• Class Number 7726
  • Term Code 3160
  • Class Info
  • Unit Value 6 units
  • Mode of Delivery Online
  • COURSE CONVENER
    • Dr Philippa Ryan
  • Class Dates
  • Class Start Date 26/07/2021
  • Class End Date 29/10/2021
  • Census Date 14/09/2021
  • Last Date to Enrol 02/08/2021
SELT Survey Results

This course is in two parts. Part A provides students with the theoretical content and practical skills to conduct a supervised and guided legal risk assessment of an online product that can be used in most common law jurisdictions. While assessing risk is not the same as giving legal advice, this is a skill that law students will need to acquire if they are to practice in the context of new technologies. The particular legal risks that students will assess are privacy, cyber, intellectual property, governance and regulation, as well as compliance with respect to occupational health and safety, human rights, climate change, employment law and occupiers liability. The students' risk assessment report will be provided to the start up business whose product or platform they have reviewed. Students will submit their risk assessment report as their major assessment task in this course. In Part B, students will reflect upon the risks and benefits of using artificial intelligence and new technologies in legal and commercial contexts and submit their reflections in the form of three blogs.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Synthesise legal knowledge and apply it to a complex commercial context
  2. Incorporate professional rules and legislation into legal risk analysis
  3. Engage in original and critical reflection on the use of AI in legal processes
  4. Communicate legal ideas effectively both verbally and in writing
  5. Research and structure a complex risk assessment in relation to online business platforms.

Field Trips

This internship will be conducted 100% online. All workshops and client meetings will be online.

Required Resources

A reading list will be available on the course Wattle site.

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

Task submission times refer to Canberra time (AEST/AEDT).

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

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

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 any announcements relating to the course.

Class Schedule

Week/Session Summary of Activities Assessment
1 Workshop 1 - Introduction; Risk Assessment Template; Unkowns
2 Workshop 2 - Client introductions; Client survey
3 Workshop 3 - Types of Risk I: Data; Financial
4 Client meeting 1
5 Workshop 4 - Types of Risk II: Audit; Accountability; Culture
6 Workshop 5 - Types of Risk III: Environmental impact; Sustainability
7 Workshop 6 - Types of Risk IV: Supply chain; Modern slavery
8 Client meeting 2
9 Workshop 7 - Completing the Risk Assessment Template

Assessment Summary

Assessment task Value Due Date Return of assessment Learning Outcomes
Three Blog Posts 30 % 16/08/2021 03/09/2021 1,2,3,4,5
Quiz 20 % 31/08/2021 * 1,2,3
Research Essay 50 % 25/10/2021 12/11/2021 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:

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

For all courses taught in any mode (whether face to face or online), the ANU College of Law considers participation in the classes offered to be an important part of the educational experience of the graduate program. Students are expected to attend all classes.


If circumstances arise which are beyond a student’s control and they are unable to attend a class, the student should contact the Course Convenor in advance (where possible), so that the convenor can adjust their expectations in relation to numbers for that class. If it is not possible to give advance notice, students should send the convenor an email as soon as possible with evidence to support the reason for failure to attend. 

Assessment Task 1

Value: 30 %
Due Date: 16/08/2021
Return of Assessment: 03/09/2021
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5

Three Blog Posts

Details of Task: The blog posts provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their learning, the use of apps in legal processes and to share their reflections with each other. Each of the three posts will have a distinct theme:

  1. The universal quality of legal professional obligations and court rules in common law jurisdictions
  2. The process of applying legal professional obligations and court rules to the development of a legal app
  3. The benefits and risks of automating legal processes

Nature of Task: The blog posts are compulsory. Non-completion of this task will result in a 0 for this assessment task. 

Word Limit: 2,400 words total; 800 words per blog 

Release: Students post their blogs to Wattle in weeks 1, 2 and 3. 

Due Date: 5pm Monday 16 August 2021 via the relevant Discussion Forum. Late submissions (without an extension) are permitted, although late penalties will apply. 

Estimated Return Date: Within approximately three weeks of the submission date. 

