Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Law School
This course considers the nature of the law of tort. It examines intentional torts against the person, and torts in relation to land and the enjoyment of land. The course also includes an introduction to the tort of negligence (including modification by the Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld)).
Law of Torts I introduces students to the law of torts. The law of torts consists of the law of civil (non-criminal) wrongs other than breach of contract. Law of Torts I covers the following: the nature and aims of tort law; intentional torts against the person; torts to land (trespass and nuisance);ﾠbasic elements of the law of negligence, as modified by the Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld); damages for personal injury; and actions on death.ﾠ
Course requirements
Assumed background
No background knowledge of law is required for this course.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
LAWS1700
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
LAWS1000 or LAWS1113
Restrictions
LLB(Hons) and LLB(Hons) duals
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Tutor
Mr Timothy Madigan
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
Teaching Mission Statement
The mission of the 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 broad aims of the course are:
- toﾠintroduce the nature of a tort and provide the context for the law of torts;
- to analyseﾠintentional tortsﾠagainst the person and land;
- to analyse the law of nuisance;
- to introduce the law ofﾠnegligence including its modification by the Civil Liability Act 2003 (Qld);
- to consider issues that arise in cases involving multiple-tortfeasors;
- to analyse actions onﾠdeath; and
- to teach students basic problem solving skills.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand and articulate the key concepts and principles in the law of torts.
LO2.
Engage thoughtfully with case law and statutes.
LO3.
Analyse facts and identify legal solutions to the problems raised by those facts.
LO4.
Structure and communicate legal argument.
LO5.
Undertake legal research in relation to case law and legislation.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination |
In-semester Examination
|
40% |
25/03/2025 4:00 pm |
| Examination |
End-of-semester Examination
|
60% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
Assessment details
In-semester Examination
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
25/03/2025 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Students will be required to undertake a closed book, in-semester exam.
Students will have 90 minutes working time.
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 Generative AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct Policy.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 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.
End-of-semester Examination
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
The end-of-semester exam will be conducted during the central exam block. Any written or printed material is permitted in the exam; material may also be annotated.
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 Generative AI or MT 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.
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 |
Lecture |
Lectures The lecture topics are:
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 11 |
Tutorial |
Tutorials The tutorial topics are:
Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05 |
Additional learning activity information
This course consists of 2 hour weekly lectures and 10, 1 hour tutorials.
Tutorials require students to have completed designated readings and tutorial tasks in advance.
Classes will generally be divided into two sections.
- The first section will focus on furthering and deepening knowledge of the subject matter.
- The second section will entail in-class activities that build upon and consolidate learning.
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: