Course Coordinator
Peter Burdon
2.04 Ligertwood Building
peter.d.burdon@adelaide.edu.au
+61 (08) 8313 4446 (T)
+ 61 (08) 8313 4344 (F)

Teaching Staff
Paul Babie
3.05 Ligertwood Building
paul.babie@adelaide.edu.au
+61 (08) 8313 5521 (T)
+ 61 (08) 8313 4344 (F)

David Brown
2.20 Ligertwood Building
d.brown@adelaide.edu.au
+ 61 (08) 8313 4344 (T)
+ 61 (08) 8313 4344 (F)

Evan Richards
evan.richards@adelaide.edu.au

Property Law covers fundamental areas of legal knowledge as required for admission into practice. These areas of knowledge are known as the 'Priestley 11' and are set out in Appendix A of the Rules of the Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council 2004 (SA). According to the ‘Priestly 11’ Property Law must cover the following substantive areas:
-Meaning and purposes of the concept of property.
-Possession, seisin and title.
-Nature and type (ie fragmentation) of proprietary interests.
-Creation and enforceability of proprietary interests.
-Legal and equitable remedies.
-Statutory schemes of registration.
-Acquisition and disposal of proprietary interests.
-Concurrent ownership.
-Proprietary interests in land owned by another.
-Mortgages.

With reference to these substantive areas, Property Law has been designed to provide the following course outcomes:
1. To understand and appreciate the ethical dimensions of the role of lawyers, and the functioning of law and legal systems;
2. To understand legal citation conventions in the course of legal writing;
3. To be able to apply those principles to problem-solving exercises;
4. To develop a knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of the primary areas of Australian law as required to satisfy the academic standards for admission to practice law in an Australian jurisdiction;
5. To develop the capacity to analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources and experiences;
6. To have an awareness of the incompleteness of law and the continuous state of development of legal principles;
7. To develop development of critical thinking and problem solving skills;
8. To apply good inter-personal and communication skills in both written and oral communication and independently and as a member of a team;
9. To further enhance written and oral skills in the explanation of, analysis and synthesis of legal principle;
10. To develop an ability to critically analyse and apply legislation, rules and cases in context;
11. To develop the capacity to identify factual and legal issues;
12. To apply excellent research skills; and
13. To develop competence in problem-based practice in the application of the law.

1. Seminar Guide (available from the ICC).
2. Robert Chambers, An Introduction to Property Law in Australia (Thomson Reuters, 2013).
3. Articles and extracts for the property perspectives component of the course are avialble online via Myuni.
4. Law of Property Act 1936 (SA). The current version of this legislation can be found online at: http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/LAW%20OF%20PROPERTY%20ACT%201936.aspx
5. Real Property Act 1886 (SA). The current version of this legislation can be found online at: http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/REAL%20PROPERTY%20ACT%201886.aspx
6. In Property Law students are required to use their research skills to find case law. All cases can be found in hardcopy or online via the law library: http://www.law.adelaide.edu.au/library/research/. To find cases students will also need to familiarise themselves with legal abbreviations. A guide to legal abbreviations can be found at http://guides.lib.monash.edu/legal-abbreviations/. 

These will be discussed and, where necessary, distributed via MyUni during the course. Students may also like to look at a number of other textbooks and casebooks in this area. In particular the Course Coordinator recommends the following as useful resources:

Adrian Bradbrook, Susan V MacCallum, Anthony P Moore and Scott Grattan, Australian Real Property Law (5th ed, 2011) (Textbook)

Samantha Hepburn, "Australian Property Law, Cases, Materials and Analysis" Lexis Nexis Butterworths 2nd ed. 2012. ( The advantage of this book is that it combines a considerable amount of text in with the cases ie a textbook and casebook all in one)

Peter Butt "Land law" 6th ed. Thomson Reuters Lawbook Co 2010.

BJ Edgeworth,CJ Rossiter, MA Stone, PA O’Conner, Sackville & Neave Australian Property Law,8th ed.2008, Lexis Nexis, Butterworths

Eileen Webb & Margaret Stephenson, Land Law, 2009, Lexis Nexis Butterworths

Joycey Tooher & Bryan Dwyer, Introduction to Property law, 5th ed,2008, Lexis Nexis Butterworths

Robert Chambers, An Introduction to Property Law in Australia, 2nd ed.,2008 Thomson LawBook

With the exception of the Casebook and Textbook, all course materials will be available on MyUni.

MyUni will be used to post announcements, post additional lecture materials (including slides, and where available, audio recordings of lectures) and announce assignment tasks. It will also contain electronic copies of the Course Profile, Lecture and Seminar Guides, and Course Materials.

Students are expected to check MyUni regularly to keep up to date with these materials and additional learning resources throughout the course.

