LAW 6506 - Criminal Law Practice

North Terrace Campus - Summer - 2019

This course is aimed at graduates who would like to develop the knowledge and skills required to act for the defence or prosecution in criminal law practice. There is a strong practical focus in this course; for example your advocacy skills will be developed through a simulated court activity. Topics include, but are not limited to: the role of the prosecution and defence, advise clients before arrest, seek bail, make pleas, participate in minor contested hearings and assist in preparing cases for trial (including identifying and gathering evidence needed to support a clients? case, the organisation of evidence, briefing witnesses and preparing a brief for counsel). The course is offered in partnership with South Australian practitioners, courts and agencies.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code LAW 6506
    Course Criminal Law Practice
    Coordinating Unit Adelaide Law School
    Term Summer
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Intensive
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Available to GDLP students only. Not available for Study Abroad & Exchange.
    Course Description This course is aimed at graduates who would like to develop the knowledge and skills required to act for the defence or prosecution in criminal law practice. There is a strong practical focus in this course; for example your advocacy skills will be developed through a simulated court activity. Topics include, but are not limited to: the role of the prosecution and defence, advise clients before arrest, seek bail, make pleas, participate in minor contested hearings and assist in preparing cases for trial (including identifying and gathering evidence needed to support a clients? case, the organisation of evidence, briefing witnesses and preparing a brief for counsel).

    The course is offered in partnership with South Australian practitioners, courts and agencies.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Desiree Holland

    As course staff work in the South Australian legal profession all communication should be directed to the GDLP Coordinator, Desiree Holland in the first instance: gdlpenquiries@lawsocietysa.asn.au

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

    Course Supervisor: Amelia Cairney
    Course Coordinator (UA Law School): Kellie Toole
    Course Timetable

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

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

    On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

    1 Apply knowledge of the legal principles of criminal law.
    2 Practically apply the concepts and theories to guilty plea and bail applications.
    3 Structure and sustain concise and cohesive oral and written arguments concerning case analysis, statutory interpretation for a legal audience.
    4 Develop oral and written arguments for guilty plea and bail applications.
    5 Identify and apply ethical principles which govern legal practice.
    6 Demonstrate a broad repertoire of skills appropriate for the tasks.
    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
    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
    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
    3
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    4
    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
    5
    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
    6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    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 daily to keep up to date.
    Recommended Resources
    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 daily to keep up to date.
    Online Learning
    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 daily to keep up to date.

    Students should check daily their University of Adelaide email.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The course will be taught intensively. Students are strongly advised to attend all sessions. Problem-solving seminars and practical exercises are supported by online lectures and readings.

    Students must come prepared for seminars and, where applicable, having listened to online lectures, undertaken prior reading and developed draft responses to seminar questions.

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

    Attendance at seminars is strongly advised 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 collaborative and oral presentation skills. Students are expected to behave in an ethical and professional manner as would be expected in the workplace environment (as per the professional conduct rules and standards).

    Full details of seminars and activities are made available on the MyUni course website prior to the course commencing.
    Missing seminars will put you at a severe disadvantage in completing the requirements of the course. In most cases, assessment tasks are strongly linked to seminars activities with some assessment occurring during seminars.
    Workload

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

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

    Contact time

    This course will be taught intensively.

    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 assessments.

    The University expects full time students, in particular those enrolled over a 6 month rather than 12 month period, to devote in excess of 15 hours per week to their studies.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Learning activities will involve an intensive seminar series as well as online lectures and materials to be used in preparation for the seminars.

    - Lectures are a teacher-driven learning activity; relaying of knowledge and information.
    - Seminars are more interactive than lectures. Students are expected to prepare answers to seminar questions to facilitate useful in-class discussions between peers. As such, seminars are largely student driven. Seminar leaders are learning facilitators.

    Assessment tasks are also learning activities.

    A detailed seminar schedule will be posted to MyUni prior to the course commencing. Learning activities will involve an intensive seminar series as well as online lectures and materials to be used in preparation for the seminars. 

    This course will cover the following topics:

     - Providing advice in relation to a criminal matter   
    - Applying for bail       
    - Making please       
    - Representing a client in a minor matter       
    - Assisting to prepare cases for trial


    Specific Course Requirements
    The course is based on the rules of the Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council (LPEAC) 2018 which specifies the expected competency standards for entry level lawyers at the point of admission.

    In this course, the following elements of the National Competency Standards for Entry Level Lawyers are embedded:
    Ethics and professional responsibility
    Lawyers skills
    Problem solving
    Work management and business skills


    Students are required to demonstrate, where appropriate, the following:
    Punctuality
    Workload management and ability to adhere to deadlines
    Active engagement in practical activities
    Respectful behaviour towards others
    A high level of confidentiality at all times
    Satisfactory completion of prescribed exercises

    For further information contact the LSSA Program Manager (GDLP).
  • 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
    Assessments will be made available to students, prior to the nominated deadline. Assessment deadlines will be posted on MyUni prior to the course commencing.