Assessment Criteria:

a) Understanding of the Issues

  • addresses the question and covers all the important points
  • evidence of close consideration of the question and reflection on issues raised by the topic

b) Communication of Reflection

  • clear development of the theme for the reflection
  • logical and well-organised reflection
  • ideas/paragraphs linked coherently

c) Analysis

  • originality of ideas
  • complexity and insight in dealing with theory/ideas
  • suggestions for change where appropriate
  • interdisciplinary perspective where appropriate

d) Presentation and style

  • good use of structure, section headings and paragraphs
  • clarity and conciseness of expression, interesting and engaging of reader
  • use of appropriate terminology and correct grammar, syntax and spelling
  • adherence to word limit

Assessment Task 2

Value: 20 %
Due Date: 31/08/2021
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3

Quiz

Details of Task: Students must answer 20 multiple choice questions to be completed within 60 minutes. The questions will focus on knowledge of the terminology, process and rules arising from Topics 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the course. 

Nature of the task: Compulsory. Failure to participate will result in 0 marks for this task. If you experience unavoidable and extenuating circumstances and cannot sit the quiz at the due date and time, you should apply for an extension to the College of Law student admin team here: https://law.anu.edu.au/forms/assessment-extension-request

 The College will give you one opportunity to sit the quiz, at the same time one week later. This will be your final opportunity to sit the quiz. 

Release: 9am Monday 30 August 2021, via WATTLE. This is a timed test which students will have 60 minutes to complete. Students can start the start anytime within the 24 hours that it will be open. However, students are advised not to commence it after 8am on Tuesday 31 August, as you may need the full hour until the quiz closes at 9am on Tuesday 31 August.

Due: 9am Tuesday 31 August 2021 via WATTLE. Submissions after the due date will not be accepted.

Estimated return date: Once all students have sat the quiz.

Assessment Criteria: N/A

Assessment Task 3

Value: 50 %
Due Date: 25/10/2021
Return of Assessment: 12/11/2021
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5

Research Essay

Details of Task: The research essay will require students to conduct independent research to develop an extended, reasoned and scholarly response to the debate about the risks and benefits of using artificial intelligence and new technologies to automate certain processes in legal practice. Original research will be required. Essays must include a bibliography, which is excluded from the word count. 

Nature of Task: The research essay is compulsory. Non-completion of this task will result in a 0 for this assessment task. 

Word Limit: 3,600 words 

Release: Students may choose a topic from a list that will be made available by 4 pm Monday 26 July 2021 on Wattle. 

Due Date: 5pm, Monday 25 October 2021 via the course Wattle site. Late submissions (without an extension) are permitted, although late penalties will apply. 

Estimated Return Date: 12 November 2021. 

Assessment Criteria:

a) Understanding of the Issues

  • addresses the question and covers all the important points
  • evidence of close consideration of the question and the research materials drawn on
  • issues raised by the topic are clearly and concisely identified
  • material chosen relates clearly to the topic and is analysed not just summarised or quoted extensively

b) Communication & Development of Argument

  • clear theme or argument
  • arguments logical and well-organised
  • ideas/paragraphs linked coherently

c) Argument/Analysis

  • originality of ideas and critical analysis of the material
  • complexity and insight in dealing with theory/ideas
  • suggestions for change where appropriate
  • interdisciplinary perspective where appropriate
  • addressing opposing arguments
  • well-reasoned conclusions

d) Research

  • research covering primary and secondary materials
  • good organisation of sources and ability to synthesise all the research materials used
  • use of theoretical material where appropriate
  • range of research sources
  • integration of material from research resources into the essay

e) Presentation, style and referencing

  • good use of structure, section headings and paragraphs
  • clarity and conciseness of expression, interesting and engaging of reader
  • use of appropriate terminology and correct grammar, syntax and spelling
  • full and accurate footnotes together with a bibliography
  • style according to Australian Guide to Legal Citation
  • adherence to word limit

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 not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
  • 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.
  • Late submission with an extension. To ensure equity for all students, the 5% penalty per working day for late submission of work does not apply if you have been given an extension. Where an extension is granted, the revised due date and submission time is provided in writing. Please note that the revised due date is calculated by including weekends and public holidays. Regardless of which day of the week the revised due date falls on, students who submit after that date are penalised by 5% of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof.

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).

Dr Philippa Ryan
Philippa.Ryan@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


The lecturers in this course are experts in this field and their teaching is led by their scholarship and research into the use of new technologies to automate legal processes.

Dr Philippa Ryan

By Appointment

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions