MLL110 - Legal Research and Statutory Interpretation

Unit details

Year

2026 unit information

Enrolment modes

Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)*
Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)*

Credit point(s)1
EFTSL value0.125
Unit chairTrimester 1: Patricia Perlen
Trimester 2: Patricia Perlen
Cohort rule

For Bachelor of Laws (including combined Law awards) students only

Prerequisite

Nil

CorequisiteNil
Incompatible withNil
Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment

Pre-recorded lectures up to a maximum of 1.5 hours per week, and 1 x 2 hour on-campus seminar (recordings provided) per week, and 1 x 2 hour online lecture (recordings provided) in Weeks 3 and 4.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment

Pre-recorded lectures up to a maximum of 1.5 hours per week, and 1 x 2 hour online seminar (recordings provided) per week plus 1 x 2 hour online lecture (recordings provided) in Weeks 3 and 4.

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.

It is highly recommended that LLB students study this unit in their first trimester.

Content

MLL110 equips students with legal knowledge and skills which will form the foundation of their legal education. Topics include: legal research skills, legal reasoning, the common law, legislation, statutory interpretation and the evolution of the Australian legal system.

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

Apply relevant reasoning and interpretation methodologies to analyse cases and legislation.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO5: Problem solving

ULO2

Apply appropriate research strategies for locating the relevant law on legal issues. 

GLO3: Digital Literacy

ULO3

Apply relevant factual, legal and policy issues to construct a written response to a legal problem 

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO5: Problem solving

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week

Assessment 1:

Multiple Choice Quiz (Online)

Start and finish any time within a scheduled 5-day window for an estimated 8 hrs

20%

Week 5

Assessment 2: (Individual)

Case Analysis

 

1800 words

 

30%

 

Week 7

Assessment 3:
(Individual) Statutory Interpretation Exercise

 

2000 words

 

50%

 

Week 12

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 MLL110 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.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.