LLB350 The Law and Ethics of War
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | LLB350 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | LLH201 or LWB146 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | LLB141 Introduction to International Law is assumed knowledge |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $2,124 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $1,663 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,204 |
| International unit fee | $4,368 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | LLB350 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | LLH201 or LWB146 |
| Coordinator: | Andrew Garwood-Gowers | a.garwood-gowers@qut.edu.au |
Overview
In an increasingly globalised world it is important for legal professionals to understand how to identify, evaluate and apply the relevant law in international contexts and appreciate how international law can affect Australia's international activities and its domestic legal system. This general elective unit provides you with opportunities to further develop critical-thinking, problem-solving and communication skills.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of relevant legal and ethical principles applicable to the use of force and the conduct of hostilities (Course Learning Outcomes 1.4, 1.5)
- Critically analyse and apply relevant legal and ethical rules to selected issues and contexts to formulate responses to contemporary problems (CLOs 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4)
- Manage and complete a research paper by using an appropriate research methodology, involving the selection and appraisal of relevant legal, ethical and policy sources (CLOs 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 5.3), and
- Communicate your analysis and reasoning effectively in written form (CLOs 4.1, 4.2)
Content
The content of this unit includes a range of selected topics such as:
- historical development of the jus ad bellum and its key principles (the prohibition of the use of force and the exceptions of self-defence and collective security)
- contemporary debates over pre-emptive self-defence, the use of force against non-state terrorist actors, and the responsibility to protect (R2P)
- key legal and ethical rules of international humanitarian law, including the protection of non-combatants and restrictions on the means and methods of warfare.
Learning Approaches
This unit employs an active and collaborative approach to learning. It involves an online, self-led learning practice and live workshops where you will learn from experts and your peers. Prior to live workshops, you will be supported and engaged in this unit through the delivery of weekly material, podcasts delivered by experts, interactive quizzes and formative learning activities, and collaborative discussions that will introduce a range of practical and theoretical perspectives.
Your participation in the unit will include:
- Engagement with online materials
- Discussions on Canvas and in live workshops
- Collaboration with peers and experts to network and share your understandings
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students are provided with feedback to assist their learning throughout the semester. The feedback is provided through a range of sources such as:
- discussions in workshops
- online materials
- the individual feedback provided on assessment with the completed Criteria Referenced Assessment form
- generic feedback posted on the unit's Canvas site for each item of assessment
- examples of past student assessment, and
- the option of consultation with a member of the teaching team.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment in this unit is both formative and summative. Assessment items are designed to develop your professional skills in critical thinking, problem-solving and communication. In this unit, students are graded on a scale of one to seven.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Research Paper
You will complete a research paper on a contemporary legal or ethical issue in the jus ad bellum or jus in bello or other topic from the unit. This may the take the form of a legal opinion or submission to a relevant government department such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Examination (theory)
End-of-semester invigilated examination covering the topics from the unit. It may involve problem-solving questions and/or essay-style questions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Prescribed
There is no prescribed textbook for this unit, but students are strongly advised to have access to one of the recommended texts listed below.
Recommended
Olivier Corten, The Law Against War (Bloomsbury, 2nd ed, 2021)
Christine Gray, International Law and the Use of Force (Oxford University Press, 4th ed, 2018)
Yoram Dinstein, War, Aggression and Self-Defence (Cambridge University Press, 6th ed, 2017)
A range of other reading materials and resources will be provided throughout the unit.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no unusual risks in this unit.
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Online
| Unit code: | LLB350 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | LLH201 or LWB146 |
Overview
In an increasingly globalised world it is important for legal professionals to understand how to identify, evaluate and apply the relevant law in international contexts and appreciate how international law can affect Australia's international activities and its domestic legal system. This general elective unit provides you with opportunities to further develop critical-thinking, problem-solving and communication skills.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of relevant legal and ethical principles applicable to the use of force and the conduct of hostilities (Course Learning Outcomes 1.4, 1.5)
- Critically analyse and apply relevant legal and ethical rules to selected issues and contexts to formulate responses to contemporary problems (CLOs 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4)
- Manage and complete a research paper by using an appropriate research methodology, involving the selection and appraisal of relevant legal, ethical and policy sources (CLOs 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 5.3), and
- Communicate your analysis and reasoning effectively in written form (CLOs 4.1, 4.2)
Content
The content of this unit includes a range of selected topics such as:
- historical development of the jus ad bellum and its key principles (the prohibition of the use of force and the exceptions of self-defence and collective security)
- contemporary debates over pre-emptive self-defence, the use of force against non-state terrorist actors, and the responsibility to protect (R2P)
- key legal and ethical rules of international humanitarian law, including the protection of non-combatants and restrictions on the means and methods of warfare.
Learning Approaches
This unit employs an active and collaborative approach to learning. It involves an online, self-led learning practice and live workshops where you will learn from experts and your peers. Prior to live workshops, you will be supported and engaged in this unit through the delivery of weekly material, podcasts delivered by experts, interactive quizzes and formative learning activities, and collaborative discussions that will introduce a range of practical and theoretical perspectives.
Your participation in the unit will include:
- Engagement with online materials
- Discussions on Canvas and in live workshops
- Collaboration with peers and experts to network and share your understandings
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students are provided with feedback to assist their learning throughout the semester. The feedback is provided through a range of sources such as:
- discussions in workshops
- online materials
- the individual feedback provided on assessment with the completed Criteria Referenced Assessment form
- generic feedback posted on the unit's Canvas site for each item of assessment
- examples of past student assessment, and
- the option of consultation with a member of the teaching team.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment in this unit is both formative and summative. Assessment items are designed to develop your professional skills in critical thinking, problem-solving and communication. In this unit, students are graded on a scale of one to seven.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Research Paper
You will complete a research paper on a contemporary legal or ethical issue in the jus ad bellum or jus in bello or other topic from the unit. This may the take the form of a legal opinion or submission to a relevant government department such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Examination (theory)
End-of-semester invigilated examination covering the topics from the unit. It may involve problem-solving questions and/or essay-style questions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Prescribed
There is no prescribed textbook for this unit, but students are strongly advised to have access to one of the recommended texts listed below.
Recommended
Olivier Corten, The Law Against War (Bloomsbury, 2nd ed, 2021)
Christine Gray, International Law and the Use of Force (Oxford University Press, 4th ed, 2018)
Yoram Dinstein, War, Aggression and Self-Defence (Cambridge University Press, 6th ed, 2017)
A range of other reading materials and resources will be provided throughout the unit.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no unusual risks in this unit.