This is a clinical program focused on applying legal and other skills to current environment and planning issues. During the course, students will attend a supervised clinic for one day a week where they will work on environmental issues.

The course aims include to: 

• Guide and support students in identifying, developing and applying practical legal and other skills in environment and planning law;
• Develop students’ critical understanding of legal practice approaches, and the roles of lawyers and others, in relation to individual clients and environment and social justice issues;
• Contextualise the study of law, particularly environment and planning law and applying ethical legal practice skills;
• Encourage, promote and validate student aspirations to promote access to justice and equality before the law specifically in relation to individual and community needs in environment and planning law;
• Guide students to critically consider the effect of the law and its ability to: 

1. deliver improved environmental outcomes; and
2. provide adequate opportunity for the community to be heard on public interest environmental issues. 

Students must apply to undertake this course. Please go to Law Professional Experience for application information.

 

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Develop and apply advanced knowledge and skills acquired through the study of law in a legal practice setting, broadly assisting clients and working for social justice
2. Synthesise their reflections on their personal motivation for studying law, their goals and career aspirations, and any issues that arise throughout the course
3. Develop and demonstrate a reflective and ethical approach, applying broad theoretical and professional knowledge, in skilful performance of paralegal tasks
4. Apply an advanced and coherent body of substantive legal knowledge about environmental justice to legal issues, and critically analyse the entrenched issues of injustice in the legal system
5. Critically assess a range of strategies to improve justice / social justice outcomes, and promote access to justice and equality before the law in relation to environmental matters
6. Plan and execute a written research project

Research-Led Teaching

This course provides students with an opportunity to undertake research on an environmental issue agreed to by the course convenor, in combination with any additional supervisors the students have. Students are encouraged to explore a research topic that will provide a deeper understanding of a legal issue that has arisen as a result of their clinic participation.

Required Resources

Gerry Bates, Environmental Law in Australia, (Lexis Nexis, 10th ed, 2019) - (available online).

Recommended Resources

Ross Hyams, Susan Campbell and Adrian Evans, Practical Legal Skills: Developing Your Clinical Technique, (Oxford University Press, 4th Ed, 2014).

Staff Feedback

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

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

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

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: 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	ANU Week 1 Onsite Orientation (Friday 29 July, 10-1pm)
2	ANU Week 2 / Clinical Week 1 Onsite seminar on campus, Friday 10-12pm
3	ANU Week 3 / Clinical Week 2 Onsite seminar on campus, Friday 10-12pm
4	ANU Week 4 / Clinical Week 3 Onsite seminar on campus, Friday 10-12pm
5	ANU Week 5 / Clinical Week 4 Onsite seminar on campus, Friday 10-12pm
6	ANU Week 6 / Clinical Week 5 Onsite seminar on campus, Friday 10-12pm	Feedback: mid-semester interviews during onsite days with EDO supervisor
7	ANU Break
8	ANU Break
9	ANU Week 7 / Clinical Week 6 Onsite seminar on campus, Friday 10-12pm
10	ANU Week 8 / Clinical Week 7 Onsite seminar on campus, Friday 10-12pm
11	ANU Week 9 / Clinical Week 8 Onsite seminar on campus, Friday 10-12pm
12	ANU Week 10 / Clinical Week 9 Onsite seminar on campus, Friday 10-12pm
13	ANU Week 11 / Clinical Week 10 Onsite seminar on campus, Friday 10-12pm
14	ANU Week 12 / Clinical Week 11 Onsite seminar on campus, Friday 10-12pm	Research paper due

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Clinical Placement	30 %	*	01/12/2022	1,2,3,4,5
Seminar Participation and Facilitation	10 %	*	01/12/2022	4,5
Research Project	40 %	27/10/2022	01/12/2022	4,5,6
Reflective Journal	20 %	03/11/2022	01/12/2022	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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Skills website. 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

Students must attend the onsite clinic and seminar each week in accordance with the schedule published on Wattle. Any clinic/seminar days that fall on a public holiday will be rescheduled. Each onsite session runs from 9.30am to 5pm on the day scheduled with your supervisor.

Student must abide by the Student Expectations and Clinic Requirements.

Examination(s)

There are no examinations in this course.

Assessment Task 1

Clinical Placement

Details of Task: Students must complete 1 clinic session per week in accordance with the schedule published on Wattle. Each session runs from 9.30am to 5pm on a weekday. Interviews will be held between each student and the clinical supervisor, just prior to the mid semester break during onsite days. These mid semester interviews will provide students with an opportunity to receive interim feedback on their performance as against this assessment task.

Nature of Task: Compulsory. A student who does not attend all clinic sessions, without an exemption based on special circumstances, will receive an NCN grade for the course.

Weighting: 30%

Release Date: Ongoing assessment

Due Date: Ongoing assessment until end of Week 12.

Estimated return date: Official end of semester results release date via wattle.

Assessment Criteria: Participation will be assessed using the Onsite Checklist. The mark will be based on overall assessment by the Clinic supervisor/ Course Convenor. Where a student has not had an opportunity to demonstrate a skill, that skill will not be part of the evaluation.

