Advanced Research (LAWS4114)

Course overview

This course provides an opportunity for students to pursue in some depth an area of special interest under the supervision of a member of the Law School academic staff.

The course is a two unit elective, which offers students an opportunity to 1) design and 2) execute an individual research project under the supervision of an academic in the Law School. Participation is for students who commenced their studies between 2015 and 2016 or follow the LLB (Hons) program rules for 2015. Other students who are interested in advanced research should consider enrolling in LAWS5183 (noting that it is subject to Head of School approval and generally suitable for students with a cumulative GPA in Law of 5.5 or more).

As the course involves self-directed learning, students who undertake this course will be expected to be proactive. First, they will need to identify an issue of doctrinal law, legal theory or socio-legal studies that they would like to explore. Second, they will need to arrange a potential supervisor and, having done so, third seek Head of School approval to enrol. Once semester starts, students should watch/read the resources on Blackboard and the Library website to inform their research process, and arrange at least two meetings with their supervisors (one for each assessment item).ﾠ

Course requirements

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

30 units LAWS courses

Restrictions

LLB(Hons) and LLB(Hons) dual programs

Course contact

Timetable

Additional timetable information

There are no timetabled lectures, tutorials or seminars in this course. Consequently, there are no tutors or lecturers. Rather, students will be required to:

1) work through materials (e.g., video recordings and readings) on legal research and writing at their own pace (see Blackboard); and 

2) arrange supervision from an academic member of staff and meet with that supervisor to discuss the preparation of their proposals and final essays.

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

This course aims to allow students to undertake self-directed research under the guidance of a supervisor, as part of an ongoing research project, within a research team context.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Research Proposal

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

30%

Due date

14/04/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L02, L03, L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

The Research Proposal should be submitted by email directly to your supervisor AND electronically on the 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.

Where an extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered is available, any extension is limited to one week (7 days). In exceptional circumstances, extensions may be granted for more than one week, but in no case will an extension exceed four weeks (28 days) in total. Where a student is incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, they should 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%.

Research Paper

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

70%

Due date

26/05/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L04

Task description

Submission guidelines

The Research Paper must be submitted by email directly to your supervisor AND electronically on the 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.

Extension to Assessment Due Date

Where an extension for an assessment item due within the teaching period in which the course is offered is available, any extension is limited to one week (7 days). In exceptional circumstances, extensions may be granted for more than one week, but in no case will an extension exceed four weeks (28 days) in total. Where a student is incapacitated for a period exceeding four weeks of the teaching period, they should 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%.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

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

Identification, categorisation and citation of appropriate sources are a major part of this course. Ask your supervisor for assistance if you are in doubt as to what is required.

The library's 'How- to' guides may be a useful starting point: http://www.library.uq.edu.au/useit/

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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:

• Law School Announcements and Policies