This course (LJE) builds on the learning outcomes of LAWS6101 Foundations of Law in three significant ways. First, within the framework of the Australian legal system studied in LAWS6101, LJE examines the role and ethical obligations of lawyers as the principal representatives and interpreters of the legal system. Secondly, LJE analyses perceptions of justice in and through law. Finally, building on the skills component of LAWS6102, LJE teaches further skills necessary for effective legal study: critical analysis, essay writing and well-reasoned argument.

Details of the assessment for this course will be provided in the class summary before the start of semester

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Reflect critically on the roles of lawyers and the legal system, and propose reforms to address the limitations on access to justice in our society.
2. Explore the ethical dimensions of legal practice and critique the efficacy of the regulation of professional conduct in Australia.
3. Identify, apply and assess substantive rules and principles governing professional conduct in respect of lawyers’ duties to: the law, the administration of justice, clients, fellow practitioners and others.
4. Develop and defend strategies to respond ethically to challenges that arise for practising lawyers in seeking to discharge their professional obligations.
5. Critically analyse different conceptions of justice, including an exploration of the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
6. Undertake legal research and defend findings to a variety of audiences, both orally and in writing which uses academic structure and expression and is supported by accurate referencing.

Examination Material or equipment

Information on what to expect during an examination

Required Resources

There is no textbook for this course.

Weekly readings will be available/linked from the course Wattle site.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

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). 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

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

Extensions, late submission and penalties: https://law.anu.edu.au/extensions-late-submission-and-penalties

Extenuating circumstances: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/extenuating-circumstances-application

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

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

Distribution of grades policy: https://law.anu.edu.au/grading

Assessment Reviews and Appeals: https://law.anu.edu.au/assessment-review-and-appeals

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.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The ANU Academic Integrity website (https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/academic-integrity ) provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as providing clear guidance on the responsible and ethical use of AI technologies.

The following resources may also be useful:

• The ANU Library's Libguide (https://libguides.anu.edu.au/generative-ai ) is a valuable resource for gaining a comprehensive understanding of AI's role in academia.

• The ANU Academic Skills site (https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills ) provides useful information to ensure that you leverage AI responsibly and effectively.

• The ANU College of Law Academic Integrity and Misconduct site (https://law.anu.edu.au/academic-integrity-and-misconduct ) provides content related to legal implications, ethical guidelines, and considerations when dealing with AI in the context of law.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Intro to LJE and the Legal Profession What is the legal profession? Professional Values Regulation of the Profession Indigenous Perspectives and Ethical Lawyering Outline of classes and assessments	In line with the University’s recording policy, lectures will be recorded and made available for students on Echo360.However, lecture recordings are only an additional resource and they should not be taken as a substitute for regular attendance. If a recording does fail, there is no guarantee a replacement recording will be provided.Sign up for tutorial group presentation.
2	Lawyers Admission to Practice Conduct Rules Fundamental Duties
3	Professional Responsibility & Ethics I Duties to the Court Duties to the Client Legal Trust Accounting
4	Professional Responsibility & Ethics II Confidentiality Client Legal Privilege
5	Professional Responsibility & Ethics III Conflicts of Interest
6	Professional Discipline Disciplinary Proceedings Professional Misconduct, Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct and Professional Negligence.	0% Formative Quiz Available during week 6.30% Online Problem Question (4 x 250 word answers) Monday 2nd September.
7	Justice Who becomes a lawyer and how does this impact on the practice of law and administration of justice? Diversity and Bias in the Profession Introduction to Essay Writing Skills
8	Access to Justice Legal Need in Australia The Role of Lawyers in Access to Justice Technology and Access to Justice
9	Behavioural Legal Ethics Ethical Decision-making and Ethical Action Impacts of Organisational Cultures on Ethics Asserting Values and Ethics
10	Approaches to Ethical Lawyering Parker’s Critical Morality Examples: Climate Conscious Lawyering/ Corporate Lawyers in Global Law Firms/ Government Lawyers in Evil Regimes
11	Wellbeing and Mental Health in the Legal Profession Therapeutic Jurisprudence Trauma-Informed Lawyering Lawyer Wellbeing Bullying and Sexual Harassment
12	Ethics in Legal Pedagogy Why study ethics in law school? Summary of Course. Essay Prep/ Writing Skills Recap	50% Research Essay and Reflection due Monday 28th October

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials / seminars so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Tutorial Attendance	0 %	*	*	1,2,3,4,5,6
Tutorial Discussion Starter	20 %	*	*	1,2,3,4,6
Formative Quiz	0 %	*	*	2,3,4
Mid-semester Test	30 %	02/09/2024	23/09/2024	2,3,4
Essay and Reflective Piece	50 %	24/10/2024	*	1,2,3,5,6

* 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
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• 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

Tutorial attendance is compulsory and tutorial arrangements and times will be advised on Wattle.

The lecture will be delivered each Thursday of the course. Lecture content will thus correspond to material in the following week's tutorial. You are expected to attend/ listen to the lecture before your 2 hour tutorial. You will need to spend 6-7 hours a week engaging with the reading/resources and preparing for class/assessments. This means that you should spend about 10 hours a week, each week, on the course. Students are expected to prepare for tutorials and to engage critically in the discussion that takes place there. It is, in part, by means of such engagement that you will be able to evaluate and enhance the quality of your learning of the course content and skills.

Examination(s)

Students should consult the ANU Examination Timetable closer to the examination period to confirm the final date, time and duration of the examination.

Assessment Task 1

Tutorial Attendance

Details of Task: Tutorials are the core activity in this course. Tutorials commence in Week 1 of the semester through to Week 12.

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to complete these requirements may result in a loss of up to 5% of the marks overall for the course.

Weighting: Failure to attend 10 of 12 tutorials without documented special circumstances will result in 5% being deducted from students overall mark for the course.

Due Date: Ongoing. Any further absence from class, excluding the two unexplained absences, will require you to outline the circumstances that prevent your attendance and the appropriate documentation.

Exceptional circumstances that may warrant approval may include, but are not limited to:

• medical reasons (student injury, illness or medical condition, including COVID illness or isolation);
• family/personal reasons (family injury or illness, bereavement);
• cultural or religious commitments; where a cultural or religious event conflicts with the scheduled tutorials.

Please note that approval will not be given for work related reasons.

From your ANU email address, you must email enquiries.law@anu.edu.au  indicating

1. your full name and student ID;
2. the date you will be absent (or were absent) from the tutorial;
3. the exceptional circumstances you have experienced that have necessitated your absence; and
4. relevant documentation that supports your claims.

Further details will be provided on the course Wattle site.

 

Please do not email your Course Convenor or tutor for privacy reasons. All medical and other personal documentation that is sent to CoL Enquiries, will be destroyed from the provided email address on the server once the assessment has been made.

Assessment Task 2

Tutorial Discussion Starter

Details of Task: Each student must prepare and take part in a group presentation/discussion starter (no less than 5 minutes and no more than 8 minutes per person) in accordance with the roster established in the first week of semester. You will present as part a group, but you will be given an individual grade. A non-attempt will result in a grade of zero for this assessment. You must complete one presentation/discussion starter, but it is not necessary to pass the task to pass the course. Each student must sign up to the week and topic they wish to present via the online sign up sheet available on the Wattle site's forum titled 'Tutorial Announcement'.

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: Monday 22 July 2024. The schedule for the presentation will be finalised during Week 1.

Due Date: You will work with approximately 2 other students to prepare and deliver one presentation during Weeks 2-12 of the course. Due to the nature of the task, late submission or extension is not permitted.

Estimated Return Date: Within 7 days of your group's presentation from 19 August.

Assessment Criteria: A rubric will be made available on the Course Wattle site. Criteria include: understanding and discussion of relevant issues; creativity and originality of approach; effective communication and delivery; promotion of audience discussion; ability to work as group to make cohesive presentation.

Assessment Task 3

Formative Quiz

Details of Task: This formative quiz will include 10 random multiple choice questions from a large question bank. The test will assess your understanding of regulation of the legal profession and professional responsibility and ethics as discussed in the course.

Nature of Task: Optional. This assessment task is designed to give students an opportunity to receive feedback on their progress in the course.

Weighting: 0%

Release: 9am, 26 August 2024 (Week 6)

Duration: Once you have commenced your attempt, you will have 30 minutes to complete it. The quiz will finish after 30 minutes and any open attempts will close and be submitted automatically. Please allow sufficient time to complete your attempt.

Due Date: 5pm, 29 August 2024 (Week 6). As this quiz is open for more than 24 hours, no time adjustments or extensions shall be applied for this task.

Estimated return date: 30 August 2024 (end of Week 6).

Assessment Criteria: This task is marked automatically according to accuracy of understanding of course content.

Assessment Task 4

Mid-semester Test

Details of Task: This test will include short answer questions. The test will assess your understanding of regulation of the legal profession and professional responsibility and ethics as discussed in the course. A word limit will apply to short answer questions. All work on the test must be completed by the student independently. No consultation or collaboration is permitted. This will be an open-book online test.

Nature of Task:  Compulsory and non-redeemable. Failure to sit the test will result in a mark of zero for this task. Students must obtain 50% or better on the mid-semester test in order to pass the course. Students who do not obtain 50% on the mid-semester test but whose overall mark for the course is at least 45% will be granted a supplementary assessment. If such a student passes the supplementary assessment, their final mark for the course will be 50 PS. If such a student fails the supplementary assessment, that student's final mark for the course will be the mark obtained in the initial mid-semester test.

Weighting: 30%.

Release: 9am, Monday 2 September 2024

Duration: Once you have commenced your attempt, you will have 60 minutes to complete it. The test will finish after 60 minutes and any open attempts will close and be submitted automatically. Please allow sufficient time to complete your attempt.

Due Date: 5pm, 2 September 2024. If you experience extenuating circumstances and cannot attempt the assessment on the due date and time, you should apply for the second and final test here . The College will give you one final opportunity to complete the assessment, at the same time one week later. This will be your final opportunity to complete the task. If you have already accessed the assessment, you will not be approved for rescheduling and will need to complete the task by the due date.

Estimated return date: 23 September 2024.

Assessment Task 5

Essay and Reflective Piece

Details of Task: You must submit an Essay and Reflective Piece. The essay topics will be released on the Wattle course site in Week 7 of the semester.

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

Weighting: 50%

Release: 16 September 2024 via Wattle.

Word limit: 2,500 words. The ANU College of Law's Word Length and Excess Word penalties policy can be found here.

Submission Requirement: Your submission must be made in a word processing file format (.doc, .docx). PDF files will not be accepted.

Due date: 5pm, Thursday 24 October 2024 online via Turnitin. Late submissions (without an extension) are permitted, but late penalties will apply. Please be mindful that if you are in your final semester, late submissions will have an impact on your eligibility to graduate on time.

Estimated Return Date: Official end-of-semester results release date.

Assessment Criteria: A rubric will be made available on the Course Wattle site. The essay will be assessed on quality of Research of scholarly secondary sources; argument and response to the question; critical evaluation of sources; structure and logical development of argument; effective use of words and word limit to address key issues; expression and written communication including use of legal terminology, spelling etc.

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. You must ensure that you upload the correct document on the specified submission due date and time. Any document modified after the due date and time will either incur a late penalty or will NOT be accepted. 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 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 granted an extension. Where an extension is granted, the revised due date and submission time will be provided in writing. Importantly, any revised due date is inclusive of weekends and public holidays. Regardless of which day of the week the revised due date falls on, students who submit after that date will be penalised by 5% of the possible marks available for the task per 24-hour period.

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. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

All marks and feedback will be provided by the return date listed in the class summary. 

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.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission is not guaranteed. Please ensure that you have reviewed your submission carefully before you submit.

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 Accessibility 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 supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students