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 Supervisor: Cathy Mayfield

Course Coordinator (UA Law School): Margaret Castles

This course will be taught intensively.  Full details of seminars and activities are made available on MyUni course website prior to the course commencing.

Students are required to attend all seminars as detailed on the course planner.

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


1. Assessing the merits of a case and identifying dispute resolution alternatives

• assessed the strengths and weaknesses of both the claimant's and opponent's cases;

• identified the facts and evidence required to support the claimant's case;

• advised the client of relevant rights and remedies in a way that a reasonable client could understand;

• identified means of resolving the case, having regard to the client's circumstances;

• where possible, confirmed in writing any instructions given by the client in response to initial advice;

•identified and complied with the relevant limitation period.

2. Advising on costs of litigation 

• identified any litigation funding options and a means of reducing or recovering costs;

• identified alternative types of costs orders and how they may be affected by formal and informal offers of compromise and the manner of conducting the litigation;

•advised the client of relevant cost considerations in a way that a reasonable client could understand.

3. Initiating and responding to claims

• Identified an appropriate claim or defence;

• identified a court of appropriate jurisdiction;

• identified the elements of the claim or defence, according to law;

• followed procedures for bringing the claim or making the defence in accordance with the court's rules and in a timely manner;

• drafted all necessary documents in accordance with those procedures.

4. Taking and responding to interlocutory and default proceedings

 • identified any need for interlocutory steps, according to the court's rules;

• followed procedures for taking those steps in accordance with the court's rules and in a timely manner;

• drafted all necessary documents in accordance with those procedures and rules.

5. Gathering and presenting evidence

 • identified issues likely to arise at the hearing;

• identified evidence needed to prove the client's case or disprove the opponent's case, according to the rules of evidence;

• identified various means of gathering evidence, and used at least one of them to gather evidence;

• presented, or observed the presentation of, that evidence according to law and the court's rules.

6. Negotiating settlements

• conducted, participated in or observed, settlement negotiations;

• identified any revenue and statutory refund implications;

• properly documented any settlement reached.

7. Taking action to enforce orders and settlement agreements

 • identified available means of enforcing the order or settlement according to law and the court's rules;

• followed procedures relevant to the chosen means of enforcement in a timely manner.

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 also regularly check their University of Adelaide email.

The course will be taught intensively. Online lectures are supported by activities such as face to face interactive problem-solving seminars and practical exercises.

Students MUST come prepared for seminars, namely having listened to online lectures, undertaken prior reading and developed draft responses to the seminar questions. If students have not prepared and / or arrive more than 10 minutes late they may be asked to leave the seminar group.

A reminder that students MUST bring along electronic devices to the seminar so they can access the seminar materials electronically.  

Attendance is necessary to ensure that students are part of the interactive and reflective learning environment (which enhances learning outcomes) and provides students with the ability to develop their skills of oral presentation, teamwork and persuasion (valuable to the professional environment).  Students are expected to behave in an ethical and professional manner as would be
expected in the workplace environment (compliant with the professional conduct rules and standards).

Students, who due to disability, compelling medical or compassionate reasons, or in exceptional circumstance, are unable to attend the required seminars, may complete alterative work in lieu of attendance. The precise nature of this make-up work will depend on the seminar missed and will be negotiated with the GDLP Coordinator. Students MUST inform the GDLP Coordinator at the earliest opportunity of their absence and where they require this make-up work option. Whilst the best endeavours will be made to prescribe alternative work, this may not always be possible and non-attendance may result in a fail grade being awarded.  

Students must attend the seminar class for which they are enrolled.

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

In addition to attending seminars it is anticipated that students will do substantial independent work to prepare for seminars and to complete the course assessments. Students are expected to spend about 8 hours per week in private study which includes reading the materials, listening to lecture presentations, conducting research and preparing for seminars. In addition students will need to dedicate time for the completion of assessments.

A detailed seminar schedule will be posted to MyUni prior to the course commencing.

