LAW 3501 - Dispute Resolution and Ethics

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2016

This course will cover procedures applicable to the resolution of civil disputes, including conciliation, mediation, arbitration and judgment, together with the ethical obligations that lawyers bring to these procedures. Through problem solving and practical role plays students will be critically introduced to the nature of civil process in South Australian and Federal courts and the respective roles and responsibilities of parties (including their legal representatives), mediators, arbitrators and judges in commencing, continuing and conducting these processes. Particular topics of court adjudication under an adversary system will include: the cost of litigation; initiation and service of process and jurisdiction: joinder of parties and claims; the definition of issues through pleadings and admissions; obtaining evidence through disclosure, inspection and interrogatories and the limits imposed by privileges and immunities; interlocutory injunctions; pre-trial conferences; mediation; judgment without trial including settlement; the nature of judgment; rights of appeal; and the enforcement of judgments. Duties owed by lawyers to the law, the court, clients, other lawyers and the community will be considered in theory and in practice, both particularly in relation to dispute resolution and more generally, as well as the concept of professional misconduct and wider questions of a lawyer's personal ethics and conflicting duties and values.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code LAW 3501
    Course Dispute Resolution and Ethics
    Coordinating Unit Adelaide Law School
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate Law (LLB)
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites LAW 2504 & LAW 2505
    Incompatible LAW 3001 & LAW 3002
    Restrictions Available to LLB students only
    Course Description This course will cover procedures applicable to the resolution of civil disputes, including conciliation, mediation, arbitration and judgment, together with the ethical obligations that lawyers bring to these procedures. Through problem solving and practical role plays students will be critically introduced to the nature of civil process in South Australian and Federal courts and the respective roles and responsibilities of parties (including their legal representatives), mediators, arbitrators and judges in commencing, continuing and conducting these processes. Particular topics of court adjudication under an adversary system will include: the cost of litigation; initiation and service of process and jurisdiction: joinder of parties and claims; the definition of issues through pleadings and admissions; obtaining evidence through disclosure, inspection and interrogatories and the limits imposed by privileges and immunities; interlocutory injunctions; pre-trial conferences; mediation; judgment without trial including settlement; the nature of judgment; rights of appeal; and the enforcement of judgments. Duties owed by lawyers to the law, the court, clients, other lawyers and the community will be considered in theory and in practice, both particularly in relation to dispute resolution and more generally, as well as the concept of professional misconduct and wider questions of a lawyer's personal ethics and conflicting duties and values.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Margaret Castles

    This course is coordinated by Margaret Castles and Anne Hewitt.

    Margaret Castles
    Email: margaret.castles@adelaide.edu.au
    Phone: 8313 5572
    Office: 330 Ligertwood Building

    We are able to meet with you during our consultation times and will answer questions posted on the DR+E Discussion Board on MyUni. If you cannot make our consultation times please email to see if an alternative time can be arranged.

    Contact information for other teachers in the course will be made available on MyUni.

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

    A detailed timetable for the course, showing information for each lecture and seminar, and scheduling information about which seminars groups will attend on which days on specific days will be available on MyUni at the commencement of semester.
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    The Legal Practitioners' Education and Admissions Council (LPEAC) sets rules for the academic requirements for admission to legal practice in South Australia. Students must demonstrate a satisfactory level of understanding and application of 11 core areas of legal knowledge.

    This course covers the material in the Priestly 11 subjects “Civil Procedure” and “Ethics and Professional Responsibility”. In particular, it covers the following Priestly 11 material:

    Civil Procedure -
    · Court adjudication under an adversary system.
    · The cost of litigation and the use of costs to control litigation.
    · Service of originating process - as foundation of jurisdiction and choice of forum.
    · Joinder of claims and parties, including the defence of prior adjudication as instances of the public interest in avoiding a multiplicity of proceedings and inconsistent verdicts.
    · Defining the questions for trial - pleadings, notices to admit and other devices.
    · Obtaining evidence - discovery of documents, interrogatories, subpoena and other devices.
    · Disposition without trial, including the compromise of litigation.
    · Extra judicial determination of issues arising in the course of litigation.
    · Judgement.
    · Appeal.
    · Enforcement.

    Ethics and Professional Responsibility -
    · Professional and personal conduct in respect of a practitioner’s duty:
    (a) To the law;
    (b) To the Courts;
    (c) To clients, including a basic knowledge of the principles relating to the holding of money on trust; and
    (d) To fellow practitioners.

    The specific learning outcomes of the course are the development of:
    1. Knowledge of legislation, rules and cases that govern civil procedure in South Australian and Federal Courts.
    2. Ability to critically analyse and apply legislation, rules and cases in context.
    3. Capacity to exercise judgement in the management of a civil dispute.
    4. Appreciation and critical understanding of different models of dispute resolution.
    5. Capacity to identify factual and legal issues.
    6. Excellent research skills.
    7. Problem solving and solution generation skills.
    8. A deep appreciation of ethical principles which govern legal practice.
    9. An awareness of the multi-faceted dimensions of civil disputes and their resolution.
    10. An ability to communicate and operate effectively independently and as a member of a team.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 8, 9
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    2, 5, 7
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    10
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    3, 4, 6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    8, 9
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    7, 10
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Recommended Resources
    A range of additional resources are available online and in the library, which you may find of assistance. Look on the MyUni site, or ask the librarians or course coordinators for suggestions.
    Online Learning
    Selected course materials will be made available on MyUni. This will include all seminar guides, assessment information and instructions, audio recordings of lectures and all lecture PowerPoints. Tools for individual preparation, practical exercises and some assessment exercises will also be offered online throughout the semester. Students are expected to check MyUni regularly to keep up to date with these materials and additional learning resources throughout the semester.

    In addition to lectures and seminars students will be expected to complete a series of self-directed interactive online learning modules on examinable material throughout the semester. These modules provide flexible learning and revision opportunities relevant to important practical skills and substantive issues throughout the course. Detail of these modules will be provided at the commencement of semester.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The course will be taught through lectures supported by interactive problem-solving seminars, practical exercises developing primary material, and online self-directed learning modules.
    Workload

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

    Students will be expected to attend a two hour lecture and 30 hours of seminars during the semester. Students are required to attend 2 seminars per week for the first 3 weeks, and one per week thereafter. A detailed week by week schedule for the course will be provided on MyUni.
    Attendance and satisfactory participation at at least 13 of the 15 seminars is a pre-requisite to passing the course.
    Learning Activities Summary

     

    Week + Topic

    Lecture

    Seminar A

    Seminar B

    Pre-seminar learning/revision

    Assessment

    WEEK 1
    29 Feb – 4 March
    Introduction to ethical dispute resolution
    Lecture 1

    Historical background to Civil Process
    ADR and theories of conflict
    Litigation ethics
    Jurisdiction
    Fact Law and Proof in civil disputes
    ALL STUDENTS

    Interests based dispute resolution
    Practical Ethics
    Lawyer Client Relationship
    Identifying causes of action
    ALL STUDENTS

    Identifying
    Causes of Action
    Proof and Evidence
    Pre Action protocols (Statutory Interpretation –
    Seminar 2 fact scenario)
    ALL STUDENTS
    Flexible learning module – group work.
    Each student must
    complete 5 preparation and participation exercises during the semester. 
    The due dates for three of these exercises are set out below. The due dates for
    the case summaries will be provided by your tutor.
    Week 2
    7-11 March
    Avoiding Court
    Lecture 2
    ADR options
    Pre Action protocols
    ADR legal issues
    Binding ADR agreements
    ADR and Justice


    ALL STUDENTS

    Making ADR work - problem solving, pre
    action protocols and preventative lawyering.

    Seminar 2 scenario
    ALL STUDENTS
    MEDIATION ROLEPLAYS
    No online exercise to provide time
    for completion of  Group Constitution
    and Dispute Resolution procedure (Participation Exercise # 1)
    Participation Exercise # 1 - Preparing a Group Constitution and Dispute Resolution procedure incorporating ADR principles. Due in-class in Seminar 3A
    Week 3
    14-18 March
    Commencing litigation

    Lecture 3

    ADELAIDE CUP PUBLIC HOLIDAY – LECTURE WILL BE RECORDED

    Pleadings: Statement of Claim Relevance, strategy and proof jurisdiction/challenges to jurisdiction 

    ALL STUDENTS Material facts and jurisdiction for litigation. Pleadings principles and exercises. Donna S of C (skeleton)  
    *HOMEWORK PREPARATION FOR SEMINAR 3B
    ALL STUDENTS Drafting Workshop – Statement of Claim ALL STUDENTS Flexible learning module – peer review and drafting Pleadings and Ethics Exercise (20%) released:
    · Individually assessed. ONLINE SUBMISSION: Thursday 14 April at 8 pm. · Participation Exercise # 1 - Group Constitution and DR clause due: To be handed to your tutor in Seminar 3A.
    Week 4
    21-25 March
    Pleadings continued
    Lecture 4
    Pleadings: Defence.
    Problems with pleadings
    ALL STUDENTS
    Defence – strategy and pleading