In Week One, the entire weekly contact will be devoted to introducing the concept of property and its use in law (see Learning Activities Summary, Week 1, below). While Week 1 will be divided as outlined here, starting in Week 2, this division will begin to take more shape. The focus of Weeks 2 to 12 will split between two aspects of property—the first its use as a doctrinal legal concept, and the second the theoretical dimension of property so as to provide students with context and perspective as to the way in which property works in law and in society. The four hour block of time is therefore divided as follows:

1. Property Law—This component of the course will build the structure of Anglo-Australian property law. It consists of a two-hour block of time, typically divided into a one (1) hour revision session involving discussion lead by the lecturer of key questions in the relevant area, twenty to thirty (20-30) minutes of group work involving an assigned problem, and a 30-40 minutes of interactive dialogue during which the problem will be discussed and possible answers outlined. This component is intended as an aid to the prescribed Textbook readings.
2. Property Perspectives—This component of the course will endeavour to provide various answers to the question ‘what is property?’ It is intended as context for and perspective on the doctrinal material covered in the first component, although there will not always be a precise correlation between the topics covered each week. This consists of a two-hour block of time, divided into a one (1) to one-and-a-half (1.5) hour period for presenting an alternative teaching resource that outlines an aspect of property, such as a movie, audio-recording, or a reading. The second hour will be devoted to an interactive dialogue on the materials presented in the first hour.
   

These arrangements will be fully explained during the first weekly contact.

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Contact time: attend 2 hour general overview lecture plus (within the designated weekly contact group) 2 hours lectures/seminar plus 2 hours of seminar/discussion each week. This amounts to 60 hours of formal class time across the semester.

Preparation time: In addition to attending formal classes it is anticipated that students will do substantial independent work to prepare for classes and to complete the course assignments. The University expects full time students (those undertaking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies.

Week	PL (lecture)	PL (seminar)	PP
1	Meaning of Property and its Role in Society Introduction to Property Rights	Introduction & House Keeping	N/A
2	Possession	Introduction to Property Rights	The Case for Private Property
3	Tenure and Estates	Possession	Possession
4	Native Title	Tenure & Estates	The Politics of Mabo
5	The Origins and Nature of Equitable Interests	Native Title	Native Title
6	Leases	The Origins and Nature of Equitable Interests	The Social Context of Property: Issues of Wealth, Class and Poverty
7	Easements, Profits a Prendre, and Co-Ownership	Leases	Capitalism and Rent
8	Mortgages	Easements, Profits a Prendre, and Co-Ownership	Common Property
Mid Semester Break
9	Torrens System – Indefeasibility	Mortgages	The Ethics of Interest/Usury
10	Torrens System – Exceptions to Indefeasibility	Torrens System – Indefeasibility	Property and Society: A Libertarian Perspective
11	Torrens System – Priorities	Torrens System – Exceptions to Indefeasibility	Restrictions on the Use of Land
12	Course Overview and Exam Notes	Torrens System – Priorities	Property and the Environment

Some of these topics may be subject to change.

There are no additional requirements for completion of this course other than described elsewhere in this document.

Assessment item	% of final mark	Due dates	Group or individual assessment	Redeemable	Learning Objectives
Critical Case Log	20%	Friday 31 October, 2pm	Group	No	1-13
Take-Home Assignment	30%	Friday 26 September, 2pm	Individual	No	1-13
Take-Home Exam	50%	Released: Monday 9th November at 9:00am. Due: Tuesday 10th November at 2pm.	Individual	No	1-13

It is important that students read and understand the assessment. There are three aspects of assessment for this course, each of which are compulsory. Failure to complete an item of assessment will result in course failure.

ALL ASSESSMENT COMPONENTS ARE COMPULSORY

1. Critical Case-Log (20%)

The critical case log is a compulsory small group assignment. In the first seminar students will be
placed in small groups (no more than 5 people per group). Each week groups will be required to select one case from the week’s material and put together a two-page entry for the case log.

At the end of the semester groups are required to submit their completed Critical Case-Log. The Case-Log
must contain 11 completed entries (one from each week). Groups need to self-nominate 5 entries for assessment.

The case log should contain the following headings:
-Material Facts
-Issue Before the Court
-Ratio of the Case
-Dissenting Remarks (if relevant). What are the major points of difference between the
judges? Which position to you find the more convincing?

The case log is also an opportunity to learn how to critically read a case. Critical analysis should constitute
at least half of the total entry for each case (1 page). It is often helpful to structure a critical reading around general categories of questions. Asking questions like the examples illustrated below provides a template for the critical analysis of a judgement that makes this activity less daunting.

Students should respond to four of the following questions:
-How would you describe the interpretative methodology used by the different judges? Why do you think  judges have adopted a particular methodology? Do they justify it?
-To what extent does the judgement seem culturally biased? For example, does the judge make universal claims that are drawn from a small number of case-studies?
-Whose voices are heard in the judgement? Whose voices are excluded?
-To what extent does this judgement challenge or confirm existing ideologies, values and structures?
-To what extent is the majority approach consistent with the previous authority in the area? If it is not consistent, why do you think there has been a shift?
-Did the practical consequences of the outcome inform the judgment? If so, how?
-Does the judgment reveal anything about the judge/s conception of the role of the Court? What about their values and politics?
-Does the case reflect tensions that exist in the broader community? How will the decision affect government and the community? Will their be groups who benefit from the decision, and groups who will be disadvantaged?


