Family Lawyers are advocates. Whether they appear at final hearings by choice or because there is no funding to engage counsel to support the independent children's lawyer, they need to know how to stand and ask questions. They also need to understand how the affidavits they prepare are used and taken apart. This course gives them that information in a practical way. Students must prepare the case, ask questions of witnesses and present closing arguments, both in writing and orally. They will be critiqued and guided by practising barristers who work in the family law area.
The skills to be a good advocate are not subject specific but this course also provides a particular context: family law is more inquisitorial in style, the rules of evidence apply differently and the role of the independent children's lawyer can change the game.
Advocacy - Family Law is a valuable addition to the series of family law courses (Foundations of Family law; Family (Property) and Family (Children), offered as part of the ANU Masters programs. Those courses provide deeper understanding of the principles and practical application of family law. The advocacy course enables students to see the application in its final phase. By understanding what happens in court, the student will be able to better reconsider and refine their documents whether they are intended for a court environment or not.
This course will suit any student interested in litigation and advocacy, but will provide particular benefits for those with an interest in family law. The relevant family law principles are identified so any student from a different area can relatively quickly be across the necessary law.
The topics briefly review basic principles of witness examination and making submissions but build on those skills for more detailed analysis, structure, consideration of the rules of evidence, effective use of documents to prove and discredit a case together with more subtle and challenging witness examination and submission skills.
You will receive a case file with relevant materials, just as a barrister would. The broad topic will be family law specific but there will be other issues regarding credibility and rules of evidence.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge incorporating the legal framework and practical aspects of expert evidence in a variety of disciplines;
- Demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge of legal and ethical principles, issues, implications and risks, and a sound understanding of the context and methods applicable in conducting and dealing with expert witnesses and their reports;
- Demonstrate current knowledge and cognitive abilities to advise a range of clients on legal, probity and related issues relevant to expert evidence, whether in the form of expert reports or ‘live’ expert witnesses, in a variety of professional disciplines;
- Demonstrate technical legal and analytical competence in preparing and presenting expert evidence in a variety of professional disciplines;
- Critically analyse and apply expert judgment by synthesising complex information in preparing and presenting expert evidence in a variety of professional disciplines;
- Demonstrate cognitive skills to identify, contextualise and devise appropriate methods through critical analysis of complex information, to present expert evidence in a variety of professional disciplines;
- Research and apply appropriate methodologies, technical, legal and practical knowledge to develop autonomously solutions-focused strategies to a challenging set of facts and circumstances and interpret that information in preparing and presenting expert evidence in a variety of professional disciplines;
- Demonstrate and apply initiative and ethical behaviour in preparing and presenting expert evidence in a variety of professional disciplines.
Indicative Assessment
- Indicative assessment may include: (null) [LO null]
- 1. Initial submissions/examination/cross-examination - 10% (10) [LO null]
- 2. Advocacy participation/performances during the 4 day intensive - 25% (25) [LO null]
- 3. Advocacy assessment - 40% (40) [LO null]
- 4. Final submissions - 25% (25) [LO null]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
26 Contact Hours (Intensive Delivery over 4 days: 9-12 April 2018) plus private study time and Wattle interaction online.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
There is no prescribed text. Relevant materials regarding advocacy skills, including videos to assist you preparing your case analysis, will be available online on WATTLE.Preliminary Reading
A Course Study Guide will be available on the Wattle course site approximately 2-4 weeks prior to the commencement of the course.
The
full expert evidence service, and Cross
on Evidence are available from the ANU Library Electronic resources under
‘L’. Expert
Evidence is under ‘Lawbook Online’. Cross on Evidence is under ‘Lexisnexis
AU’. These resources are available to
any enrolled student.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 3
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $3840 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2019 | $5460 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
