS1700 Foundations of Law.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
LAWS1111
Restrictions
LLB(Hons) and LLB(Hons) duals
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Renato Costa
Professor Justine Bell-James
Tutor
Dr Renato Costa
Professor Justine Bell-James
Ms Laurel Fox
Ms Rose Foster
Ms Georgina Elliott
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
Education Mission Statement
The mission of the School of Law is to educate you 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 LAWS1700 Foundations of Law is to engage students through active, inquiry-guided learning so that they build the necessary foundational knowledge, and develop the necessary higher-order, critical and creative thinking and problem-solving skills required for future legal study, analysis and practice.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explore the conceptual complexities that underpin different legal systems, including the meaning of law, legal justice, natural law and legal positivism.
LO2.
Distinguish different features of legal systems in the common law and civil law traditions, including federalism, the separation of powers, and the role of public institutions such as courts and parliaments.
LO3.
Understand the development of the common law in England and explain its relevance to the Australian legal system including the reception of English law in Australia and the Indigenous legal tradition.
LO4.
Comprehend the different theoretical approaches to legal reasoning, precedent and statutory interpretation, and apply them to specific legal scenarios.
LO5.
Analyse the strength of alternative arguments in solving complex problems involving identification of ratio decidendi and statutory interpretation which require application of relevant methodology, extrapolation of methodology to novel circumstances, and production of a reasoned, written opinion justifying the conclusion.
LO6.
Apply skills and techniques required in effective legal research of case law, legislation and secondary legal sources.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
Quiz (Online Test)
|
20% |
30/03/2026 - 31/03/2026
The test will open at 7 am Monday, 30 March, and close at 8 pm Tuesday, 31 March. |
| Essay/ Critique |
Mid-Semester Assignment
|
20% |
23/04/2026 2:00 pm |
| Examination |
End-of-semester Examination
|
60% |
End of Semester Exam Period 6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026 |
Assessment details
Quiz (Online Test)
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
30/03/2026 - 31/03/2026
The test will open at 7 am Monday, 30 March, and close at 8 pm Tuesday, 31 March.
Task description
Students are required to complete an online test. The test will assess material covered in the lectures and tutorials from weeks 2 to 5 inclusive. This test is designed to assess the comprehension of the basic principles and concepts in Australian law. This will ensure students understand the content covered to date and are satisfactorily following the learning materials.
The test will open at 7 am Monday, 30 March, and close at 8 pm Tuesday, 31 March.
The quiz will contain 20 questions. Each question is worth 1 mark. Incorrect answers are awarded no marks, but you will not be penalised for incorrect answers.
The quiz will be time-limited to 30 minutes. Once started, the quiz must be completed in one sitting. Do not leave the test before clicking Save and Submit.
There will be no opportunities for resits. Before sitting the test, please ensure that you have sufficient time and appropriate working conditions to complete it.
This task has been designed to be challenging and authentic. Successful completion of this assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and answer questions for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Late submissions are not permitted for the online quiz. The available time window is designed to provide flexibility in when you complete the quiz. In exceptional circumstances only, a deferred online quiz may be granted. Please note that a deferred quiz is not a resit and does not offer an opportunity to improve your original result.
Mid-Semester Assignment
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
23/04/2026 2:00 pm
Task description
This assessment will be an individual written assignment and cover a variety of topics from weeks 2 to 8 of the course.
- The maximum length is 1500 words (A4 paper, font size 12, Times New Roman, single line spacing, 2cm margins). Any words beyond the maximum length will not be read or marked.
- Footnotes should be used for reference only. Discursive footnotes are strongly discouraged. Do not include any substantive materials in the footnotes. Footnotes should be font size 10, Times New Roman, single line spacing.
- Answers should be written in an essay style, which includes an introduction, body, and conclusion.
- You must undertake and provide evidence of your own independent research in writing your answer. This requires drawing on some research beyond the textbook, including relevant journal articles and books. Newspaper articles, blog posts, educational webpages, and other non-peer-reviewed materials are (almost always) not appropriate.
- Please do not attach a bibliography or a reference list. The sources used should be referenced in footnotes, complying with the requirements of the 4th edition of the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (AGLC4).
More information will eventually be supplied in announcements and guidelines via the course website.
The assignment is due on Thursday, 23 April (Week 8) at 2 pm.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students are not forbidden to use Artificial Intelligence and/or Machine Translation technologies, successful completion of the assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure in the use of generative AI or MT (i.e. hallucinations and/or false information) may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission, independent of AI and MT tools. Be advised that academic misconduct may become part of a report that UQ must provide to the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board, and this may impact whether you can eventually join the legal profession.
Submission guidelines
The assignment must be submitted electronically via the assessment submission link on the course Learn.UQ (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.
The maximum extension for an assessment item due within the semester / teaching period in which the course is offered is 7 days. In exceptional circumstances, an extension may be approved for a further 7 days. Where a student is incapacitated for a period longer than 14 days, they are 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. The course coordinator cannot grant students extensions on assignments.
A request for an extension to an assessment due date must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time. Requests for extensions received after the application due date and time, must include evidence of the reason for the late request, and will require the decision maker listed in the Decision-Maker Tables in the Student Grievance Resolution Procedure to determine whether 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.
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, an assignment worth a maximum of 20 marks, submitted 28 hours late, will receive a penalty of 4 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 20 marks.
More than 7 periods of 24 hours: 100%.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The course coordinator CANNOT grant extensions on assignments. There is no need to contact the course coordinator with requested or granted extensions. All such arrangements must be made through my.UQ.
End-of-semester Examination
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Secure.
Task description
The end-of-semester exam will consist of one short essay-type question and two compulsory problem-solving questions (on case analysis and statutory interpretation).
This assessment task is to be completed in person.
This is a closed-book exam. No external materials or the use of AI will be permitted during the exam.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
The end-of-semester exam will be timetabled by the University.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| 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
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Learning resources and information will be placed on the course Learn.UQ (Blackboard) website.
Students are encourage to either acquire or lease the textbook: Foundations of Law: A custom publication for the University of Queensland (LexisNexis, 2026).
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 |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (23 Feb - 01 Mar) |
Lecture |
First Year Skills Program |
Week 2 (02 Mar - 08 Mar) |
Lecture |
The Idea of Law Lecture on the meaning of the law and justice. Here, we will explore the traditions of Legal Positivism, Natural Law Theory, and different Theories of Justice. |
Week 3 (09 Mar - 15 Mar) |
Lecture |
Rule of Law & Legal Systems Lecture on the idea of the Rule of Law. We will also compare and contrast different legal systems to learn the differences between them. |
Tutorial |
The Idea of Law |
|
Week 4 (16 Mar - 22 Mar) |
Lecture |
Separation of Powers & Federalism During this week, we will discuss two fundamental principles of the Australian legal system: separation of powers and federalism. |
Tutorial |
Rule of Law & Legal Systems |
|
Week 5 (23 Mar - 29 Mar) |
Lecture |
Reception of English Laws in Australia The Lecture will discuss the origins of the common law, the British Westminster tradition, and the reception of English laws in Australia. |
Tutorial |
Separation of Powers & Federalism |
|
Week 6 (30 Mar - 05 Apr) |
Lecture |
The Court System This week is all about the Judicature. We will answer questions such as: What is the Judiciary? How was the High Court of Australia created? How is the legal system in Australia structured? What principles underpin the exercise of judicial power? |
Tutorial |
Reception of English Laws in Australia Because of Good Friday on 03/04/2026, students in the Friday tutorials are invited to attend other tutorials (Wednesday or Thursday) during this week. |
|
Mid-sem break (06 Apr - 12 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break (no Lectures or Tutorials) |
Week 7 (13 Apr - 19 Apr) |
Lecture |
Case Law & Precedent The Lecture will help us learn more about the rules concerning precedent, court hierarchies and the notion of stare decisis. |
Tutorial |
The Court System |
|
Week 8 (20 Apr - 26 Apr) |
Lecture |
Ratio & Obiter Dicta Lecture on Precedent and Ratio Decidendi, the meaning of Ratio and Obiter Dicta. |
Tutorial |
Case Law & Precedent |
|
Week 9 (27 Apr - 03 May) |
Lecture |
Parliament & Legislation The lecture will focus on the idea of Parliamentary Sovereignty in Australia, the structure, composition and functions of the two houses of the Federal Parliament, and the different types of legislation. |
Tutorial |
Ratio & Obiter Dicta |
|
Week 10 (04 May - 10 May) |
Lecture |
Statutory Interpretation I In the lecture, we will look at different theories of Statutory Interpretation, the notion of Legal Indeterminacy, and introduce the Acts Interpretation Acts of the Commonwealth and Queensland. |
Tutorial |
Parliament & Legislation |
|
Week 11 (11 May - 17 May) |
Lecture |
Statutory Interpretation II This week focuses on Constitutional Interpretation, Interpretive Tools and Methods of Construction, and a deep dive into Statutory Interpretation Methodology. |
Tutorial |
Statutory Interpretation I |
|
Week 12 (18 May - 24 May) |
Lecture |
Revision This lecture will revise the content of the entire course. |
Tutorial |
Statutory Interpretation II |
|
Week 13 (25 May - 31 May) |
Lecture |
First Year Skills Program |
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 for Students Policy and Procedure
- AI for Assessment Guide
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: