Course Coordinator: Michelle Elliott

As course staff work in the South Australian legal profession all communication should be directed to the GDLP Coordinator, Michelle Elliott in the first instance - michelle.elliott@lawsocietysa.asn.au

The GDLP Coordinator will contact the appropriate course staff as necessary.

Course Supervisors:

Alison Bradshaw: Interviewing and Advising
Cathy Mayfield: Legal Writing and Drafting
Lorna Hartwell: Practical Legal Research
Greg Rooney: Negotiation and ADR
Helena Jasinski: Advocacy
Julie Van der Velde: Taxation

Course Coordinators (UA Law School): Adam Webster and Margaret Castles

By the end of this course you should be able to competently:

1. Writing Letters
• identified the need for, and purpose of, the letter.
• written the letter in plain English that conveys its purpose clearly and could be understood by the person to whom it is sent, acting reasonably. 
 
2. Legal Writing
2.1 Communicating effectively
• identified the purpose of a proposed communication, the most effective way of making it, and the content of the proposed communication.
• presented thoughts, advice, and submissions in a logical, clear, succinct and persuasive manner, having regard to the circumstances and the person or forum to whom they are made. 

2.2 Cross-cultural awareness
• identified and appropriately dealt with verbal and non-verbal aspects of cross-cultural communication

3. Interviewing and Advising
 • prepared for the interview properly, having regard to relevant information available before the interview and all known, relevant circumstances.
• conducted, participated in conducting or observed, the interview, using communication techniques appropriate to both the client and the context.
• ensured that the client and lawyer have both obtained all the information which they wanted from the interview in a timely, effective and efficient way, having regard to the circumstances.
• ensured that the lawyer and client left the interview with a common understanding of the lawyer’s instructions (if any) and any future action that the lawyer or client is respectively to take.
• made a record of the interview that satisfies the requirements of law and good practice.
• taken, or participated in taking, any follow-up action in a timely manner. 

4. Legal Drafting
• identified the need for, and purpose, of the document.
• devised an effective form and structure for the document having regard to the parties, the circumstances, good practice, plain English principles and the relevant law.
• drafted the document effectively having regard to the parties, the circumstances, good practice, plain English principles, and the relevant law.
• considered whether the document should be settled by counsel. 
 • taken every action required to make the document effective and enforceable in a timely manner and according to law (such as execution by the parties, stamping, delivery and registration). 

5. Practical Legal Research
• establish a strategy to undertake systematic legal research
• use paper and electronic resources to efficiently research legal and factual problems involved in a matter
• keep your research up to date
• present the results of your research

6. Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution 
• prepared, or participated in the preparation of the client’s case properly having regard to the circumstances and good practice.
• identified the strategy and tactics to be used in negotiations and discussed them with and obtained approval from the client, or been involved in or observed that process.
• carried out, been involved in or observed, the negotiations effectively having regard to the strategy and tactics adopted, the circumstances of the case and good practice.
• documented any resolution as required by law or good practice and explained it, or been involved in the process of explaining it, to the client in a way a reasonable client could understand. 

7. Facilitating early resolution of disputes 
• identified the advantages and disadvantages of available dispute resolution options and explained them to, or been involved in explaining them to, the client.
• performed in the lawyer’s role, or been involved in or observed that performance, in the dispute resolution process effectively, having regard to the circumstances.
• documented any resolution as required by law or good practice and explained it, or been involved in explaining it, to the client in a way a reasonable client could understand. 

8. Advocacy
• observed the etiquette and procedures of the forum.
• organised and presented in an effective, strategic way: 
- factual material; 
- analysis of relevant legal issues; and 
- relevant decided cases.
• prepare and present a submission to a senior member of the legal profession taking into account the instructions given and advocacy skills to examine the use of a case concept and presentation styles
• made submissions effectively and coherently in accordance with law and good practice.

9. Taxation
• develop an understanding of the taxation areas which underpin other GDLP courses: Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Stamp Duty (SD) and Goods and Services Tax (GST).

No textbooks are assigned for GDLP courses.

Seminar resources and readings are available on MyUni ONLY. Students must bring electronic devices to seminars to access seminar materials.

Due to an emphasis on current legal practice other materials may be added after the course outline has been posted. Students are required to check MyUni regularly (at least weekly) to keep up to date.

Most course resources are provided to students ONLINE via MyUni. Relevant law can be accessed online via:

http://www.comlaw.gov.au/
http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/index.aspx
http://www.austlii.edu.au/

Due to the emphasis on current legal practice, other materials may be added after the course outline has been posted. Students are required to check MyUni regularly (at least weekly) to keep up to date.

The course is supported by the MyUni course website. The website contains the following resources:

1. Course information – including seminar schedule and assessment outline.
2. Course materials – such as lecture presentations, seminar materials, readings and resources.
3. Assessment – items of assessment and online submission.
4. Grade centre – where students’ results for assessments are entered.

MyUni will also be used to post announcements. Students are expected to check MyUni regularly (at least weekly) to keep up to date.

Students should regularly check their University of Adelaide email.

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 CEQ 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 least once every 2 years. 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.

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/.

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 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.