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LAWS11057 - Introduction to Law

General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit introduces you to the study of law by examining the history out of which our law developed and examining how the law responds to the socio-legal conditions of our time. It provides you with an awareness of the institutions which are created by the law and how those institutions shape the development of the law. You will be introduced to the notion of legal reasoning: distinguishing the 'dicta' and 'obiter' of cases, precedent theory, case analysis, following and distinguishing precedent; as well as distinguishing between primary and delegated legislation. This unit introduces you to legal discourse and the conventions of the discipline which will provide a foundation for study in more advanced units.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 1
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 4
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites There are no pre-requisites for the unit.

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).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 3 - 2020

Term 3 - 2020 Profile
Online
Term 1 - 2021 Profile
Online
Term 2 - 2021 Profile
Online
Term 3 - 2021 Profile
Online
Term 1 - 2022 Profile
Online
Term 2 - 2022 Profile
Online
Term 3 - 2022 Profile
Online
Term 1 - 2023 Profile
Online
Term 2 - 2023 Profile
Online
Term 3 - 2023 Profile
Online
Term 1 - 2024 Profile
Online
Term 2 - 2024 Profile
Online
Term 3 - 2024 Profile
Online
Term 1 - 2025 Profile
Online
Term 2 - 2025 Profile
Online
Term 3 - 2025 Profile
Online
Term 1 - 2026 Profile
Online
Term 2 - 2026 Profile
Online
Term 3 - 2026 Profile
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).

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.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Portfolio 20%
2. Written Assessment 40%
3. Written Assessment 40%

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

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

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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.

Source: Tutor reflection
Feedback
The incorporation of referencing and research quiz into the unit has helped improve research and referencing skills overall. However, the JADE should also be introduced to the unit content and assessed in the quiz.
Recommendation
Maintain research and referencing quiz but incorporate the JADE database into the unit content and assessment.
Action Taken
The research and referencing quiz continues to be updated, with JADE integration ongoing.
Source: Tutor reflection
Feedback
Students struggle with the mid-term assessment focused on the doctrine of precedent.
Recommendation
Provide further resources on the doctrine of precedent and review whether a further week could be spent on the doctrine of precedent in the unit schedule.
Action Taken
Additional resources and classwork on the doctrine of precedent and additional assessment preparation content was introduced.
Source: Student feedback
Feedback
Target unit updating and revision towards changes to legal research platforms
Recommendation
A number of legal research platforms have revised their websites in 2025; unit content should guide students through these changes.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student feedback, self-reflection
Feedback
Continue ALC integration
Recommendation
ALC integration was well-received by students and effective in supporting good outcomes; it should be retained and developed.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Self-reflection
Feedback
Combine good practice from across units and terms
Recommendation
As this unit is team taught and led by different Unit Coordinators each term, ensure experiences and good practice are shared between teaching staff and across terms. Continue also the process of harmonisation between First Year units.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Describe and discuss the rule of law, the nature of the Australian legal system and ethical responsibility
  2. Explain how the law is made and developed in Australia
  3. Demonstrate basic skills in legal research and writing using appropriate referencing standards
  4. Develop basic skills in critical legal thinking, reasoning and reflection.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Portfolio • •
2 - Written Assessment • • • •
3 - Written Assessment • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication • • • •
2 - Problem Solving • •
3 - Critical Thinking • • • •
4 - Information Literacy • • • •
6 - Information Technology Competence • • •
7 - Cross Cultural Competence •
8 - Ethical practice • •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10
1 - Portfolio • • • • • •
2 - Written Assessment • • • • •
3 - Written Assessment • • • • •