    Parties and joinder
    NO SEMINAR GOOD FRIDAY ALL STUDENTS
    Flexible learning Module  – drafting pleadings.
    Participation Exercise #2  (2% Ethics Quiz): Thursday 24 March 8.00pm
    Week 5
    28 March – 1 April
    Disclosure and privilege






    Lecture 5 EASTER MONDAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY – LECTURE
    WILL BE RECORDED
    Disclosure, production,
    introduction to privilege.
    ALL STUDENTS
    Getting the facts straight:  Pleadings, documents, evidence.
    Disclosure: duties and relevance
    ONLINE EXERCISE
    List of Documents – with reasons for relevance

    OFFICE HOURS – Anne
    and Marg to be available in class at nominated times for consultation/preparation.
    ALL STUDENTS
    Flexible learning  Module – disclosure.
    Participation Exercise #2  (2% Ethics Quiz): Thursday 24 March 8.00pm
    Week 6
    4-8 April
    Privilege
    FIRST COURT APPEARANCE
    Lecture 6 Privilege In-house privilege Third party privilege PRACTICAL EXERCISE GROUPS 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 PRACTICAL EXERCISE GROUPS 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 ALL STUDENTS Flexible learning Module  – Interlocutory Applications.
    Mid-Semester Break
    Pleadings and Ethics Exercise
    ONLINE SUBMISSION 
    Thursday 14 April  8 pm.
    Week 7
    25-29 April
    Gathering evidence




    Lecture 7  ANZAC DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY – LECTURE WILL BE RECORDED
    Notices to Admit; Questions before Trial; obtaining and protecting evidence Substantive and procedural injunctions and other processes to preserve the status quo;
    ALL STUDENTS Investigative processes Complex problem questions Including WORKING WITH the rules, identifying the different tests, applying the cases and rules to fact scenarios. NO SEMINAR – PREPARATION FOR WEEK 8 PRACTICAL EXERCISE

    “OFFICE HOURS” – Anne/Marg to be available in classroom for consultation and nominated times.
    ALL STUDENTS Flexible learning Module  – investigatory procedures.
    Week 8
    2-6 May
    Gathering evidence (cont)  and maintaining the status quo
    SECOND COURT APPEARANCE
    Lecture 8
    Gathering evidence (cont)  and maintaining the status quo
    PRACTICAL EXERCISE GROUPS 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 PRACTICAL EXERCISE GROUPS 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14
    Week 9
    9-13 May
    Mediation and Negotiation
    Lecture 9
    Principles of mediation and negotiation Litigation Ethics/negotiation Ethics
    ALL STUDENTS Issues, interests, and options in civil disputes. Mediation demonstration. NO SEMINAR -  PREPARATION FOR WEEK 10 PRACTICAL EXERCISE   “OFFICE HOURS” – Anne/Marg to be available in classroom for consultation and nominated times. ALL STUDENTS Flexible learning Module –
    WEEK 10
    16-20 May       Costs
    Lecture 10
    Case Management, Readiness for trial, managing litigation
    PRACTICAL EXERCISE - NEGOTIATION
    GROUPS 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15
    PRACTICAL EXERCISE  - NEGOTIATION GROUPS 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 ALL STUDENTS Flexible learning Module – case evaluation. Group Exercise (20%) due: Thursday 19 May at 8.00 pm. 
    Week 11
    23-27 May
    Comparative Jurisdictions
    Lecture 11
    Federal Court Magistrates Court Jurisdictional disputes
    ALL STUDENTS Costs, proportionality, and case management – complex problems NO SEMINAR – STUDENT REVISION All online learning modules will be available online for revision purposes. Participation Exercise # 3 - Ethics Quiz: Thursday 26 May 8.00pm.
    Week 12
    30 May - 3 June
    Resolution, judgment, appeals and enforcement
    Lecture 12
    Appeals, enforcement of judgements, setting aside, res judicata and issue estoppels.
    ALL STUDENTS Appeals, res judicata and issue estoppel: complex problem solving
    Week 13
    6-10 June Revision
    Revision / Pre exam lecture
    ONLINE RECORDING
    REVISION SEMINAR/S WILL BE OFFERED IN SWOT VAC Revision/exam problems


    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Each student in this course will work in a small team to progress a client's case across the course of the semester. Under the supervision of a more senior lawyer (your seminar leader) your team will:
    • Advise your client about how to use the civil litigation process;
    • Review pleadings on behalf of your client;
    • Make and defend applications for interlocutory orders in two adversarial courtroom exercises;
    • Engage in a negotiation to try and resolve the dispute.
    Each of these activities will require your team to explore the rules of civil procedure and apply them to your client's situation in a simulated practice environment.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assessment item

    % of final mark

    Due date

    Group or individual assessment

    Redeemable

    Learning objectives

    1 x group constitution and dispute resolution clause

    2%

    First seminar in week 3 (hard copy submission)

    Group

    No

    1-10

    2 x case summaries

     2% each

    Students will be assigned 2 cases in week 1, each with a specific due date (submisison via MyUni Group page)

     Individual

    No

    1-10

    2 x online quiz

    2% each

    24 March 8 pm and 26 May 8 pm

    Individual

    No

    1-10

    Pleadings and Ethics Exercise

    20%

    14 April at 8pm (online submission via Turnitin)

    Individual

    No

    1-10

    Interlocutory Exercise   

    20%

    19 May 8 pm

    Group

    No

    1-10

    Exam

    50%

    Exam Period

    Individual

    No

    1-10

    Assessment Related Requirements
    ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT

    Students who miss more than TWO (2) seminars during the course of the semester will be unable to pass the course. Students may complete make-up work for seminars missed for compassionate or medical reasons at the discretion of their seminar leader  and/or the course coordinator. The precise nature of this make up work will depend on the seminar missed and will be negotiated with the seminar leader.

    This subject prepares students for legal practice in SA and is a prerequisite for admission to the Bar in SA. It is designed to introduce students to the theory and practice of civil and criminal litigation, which will be further studied at post graduate level prior to admission as a legal practitioner. Skills such as critical evaluation, exercising legal and forensic judgment, appreciation of the operation of judicial discretion, and the capacity to communicate legal procedural argument clearly and effectively are critical to practice in this area.

    The appreciation of legal ethical principles is also an important graduate attribute. Whilst legal ethics are couched in absolute terms, in practical application, there is considerable subjectivity at play. Seminars in this subject make regular reference to ethical dilemmas, and draw on students to engage in evaluation and resolution of such dilemmas by reference to given principles, and legal and social outcomes. The practice of law requires lawyers to be able to identify and resolve such issues, and this is almost always only achievable by consultation with peers and other professionals. Including such issues in seminars, and assessing students’ capacity to approach them in a professional and effective manner, is a necessary aspect of teaching future legal professionals, and is best achieved by direct observation and participation in class. The seminars are predicated on the assumption that students have undertaken given preparation, and approach the subject matter at a relatively sophisticated level based on this preparation. Individual or small groups of students will often be asked to prepare issues for discussion, to undertake small research exercises, or to otherwise contribute to future seminars. Activities of this nature are an essential part of being an effective professional in the legal field. Small class sizes (24) and a strong focus on interactive learning make methodology such as this an effective way of developing students strategic and forensic thinking skills.

    For these reasons attendance and satisfactory participation in in seminars is compulsory. Students who do not meet these requirements will not be eligible to take the exam. Responsibility for monitoring attendance and participation is set out below.

    Models of class participation are varied to meet different educational styles, cultural approaches, and gender implications. They include:
    • small group discussions (groups of 4 – 6) with different students invited to convene and record discussion
    • tutors moving between groups and assisting with discussion.
    • large group discussion with emphasis on directed questions, and reporting on preparatory work done for seminars
    • working in pairs on case evaluation and discussion
    • students being given specific small preparatory tasks for seminar, so that they have the opportunity to prepare and be confident of delivery and are not “put on the spot” 
    • students assisting each other in answering questions or developing themes in class discussions.
    It is expected that tutors will identify students strengths and weaknesses and utilise these strategies so as to encourage development and confidence and ensure equality of participation.

    Responsibility for monitoring attendance and participation is shared between seminar leaders and students as follows:

    Attendance - Students who miss more than 2 seminars during the semester MUST contact their seminar leader to establish whether make-up work for the missed seminars is possible. IT IS EACH STUDENT’S OWN RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR THEIR ATTENDANCE AND ENSURE THEY HAVE SATISFIED THE MINIUMUM ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT.