Indicators of good practice, are listed below. These are grouped under the following headings:

• General: Initiative with designated tasks, adherence to onsite and remote working policies and procedures, problem solving skills, identifying risks and adopting appropriate risk management strategies, reliability and integrity, appropriate boundaries, professionalism, commitment including attendance and punctuality, teamwork, cultural awareness and competency;
• With respect to casework, law reform work and community legal education (where relevant): approach to the matter, analysis of client issues, effective working relationship, work planning and time management, research skills, file maintenance, written communications, verbal communications, legal submissions;
• Analysis and reflection: critical reflection on legal practices adopted and the law applied, issues affecting clients and the environment, identification and analysis of professional and ethical issues and social justice issues identified from clinic work.

Assessment Task 2

Seminar Participation and Facilitation

Details of Task: Seminar participation and attendance. Students will be expected to attend the orientation seminar and the weekly seminars held on Fridays (see the details at Class Structure and Content).

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to attend and participate in 100% of the onsite seminars (including orientation) and clinic days will result in an NCN grade for the course. In line with “Students Expectations & Clinics Requirements”, exceptional circumstances beyond a student’s control can warrant an exception to the rule except in the case of orientation attendance. Further information can be found here:

https://law.anu.edu.au/sites/all/files/media/browser/student_expectations_and_clinics_requirements_1.pdf

In addition, students will be expected to choose a week in which they will facilitate class discussions on that week’s topic. A roster for participation will be organised in Week 1.

Weighting: 10%

Release date: Ongoing assessment

Due Date: Ongoing assessment until the end of week 12.

Estimated return date: Official end of semester results release date via Wattle.

Assessment Criteria:

This component of the assessment will include a holistic assessment of student engagement and contribution, including the extent to which the student demonstrates genuine and critical reflection and engagement with seminar content and readings together with the extent to which the student contributes examples/insights from onsite experience and skills development. Useful indicators are:

General participation

• Listening to other students, and constructively contributing to discussion
• Questions asked, comments made during seminar presentations
• Quality of explanation of the legal issues raised
• Report on any non-legal issues that arise
• Understanding of client’s situation, evidence of empathy and understanding.
• Connection between individual client experience and systemic problems or wider issues.

Seminar facilitation

• Demonstration of preparation for class 
• Demonstration of reflection upon content/material
• Understanding and application of relevant law and concepts 
• Effectively facilitating class discussion including making relevant contributions, observations, asking inquiring questions, encouraging students to participate

Assessment Task 3

Research Project

Details of Task: Research project

Nature of Task: Compulsory and non-redeemable. Failure to submit this assessment will result in a mark of zero for this assessment task.

Weighting: 40%

Release: Students can begin working on their research project from the first week of the Clinic.

Due Date: 5pm, Thursday 27 October 2022 via Turnitin. Late submissions (without an extension) are accepted, however late penalties will apply.

Word Limit: 2500 words. Word count must be noted on the final paper. Assessment must be submitted in a word processing file format (.doc, .docx). PDF files are not acceptable.

Estimated return date: Official end of semester results release date via Turnitin. 

Assessment Criteria: The research project will require students to develop a research topic in consultation with the ANU Convenor (clinic supervisor is optional). Topics are to be selected and confirmed with the Convenor by Week 6. The topic and research will explore a topic in environmental law in some depth, related to this course. It should demonstrate independent research efforts involving a variety of sources beyond those provided on Wattle. It is a research paper not just an essay. The Research Project must include a bibliography (not included in the word count). The Research Project is assessed using the following criteria:

• Argument and response to the question
• Breadth and depth of primary legal and scholarly secondary sources
• Understanding and discussion of relevant law
• Critical evaluation of material (including recognition of alternative perspectives)
• Creative and original approach
• Quality of practical recommendations or resources provided
• Relevance of the work to environmental organisations
• Effective use of words and word limit to address key issues
• Expression and written communication including use of legal terminology, spelling etc
• Structure including logical development of content/material
• Effective use of headings
• Typographical accuracy
• Referencing (eg bibliography) and compliance with AGLC

Assessment Task 4

Reflective Journal

Details of Task: Reflective Journal

Nature of Task: Compulsory and non-redeemable. Failure to submit this assessment will result in a mark of zero for this assessment task.

Weighting: 20%

Release: Students are expected to begin working on their reflective journal from the first week of the Clinic.

Due Date: 5pm, Thursday 3 November 2022 via Turnitin. Late submissions (without an extension) are permitted, however late penalties will apply.

Word Limit: 1,200 words. Word count must be noted on the final paper.

Estimated return date: Official end of semester results release date via Turnitin. 

Assessment Criteria:

• Ability to critically reflect on relevant incidents and issues arising from your Clinic experience
• Ability to make perceptive observations of clinical situations
• Ability to relate and connect in-clinic situations with other legal knowledge and information
• Ability to explain issues by reference to relevant legal sources and other relevant information
• Level of insight and focus in analysis of the legal and non-legal issues involved
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in writing
• Referencing of relevant sources

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

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 in a word processing file format (.doc, .docx). Electronic copies in .pdf file format are not acceptable.

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 tests or 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. 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.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

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 Access 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