2. Mid Term Assignment (30%)

The mid-term assignment assesses knowledge from the property law and property perspectives components of the course. In the first part of the paper, students will be required to provide legal advice to a client in answer to a problem question. Following this, students will be asked to reflect on the broader social, ethical and political context of the problem. This part of the assessment will be assessed as a short-essay.

The assignment will be distributed on Monday 11 August through the assignments panel in MyUni. Every
student must complete and submit their assignment essay by 2pm on Friday 26th September 2014.

This is an individual piece of assessment and must not be written in collaboration with any other
student.

The answer must comply with standard Law School citation and submission requirements and must be no
more than 2,000 words.

*The best papers will be identified and requests sent to their authors for permission to display on Myuni to assist the cohort in their revisionf or the final take-home exam. 


3. Take-Home Exam (50%)

The take-home exam mirrors the format of the mid-term assignment. Specifically, the take-home
assignment is designed to assess knowledge from the property law and property perspectives components of the course. In the first part of the exam, students will be required to provide legal advice to a client in answer to a problem question. Following this, students will be asked to reflect on the broader social, ethical and political context of the problem. This part of the assessment will be assessed as a short-essay.

Every component of the course is examinable for the purpose of the take-home exam.

The exam will be distributed on Monday 9th November at 9:00am through the assignments panel in MyUni. It will be due on Tuesday 10th November at 2pm. This component will count for 50% of the final
assessment.

Because the take-home exam is only open for a limited period of time, requests for extensions to work on the paper cannot be granted. Students who qualify for Replacement/Additional Assessment (R/AA) will be given an alternative take-home exam during the R/AA period (9-19 December 2014).

This is an individual piece of assessment and must not be written in collaboration with any other student.

The answer must comply with standard Law School citation and submission requirements and must be no
more than 3,000 words.
X

Students are required to submit their assignments electronically and in hard copy.

Both electronic and hard copies of the assignment must be submitted by the due date. The electronic copy must be submitted to a software program, Turnitin that checks your submission for plagiarism. Instructions on how to electronically submit your assignment to Turnitin will be provided with the assignment instructions. Hardcopies of assignments must have a cover sheet and Turnitin receipt attached and be submitted in the assignment slot at the Front Office on Level One of the Law School. You must attach a coversheet to the assignment with all the details completed. These are available in the law school foyer. When filling out this sheet: use your student number (not your name) to identify yourself and sign the declaration at the bottom of the front sheet that the work is your own.

A student’s results will be withheld until such time as the student has signed the Assignment Cover Sheet. Markers can refuse to accept assignments which do not have a signed acknowledgement of the University’s policy on plagiarism.

Extensions

Extensions beyond the due date will only be granted in the case of serious and unforeseen incapacity. Extensions will be granted only for unexpected illness, hardship or on compassionate grounds in accordance with University Policy. Work commitments, travel, holidays or sporting engagements are not unexpected circumstances. If you require an extension, you will need to use the on-line application form available on the law school website (http://www.law.adelaide.edu.au/student/forms/) as soon as you are aware of the need for an extension, and before the due date of the assignment.

The course coordinator will reply by email, determining whether an extension is warranted, what evidence is required to verify the student’s incapacity, and the length of the extension. Evidence of the incapacity must be submitted with the assignment, and must be consistent with details in the email requesting the extension. If the details of the request for an extension, and the medical or other evidence verifying the extension are not consistent in all respects, the extension is nullified, and the assignment may be penalised.

All written work in the Law school is required to comply with the approved Law School style guide, The Australian Guide to Legal Citation.

Penalties:

Late Submission: 5% of the total mark possible will be deducted for every 24 hours or part thereof that it is late, including each day on a weekend. For example, an essay that is submitted after the due date and time but within the first 24 hour period, and that has been graded at 63%, will have 5% deducted, for a final grade of 58%. An essay that is more than 24 hours late will lose 10%, etc. Hard copy submissions made after 5.00pm on a Friday will be assumed to have been submitted on the next business day and will be penalised accordingly.

Word Length: Assignments which exceed the allocated length (word length or page limit) will be subject to a penalty of 5% of total marks possible per 100 words or part thereof (ie with a word limit of 3,000, an essay graded 63% will have 5% deducted if it is 3001 words long, for a final grade of 58%, 10% if it is 3101 words long, etc). Words are calculated including all footnotes and headings within the text but excluding cover page information. Quotations and all referencing information are included in the word count.

Failure to lodge a hard copy with a Turnitin receipt will mean that your assignment has not been validly submitted and a special penalty of 5% may be applied.

Courses for which a result of conceded pass has been obtained may not be presented towards the degree requirements for the Bachelor of Laws or the Honours Degree of Bachelor of Laws programs, or any postgraduate law program, nor to satisfy prerequisite requirements within any law course.

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

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 http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/

Further information regarding the Law School Policies and Procedures in relation to Supplementary Assessment, Extensions, and Remarks etc can be found at:

https://unified.adelaide.edu.au/group/law-school/policies-and-procedures

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 2014, 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 refuse 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.