成人大片

As course staff work in the South Australian legal profession all communication should be directed to the GDLP Coordinator, Shin-Yi Ong in the first instance: gdlp.enquiries@lawsocietysa.asn.au

The GDLP Coordinator will contact the appropriate course staff as necessary.

Course Supervisors:

Alison Bradshaw: Interviewing and Advising
Claire Clutterham: Legal Writing and Drafting
Lorna Hartwell: Practical Legal Research
Greg Rooney: Negotiation and ADR
Elizabeth Griffith: Advocacy
Julie Van der Velde: Taxation

Course Coordinator (UA Law School): Margaret Castles

 

A student successfully completing the course will be able to:

1. Identify the purpose, audience and structure and construct concise and cohesive written letters, arguments, and submissions etc for a client/legal/professional /general /mixed audience in the context of social and cultural diversity. 

2. Prepare, conduct and analyse real or simulated client interviews clarify instructions and provide follow-up and advice, if
applicable, having regard to the circumstances, good practice and the requirements of the law.

3. Structure and sustain concise and cohesive written arguments about case analysis, statutory interpretation and relevant law using plain English principles.

4. Conduct practical, workplace based legal research, and present results on the basis of that research.

5. Prepare and analyse appropriate strategy and tactics to be used in the effective negotiation of client matters as required by law or good practice in the circumstances of the case.

6. Reflect on their abilities to effectively undertake work as an individual.

No textbooks are assigned for GDLP courses.

Seminar resources and readings are available on MyUni ONLY. Students must bring electronic devices to seminars to access seminar materials.

Due to an emphasis on current legal practice other materials may be added after the course outline has been posted. Students are required to check MyUni regularly (at least weekly) to keep up to date.

Most course resources are provided to students ONLINE via MyUni. Relevant law can be accessed online via:





Due to the emphasis on current legal practice, other materials may be added after the course outline has been posted. Students are required to check MyUni regularly (at least weekly) to keep up to date.

The course is supported by the MyUni course website. The website contains the following resources:

1. Course information – including seminar schedule and assessment outline.
2. Course materials – such as lecture presentations, seminar materials, readings and resources.
3. Assessment – items of assessment and online submission.
4. Grade centre – where students’ results for assessments are entered.

MyUni will also be used to post announcements. Students are expected to check MyUni regularly (at least weekly) to keep up to date.

Students should regularly check their 成人大片 email.

The course will be taught intensively. Online lectures are supported by activities such as face to face interactive problem-solving seminars and practical exercises.

Students MUST come prepared for seminars, namely having listened to online lectures where applicable, undertaken prior reading and developed draft responses to the seminar questions. If students have not prepared and / or arrive more than 10 minutes late they may be asked to leave the seminar group.

A reminder that students MUST bring along electronic devices to the seminar so they can access the seminar materials electronically.

Attendance at seminars is necessary to ensure that students are part of the interactive and reflective learning environment (which enhances learning outcomes) and provides students with the ability to develop their skills of oral presentation, teamwork and persuasion (valuable to the professional environment). Students are expected to behave in an ethical and professional manner as would be expected in the workplace environment (compliant with the professional conduct rules and standards).

Students, who due to disability, compelling medical or compassionate reasons, or in exceptional circumstance, are unable to attend seminars, may complete alterative work in lieu of attendance. The precise nature of this make-up work will depend on the seminar missed and will be negotiated with the GDLP Coordinator. Students MUST inform the GDLP Coordinator at the earliest opportunity of their absence and where they require this make-up work option.

This course will be taught intensively. Full details of seminars and activities are made available on the MyUni course website prior to the course commencing. Note: In most cases assessment tasks are linked to seminars activities.

Attendance at all seminars is highly advisable. Where assessment tasks are conducted in seminars non-attendance will, in most cases, require alterative assessment.

By the end of this course students should be able to competently:

1. Writing Letters

• identified the need for, and purpose of, the letter.
• written the letter in plain English that conveys its purpose clearly and could be understood by the person to whom it is sent, acting reasonably.

2. Legal Writing

2.1 Communicating effectively

• identified the purpose of a proposed communication, the most effective way of making it, and the content of the proposed communication.
• presented thoughts, advice, and submissions in a logical, clear, succinct and persuasive manner, having regard to the circumstances and the person or forum to whom they are made.

