MLJ712 - Family Law and Policy
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Marlene Ebejer |
| Cohort rule: | This unit is only available to students enrolled in M729 |
| Prerequisite: | MLJ701 |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | MLI320, MLI712, MLL320 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x recorded lecture up to a maximum of 2 hours per week, and 1 x 1 hour online seminar (recordings provided) per 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. |
Content
This unit aims to equip students with the knowledge and ability to apply, critically evaluate and effectively communicate family law, and develop a deep appreciation of major policy issues and developments in the law.
Topics include: the Family Law Act 1975, historical and jurisdictional developments in family law, marriage, divorce and nullity, children’s matters and parental responsibility, property division, spousal maintenance and family violence.Learning outcomes
Each unit in your course is a building block towards Deakin's Graduate Learning Outcomes - not all units develop and assess every Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO).
| 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 | Critically analyse and discuss the modern family, including its formation and dissolution, taking into account sociological and legal factors. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Explain the system of family law in Australia, including jurisdictional and constitutional aspects and also policy and theoretical concerns. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO3 | Identify, critically analyse, evaluate and apply the law, including methods of dispute resolution and remedies, as it relates to families, family violence, children, and the breakdown of relationships. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: (Individual) Letter of Advice | 2000 words | 40% | Week 6 |
| Assessment 2: (Individual) Letter of Advice | 3000 words | 60% | 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.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for MLJ712 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.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
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.