    *Assessment deadlines will be provided prior to the course commencing.
    Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting Learning Outcome
    Task 1
    Pre task short answer questions
    Individuals Day prior to course commencing n/a 1-6
    Task 2
    Bail applications
    Individual As per appointment time n/a 1-2,4,6
    Task 3
    Guilty plea application

    Individual As per appointment time n/a 1-3,6
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Assessments will be made available to students, prior to the nominated deadline. Assessment deadlines will be posted on MyUni prior to the course commencing.

    All assessments are competency based (non-graded pass). Competence must be demonstrated in ALL assessment tasks and activities. MyUni requires a numerical value to display that competency has been demonstrated. Please note:

    1 – Competency has been achieved (non-graded pass)
    0 = Competency has not yet been achieved (re-submission required).
    Unless otherwise stated, there will be no prescribed word limit for assessments. This is because the purpose of the GDLP program is to facilitateyour 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 that you will be set a certain number of words or pages for the tasksyou 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: expressions, structure, correct grammar, typography, etc.

    Assessment will be returned to students within 3 weeks from the due date, unless otherwise notified by the program officer GDLP through a course annoucement.
    Assessment Detail
    Students will be provided with a date/time to undertake their bail and guilty plea applications once the course has commenced.

    Assessments will be made available to students, prior to the nominated deadline. Assessment deadlines will be posted on MyUni prior to the course commencing.

    Assessments guidelines will be provided for each assesssment task. Unless otherwise stated, there will be no prescribed word limit for assessments. This is because the purpose of the GDLP program 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.

    All assessments are competency based (non-graded pass). Competence must be demonstrated in all assessment tasks and activities. MyUni requires a numerical value to display that competency has been demonstrated. Please note:

    1 – Competency has been achieved (non-graded pass)
    0 = Competency has not yet been achieved (re-submission required).
    Submission
    Students must retain a copy of all assessments submitted.

    Students are to submit assessments online via Turnitin.

    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 to revise and resubmit the assessment.

    In 2019 a supplementary teaching day will be offered. Students who will be allowed to resubmit may attend this day, though it is not compulsory to do so. Resubmission of the assessment will be allowed after this additional teaching day. If a student is unable to demonstrate competency after this resubmission then they will need undertake the course again and pay additional fees. Please note that all final fails are double marked before the results are released to students.

    Extension

    Students must apply for an extension prior to the deadline to the LSSA GDLP.

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

    Late Submission

    Late submissions will not be marked.
    Course Grading

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

    GS8 (Coursework Grade Scheme)
    Grade Description
    CN Continuing
    FNS Fail No Submission
    NFE No Formal Examination
    F Fail
    NGP Non Graded Pass
    P Pass
    C Credit
    D Distinction
    HD High Distinction
    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.

    In this course all assessment and course results are competency based (non-graded pass) as per the table below.
    Competence must be demonstrated in all assessment tasks and activities.

    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

    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.

  • 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.

    The centre offers 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.

    Lex Salus Program
    Lex Salus (law and wellbeing) is an initiative of the Adelaide Law School aimed at destigmatising mental health issues; promoting physical, mental and emotional wellness; building a strong community of staff and students; and celebrating diversity within the school. It also seeks to promote wellness within the legal profession, through the involvement of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia, the Honourable Chris Kourakis, as the official Patron of the program.

    Students can participate in the Lex Salus program by attending barbecue lunches, pancake breakfasts, knitting and crochet circles, seminars, guest speakers, conferences and other activities. Our Facebook page, website and regular all-student emails promote upcoming events, and have tips and information on wellness.

    Our Lex Salus YouTube channel also includes videos on topics like managing stress, and interviews with LGBTQ lawyers and their supporters which celebrate diversity and individuality. Students who commit to 10 hours of volunteering with Lex Salus in one year can have their service recognised on their academic transcript and through a thank you morning tea with the Chief Justice and law school staff.

    Student Life Counselling Support
    The University’s Student Life Counselling Support service provides free and confidential service to all enrolled students. We encourage you to contact the Student Life Counselling Support service on 8313 5663 to make an appointment to deal with any issues that may be affecting your study and life.
  • Policies & Guidelines

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

    Academic Honesty
    Academic dishonesty is a serious act of academic misconduct. All students must be familiar with the University’s Academic Honesty Policy.

    Academic dishonesty is a serious matter and is treated as such by the Law School and the University. 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.
  • 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.