2.2 Cross-cultural awareness

• identified and appropriately dealt with verbal and non-verbal aspects of cross-cultural communication

3. Interviewing and Advising

• prepared for the interview properly, having regard to relevant information available before the interview and all known, relevant circumstances.
• conducted, participated in conducting or observed, the interview, using communication techniques appropriate to both the client and the context.
• ensured that the client and lawyer have both obtained all the information which they wanted from the interview in a timely, effective and efficient way, having regard to the circumstances.
• ensured that the lawyer and client left the interview with a common understanding of the lawyer’s instructions (if any) and any future action that the lawyer or client is respectively to take.
• made a record of the interview that satisfies the requirements of law and good practice.
• taken, or participated in taking, any follow-up action in a timely manner.

4. Legal Drafting

• identified the need for, and purpose, of the document.
• devised an effective form and structure for the document having regard to the parties, the circumstances, good practice, plain English principles and the relevant law.
• drafted the document effectively having regard to the parties, the circumstances, good practice, plain English principles, and the relevant law.
• considered whether the document should be settled by counsel.
• taken every action required to make the document effective and enforceable in a timely manner and according to law (such as execution by the parties, stamping, delivery and registration).

5. Practical Legal Research

• establish a strategy to undertake systematic legal research
• use paper and electronic resources to efficiently research legal and factual problems involved in a matter
• keep your research up to date
• present the results of your research

6. Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution

• prepared, or participated in the preparation of the client’s case properly having regard to the circumstances and good practice.
• identified the strategy and tactics to be used in negotiations and discussed them with and obtained approval from the client, or been involved in or observed that process.
• carried out, been involved in or observed, the negotiations effectively having regard to the strategy and tactics adopted, the circumstances of the case and good practice.
• documented any resolution as required by law or good practice and explained it, or been involved in the process of explaining it, to the client in a way a reasonable client could understand.

7. Facilitating early resolution of disputes

• identified the advantages and disadvantages of available dispute resolution options and explained them to, or been involved in explaining them to, the client.
• performed in the lawyer’s role, or been involved in or observed that performance, in the dispute resolution process effectively, having regard to the circumstances.
• documented any resolution as required by law or good practice and explained it, or been involved in explaining it, to the client in a way a reasonable client could understand.

8.Advocacy

• observed the etiquette and procedures of the forum.
• organised and presented in an effective, strategic way:
  • factual material;
  • analysis of relevant legal issues; and
  • relevant decided cases.
• prepare and present a submission to a senior member of the legal profession taking into account the instructions given and advocacy skills to examine the use of a case concept and presentation styles
• made submissions effectively and coherently in accordance with law and good practice.

9. Taxation

• develop an understanding of the taxation areas which underpin other GDLP courses: Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Stamp Duty (SD) and Goods and Services Tax (GST).

In addition to attending seminars it is anticipated that students will do substantial independent work to prepare for seminars and to complete the course assessments. Students are expected to spend about 8 hours per week in private study which includes reading the materials, listening to lecture presentations, conducting research and preparing for seminars. In addition students will need to dedicate time for the completion of assessments.

A detailed seminar schedule will be posted to MyUni prior to the course commencing.

The course is based on the rules of the Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council (LPEAC) 2004 and Law Admissions Consultative Committee 2015 which specifies the expected competency standards for entry level lawyers at the point of admission. In order to pass this course you are expected to demonstrate competence in these standards. 

The national competency standards include underpinning knowledge and skills in:
• Ethics and professional responsibility
• Lawyers skills
• Problem solving
• Work management and business skills

For further information see:

Assessments will be made available to students, prior to the nominated deadline.

Note: Competence must be demonstrated in all assessment tasks and activities.

Assessment item	Due date*	Learning Objectives
Letter of advice	Second week from course commencement	1 - 3
Legal drafting	Third week from course commencing	2 - 4
ADR reflection	Third week from course commencing	6-7
Legal research report	Fourth week from course commencing	5
Advocacy presentation and case notes	Fourth week from course commencing	8
Participation	N/A	1-9

* Assessment deadlines will be posted on MyUni prior to the course commencing.

Detailed information regarding assessment tasks will be provided on MyUni .

In this course, students will also be assessed on the following:

• Attendance
• Punctuality
• Workload management and ability to adhere to deadlines
• Display active development of personal professionalism
• Display active engagement in practical activities
• Demonstrate respectful behaviour towards others
• Maintaining a high level of confidentiality at all times
• Satisfactory completion of prescribed exercises
• Underpinning national competency standards (as noted in ‘Specific course requirements’)

Unless otherwise stated, there will be no prescribed word limit for assessments. This is because the purpose of the GDLP programme is to facilitate your transition from undergraduate academic law studies to the legal professional employment environment through the demonstration and practice of professionally-based skills and competencies. In a legal practice it is highly unlikely you will be set a certain number of words or pages for the tasks you are asked to complete.

However, in the majority of assessments guidelines will be provided.

The quality of English expression is considered to be an integral part of the assessment process.
Assessment competence will take into consideration: expressions, structure, correct grammar, typography, etc.

