CQUniversity Unit Profile
LAWS12073 Legal Practicum
Legal Practicum
All details in this unit profile for LAWS12073 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This capstone unit provides you with a choice of a domestic placement, social innovation project, international study tour, or workplace simulation. Placement opportunities available during Terms 1 and 2 are domestic placements, social innovation projects, and workplace simulations. Domestic placements will be facilitated by the Unit Coordinator and Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) team, or you may instead submit a placement that you have identified for approval. Social innovation projects will enable you to engage with pressing social issues and contribute to real-world outcomes. The workplace simulation will support the development of your practical legal skills (including advocacy, drafting, client interviewing, negotiating, file management, and problem solving) in the context of a simulated legal workplace. The content of the simulation may vary annually. In Term 3, the only placement option available is an international study tour, facilitated by CQUGlobal, to an international location in conjunction with an external partner organisation. International study tours will require you to pay for travel and accommodation; these costs may be offset by government scholarships such as the New Columbo plan. Prior to and during your placement, you will study cultural competencies, ethical responsibilities, and practical skills necessary to support your placement work. This capstone unit will enable you to apply your knowledge to legal problems in real-life environments. You will undertake legal and academic analysis, integrate reflecting thinking into your work, and present your ideas orally and in writing.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: 24 credit points of law 

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2022

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Residential Schools

This unit has a Optional Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 20%
2. Presentation
Weighting: 40%
3. Learning logs / diaries / Journal / log books
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student feedback, staff feedback and self-reflection

Feedback

Integrate placement work and assessment

Recommendation

As the focus of this unit is placements, the work completed by students in placement should carry assessment weight, to strengthen connections between assessment outcomes and placement work.

Feedback from Student feedback, self-reflection

Feedback

Retain practical tasks

Recommendation

This unit teaches practical skills. Authentic practical tasks should be retained as an integral part of students' work in the unit.

Feedback from Student feedback, self-reflection

Feedback

Teach from professional experience

Recommendation

This unit prepares students for a career in law. Teaching delivery in the unit should continue to involve a practitioner so that students can learn from their professional experience and expertise in practical skills.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Plan and prepare for a professional experience
  2. Effectively participate in a professional experience
  3. Communicate effectively about a professional experience
  4. Contribute to team outcomes during a professional experience.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Written Assessment - 20%
2 - Learning logs / diaries / Journal / log books - 40%
3 - Presentation - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Practical Legal Skills

Edition: 5th (2021)
Authors: Ross Hyams, Susan Campbell & Adrian Evans
Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780190329846
Binding: eBook

Additional Textbook Information

If you prefer a paper copy, you can purchase one at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (ssarch on the Unit code). You will also find a link to the eBook.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Zoom
  • Microsoft Teams
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Australian Guide to Legal Citation, 4th ed

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Luke Price Unit Coordinator
l.price@cqu.edu.au
Wayne Jones Unit Coordinator
w.jones@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 07 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Legal Practicum: Preparing for Practice

Chapter

Ross Hyams & Adrian Evans, Practical Legal Skills (OUP, 5th ed, 2021), Chapter 1

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 14 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Managing Professional Responsibilities and Relationships

Chapter

Practical Legal Skills, Chapter 4

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 21 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Learning on the Job

Chapter

Barbara Mescher, ‘Reflective Thinking Can Be the Key to Best Decisions: The Statement of Ethics and the Law in Practice’ (2009) 47(6) Law Society Journal 38

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 28 Mar 2022

Module/Topic

Client Interviewing

Chapter

Practical Legal Skills, Chapter 2

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 04 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Advising Clients

Chapter

Practical Legal Skills, Chapter 3

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 11 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 18 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Legal Writing and Drafting

Chapter

Practical Legal Skills, Chapter 5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 25 Apr 2022

Module/Topic

Negotiation

Chapter

Practical Legal Skills, Chapter 6

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 02 May 2022

Module/Topic

Advocacy

Chapter

Practical Legal Skills, Chapter 7

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written Assessment Due: Week 8 Thursday (5 May 2022) 1:00 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 09 May 2022

Module/Topic

The Role of University Law Clinics

Chapter

Orla Drummond & Gráinne McKeever, Access to Justice through University Law Clinics (Ulster University, 2015)

Christine Coumarelos, Deborah Macourt, Julie People, Hugh M McDonald, Zhigang Wei, Reiny Iriana & Stephanie Ramsey, Legal Australia-Wide Survey: Legal need in Australia (Law and Justice Foundation of NSW, Sydney, 2012)

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 16 May 2022

Module/Topic

Law Student Advocacy

Chapter

Margaret Fisher, 'So What is Street Law Anyway - A U.S. Perspective' (2017) 1 International Journal of Public Legal Education 87

Sean Arthurs, 'Street law: Creating Tomorrow's Citizens Today' (2015) 19(4) Lewis & Clark Law Review 925

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 23 May 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Presentation Due: Week 11 Thursday (26 May 2022) 1:00 pm AEST
Week 12 Begin Date: 30 May 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Placement Log Book Due: Week 12 Thursday (2 June 2022) 1:00 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 06 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 13 Jun 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment

Task Description

You will be provided a task in Week 6, which you are required to complete by using the unit materials, your placement experience, and your own research.

If you are undertaking a domestic placement, Forage simulation, or social innovation project, this task will relate to practical legal skills.

If you are undertaking the CQUni virtual workplace simulation, this task will relate to a virtual client’s matter.

Your assessment submission should include:

  • An answer to your assigned task; and
  • A short reflective commentary of how you used your placement experience to complete the task.

The word limit for this assessment is 1000 words (total).


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Thursday (5 May 2022) 1:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Thursday (19 May 2022)


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

Criteria:

  • Knowledge and understanding;
  • Critical analysis and reasoning;
  • Integration of reflective thinking and processes, and research, into arguments;
  • Written expression and referencing.

The rubric will be uploaded to Moodle.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Plan and prepare for a professional experience

2 Presentation

Assessment Title
Presentation

Task Description

For Domestic Placements, Forage Simulation, and Social Innovation Projects:

You will be provided a question in Week 9, which you are required to answer by reference to both your clinical experience and legal, societal and theoretical contexts, in the style of a ‘Ted Talk’.

Your presentation should:

  • Identify the key issues raised by the question;
  • Use your own experience of your clinical placement to address these issues; and
  • Situate your own experience in the context of your professional context, role, responsibilities, development.

The time limit for your presentation is 10 minutes.


For CQUni Virtual Workplace Simulation:

Your virtual clinic will involve dispute resolution processes. For this assessment, you will be provided a brief in Week 8. You are required to prepare and present an oral argument, for example an opening or closing address, or plea in mitigation.

The time limit for your presentation is 10 minutes.


Assessment Due Date

Week 11 Thursday (26 May 2022) 1:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Review/Exam Week Thursday (9 June 2022)


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

Criteria:

  • Knowledge and understanding;
  • Critical awareness and engagement;
  • Integration of research and experience to develop and support arguments;
  • Clarity of expression and quality of oral argument.

The rubric will be uploaded to Moodle.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Your presentation should be recorded on YouTube, Vimeo or an alternative service. Submit a link to that video in Moodle assessments.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Communicate effectively about a professional experience

3 Learning logs / diaries / Journal / log books

Assessment Title
Placement Log Book

Task Description

During your clinical practice you will be presented with a range of tasks. For this assessment, you are required to submit 3 tasks that you completed during your clinical placement, and 1 supervisor evaluation of your placement work.

Your submissions should be fully de-identified to protect client confidentiality.

Tasks submitted may include, but are not limited to:

  • Interview note;
  • Letter;
  • Memorandum of advice;
  • File note;
  • Affidavit;
  • Brief;
  • Other drafting.

The supervisor evaluation of your work should be completed using the form provided on Moodle.

Your log book should be the equivalent of 1500 to 2000 words work (total).


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Thursday (2 June 2022) 1:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Thursday (16 June 2022)


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

Criteria:

  • Knowledge and understanding;
  • Critical analysis and reasoning;
  • Use of authorities and other sources;
  • Written expression and referencing.

The rubric will be uploaded to Moodle.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Plan and prepare for a professional experience
  • Effectively participate in a professional experience
  • Communicate effectively about a professional experience
  • Contribute to team outcomes during a professional experience.

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?