The Contracts course is one of the foundation subjects in the law program and examines a central aspect of the law of obligations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. the acquisition of a detailed knowledge of the principles of contract law covered in this subject and the ability to demonstrate understanding of the development of these principles;
2. the ability to apply this knowledge and understanding to hypothetical fact scenarios in order to identify legal issues in such a scenario and provide advice to a hypothetical client on the strengths and weaknesses of the client’s case;
3. the ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing their knowledge and understanding of the principles of contract law covered and the way in which that knowledge is applied to resolve hypothetical problems involving the topics covered in the course;
4. the ability to demonstrate where relevant an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the topics covered; and
5. a development of skills in legal research and legal writing.

Research-Led Teaching

Dilan Thampapillai is an expert on Contract Law. He has authored a number of articles on Contract Law.

Required Resources

Thampapillai, Bozzi and Bruce, Contract Law: Text and Cases, (LexisNexis, 2^nd ed 2016).

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Extensions late submission and penalties - https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/extensions-late-submission-and-penalties

Deferred examination: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/deferred-examinations

Special consideration: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/special-assessment-consideration

Penalties for excess word length: https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/word-length-and-excess-word-penalties

Distribution of Grades Policy: Effective from Winter Session and Second Semester 2018 (and until further notice), the interim scaling guideline applies to all courses in the LLB (Hons) and JD programs. Please see: https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/grading

Further Information about the Course: is available from the course WATTLE page. Students are required to access the WATTLE site regularly throughout the course for details on weekly classes and any announcements relating to the course.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Offer
2	Acceptance
3	Consideration
4	Intention, Certainty, Completeness, Capacity
5	Estoppel
6	Implied and Express Terms
7	Contract Construction
8	Unconscionable Conduct, Undue Influence, Duress
9	Mistake, Misrepresentation, Frustration
10	Illegality
11	Termination for Breach
12	Remedies

Tutorial Registration

Tutorial registration will take place on Wattle

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Tutorial Participation	10 %	*	18/09/2020	1,2,3,4,5
Problem Solving Assignment	40 %	31/08/2020	18/09/2020	1,2,3,4,5
Examination	50 %	*	03/12/2020	1,2,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using 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. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

See Assessment Task 1

Assessment Task 1

Tutorial Participation

Details of Task: In the Tutorials you will be expected to:

-      Explain, distinguish and apply the fundamental legal principles of contract law covered in the course that are relevant to the Assignment;

-      Identify and use a range of legally specific research principles, methods and tools appropriate to respond to factually complex contract law problems in the Tutorials;

-      Access, use, interpret and apply a range of domestic primary legal resources to solve complex problems; and

-      Use legal citation conventions appropriately in the course of legal writing.

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to participate will result in a 0 for the task.

Weighting: 10%

Due date: Ongoing. The assessable tutorials run from Weeks 2-6. The tutorial enrolment system will be made available on Wattle. Please note that tutorials will run from Weeks 2 to Week 12, but the assessable tutorials will only run from Week 2 to Week 6.

Estimated return date: Prior to Week 7 via Gradebook.

Assessment Criteria: The Tutorials are a summative assessment designed to assess:

• your skills in identifying the relevant legal issues in a fact scenario concerning contract law;
• your ability to demonstrate your understanding of the relevant law to apply to the fact scenario concerning contract law;
• your ability to communicate effectively a coherent legal analysis of a given problem.

Assessment Task 2

Problem Solving Assignment

Brief Details : The assignment is a summative assessment designed to assess:

·        your skills in identifying the relevant legal issues in a fact scenario concerning contract law;

·        your ability to demonstrate your understanding of the relevant law to apply to the fact scenario concerning contract law;

·        your ability to communicate effectively in writing out a coherent legal analysis of a given problem.

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Non completion of this task will result in a 0 for this assessment task

Weighting: 40%

Word limit: 1600 words

Release: Available from the first week of semester

Due date: 5 pm Monday 31 August via Turnitin. Late submissions (without an extension) will be accepted, although late penalties will apply. No late submissions will be accepted 10 working days after the due date.

Estimated return date: Friday 18 September via Wattle.

Assessment Criteria: In the Assignment you will be expected to:

• Explain, distinguish and apply the fundamental legal principles of contract law covered in the course that are relevant to the Assignment;
• Identify and use a range of legally specific research principles, methods and tools appropriate to respond to the factually complex contract law problem in the Assignment;
• Select and apply an appropriate form of written communication in order to apply the critical thinking required to bring about solutions to the complex legal problems in the Assignment;
• Access, use, interpret and apply a range of domestic primary legal resources to solve complex problems; and
• Use legal citation conventions appropriately in the course of legal writing.

Assessment Task 3

Examination

Brief Details: The exam is a summation assessment task designed to assess your skills in analysing a fact scenario relevant to contract law and demonstrating your knowledge and skills in relation to contract law. The exam will be an online exam.

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Non submission of this task will result in a 0 for this assessment task.

Weighting: 50%

Timing: Exam period. Students should consult the examinations timetable when it has been finalised for the date and time of the exam.

Duration: 2 hours.

Estimated return date: After final results are released via Wattle.

Assessment Criteria: The exam is summative assessment designed to assess:

• your skills in identifying the relevant legal issues in a fact scenario concerning contract law;
• your ability to demonstrate your understanding of the relevant law to apply to the fact scenario concerning contract law;
• your ability to communicate effectively in writing in exam conditions.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students