LAW116 Writing and Communication for Legal Professionals (8)

This subject provides students with a foundation in legal research and professional legal communication skills in civil and criminal law in Australia. Students learn written and spoken communication skills including drafting legal documentation and the art of persuasion, argumentation and negotiation. Students are also introduced to legal research skills.

Availability

* Offering has a residential school. Please view following information for further details.

Session 1 (30)
Online *
Bathurst Campus
Session 2 (60)
Online *
Bathurst Campus
Session 3 (90)
Online *
Bathurst Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: LAW116. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

Centre for Law and Justice

Incompatible Subjects

JST110, LAW107

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to draft legal documentation encompassing the diverse documents required for legal practice;
  • be able to apply the rules of grammar, syntax and punctuation in the drafting of legal documentation;
  • be able to demonstrate oral presentation skills for professional practice, including advocacy and negotiation skills;
  • be able to demonstrate oral and written skills to communicate effectively with regional, rural, remote and culturally diverse clients;
  • be able to plan and apply effective strategies in legal research to locate legal precedents and interpret and justify findings;
  • be able to use legal citation conventions in legal writing;
  • be able to work in groups to solve problems, prepare written documents, and prepare and present their findings to diverse audiences;
  • be able to reflect critically on the student's own professional practice, including their communication skills, listening skills and professional communication style;
  • be able to demonstrate oral and written skills to communicate effectively with regional, rural and remote Indigenous people, and others with culturally diverse backgrounds; and
  • be able to demonstrate an understanding of Aboriginal kinship structures and its impact on written and oral communication for legal professionals.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • Introduction to communication skills within the legal profession
  • Negotiation skills
  • Law reports
  • Statutory interpretation
  • Drafting, including rules of grammar, syntax and punctuation
  • Legal advice
  • Legal research
  • Precedent
  • Citation
  • Advocacy
  • Team work processes and skills within the legal practice
  • Developing reflective professional practice

Indicative Assessment

The following table summarises the assessment tasks for the online offering of LAW116 in Session 1 2019. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated and can also differ to suit the mode of study (online or on campus).

Item Number
Title
Value %
1
Legal memorandum
20
2
Client interview and reflection
25
3
Guilty plea - oral and written
25
4
Essay
30

Residential School

This subject contains a 3 day Compulsory Residential School.

The residential school will cover the seminar topics relevant to the subject with particular emphasis on relevant case law, precedents and legislation.

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: October 2020. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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