Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (30/06/2025 - 23/08/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Law School
This course allows students to apply knowledge and skills gained in the LLB within an international environment. It will explore opportunities for interjurisdictional learning, including exposure to civil law, and assist students in developing their cross-cultural competence and regional employability prospects.
This 2 unit course provides the opportunity for students to undertake a placement at the Office of the Public Legal Service, in the Republic of Kiribati between 21 June and 19 July 2025. Students will mix academic study with field-based learning, such as research for a working legal advisory office, court observations, institutional visits and legal education opportunities. The course will equip students with many professional skills to be applied in the practise of law generally and a distinct advantage for the pursuit of future opportunities throughout the Indo-Pacific.
The course will require students to undertake research on key issues facing citizens of Kiribati, provide training to legal staff on mediation, observe client interviews and court appearances, prepare legal educational materials. They will develop their knowledge of the Kiribati legal system over the course of their placement under the guidance of dedicated senior legal staff supervisors.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
Permission from the Head of School
Restrictions
LLB and associated dual programs
Course contact
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
This course allows students to work with an international organisation to develop an understanding of transnational justice issues, increase cultural competence and professional skills within a global environment.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Evaluate justice issues from a transnational perspective and identify ways justice issues can be improved / resolved.
LO2.
Create resources / develop research projects / undertake tasks as required for international justice partners.
LO3.
Identify and apply a range of advanced legal research and writing skills appropriate for the project/ resources/ tasks.
LO4.
Tailor legal skills and communication skills to the needs of particular audiences / cultural groups.
LO5.
Demonstrate intercultural competencies.
LO6.
Reflect upon and evaluate workplace skills and experiences in the placement and apply these to a future workplace context.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection |
Statement of objectives and commitment
|
5% |
23/06/2025 4:00 pm |
| Reflection |
Reflective Journal
|
20% |
4/07/2025 2:00 pm 11/07/2025 2:00 pm 18/07/2025 2:00 pm 1/08/2025 2:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration, Presentation |
Presentation
|
35% |
16/07/2025 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique |
Research Essay
|
40% |
15/08/2025 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
Statement of objectives and commitment
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection
- Weight
- 5%
- Due date
23/06/2025 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L06
Task description
Before commencing the placement, you must attend the first workshop and discuss the placement and read the information relating to the Office of Public Legal Services under the Ministry of Justice, Republic of Kiribati (OPLS) Office of the Public Legal Service (OPLS) - Kiribati. You must read this document including the learning activities and objectives of the course (LAWS5233). You must then identify your key learning objectives and contributions, and make a commitment to professional behaviour, for the entire period of the placement. The objectives should provide specific goals to achieve during the placement and set the direction of your placement role having regard to the nature of the environment in which you will be working and the placement activities. You are also asked to state how you hope skills and knowledge acquired will contribute to your future career. This is all to be made in a written Statement within the format provided: a pro forma for the Statement of Objectives will be provided.
This Statement must be approved and signed by Dr Bartlett before commencement of the placement and a copy given to the designated officer at the host institution on the first day of the placement in Kiribati for signature.
There is no word limit for this task, but the Statement would not normally be expected to exceed two pages of A4, using a 12 point font.
Grading: Completion of a statement that is approved by the course coordinator and OPLS supervisor will be awarded full marks (5%). Where the statement is not of sufficient quality or depth the student will be provided feedback and an opportunity to amend the statement and resubmit.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct .
Submission guidelines
The Statement must be approved and signed by Dr Bartlett before commencement of the placement and a copy given to the designated officer at the host institution on the first day of the placement in Kiribati for signature. The document signed by all persons must be handed to the course coordinator in hard copy on the first day of the placement.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Extension to Assessment Due Date
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%
Reflective Journal
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
4/07/2025 2:00 pm
11/07/2025 2:00 pm
18/07/2025 2:00 pm
1/08/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L05, L06
Task description
Students will write a description of the activities undertaken and observations and reflections during each week of the internship. The weekly journal should contain details and analysis of the activities undertaken, problems encountered (if any) and details of any knowledge or skills gained. A draft must be signed by the designated officer at OPLS each week. The full set of journal entries for the 4 weeks of placement (4 total) must be submitted by the due date 1 August.
The journal should include reflection on how the internship has influenced your understanding of the law, cultural competence, transnational justice issues, social justice lawyering. You are encouraged to reflect on the specific ways of doing things in the OPLS office and how this might be similar or differ to a similar office in Australia. You may record information about actual cases, to put your impressions in context, although you must ensure that confidentiality is preserved.
The journal will be marked according to the following criteria:
• the effort which is reflected in the journal;
• the extent to which you have explored and discussed issues;
• quality of writing – clarity of expression, creativity and diversity of concepts;
• demonstration of learning from the experience, quality of insight, and conceptual depth;
• moving from the descriptive to the critical analysis of the experience; and
• making connections between theoretical principles and your own experience and observations of the real and practical application of the law and lawyers in action.
The course coordinator will provide online materials and a short lecture regarding the ‘theoretical’ component which will relate to cultural competence and reflective practice.
Marking rubric is available on Blackboard.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct .
Submission guidelines
You will be required to submit a draft journal entry to your supervisor at OPLS on 4 July, 11 July and 18 July 2025 for signature. On return from the placement, on 1 August, copies must be uploaded to Blackboard for marking by the course coordinator.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Extension to Assessment Due Date
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%
Presentation
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Oral, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Practical/ Demonstration, Presentation
- Weight
- 35%
- Due date
16/07/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
This is a group assignment and will be graded as such.
Students will undertake research while on placement under the supervision of the course coordinator (in person and remotely) regarding mediation approaches and techniques. Students will consult with the OPLS designated staff on the needs and interests of the OPLS regarding mediation to tailor their presentation to the audience.
The students will work as a team to present their findings to the OPLS. The assessment is comprised of two elements – written and oral.
Written: A short report will be provided with key information including links to accessible further information and training available online. The report will be no less than 2 pages and no more than 5 pages on A4 pages and be written in clear, accurate and accessible language. The written aspect of the assignment will be marked by the Director or his delegate in consultation with the course coordinator.
Oral: An oral presentation to the OPLS staff. Students will have 40 minutes to present including an interactive session. The presentation will be marked by the Director or his delegate.
The presentation will be marked according to the following criteria:
· Content and understanding of topic
· Organisation and clarity
· Legal analysis/application
· Delivery and communication
· Engagement with audience.
Marking rubric is available on Blackboard.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of 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 to reference generative AI or MT use 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.
Submission guidelines
The oral/activity aspect of the assessment must be completed in the offices of the OPLS as directed by the Director of the OPLS or his delegate. The written report must be submitted BOTH: 1. electronically via the assessment submission link on the course Learn.UQ (Blackboard) site; and 2. to the Director of the OPLS: oplkiribati@opl.org.ki
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
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%
Research Essay
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
15/08/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04
Task description
You must conduct research and submit a research essay on a following topic to be advised.
The paper must demonstrate application of the relevant law, and draw on the experience and observations from the internship, and present a comparative law analysis.
The word limit for the paper is 2,500 words including footnotes. The marker will stop reading at the word limit. The essay should be appropriately referenced applying AGLC citation conventions. The essay should footnote all sources and quotations. A bibliography is required and is not part of the total wordcount.
Your essay must reflect some independent research undertaken and applied to the above topic you select. However, note that the marker is not looking for how many references you find, but rather whether they are appropriate (reliable, reputable) and most importantly how you use the material found to inform your essay. See the rubric for more information about the criteria and standard.
The essay will be marked according to the following criteria:
- quality and use of research material found;
- the extent to which you have explored and discussed relevant legal issues, and quality of legal argument;
- clarity of expression, creativity and diversity of concepts;
- demonstration of learning from the experience, quality of insight, and conceptual depth.
Marking rubric is available on Blackboard.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct .
Submission guidelines
Your paper 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.
Extension to Assessment Due Date
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%
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. |
Additional course grading information
Refer to marking rubrics for each assessment item on Blackboard.
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
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.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 8 |
Not Timetabled |
Activity 28 May and 11 June 2025: Induction (virtual) with Office of Public Legal Service, Kiribati: Read the Introduction to OPLS provided 13-23 June 2025: Statement of Objectives (Pre-Departure): You will complete a Statement of Objectives during this period. 24 June 2025: Statement of Objectives finalisation (Discussion): You will meet with the Course Coordinator for feedback on your Statement of Objectives and then meet with your OPLS supervisor about your Statement and finalise. 23 June - 19 July 2025: Period of Placement (Placement): You will undertake your placement with the OPLS during this period. 23 June - 19 July 2025: Period of Placement (course learning): You will undertake a workshop virtually with the course coordinator and prescribed reading to be assessed (journal, presentation) 21 July 2025: Workshop and debrief: You will attend a debrief session with the course coordinator and prepare for the research paper. 15 August 2025: Research Assignment (Assessment): You will submit your research paper on a topic related to your OPLS internship. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Additional learning activity information
Placement activities will include:
- Court observations
- Legal research on specified current issues topics (as specified by OPLS)
- Client interviews (under supervision)
- Preparation of legal educational materials
- Presentation to the OPLS on mediation and ADR (more details under ‘assessment below’)
- Preparing a recommendation for OPLS on law reform and community education agendas
- Completing a reflective journal each week and discussion of reflections on placement experience and skill development with OPLS supervisors
Activities may vary depending on the requirements of the OPLS.
Workshops: Students must also participate in three compulsory workshops as an aspect of the course, which are the following:
- The first workshop – course induction - will be conducted virtually led by the course coordinator with the participation of the OPLS staff prior to departure to Kiribati. The ‘statement of objectives’ (assessment 1) and the expectations for the reflective journals (assessment 3) will be discussed at this workshop.
- The second workshop will be conducted virtually led by the course coordinator during the placement (date TBA) discussing student understandings of prescribed readings regarding Kiribati legal system and practice and leanings from placement, reflections on development of legal skills and ethical lawyering, understanding of cultural sensitivity from experiences so far. These discussions are designed to support and enhance student learning during the placement and to assist with the reflective journal and research essay (assessment 4).
- The third workshop will be conducted in person led by the course coordinator in the week after students' return from Kiribati which will provide a debrief about the placement and discussion of the research essay topics, methods and assessment.
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
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: