LAW 3545 - Law and Popular Culture

North Terrace Campus - Winter - 2015

This course will examine the treatment of law, lawyers and the legal system in popular culture, to better understand the role of law and lawyers within society. It will examine a number of specific legal topics and areas and the way in which those topics are reflected in popular culture. This will enable critical reflection upon the treatment of and attitudes to law in contempporary society and provide opportunities for students to consider and analyse the reasons and consequences of the correct and incorrect portrayal of legal issues in popular culture. It will focus primarily on the Australian legal system, but will also present opportunities for comparative legal studies with appropriate case studies.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code LAW 3545
    Course Law and Popular Culture
    Coordinating Unit Adelaide Law School
    Term Winter
    Level Undergraduate Law (LLB)
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Intensive
    Prerequisites LAW 1501
    Restrictions Available to LLB students only.
    Course Description This course will examine the treatment of law, lawyers and the legal system in popular culture, to better understand the role of law and lawyers within society. It will examine a number of specific legal topics and areas and the way in which those topics are reflected in popular culture. This will enable critical reflection upon the treatment of and attitudes to law in contempporary society and provide opportunities for students to consider and analyse the reasons and consequences of the correct and incorrect portrayal of legal issues in popular culture. It will focus primarily on the Australian legal system, but will also present opportunities for comparative legal studies with appropriate case studies.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Melissa de Zwart

    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. To develop an ability to critically analyse popular culture in its interpretation and depiction of the legal system and legal issues.
    2. To consider a range of legal issues through the lens of popular culture and to critically evaluate the accuracy of such portrayals.
    3. To understand and critique the representation of various legal problems in popular culture.
    4. To evaluate the role law plays in broader society.
    5. To develop the capacity to analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources and contexts.
    6. To develop an awareness of a multiplicity of viewpoints and cultural contexts.
    7. To develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
    8. To apply good interpersonal and communication skills, to work independently and in teams.
    9. To further enhance written and oral communication skills.
    10. To apply excellent research skills.
    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)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    A Course Reading Guide and Weekly Materials will be made available via MyUni. This will include links to required reading.
    The prescribed text is 
    de Zwart, Richards and Le Mire Law and Popular Culture in Austraia, LexisNexis Butterworths, 2015

    Online Learning
    MyUni will be used to post announcements, additional lecture materials, including where appropriate lecture notes and slides. MyUni will also be used to announce and submit assignments.
    Students are required to check MyUni regularly throughout the course.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will be taught intensively through 4 hour lectures and 2 hour seminars. Students should expect to be involved in discussion and interaction in both of these teaching modes, and will be involved in large and small group discussion and activities in which students will be required to discuss, debate and defend their analysis of the various texts which are prescribed for that session of the course. As relevant media will be shown in class, there will be no recording of lectures or seminars, due to copyright issues. It is therefore essential that students enrolling in this course attend the classes.
    Workload

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

    There are 36 hours of class time across two weeks. This course is taught intensively and therefore students are expected to keep up to date with reading and preparation. In addition to attending formal classes it is anticiapted that students will undertake substantial independent work to prepare for class and complete work assignments. The University expects full time students (those undertaking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Lecture Topics may include the following:
    1. What is Popular Culture?
    2. The Law and Popular Culture?
    3. Lawyers and Ethics, courtrooms and corruption
    4. Media, whistleblowing and surveillance
    5. Indigenous Legal Issues
    6. Governance, the rule of law and the social contract
    7. Law and War
    Examples of Seminar topics include:
    1. Crime and violence
    2. Game of Thrones
    3. Medical Ethics
    4. Corruption
    5. Environmental Law
    6. Presentations

    A full timetable of course learning activities will be made available before teaching begins.
  • 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
    1. Group presentation in seminar 10% (in class) 
    2. Blog/ portfolio 30% (due 30 July 2015)
    3. Research Assignment 60% (due 17 August 2015)
    Assessment Detail
    1. Class presentation (10%) group task
    Students will be required to prepare and present to their seminar group on a topic to be determined in the first class. 

    2. Blog/ portfolio (30%) individual task
    Each student must submit 3 contributions to the class blog on a media text dealing with issues of the law or lawyers. Each contribution must be original and be at least 500 words in length. 

    3. Research Assignment (60%) individual task
    A 2500 word research paper on topics to be assigned in week 1 of class.
    Submission
    All written assessment must be submitted via MyUni (Turnitin) by the due date. This means that all papers will be electronically checked for plagiarism.
    Extensions will only be granted in accordance with University Policy, due to serious and unforeseen incapacity, for unexpected illness, hardship or on compassionate grounds, following submission of an electronic request for extension. Work commitments, sporting trips or holidays are not grounds for extension.
    Late submission will result in 5% of possible marks being deducted for every 24 hours or part thereof that submission is late, including each day on the weekend.

    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.

    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. 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/
  • Policies & Guidelines

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

    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.