Note: In most cases assessment tasks are linked to seminars activities. Attendance at all seminars is highly advisable. Where assessment tasks are conducted in seminars non-attendance will, in most cases, require alterative assessment.

Assessments will be returned to students within 3 weeks from the due date, unless otherwise notified by the GDLP Program Coordinator through a Course Announcement.

Students must retain a copy of all assessments submitted.

Students are to submit assessments online via Turnitin.

Please note: where forms or documents have been outlined in assessment activities for completion these should be downloaded from original sources and completed in an electronic format, if not supplied.

Students will be marked in accordance with the marking rubric.

Resubmission

Students are required to demonstrate competency in all elements of the national competency standards and failure to do so will result in the relevant assessment being marked as non-competent. If the assessment is deemed non-competent students may be offered the opportunity to revise and resubmit the assessment. Students granted a resubmission will have up to 4 days from the time they are informed by email from the LSSA GDLP Office to resubmit the assessment. In most cases only the parts of the assessment that do not attain competence will be required to be resubmitted. Only ONE opportunity is provided for resubmission.

Note: Attendance and participation in seminars, and/or the completion of online activities will be considered as determining factors in the offer of a resubmission.

Assessments that do not attain competence on resubmission (fail), per University policy, are double-marked before the results are released back to the student. The first and second markers discuss what the final result will be.

Extensions

Students MUST apply for an extension prior to the deadline to the LSSA GDLP Team.

Extensions on medical and compassionate grounds will be considered in accordance with University policy.

Late Submission

NOTE: in this course, students are assessed against the national competency standards and professional workplace standards; namely

• Ethical and professional responsibility
• Lawyers skills
• Problem solving
• Work management and business skills
• Punctuality
• Workload management and ability to adhere to deadlines

Approval of Results by Board of Examiners

Students are reminded that all assessment results are subject to approval (and possible  moderation/change) by the Law School’s Board of Examiners. Assessment  results at the University are not scaled. Under the Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy, students are assessed ‘by reference to their performance against pre-determined criteria and standards … and not by ranking against the performance of the student cohort in the course’. However, under that same policy, the Board of Examiners (as the relevant Assessment Review Committee for courses at Adelaide Law School) is  required to ‘ensure comparability of standards and consistency’ in assessment. On occasions, the Board of Examiners will form the view that some moderation is required to ensure the comparability of standards and consistency across courses and years, and accordingly provide fairness to all law students. All assessment results are therefore subject to approval (and possible change) until confirmed by the Board of Examiners and posted on Acess Adelaide at the end of each semester.

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as CEQ surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at least once every 2 years. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

The University Writing Centre provides academic learning and language development services and resources for local, international, undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students enrolled at the 成人大片.

The centre provides practical advice and strategies for students to master reading, writing, note-taking, time management, oral presentation skills, referencing techniques and exam preparation for success at university through seminars, workshops and individual consultations.

For more information please check out the Writing Centre website at  

Lex Salus Program

Lex Salus was founded in 2013 by Adelaide Law School Wellbeing officers Ms Corinne Walding, Ms Kellie Toole and Dr Mark Giancaspro. Lex Salus is an initiative of the Adelaide Law School aimed at raising law student awareness of the importance of mental, physical and nutritional health across all year levels of the degree, and of the various counselling, disability and equity services both within and outside the University that can provide help. Research shows that law students, both in Australia and in many jurisdictions around the world, experience the highest levels of stress, anxiety and depression out of any other discipline. Many do not get enough sleep, maintain a healthy diet or achieve a realistic work/life balance. Making matters worse, they are unwilling or afraid to speak up for fear of feeling 'weak' or because of the negative stigma that attaches to seeking help. Lex Salus is dedicated to tackling these problems head-on.

Counselling Service

The University Counselling Service provides a free and confidential service to all enrolled students. We encourage you to contact the Counselling service on 8313 5663 to make an appointment to deal with any issues that may be affecting your study and life. More information is available at /counselling_centre/.

Plagiarism and other forms of cheating

Plagiarism is a serious act of academic misconduct. All students must be familiar with the Adelaide Law School Enrolment Guide, and should note in particular the sections relating to plagiarism, grievance procedures and academic conduct within the Law School and the University.

Plagiarism is a serious matter and is treated as such by the Law School and the University. Please be aware that “academic dishonesty” (which goes beyond plagiarism) can be a ground for a refusal by the Supreme Court of South Australia to admit a person to practice as a legal practitioner in South Australia.

Academic honesty is an essential aspect of ethical and honest behaviour, which is central to the practice of the law and an understanding of what it is to be a lawyer.