The Prison Legal Literacy Clinic offers students a unique opportunity to work with detainees in a prison setting at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC). The AMC is the Australian Capital Territory's only adult prison, accommodating all persons who have been sentenced to full-time imprisonment or remanded in custody by ACT Courts.

The Prison Legal Literacy Clinic was developed from the highly successful ANU College of Law, Law Reform and Social Justice Prison Legal Literacy Program which commenced in 2010. 

Students in the Prison Legal Literacy Clinic will attend the AMC to deliver six legal literacy sessions for a cohort of detainees chosen by AMC management. These sessions provide legal information only, rather than legal advice. The first session focuses on establishing mutually agreed rules and boundaries, developing respectful relationships and identifying areas of legal interest to detainees that will become the topics for the remaining five sessions. These topics are as diverse as detainees interests but may involve laws and legal process relating to criminal law, evidence, sentencing, appeals, parole, administrative law, human rights law and tort law. Many topics require students to convey an understanding of the democratic process of law making, the federal system of law as well as the hierarchy and jurisdiction of courts and tribunals. The emphasis is on students working as a team to develop informative, engaging and interactive sessions. Student are required to undertake significant research in each week of the session delivery phase of the course, often in areas of law that are unfamiliar to them. Detainees who complete the program are presented with a certificate in the final session acknowledge their efforts.

Students will be provided with Security Awareness Training by the AMC and supported before and during the delivery stage of the program by the course convenor who will be present at, and guide the delivery of, each of the Legal Literacy Sessions at the AMC.

Following the delivery of six sessions (in the first 6 weeks of the semester) students are required to submit a reflective assessment. Students will then use the remaining six weeks of the semester to write a research paper on a legal topic they have identified from their experience with detainees within the AMC. Students will be supported to develop and hone their research papers in workshops that will be held in the second half of the semester.

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. Critically analyse how legal knowledge and insight into a diverse range of perspectives can be used to empower detainees and promote social justice,
2. Reflect on their learning experiences to develop their professional and ethical capabilities,
3. In delivering legal education to detainees, synthesise and communicate a coherent body of substantive legal knowledge,
4. Critically analyse issues of entrenched injustice in the legal system having regard to the predicament of detainees,
5. Plan and execute a research project addressing a problem relating to the prison setting. 

Research-Led Teaching

Legal, human rights, and evidenced-based research on state accountability and correctional management, including monitoring of prisons will be used to stimulate students to assist in the preparation of a legal resources to be used either for law reform, for detainees and/or their counsel.

Field Trips

1 x 3-hour Security Awareness Training at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC; the Canberra Prison); 6 x 1.5-hour visits to the Alexander Maconochie Centre (the Canberra Prison). Students to make their own way to AMC or arrange via carpool (Convener can offer 3 places).

Additional Course Costs

National Police Certificate.

Travel expenses to/from AMC.

Required Resources

There is no prescribed textbook for this course. Readings will be made available on Wattle two weeks prior to the course commencement date.

Recommended Resources

See Reading Guide available on WATTLE for bibliography and resources.

Staff Feedback

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

• written comments
• verbal comments

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/current-students/policies-procedures/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/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 any announcements relating to the course.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The ANU Academic Integrity website 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 is a valuable resource for gaining a comprehensive understanding of AI's role in academia.

• The ANU Academic Skills site provides useful information to ensure that you leverage AI responsibly and effectively.

• The ANU College of Law Academic Integrity and Misconduct site 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	Prison Visit and debrief	Participation mark and lesson plan
2	Prison Visit and debrief	Participation mark and lesson plan
3	Prison Visit and debrief	Participation mark and lesson plan
4	Prison Visit and debrief	Participation mark and lesson plan
5	Prison Visit and debrief	Participation mark and lesson planPresentation of Legal Toolkit/Brief for Counsel/Law Reform Submission outline
6	Prison Visit and debrief	Participation mark and lesson plan
7	Own study/preparation of legal submission/brief/toolkit
8	Own study/preparation of legal submission/brief/toolkit
9	Own study/preparation of legal submission/brief/toolkit
10	Own study/preparation of legal submission/brief/toolkit
11	Own study/preparation of legal submission/brief/toolkit
12	Own study/preparation of legal submission/brief/toolkit	Final Essay Due

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 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
Participation in Planning and Delivery of 6 Legal Literacy Sessions at the AMC	10 %	*	05/04/2024	2,3
Lesson Plans	40 %	28/03/2024	05/04/2024	2
Work-In-Progress Presentation and Summary Document	10 %	22/03/2024	05/04/2024	1,4
Legal Toolkit/Brief for Counsel/Law Reform Submission	40 %	23/05/2024	*	1,4,5

* 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

Attendance and participation are compulsory. Students must abide by the Student Expectations and Clinic Requirements.