    Satisfactory participation - If students have satisfied the attendance requirement, but have failed to satisfactory participate in seminars, this will be brought to their attention by the SEMINAR LEADER. The seminar leader and student will then discuss the participation requirements of the course and any obstacles to participation by the student. If appropriate, additional work (as negotiated by the seminar leader and student) may be completed by the student to supplement their participation.
    Assessment Detail
    1. Individually assessed pleadings and ethics exercise – 20%
    The assignment will require students to draft a pleading (Claim or Defence) and prepare an explanatory memorandum covering drafting strategy, case strategies, and ethical issues. Assignment instructions will be posted on MyUni in week 3.
    DUE DATE 14 April 8.00pm. Online submisison via Turnitin. A

    2. Group assessed advocacy exercise – 20%
    Assignment instructions will be posted on MyUni in week 5.
    DUE DATE Thursday 19 May 8 pm.

    3. Preparation/participation exercises – 10%
    Each student must complete 5 exercises to a satisfactory standard. Completion of a written exercise to that standard is worth 2% for a total of 10%.
    a. 2 x individually completed case summaries which must be posted online in your MyUni group page by specified due dates;
    b. 2 x individual completion of online quizzes; and
    c. 1 x group exercise drafting a group constitution and ADR clause.
    Information regarding each exercise will be posted on MyUni. All exercises must be completed by the stated due date for that exercise.

    4. Examination – 50%
    Take home examination to be held during the examination period. The examination will be available for 6 houers and will be scheduled by examinations office.
    Submission
    • Students must retain a copy of all assignments submitted.
    • Late submission penalty – assignments submitted after the due time and date without an extension granted by the Course Coordinator will be subject to a penalty of 5% of the total mark possible for that assignment every 24 hours or part thereof that it is late, including each day on a weekend. For example, an assignment 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.  Extensions on medical or compassionate grounds will be in accordance with University Policy (see below).
    • Word length penalty - assignments which exceed the allocated length (word length) will be subject to a penalty of 5% of total marks available per 100 words or part thereof (ie 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.
    • All written work in the Law school is required to comply with the approved Law School style guide, The Australian Guide to Legal Citation.
    • The quality of English expression is considered to be an integral part of the assessment process. Marks may be deducted from assessment because of poor expression, incorrect grammar, typographical errors etc.
    • Assignments will be returned to students within 3 weeks of the due date with written feedback. Students will be notified by email when assignments are ready for collection from the Law School Front Office
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    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.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

    In 2015 the SELT responses we received indicated that students were satisfied with the quality of the DRE course, although they found it quite demanding. We were particularly pleased with the positive response in the SELTs about the group work component of the DR+E course, and the positive response to the introduction of a single text resource. 

    Students appreciated the varied learning options including online exercises, group work, as well as the high level of practicality. The amount of feedback provided throughout the course was also appreciated.

    This year we have introduced additional online activities which will engage you with aspects of lawyers' professional practice, and also assist to prepare you for assessable activities. We have also taken on board feedback regarding the timetabling of the course, and have made changes to increase student flexiblity and also manage the complexity of the course timetable.



  • Student Support

    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/  

    Lex Salus Program

    Lex Salus was founded in 2013 by Adelaide Law School Wellbeing officers Ms Corinne Walding, Ms Kellie Toole and Dr Mark Giancaspro. Lex Salus is an initiative of the Adelaide Law School aimed at raising law student awareness of the importance of mental, physical and nutritional health across all year levels of the degree, and of the various counselling, disability and equity services both within and outside the University that can provide help. Research shows that law students, both in Australia and in many jurisdictions around the world, experience the highest levels of stress, anxiety and depression out of any other discipline. Many do not get enough sleep, maintain a healthy diet or achieve a realistic work/life balance. Making matters worse, they are unwilling or afraid to speak up for fear of feeling 'weak' or because of the negative stigma that attaches to seeking help. Lex Salus is dedicated to tackling these problems head-on.

    Counselling Service

    The University Counselling Service provides a free and confidential service to all enrolled students. We encourage you to contact the Counselling service on 8313 5663 to make an appointment to deal with any issues that may be affecting your study and life. More information is available at https://www.adelaide.edu.au/counselling_centre/

  • Policies & Guidelines

    This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.

    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, 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.
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.