Students selected for this course will be advised of the dates on which activities are scheduled, including:

• First preparation session
• Second preparation session
• Study tour

The full timetable for the course will not, however, be available on the Course Planner.

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

1	Explain the basic principles of commercial law and articulate aspects of differences and similarities between commercial law in Australia and other countries.
2	Evaluate legal information, and critique the operation of commercial law from an international perspective.
3	Structure and sustain concise and cohesive written arguments for a legal audience.
4	Conduct legal research and analysis at an intermediate level independently in an academic environment.
5	Analyse one area of commercial law from an international perspectives.
6	Reflect on their ability to work effectively and intensively in a team environment, and adapt to professional life in a different country.

NOTE: Students may not enrol in a Study Tour Course to visit the same country twice

MyUni will be used to provide students with information about the required readings for the preparation sessions and for each visit on the study tour (where applicable).

The course website is hosted on MyUni: http://www.myuni.adelaide.edu.au


Reading materials, videos and online resources will be made available prior to the departure. These resources will need to be accessed and read. Students are expected to regularly check the course website for announcements, lecture slides and required readings.

The course will consist of a pre-departure preparation sessions, and participation in a study tour to London.

The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies. This works out to 156 hours per 3-unit course (including classes, other structured learning activities, independent study, completion of assessment tasks, and other academic activities).

Students in this course are expected to participate in all activities of the study tour (including all seminars and site visits throughout the course, as well as the preparatory meetings and classes) unless excused in advance for compelling
reasons.

A final itinerary will be provided closer to the departure date.

Students will be required to attend and participate in all elements of the program of study at the University of Adelaide and the study tour in London, including in all academic activities and site visits.

Students who are unable, due to compelling medical, compassionate or exceptional circumstances only, to participate in any session of the course will be offered suitable make-up work in lieu of attendance and participation.

Students will be required to conduct themselves on the study tour professionally and with respect for the host nation and its people. Instances of unprofessional, inappropriate or disrespectful conduct may lead to a student receiving a penalty reducing their final grade, or in serious cases a result of fail for the course; it may also result in students being sent home from the tour.

Assessment Scheme -

Assessment Task	Task Type	Length	Weighting	Due Date	Redeemable	Learning Outcome
Participation in the Study Tour	Individual		10%		No	1, 2, 5, 6
Blog Post	Group of 2	800 words max	15%		No	1, 3, 5, 6
Reflective Journal	Individual	3 x 500 words (1,500 words in total)	25%		No	1, 2, 3, 5, 6
Research Essay	Individual	3,000 words	50%		No	1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Study Tour Participation

Students are expected to actively participate in all academic activities and site visits associated with the study tour. 10% of each student's final grade will be a mark awarded for the quality of their participation in the study tour.

Study Tour

Blog Post

Students will be assigned to write a blog post regarding one day of the study tour. The blog post (maximum 800 words,
or a series of photographs presented in lieu) is to be submitted by 8am of the following morning, so that it can be posted to the tour blog, where it will be read by friends and family of tour participants.

The blog post will partly inform the audience about what has happened on the day in question, but should not be merely descriptive. Students should also reflect (wherever possible) on legal aspects of the trip, whilst keeping the blog accessible to a non-specialist audience.

On days with extensive activities, two students may be selected to each write about different aspects of that day's experiences.

Reflective Journal

The journal is an opportunity to reflect upon the legal and social issues that emerge from the study tour.

There should be 3 entries (500 words each).

Two entries will be on distinct legal topics or issues arising from the study tour. They will explain the topic, using relevant literature where appropriate. A critical reflection on the topic is required.

One entry will be a final reflection on the study tour. How has the tour assisted me to understand the law? What are the lessons for Australia? Highlight(s) of the trip in terms of my legal education?

These are formal assessment. They should be structured (introduction, outline of issues, development of
argument/observations, conclusion). Their form and substance will be assessed.

Research Essay

The Research Essay is an opportunity to explore legal issues arising from the study tour in greater depth.

You are expected to bring independent research and analysis to a commercial law topic.

It is a research essay. Essays will be judged on their structure, the development of an argument in answer to
the question, the quality of the research undertaken, the skill with which sources are used and the strength of their overall conclusions.

Students will be free to design any relevant topic they would like, and selected possible topics will be presented progressively through the course for consideration. However, all topics must be approved by the course coordinator, preferably by the last day of the study tour. 

Students will be provided with submission instructions as part of the assessment instructions for each item of assessment which will be made available on MyUni.

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.

Finality of Assessment Grades

Students are advised that Course Coordinators will not enter into negotiations of any kind with any student regarding changes to their grades. It is irrelevant, in any given circumstance, that only a minimal number of additional marks are required to inflate a student’s grade for any individual assessment item or course as a whole. Pursuant to the University’s Assessment for Coursework Programs Policyand the Adelaide Law School Assessment Policies and Procedures, grades may only be varied through the appropriate channels for academic review (such as an official re-mark).

Moderation

In accordance with the University’s Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy, course coordinators ‘ensure that appropriate marking guidelines and cross-marking moderation processes across markers are in place’ in each course. Procedures adopted by Adelaide Law School to ensure consistency of marking in courses with multiple markers include:

• assurance of the qualifications of markers, and their knowledge of the content covered in each course;
• detailed marking guidelines and assessment rubrics to assist in the marking of items of assessment;
• sharing of example marked assessments at various grade bands across markers;
• reviewing of selected marked assessments from each marker by the course coordinator;
• comparison of the marks and their distribution across markers;
• automatic double-marking of all interim assessment receiving a fail grade, and of final assessments where a student’s overall result is a fail grade;
• the availability of re-marking of assessments in accordance with Adelaide Law School’s Assessment Policies and Procedures.

Approval of Results by Board of Examiners

Students are reminded that all assessment results are subject to approval (and possible moderation/change) by the Law School’s Board of Examiners. Assessment results at the University are not scaled. Under the Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy, students are assessed ‘by reference to their performance against pre-determined criteria and standards … and not by ranking against the performance of the student cohort in the course’. However, under that same policy, the Board of Examiners (as the relevant Assessment Review Committee for courses at Adelaide Law School) is required to ‘ensure comparability of standards and consistency’ in assessment. On occasions, the Board of Examiners will form the view that some moderation is required to ensure the comparability of standards and consistency across courses and years, and accordingly provide fairness to all law students. All assessment results are therefore subject to approval (and possible change) until confirmed by the Board of Examiners and posted on Access Adelaide at the end of each semester.

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.

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.