 

The course is based on the rules of the Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council (LPEAC) 2004 and Law Admissions Consultative Committee 2015 which specifies the expected competency standards for entry level lawyers at the point of admission. In order to pass this course you are expected to demonstrate competence in these standards.  Consequently, compulsory attendance and active participation in seminars is required in addition to assessment tasks.

The national competency standards include underpinning knowledge and skills in:
·        Ethics and professional responsibility
·        Lawyers skills
·        Problem solving
·        Work management and business skills

For further information see: http://www1.lawcouncil.asn.au/LACC/images/pdfs/LACCCompetencyStandardsforEntryLevelLawyers-Jan2015.pdf

Assessments will be made available to students, prior to the nominated deadline.

Note: Competence must be demonstrated in all assessment tasks and activities.

Assessment item	Due date*	Learning Objectives
Interlocutory application	Within seminar	1-4
Online quiz	Second week from course commencement	1-7
Workbook	Third week from course commencement	1-7
Participation	N/A	1-7

* Assessment deadlines will be posted on MyUni prior to the course commencing.

Detailed information regarding assessment tasks will be provided on MyUni.

In this course, students will also be assessed on the following:

·        Attendance (95% rule applies)
·        Punctuality
·        Workload management and ability to adhere to deadlines
·        Display active engagement in practical activities
·        Demonstrate respectful behaviour towards others
·        Maintaining a high level of confidentiality at all times
·        Satisfactory completion of prescribed exercises
·        Underpinning national competency standards (as noted in ‘Specific course requirements’)

Unless otherwise stated, there will be no prescribed word limit for assessments. This is because the purpose of the GDLP programme is to facilitate your transition from undergraduate academic law studies to the legal professional employment environment through the demonstration and practice of professionally-based skills and competencies. In a legal practice it is highly unlikely you will be set a certain number of words or pages for the tasks you are asked to complete.

However, in the majority of assessments guidelines will be provided.

The quality of English expression is considered to be an integral part of the assessment process. Assessment competence will take into consideration: expression, structure, correct grammar, typography, etc.

Assessments will be returned to students within 3 weeks from the due date, unless otherwise notified by the GDLP Program Coordinator through a Course Announcement.

Submission

Students must retain a copy of all assessments submitted.

Students are to submit assessments online by Turnitin.

Please note: where forms or documents have been outlined in assessment activities for completion these should be downloaded from original sources and completed in an electronic format, if not supplied.

Students will be marked in accordance with the marking rubric.
 

Resubmission

Students are required to demonstrate competency in all elements of the national competency standards and failure to do so will result in the relevant assessment being marked as non-competent. If the assessment is deemed non-competent students may be offered the opportunity to revise and resubmit the assessment. Students granted a resubmission will have up to 7 days
from the time they are informed by email from the LSSA GDLP Office to resubmit the assessment.  In most cases only the
parts of the assessment that do not attain competence will be required to be resubmitted.  Only ONE opportunity is provided
for resubmission.

Assessments that do not attain competence on resubmission (fail), per University policy, are double-marked before the results are
released back to the student.  The first and second markers discuss what the final result will be.


Extensions

Students MUST apply for an extension prior to the deadline to the GDLP Coordinator.

Extensions on medical and compassionate grounds will be in accordance with University policy.

 
Late Submission

NOTE: in this course, students are assessed against the national competency standards and professional workplace standards; namely  
·        Ethical and professional responsibility
·        Lawyers skills
·        Problem solving
·        Work management and business skills
·        Punctuality
·        Workload management and ability to adhere to deadlines

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

Grade	Grade reflects following criteria for allocation of grade:	Reported on Official Transcript
Fail No Submission	No work submitted for assessment	FNS
Fail	Competency not demonstrated	F
Non-Graded Pass	Competency demonstrated	NGP
Result Pending	An interim result	RP
Continuing	Continuing	CN
No Formal Examination	No formal examination	NFE

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.