MLL113 - Legal Communication and Ethical Decision Making
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)* |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Antje Kreutzmann-Gallasch Trimester 2: Samantha Hepburn |
| Cohort rule: | For Bachelor of Laws (including combined Law awards) students only |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | MLL110 |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | Online independent and asynchronous collaborative learning up to a maximum of 1.5 hours each week which includes lecture pre-recordings and 1 x 2 hour on-campus seminar (recordings provided) each week |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | Online independent and asynchronous collaborative learning up to a maximum of 1.5 hours each week which includes lecture pre-recordings and 1 x 2 hour online seminar (recordings provided) each week |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Note:*Community Based Delivery (CBD) is for National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute students only. | |
Content
The unit aims to enable students to develop a number of important skills which are essential to success in both law studies and in legal practice, including: communication skills, legal analysis and problem-solving skills, legal research skills and legal referencing skills. Students will develop oral (including advocacy) skills, listening skills (e.g. the ability to deduce salient factors from provided information), written skills and an understanding of the importance of context in relation to communications.
Students will also develop the vital skill of applying the IRAC method to legal problems, further their research ability (crucial to success at law school and in practice), and practice referencing in accordance with the Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th ed).
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Explain the ethical obligations which apply to law students and the legal profession generally, including in relation to the use of Artificial Intelligence. | GLO8: Global citizenship |
| ULO2 | Apply constructive approaches to collaboration including an ability to negotiate and work effectively through team disputes and problems with team dynamics. | GLO7: Teamwork |
| ULO3 | Apply legal reasoning and engage in critical analysis of facts, issues and the relevant law in order to provide legal advice. | GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO4 | Apply the legal problem solving method to communicate in a manner appropriate to specific purposes, audiences and contexts. | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO5 | Consolidate the understanding of theory and practice of legal knowledge, skills and capabilities through reflection and evaluation of feedback. | GLO6: Self-management |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Part A: (Group of 3) Part B: (Individual) Written reflection (self) | Part A: 1500 words Part B: 500 words | Part A: 30% Part B: 10% | Week 6 |
| Assessment 2: (Individual) | Part A: 2000 words | Part A: 50% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Hurdle requirement
Submission of Group Learning Contract for A1.
A student who does not submit the Group Learning Contract will receive zero marks (0/40) for Assessment Task 1.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for MLL113 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.