MLP405 - Equity and Trusts
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Online, Community Based Delivery (CBD)* |
| Credit point(s) | 1 |
| Previously coded as | MLL405 |
| EFTSL value | 0.125 |
| Unit chair | Trimester 1: Morgan Stonebridge Trimester 3: Claudio Bozzi |
| Cohort rule | For Bachelor of Laws (including combined Law awards) students only |
| Prerequisite | Students must have passed MLP325 |
| Corequisite | Nil |
| Incompatible with | MLL405 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment | Pre-recorded lectures up to a maximum of 2.5 hours per week, and 1 x 1.5 hour on-campus seminar (recordings provided) per week. |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment | Pre-recorded lectures up to a maximum of 2.5 hours per week, and 1 x 1.5 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. |
Note*Community Based Delivery (CBD) is for National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute students only. | |
Content
This unit teaches some core principles of the equitable jurisdiction. Students will examine equitable doctrines that apply to transactions, and how these doctrines relate to common law principles. Students will be taught about different forms of trusts, the creation requirements for express trusts, and the various rights and duties of trustees and beneficiaries. Topics include: the history of equity; equitable principles in transactions; fiduciary relationships; and express, resulting and constructive trusts.
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 | Analyse and apply equitable doctrines, including the law of trusts, having regard to their relationship to and differences from the common law. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO2 | Synthesise and critically evaluate legal questions that arise in relation to equity and trusts. | GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO3 | Contribute to the legal scholarship of equity and trusts by crafting a persuasive and cohesive argument relevant to a contemporary problem in this area. | GLO2: Communication |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: (Group of 2 or individual) Report (research) | 2000 words | 40% | Week 6 |
| Examination: Specified resources | 2 hours | 60% | End-of-unit assessment period |
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 MLP405 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)
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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.