Examination(s)

There is no final examination for this course.

Assessment Task 1

Participation in Planning and Delivery of 6 Legal Literacy Sessions at the AMC

Details of Task: Students' participation in preparation and delivery of all 6 legal literacy sessions at the AMC will be assessed each week.

Nature of Task: Attendance and participation is compulsory. Student must abide by the Student Expectations and Clinic Requirements.

Weighting: 10%

Due Date: Ongoing. 6 weekly visits on Fridays from 9-11am 23 February 2024 with the final session occurring instead on Thursday 28 March 2024 with a debrief on campus from 11am to 12pm in addition to Security Training (date to be determined).

Estimated Return Date: Friday 5 April 2024, via Wattle or an email discussing performance against criteria. Feedback on each visit will also be given in our weekly collective debrief and any individual feedback (though not a weekly mark) to an individual student where the convenor deems necessary. This will be given to the individual via email, phone call or face-to-face meeting. Any student can seek individual feedback from the convenor at any time.

Assessment Criteria: Assessment Rubric available on Wattle

Assessment Task 2

Lesson Plans

Details of Task: Students to prepare a lesson plan prior to the beginning of every session at the AMC. This task is to be completed collaboratively depending on how the lessons are structured. Except for the first session, the lesson plans will comprise two components: one document setting out the legal component of the lesson (the case law, the legislation, or the legal structures that you are offering information on), and one document setting out the educational component of the lesson setting out allocated times, participants, learning outcomes, materials used etc.

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

Weighting: 40%. Each student will receive the same mark for this assessment.

Word Limit: 2,500 words for each lesson plan. 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 28 March 2024 following the weekly session at the AMC via Turnitin. Due to the nature of the task, late submission or extension is not permitted.

Estimated Return Date: Friday 5 April 2024, via Wattle or an email discussing performance against criteria. Critical feedback on each visit will also be given by the following Wednesday to help with the delivery of the following session. Any student can seek individual feedback from the convenor at any time.

Assessment Criteria: Assessment Rubric available on Wattle

Assessment Task 3

Work-In-Progress Presentation and Summary Document

Details of Task: Students will have the opportunity to contribute to the production of the Legal Toolkit/Brief for Counsel/Law Reform Submission noted in Assessment Task 4. This presentation will be a work-in-progression to discuss the thinking behind your chosen topic. A summary document (no more than 500 words) must be submitted on the day of the presentation.

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

Weighting: 10%

Duration: 5-10 minutes of presentation and 5 minutes of questions.

Word Limit: 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 Friday 22 March 2024 via Turnitin. Presentation will be during the debrief session (12pm-1pm) on 22 March 2024. Due to the nature of the task, late submission or extension is not permitted.

Estimated Return Date: Friday 5 April 2024 via Wattle.

Assessment Criteria: Assessment Rubric available on Wattle

Assessment Task 4

Legal Toolkit/Brief for Counsel/Law Reform Submission

Details of Task: Through this assessment, students will have the opportunity to contribute either to: a law reform submission, or the production of legal information for people in prison, or a legal brief for their counsel. This will usually occur in conjunction with a Community Legal Centre.

At the start of semester the Convener will determine this task will be either:

Information Toolkit

Students to prepare two documents of similar length for two different purposes and audiences:

1.      Fact Sheet/Self-help kits: Contribution towards the legal resource, designed for people in prison (20%)

2.      Complementary notes for practitioners and support staff, with an outline of relevant legislation and cases. This could include a section for reform and advocacy opportunities. (20%)

Or:

Brief for Counsel

Students to prepare a briefing note to counsel on a legal area which may produce grounds for a test case.

Or:

Law Reform Submissions

Students to prepare submissions for a Community Legal Centre to make to government to improve an area of law, regulation, and policy that affects people in prison.

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

Weighting: 40%

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 23 May 2024 via Turnitin. Late submissions (without an extension) are permitted, but late penalties will apply.

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

Assessment Criteria: Assessment Rubric available on Wattle

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 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 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.

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 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 all ANU students